Use these techniques to keep your version style casual yet on the ball:
- Don’t use overly formal language.
- Let your personality shine through your words and phrases.
- Choose words that demonstrate confidence and sincerity.
- Use action verbs instead of passive verbs whenever possible.
- Check that your grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct.
Let’s see how each of these points can give your letter zing!
Bonus Check
Learning how to write effective job-search letters is a good investment of time. Persuasive letter writing is a skill you’re bound to use on the job for proposals, requests, and other business correspondence.
Dump the Stilted Stuff
A good rule of thumb for knowing what’s appropriate language for your job-search letter is to write as you would speak in a friendly business conversation. That way your letter will sound like you–someone the reader will want to chat with–not like some stuffed shirt who’s completely boring.
Stilted language is deadly in job-search letters, yet it’s commonplace because most job seekers make the mistake of thinking they should be formal in their correspondence. The good news is that because most job seekers use stilted language, your letter’s going to really stand out when you follow the advice in this chapter. Are you wondering what I mean by stilted language? Here are some examples:
“Enclosed, please find my resume for … ” (Way too formal for a letter that’s meant to be an ice-breaker.)”
Pursuant of our conversation, I would like to apply for … ” (Reads like a legal document, hardly like a message to someone you’d like to know better.)”
In response to your advertisement in the Gazette, I am enclosing … ” (That’s way too stuffy for a letter intended to increase rapport.)
Job-Hunt Hint
After you’ve composed your job-search letter, read it out loud to a friend and ask her, “Does this sound like me?” If her answer is “No,” your letter probably has some stilted language that needs to be made more conversational.
Were you surprised to read that I disapprove of these commonly used phrases? I thought so. The main problem with these stilted sentences is that they lack personality, and personality is a key element in a winning letter. Read on to learn good alternatives to stilted phrases and how to make your letter reflect your winning personality.
Yours Truly
You have a set of skills and personal characteristics to offer a lucky employer. Start demonstrating them early on in your job-application process by infusing your letter with your
- Ability to engage in conversation.
- With a dynamite first sentence, you can grab the reader’s attention.
- Talent for making someone feel at ease with you. You can achieve this by having a friendly first paragraph.
- Skill at presenting ideas concisely. In the middle of your letter, use short paragraphs, bullet points, or columns to organize your thoughts.
- Understanding of the reader’s goals. Speak directly to the employer’s situation in your sentences.
- Finesse at initiating the next move. In your last paragraph, state that you’d like to meet with the employer or whatever it is you’d like to have happen next.
- Gratitude for the employer’s attention. End your letter on a note of thanks.
Bonus Check
One way to relax your writing style is to use contractions instead of two words, for example, “It’s been three years since …” instead of “It has been three years since ….” But don’t overdo it and make everything a contraction. Read the letter out loud and insert a contraction where it sounds natural.
After perusing a letter that contains these attributes, your potential employer will think, “I feel like I’m getting to know this person, and I like her!” That’s the response you want.
Showing Your Gold
Confidence and sincerity are two qualities that are always valued by hiring managers. Let’s talk about how your letter can reflect these two characteristics.
