FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT!
Your letter of application for a job is the first contact you have with an organization when you’re applying for a job. It’s really important that you write this letter well.
When you see an advert for a job for which you’d like to apply, you should write a letter of application and send it to the organization with any other documents (see the Curriculum Vitae page) or information requested in the advert.

Your letter of application gives an impression of you as a person as well as your writing and language skills and your ability to communicate ideas clearly. It is worth spending time to make sure this letter gives you the best chance of getting the job.

Basic format for a letter of application:

	Your physical/postal address Telephone/Cell phone numbers Email
Address of organization Contact details Date: day/month/year Greeting: Dear Sir/Madam RE:_____________________________________________ [Introduction or background] [Answer questions asked in advert] [Conclude] Yours sincerely Your signature Your name and title

Useful tips

• Type your letter rather than handwriting it.
  
• As you write, respond to the specifics of the advert.
• Write simply and clearly.
• Check your spelling.
• Use short sentences.
• Use paragraphs separated by single lines.
• Before sending the letter off, get someone who writes well to read through it and check for errors.
• Be polite, professional and friendly, but never over-friendly or casual.
• Keep a copy for your own records.
• Post the letter by registered mail if possible.
• Reply to an advert as soon as possible. Do not wait for the closing date.

A letter of application in response to the JUNIOR ART THERAPIST advert above might look like this:

1. Begin by giving your address and full contact details so it’s easy for the organisation to get hold of you.
2. If you have the organisation’s address put it in.
3. Give the date for record and filing purposes.
4. Address the person to whom you are applying by their title. If you do not know the person’s name, use ‘Dear Sir/Madam’.
5. RE: is short for ‘referring to’. This helps to quickly emphasize and highlight the issue.
6. In the introduction give background information. State who you are, and to what you are responding. Remember to be guided by what the advert asks for.
7. Continue to give information in the body of the letter about why you are suitable for the job, your qualifications, personal qualities etc.
8. Have a conclusion to end the letter summing up why you feel you would add value to the organization.
9. End with a farewell.

Note: It is important to find out what language you should write in to apply.