How to write a good letter of application?

•  Opening
•  Reason for applying
•  Selling yourself
•  Close

Tips:

•  Mention the job that you are applying for.
•  Explain how you found out about the job.
•  Refer to a possible telephone conversation that you may have had with the recruiter.

•  'I have had a keen interest in market research for years.'
•  'This is exactly the kind of job I am looking for.'
•  'I am writing in response to your posting on Monsterboard.nl.'

Tips:

•  Describe why you are applying for this job.
•  Explain why you want to work for this company.

• 'I have always wanted to dedicate myself to promoting women's interests. As your organisation is involved in this, I see excellent opportunities for combining work and ideals.'
• 'This job appeals to me, because I think it is a challenge to develop an educational programme that motivates and interests students. From my own experience I know that this is not always very easy, but that it is very satisfying to see it work.'
• 'I see the editorial job at your company as a next step in my career. The fact that your company pays a great deal of attention to training, assessment and career planning is of going to be of great help to me in my professional development.'

Tips:

•  Explain why you are the best candidate for the job.
•  Refer to your education, work experience or knowledge of the market.
•  But only mention those things that are relevant to that particular job. Do not go into too much detail - as this is what your CV is for!
•  Go into your personal skills and qualities.

•   'I am convinced that I am the right candidate for the job. After completing my course in Commercial Economics, I worked as an account manager for three years and gained experience in account management, acquisitions and sales. Moreover I was able to develop my oral and communicative skills.'
•   'I am specialised in dynamic and fast growing companies that have been involved in major changes. My strength lies in supervising moves, integrating systems and supporting users. I am also creative, enterprising and a team player.'
• 'As a recruitment officer I have over six years experience in field of strategic policies and have developed a hands-on mentality. I have been involved in labour market problems, as a result of which my problem-solving skills have improved and I now have a greater insight in this particular field.'

Tips:

•  This is the start for further contacts.
•  Do not finish your letter by saying that you that hope the recruiter will contact you. This sounds like you are begging. Hope expresses doubt, finish your letter in a more powerful way.
•  Write that you are confident that you meet the requirements.
•  Say that you would be happy to discuss your letter and CV in a personal interview.
•  Indicate possible further actions. For instance that you will be getting in touch by phone.

•  'I am confident that this letter and my CV will induce you to invite me for an interview.'
•  'I would like to explain my letter and CV to you in a personal interview.'

In addition to ensuring that your letter is well structured, it is also wise to consider the following points. What else should you mention and what should you bear in mind?

•  What do you expect from your future employer? What kind of qualities, knowledge and experience are going to be of benefit for the job you have in mind? Try to put yourself in the recruiter's shoes. In order to be able to do so you will need to have information about the job, company, culture and philosophy. Take a look at the company's website, annual reports and brochures.
  It is important to write your letter with the requirements of your future employer in mind. Think of the number of years of experience, specific knowledge, personal skills and technical insight required. Do not emphasise what the employer can do for you, but what you can do for the organisation.
•  Present a picture of yourself that is as complete as possible. Tell the recruiter why they should hire you. What it is that drives you, what it is you that you find challenging and how you expect to perform. Most importantly: what is going to be your unique contribution to the company? Why you are cut out for the job. Try to come up with five qualities that make you particularly suitable for a specific job or employer.
•  Know yourself. Emphasise your best qualities. Be positive and do not show any doubts. If you are good at something, which makes you stand out from others, then write it down, but do not paint a false picture of yourself. Give examples.
•  Why this organisation? What do you know about the company: products, services, philosophy, atmosphere at work, objective etc.? Compare this with your own background, ethics and objectives. Decide whether you would fit in and mention the company's most appealing characteristics.
•  Responding to an advertisement. Pay attention to explicit and implicit job requirements. Explicit requirements are clearly stated in the advertisement and include: experience, enthusiasm, education etc. But you should also pay attention to implicit job requirements, which you can read between the lines. When an advertisement says 'We are a growing organisation with an extensive customer network' you know that they are looking for an ambitious and customer-friendly candidate with networking skills.

•  Divide your letter up into paragraphs of three or four sentences.
•  Write in the first person and address the reader (the recruiter) directly with 'you'. This adds a personal touch to your letter. Avoid using 'one'.
•  Come straight to the point and never start by stating the obvious or using clichés ('Schiphol Airport is of vital importance to the Dutch economy').
•  Avoid stylistic and spelling mistakes; which is something recruiters find exasperating. Tip: read your text several times ? it is the most effective way to spot typing mistakes. You should also ask someone else to read your letter.
•  An advertisement reflects the company?s personality. By writing your letter in the same style, you show that you fit in with that organisation. Use a flowing style when responding to a personal advertisement. When the job description is businesslike, keep it formal.

Sentences

•  Avoid sentence structures that contain a lot of verbs (?I would have done?).
•  Minimise the use of the passive voice (?this was presented by me') Sentences should be no more than two lines long and should contain no more than one subordinate clause. Combine long and short sentences as much as possible. You should split long sentences into two slightly shorter sentences.
•  Leave out conjunctions such as: still, so, also, once, nevertheless, now, already, even, naturally, namely, again etc. Like adjectives they make the text sound ?woolly? and less to the point.

Finally

•  Have you mentioned everything that you wanted to say about yourself?
•  Have you covered all of the points mentioned in the advertisement? Have you arranged everything in a logical order?
•  Then think of a good closing sentence.
  
  

•  A good layout is vital; clumsy letters immediately end up in the bin. Did you know that recruiters get even more exasperated about spelling and typing mistakes than they do about job-hopping and gaps in a CV?
•  Avoid standard sentences such as ?Following your?? or ?With reference to?? Write a personal, appealing and original opening sentence. This helps to make you stand out.
•  Avoid a situation in which you oversell yourself. Do not turn your letter into an ego-advertising brochure ? this tends to irritate people. Now matter how suitable you are, you probably will not be invited for an interview.
•  Address your letter to the right person, it shows that you pay attention to detail and it also ensures that your letter is seen by the right person.
•  The most important thing is for the letter to exude self-confidence. Just like in sales, the fact that you believe in your product has a certain appeal to the 'other party?.
•  If you do not have the required educational background or work experience, focus on those skills that you do have. Indicate that you would be willing to do some further training.
•  Keep your letter simple and do not use difficult words. It does not really impress people and will make your letter less easy to read. Also keep your letter short. You can put more detailed information in your CV, so do not go into your entire career in your letter.
•  Do not mention money in your letter, this is not appropriate.
•  Make a copy of the advertisement, your letter of application and CV. It will serve as a reminder of what you wrote.