WRITING LETTERS OF APPLICATION

LEAD IN

What is important to you in a job? Choose the five most important factors and arrange them in order of priority.

1. Long holidays

2. free lunches

3. high salary

4. flexible working hours

5. job satisfaction

6. some responsibility

7. opportunity for travel

8. having amusing colleagues

9. socially useful

10. normal hours or work

11. long lunch breaks

12. close to home

13. working with other people

14. good career and promotion prospects

WRITING FOCUS

A letter of application may be written when we apply for a permanent/temporary job or educational course. It is usually formal; therefore, the appropriate language and expressions should be used.

A letter of application may be written when we apply for a permanent/ temporary job or educational course. It is usually formal; therefore, the appropriate language and expressions should be used.

Useful language for letters of application (for a job)

Opening remarks: I am writing with regard to your advertisement/ I am writing to apply for the post/ job/ position of/ which I saw advertised in…, etc.

Reference to experience: …for the last/ past year I have been working as…since/ for…/ I have had experience of…/ two years ago I was employed as…/ I worked as…before…, etc.

Closing remarks: I would appreciate a reply at your earliest convenience / please contact me regarding any queries you may have/ I enclose my CV and I would be glad to attend an interview at any time convenient to you/ I look forward to hearing from you in due course, etc.

PARAGRAPH LAYOUT

Task 1: Read the following letter and correct the mistakes. Write S for spelling, P for

punctuation, WO for word order, G for grammar or WW for wrong word

Task 2: Read the CV and the letter. Then, say which information given in the CV has not been included in the letter. Finally, suggest alternative beginnings and endings to the letter.

Task 3: Match the qualities with the professions. Some qualities can be used more than once. Then make sentences as in the example.Patient, alert, skilful, open-minded, dedicated, organized, approachable, understanding, calm, imaginative, logical, creative, knowledgeable, kind, confident, able to cope in a crisis, good communication skills, able to work under pressure, sense of humor, polite, conscientious, tolerant.‘

APPLICATION FOR A COURSE

Useful language to letters of application (for a course)

Opening remarks: I would like to apply for admission to the…beginning/ I would like to be considered for, etc.

Reference to experience: I hold a certificate/ degree in/ I am due to take examinations in/ I have taken/ passed the…examination/ I hold the following qualifications/ I have completed the following courses/ degree course/ my degree is in English, etc.

Closing remarks: I would appreciate a reply at your earliest convenience/ I look forward to meeting/hearing from you/ please contact me regarding any queries you may have/ I enclose further details of my education and qualifications to date/ I hope that you can consider me for entry/ I look forward to hearing your response in the near future, etc.

PARAGRAPH LAYOUT

Task 4: Read the letter below and underline the formal expressions. Then replace them with similar expressions from the table above. Finally, give the topic of each paragraph and say what kind of letter it is.

Task 5: Write the following letters in appropriate style

a. You want to go to Winston University to do a degree in History. Write a letter applying for a place on the course.

b. You have decided to spend some time working this summer. You have seen an advertisement in the paper for lifeguards to work for a month on one of the most popular beaches in Sussex. Write a letter asking to be considered for one of the positions.