Language functions:

Vocabulary / Topic area:

discussing issues; reading comprehension; writing a job application

job applications; looking for a job

JOB APPLICATION
TEACH ER WO RKSH EET L EVEL: IN TERMEDIA TE

focus on talki ng
ACTIVITY 1 PAIRS or WHOLE GROUP

In pairs, ask and answer the questions

below.

What is your experience with writing job

applications?

How many job applications have you written

in your professional career?

How long ago did you write your last job

application? Were you happy with the result?

Do you find writing application letters easy or difficult?

Have you ever learnt the rules of writing job applications?

What kind of information should a good application letter contain?

What kind of information should we avoid writing applications?

In your opinion, how important is an application letter in the process of applying for a
job?

Do you think it is possible to find out much about the candidate on the basis of his/her
application letter?

Have you ever written a job application in English? Does the English style of writing
applications differ from the one used in your country?

www.english-4U.com: AUGUST 2007

readi ng
ACTIVITY 2 iNDIVIDUALLY

Read the text below and complete the table with advice for people writing a job
application.

How to write a job application letter

If youre applying for a job by letter, youve got one chance to make a
good impression, so make the most of it. Invest in some good quality
paper and envelopes. I have had to vet job application letters in the past,
and the easiest way to reduce the pile is to bin anything you cant read, so
make it neat and legible with plenty of space; if your handwriting is
dodgy, type it. Do a rough draft first and get someone else to proof-read
it for spelling and grammar errors.
Keep it brief, clear and to the point. Your CV will be attached separately
so your letter need not detail your exam grades, etc; use it instead to tell
the employer why you are perfect for the job.
If youre responding to an advertisement, note what skills and talents the
employer is looking for and make sure your letter states you have just
those skills. Include relevant experience and any other positive attributes
you could bring to the job, but be honest; dont say you spent the
summer back-packing across India if you spent it working on a
supermarket checkout. Say instead how working on a checkout has vastly
improved your numeracy, communication skills, sense of teamwork and
diplomacy: all experience can be made to sound positive.
Say when you are available for interviews and how you look forward to
impressing them further in person. Sign your name and print it
underneath the signature. And be very, very careful not to make any
mistakes in the name of the company, its personnel or its address thats
the other easy way to reduce a pile of application letters.
Sally Baker
Source: www.timesonline/co.uk (extract from article: How to get on in the real world August 25, 2007

www.english-4U.com: AUGUST 2007

job application letter writing

dos
Use good
envelopes.

quality

donts
paper

and Dont put too many details, which

you included in you r CV

Make your job a pplication neat Dont make

and legible.
name
of
personnel or
If your writ ing is not easy to
read, type your application.

any mistakes in the

the
company,
its
it s address

Do a rough draft and get someone

else to proof - read it for spelling
and grammar errors.
Keep your application letter
brief, clear and to the point.
Tell your employer w hy you are
perfect for the job.
Note what skills and talents the
employer is looking fo r and state
you have just those skil ls.
Include relevant experience.
Be honest.

www.english-4U.com: AUGUST 2007

focus on vocabula ry
ACTIVITY 3 INDIVIDUALLY or PAIRS

Find these words and expressions in the article.

1. to gain as much advantage, enjoyment, etc. as you can from something - to make the most of

something
2. to make a careful and critical examination of something to vet something
3. to throw something away to bin something
4. arranged in an orderly, tidy way - neat
5. (of handwriting or print) clear enough to read - legible
6. not clear, not working well - dodgy
7. not ready, one of first versions of something written - a rough draft
8. to read and mark any errors in a written text - to proof-read
9. expressed in a simple, clear way without any extra information or feelings - to the point
10. closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand - relevant
11. to travel or hike carrying one's belongings in a backpack - to back-pack
12. a point at which goods are paid for in a supermarket or other store - a checkout
13. very much - vastly
14. the ability to understand and work with numbers - numeracy

focus on writing
ACTIVITY 4

Using the Internet, find an interesting job offer

and write your application letter. Try to use or
the advice presented in the article.

www.english-4U.com: AUGUST 2007