As part of a series of six workshops which cover the most important aspects of professional career development, I train future MBA graduates how to write an internationally successful CV and how to write an application letter that initiates an invitation by the prospective employer. In short, these workshops range from writing skills to personal awareness, analysis of weaknesses and strenghts to how to find the perfect match in terms of future employers.

1. Writing The Application Letter
by Elisabeth Dols-De Rooij
areer Development

2. “To live is to choose,
but to choose well, you must know who you are and
what you stand for, where you want to go and why you
want to get there.‖
Kofi Annan 1938 - present

3. Training outline
 Discussion
 Key Questions to ask yourself
 Planning Producing and Completing
2 types of application letters
 Lay out letter: Intro – Core – Close (Template)
 Transitions and style of writing
 Targeting organizations: How?
 The application letter do‘s & don‘ts
 Personal Questions

4. Discussion
___________________________
Which one is more important to the employer: your CV or
your application letter? Why?
True or False?
―Past performance predicts future behaviour.‖
Question: How employable are you?

5. KEY QUESTIONS to ask Yourself
_______________________________
What is my motivation?
Which career objective do I want to achieve?
Where can I best apply my skills and qualifications?
Which companies match my drive?
In other words:
What can I do for them?

6. Fear no question
Kirsty MacCulloch is a senior
project manager at
Hobsons/GET Graduate
Recruitment, the market leader
in student recruitment marketing
and management.
Source: JobSite Be My Interviewer

7. Match
Your competencies
Your experience
Your interests

With the company‘s
competencies
experience
interests

8. “Know thyself.”
Socrates 470 BC – 399 BC

9. 75%
Planning Writing 25% Completing
1.Preparation
2. Production
3. Development

10. The Application Letter
=
Your Motivation

11. ACT NOW
Remember that you are responsible for
explicitly communicating your value to
the employer.

12. Writing Aids
Cover Letter Template
& Transitions

13. Application Letters
Types
A. Cover Letter
B. Speculative letter

14. A. Cover letter
The opportunity to sell yourself to employer
To say WHY your CV or letter of application
is worth reading
Use it to highlight your enthusiasm,
your suitability for the job.
Emphasise your strenghts and skills.

15. Cover letter - Intro
Clearly structures:
WHAT you‘re applying for – the job title and
WHERE you saw the advert
Example: In reference to…

16. STRONG OPENING STATEMENTS!
I am excited to see a strong potential fit between the
Management Consultant position you posted in …[where]
on …[when] and my previous experience.
Your posting for a Controller indicated requirements that
closely match my background and expertise. I have enclosed
my CV to provide a summary of my qualifications and
background for your personal review.

17. Cover letter – The Core
Clearly structures your motivation:
WHY the job interests you
WHY you want to work for this organization in particular
Example:
“My interest goes out to your organization ever since…“

18. This is a strong
Core Statement!
Your company intrigues me as an organization that realizes
the importance of inspiring teams to reach new heights, which is
the very type of vision that has defined and propelled my career.

19. The Core - Emphasizes
WHY you are suitable for the position
 Elaborate on the information in your CV by
highlighting your relevant skills, experience
and personal qualities
 Match your skills to the position‘s specification,
using the same key words where possible.

20. The Core – Relates to
The company’s Vision – Mission statement!

21. MISSION STATEMENTS
―Setting the standard in helping our customers
manage their financial future.‖
―…to play a key role in international education in
the field of management of transition processes in
culturally diverse organizations.
―It‘s Your World.‖

22. Cover letter – The Close
*Remember to end positively and enthusiastically*
include
***Call to Action!***

23. The Close - Examples
THE OPEN CLOSE
―Thank you for your time and consideration.
I look forward to meeting with you soon.‖
THE CONFIDENT CLOSE
―I am confident and willing to answer any questions you
may have in order to ensure compliance with your
requirements and high standards. ―

