Job Application Letters

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Job Application Letters
Hitting the Bulls Eye
or writing a great letter
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How are application letters similar to résumés?
Both are rhetorical.
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Rhetorical Triangle
Topic
Audience
Purpose
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How are application letters similar to résumés?
(continued)
Purpose

• Just an informative document?

NO! A persuasive document
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Rhetorical Triangle
Topic
Purpose
Audience
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How are application letters similar to résumés?
(continued)
YOU!
Topic
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Rhetorical Triangle
Topic
Purpose
Audience
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How are application letters similar to résumés?
(continued)
Audience
Business professionals

• Expectations
• Content
• Format
• Correctness

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Content
Do you really want your audience to have this
reaction to your application?
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Content Choosing the Right Words
www.grantland.com
www.grantland.com
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Format Choosing the Right Words
www.grantland.com
www.grantland.com
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Correctness Error Free
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How are application letters different from
résumés? (continued)

• Résumés
• Adapted to a position

• Application letters
• Adapted to the needs of a particular organization

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How are application letters different from
résumés? (continued)

• Résumés
• Summarize all your qualifications

Application letters

• Show how your qualifications could benefit the
  organization
• Show how you differ from other applicants
• Show you have some knowledge of the organization

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Knowledge of the Organization
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How are application letters different from
résumés? (continued)

• Résumés
• Use short, parallel phrases and sentence
  fragments.

• Application letters
• Use complete sentences in well-written paragraphs.

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Two Types of Application Letters

• Solicited
• A position is open that you are aware of

• Prospecting
• You are digging for goldhunting for gems

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Two Types of Application Letters

• Solicited
• Direct organizational approach

• Prospecting
• Indirect organizational approach i.e.
  problem-solving

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How to Organize a Solicited Job Letter (Direct
organizational approach)

• State that youre applying for the job and tell
  where you learned about the job (ad, referral,
  etc.).
• Briefly show that you have the major
  qualifications required by the ad.
• Summarize your qualifications in the order in
  which you plan to discuss them in the letter.

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How to Organize a Solicited Job Letter (Direct
organizational approach)

• Develop your major qualifications in detail.

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How to Organize a Solicited Job Letter (Direct
organizational approach)

• Develop your other qualifications.
• Show what separates you from the other applicants
  who will also answer the ad.
• Demonstrate your knowledge of the organization.

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How to Organize a Solicited Job Letter (Direct
organizational approach)

• Ask for an interview
• Tell when youll be available to be interviewed
  and to begin work
• End on a positive, forward-looking note.

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How to Organize a Prospecting Job Letter
(Indirect organizational approach)

• Catch the readers interest.

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How to Organize a Prospecting Job Letter
(Indirect organizational approach)

• Create a bridge between the attention-getter and
  your qualifications.
• Summarize your qualifications in the order in
  which you plan to discuss them in the letter.

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How to Organize a Prospecting Job Letter
(Indirect organizational approach)

• Develop your strong points in detail.
• Relate what youve done in the past to what you
  could do for this company.
• Show that you know something about the company.
• Identify the specific niche you want to fill.

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How to Organize a Prospecting Job Letter
(Indirect organizational approach)

• Ask for an interview and tell when youll be
  available for interviews.
• End on a positive, forward-looking note.

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More job related information

• Sample Application Letter
• Prospecting Letters (side by side)
• Action Verbs
• Link to PowerPoint on Résumés

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The End