1. Application Letters Technical Communication Skills Application Letters Presented by: Saad Fattachi Rajaa Hammi Macoumba Ndiaye Oum Keltoum Nejmi Spring 2009

2. Outline Introduction Strategies for Application Letters –Organizational Strategies –Strategies for the Introduction –Content Strategies Plan an Application Letter Design and Format Conclusion  Workshop “Find the 11 mistakes”

3. Introduction What is an application letter? Why does it help in professional context?

4. Strategies for Application Letters Organizational Strategies. Strategies for the Introduction. Content Strategies.

5. Organizational Strategies Education-experience approach  Beginning of the career  Better begin with education section then work experience Functional approach  Experienced applicants  Sections according to area of qualifications to match job requirements

6. Strategies for the Introduction Indicate the purpose of the letter. Identify the job you are applying for. Draw the reader in and make them read further.

7. Content Strategies Address readers’ needs rather than your own Provide specifics, details, and examples Avoid self-congratulatory statements Sound interested Avoid negatives

8. Steps to Plan an Application Letter On large scale, you want this letter to have a youthful, energetic, perky good-natured feel to it- just like you in person. You want your potential employer to get the sense that you’d be fun to work with, a dependable and reliable worker, a flexible and adaptable person, and quick learner.

9. Steps to Plan an Application Letter (con’t) 1. Analyze the job announcement 2. Find out what you can about the company 3. Make a list of your strongest qualifications

10. 4. Plan a strategy for the main paragraphs of your application Two choices of organizations and content for the application letter type: A: Education- experience approach B: Functional approach Steps to Plan an Application Letter (con’t)

11. 5.Select the details for each of the main sections Names Dates Product names Dollar amounts Other additional information Steps to Plan an Application Letter (con’t)

12. 6. Plan the introduction to the application letter 7. Plan the conclusion to this application letter 8. Plan the delivery mode Steps to Plan an Application Letter (con’t)

13. Design and Format Margin adjustements Standard/Formal font and type size (depending on the field you apply for) Block format Left-aligned Letterhead It’s all about style !

14. Design and Format (con’t) Access the ‘Black and Asian Grad’ website (link in your n-stud mailboxes)

15. Workshop Find the 11 mistakes of the provided bad application letter sample Time allowed: 15 minutes Good Luck !