24. The Close – Call to Action
Example:
―Please visit my Linkedin account
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/elisabeth-dols/13/a68/433
to learn more about my experience and connections. Or,
feel free to browse my website www.communication-
realization.com to find out more about my career
objective.‖

25. This is a strong
CLOSING statement
I look forward to meeting with you to learn more about
the [title] position and discuss your objectives, and how I can
contribute to the success of your department. In the
meantime, please feel free to contact me should you
require any further information or if you have any questions.
Yours Sincerely,

26. B. Speculative Letter
• Tailored to a specific organization
• Addressed to a named individual

27. The Speculative Letter
Should be clearly structured to cover:
• the kind of work you are looking for;
• why you want to work for this organization in
particular;
• why you are suitable;
• highlighting your relevant skills, experience and
personal qualities from your Resume.
Remember to sound positive and enthusiastic

28. Targeting organizations
When should I use this approach?
Try this with organizations that
 You would really like to work for – Let them know
about you
 Use recruitment agencies or word of mouth to fill
vacancies
 Don‘t have to advertise because they receive so
many speculative applications

29. Shortlist organization(s)
Focus on
• what kind of positions they have that are of interest
to you
• what their requirements are in terms of qualifications,
work experience and skills
• why they interest you as a potential employer
• finding out who you should approach within the
organization.

30. How?
• Research the job
Check out what the job you'd like actually entails. Use
careers information, web searches, Blogs, recruitment
literature, job advertisements and job descriptions.
• Analyse your skills
Analyse your skills, experience and personal work
requirements to be sure they match what is required to
do the job.

31. Contact your chosen
organization(s)
• Finally, you need to write a speculative letter to
accompany your CV and send it to the employers you
have decided to target.
• Indicating that you know something about the company
shows that you are interested in the employer.

32. Follow up!
If you don't hear from them, wait 5 working days,
then follow up with a telephone call.
Ask if they have received your letter and CV
and ask to discuss its content further.

33. Writing
The application letter –
In short
 Be Clear - Content
 Check Grammar & Spelling
 Edit
 Proofread 100x or
 Let Someone Else Proofread For You

34. “With your mind power, your determination,
your instinct, and the experience as well,
you can fly very high.”
Ayrton Senna
1960 – 1994

35. Application Letter
Do’s
 Include the addressee‘s full name, title, company name, and
company address
 Include your own full name, address, and contact information
 Use a formal greeting (Mr., Ms., Dr.) – use formal language
throughout the letter
 Mention how you found out about the position

36. Application Letter
Do’s continued
 Be clear, objective and persuasive — rather than simply describing
your background
 Be positive in tone, content and expectations
 Use transitions appropriately
 Check Properties in MsWord!
 Keep copies of everything you send (create a filing system)
 Follow up after five business days.

37. Application Letter
Don’ts
Don’t:
 write a long letter—shorter is better (2 pages max)
 address the person by first name unless you know him or her
personally and have permission to do so
 write more than three/four paragraphs (intro, core, closing)
 forget to personally sign the letter (or type your name)

38. Application Letter
Don’ts
Don’t:
 use contractions (I‘m, I‘d, you‘ll)
 don‘t mix up UK and US spelling.
 use flashy stationery
(unless you‘re applying for a highly creative job)
 use slang.

39. Consider all skills involved
• Prospecting: company research
• Networking: initiating, leading, selling
• Writing: Resume & Cover Letter
• Listening: interpreting, analysing
• Convincing: public speaking, expertise
• Trusting: Your Self

40. “I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.”
Excerpt from ‗Invictus‘
first published in 1888
in Henley's Book of Verses

41. USEFUL LINKS
http://holland.angloinfo.com/countries/holland/working.asp
http://www.askoxford.com/betterwriting/
http://www.careerperfect.com/content/resume-writing-help-sample-
resumes/
http://www.jobsite.co.uk/bemyinterviewer/

43. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!