We try to stand out from the crowd by producing an effective job application letter that no one else would produce. Before producing an effective job application letter, we need to understand which type of application to target.
All letters or applications may be divided into two categories namely:-
(1) Solicited and
(2) Unsolicited
An applicant seeking for a job may use one of both of them.
1. Solicited Application
A solicited letter of an application is one which is generally written to apply for a position that is advertised in any form of media by a prospective employer.
Following are a few examples of advertisements from the employers:
“Accounts Officer, knowledge of EDP and Income-tax an asset, Chartered Accountant preferred. Apply Victor Garments Manufacturing Company, Macalister Road, Singapore.
“Wanted an experienced part-time stenographer” any time between 10a.m. and 5p.m. for two hours. Apply with full particulars, copies of testimonials and minimum salary expected to Box 1688, Orchard Point P.O.Box 168, Singapore.
“Wanted a Japanese-speaking accounts assistant”, preferably a LCCI, with at least five years’ experience. Apply with copies of testimonials, stating minimum expected salary to Box 168, Orchard Point P.O.Box 188, Singapore.
“Large Foreign Shipping Corporation required shipping assistant”. Please apply in confidence giving full details, salary requirements, etc. to Box 1688,’The Free Press Journal’ Hong Kong.
“Wanted Experienced Sales Representatives” to book orders for consumer products. Please apply to Post Box 1800, Bangkok – Thailand.
“Want urgently” for a reputed secondary school part-time/full-time mathematics/science teachers for higher classes. School hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Higher pay according to experience. Phone 16878881. Apply to Box 1788, The Straits Times, Singapore.
The major advantage of a solicited application is that it is confirmed that there is a vacancy available with the hiring company. Besides, the prospective employer normally listed the qualifications, experience, education, job description of the vacancy, such, the applicant can apply for the jobs that close match his/her profile.
There is, however one main disadvantage of such an application and that is that since the vacancy is advertised, there is always a rush of applications with the employers and hence the application of any applicant would be one of many such applications, written in response to the advertisement. The applicant should, therefore, try to present his application in a manner that is better than an average application – rather he should try to make it one of the best applications received by the employer.
2. Unsolicited Application
An unsolicited letter of application refers to a job which has not been announced and published by the prospective employer in any form of media.
This type of application has definitely one big advantage – the application does not stand to that big competition to which an advertised job’s application is open. Besides, the applicant can send parallel applications to a few prospective employers concurrently.
There are, however, two disadvantages also:- (1) It is possible that there may be no post existing with the employer at all; and (2) the applicant must figure out himself the requirement and criteria of the candidate in which the employer will be mostly hiring.