Ina Teves, Organizational Development Consultant

Ina Teves is an organizational development consultant with a change management firm dedicated to making a difference wherever it goes by journeying with the client through the entire process of organizational transformation. Email your questions to ina.b.teves@gmail.com.

Hi Ms. Teves,

I chanced upon your featured articles on the Career Advice portion of the JobsDB.com.  Actually, it's my first time to check on the employment search engine on the internet and it's a good thing I thought first of JobsDB.com.  And I'm so lucky that there's a career advice portion where I can seek professional help.

Actually, it has something to do with writing a good application letter.  I've read a lot of samples and tips on how to but I always end up asking for somebody to write for me.  Some of my officemates and even senior officers acknowledged and praised me for having a good sense of English especially in writing.  FYI, I'm a computer science graduate but ended up working in a bank.  I'm currently a contributor in our company's newsletter.  Maybe because technical writing was part of our curriculum and that is where I'm good at (instead of computer programming).  My problem is I CANNOT write a good application letter.  I don't know how to build myself up and impress the reader.  I don't even understand why I can't write one.  I can only write up to the salutation part (the Dear Sir or Madam:-am I right?).  What am I going to do? I really need your help.  I'm also applying for work abroad and application letter is one of the requirements.

Dear Rosalie:

Perhaps the problem is not that you don’t know how to write an application letter, but that you’re worried it won’t impress the reader.  Keep it short and to the point and let your CV do the talking. A good application letter should have the following qualities:

• Professional appearance
• Clean, unscented plain bond paper. 
• Zero erasures
• Clear black ink
• Correct name and position of addressee
• Correct spelling of company
• One page
• Language and spelling
• Correct spelling of all words
• Correct grammar
• Short words and short sentences
• Logical sequence.  Your letter should be able to answer the following questions
• Put a subject line, as in: “Subject: Application for [position].”  Please do not enclose in quotation marks.  Rather, underscore it and type in bold.
• First paragraph: What position are you applying for? Where did you read the ad?
• What qualifications do you have?
• If you just graduated from school, what did you finish?  Highlight qualifications from school, activities that you joined and excelled in that could demonstrate the qualities they need.
• Or, if you are employed, or have had work experience, do the same.  The key word is highlight.  Do not repeat everything in your resumé.  Choose only what is relevant to the position you are applying for.
• Emphasize any scholastic or career achievements you have - not all - just those that will show you are goal-oriented, have a desire to excel, or are good at what you do.
• End with a call to action, but remember to be courteous. Say something like, “I would welcome the opportunity to discuss further my CV at your convenience.” 
• Leave a contact number where you can always be reached.
• Inform those manning the phone at home to take down all messages and forward these to you immediately, and to please be polite on the phone.