1103 West Glen Cove
Round Rock, Texas 78677
August 5, 1990
Personnel Assistant
TG Employee Credit Bank of Texas
P.O. Box 112335
Austin, Texas 78715
Dear Personnel Assistant:
I am writing about your newspaper ad in the August 1 Austin-American Statesman concerning your need for an experienced programmer in the database environment. I believe that I have the qualifications and experience that you are looking for.
As for my experience with database programming, I have worked for the past year as a programmer/analyst in the Query database environment for Advanced Software Creations. In that capacity, I have converted a large database that was originally written in a customized C language database into the Query database environment. I am currently working on a contract with Texas Parks and Wildlife to make major modifications to its existing Query database application. On both of these assignments, I have also served as customer contact person.
Related to this database-programming experience is the work I have been doing to write and market an automated documentation utility for Query database applications. This product was written using a combination of C, Pascal, and Query programming languages. I was responsible for the authorship of the Pascal and Query programs. The Pascal programs are completely responsible for the user interface and system integration management.
Enclosed you will find a resume, which will give you additional information on my background and qualifications. I would welcome a chance to talk further with you about the position you are seeking to fill. I can be reached by phone between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. at (513) 545-1098.
Sincerely,
Virginia Lopez
Encl.: resume
Comments:
Application letter. In this application letter, the writer is seeking an interview for a database programming job. She reviews the parts of her work experience that relate directly to the job.
Heading. The heading portion of a business letter includes the writer's address and date. For traditional business letters, you don't normally include your name in the heading.
Inside address. The inside address provides the full name, title, and address of the recipient of the letter. If you do not have a specific name, call the company or use some other strategy to find a name. An department name or a position title (which is used in this example) will work just fine.
Salutation. In this portion of the letter, use the same name as you used in the inside address. Be sure and punctuate the salutation with a colon, not a comma (which is for informal, friendly, nonbusiness letters).
Introduction. The introduction to any business letter should be brief—four or five lines at the most. In this application letter, the writer indicates the purpose of the letter (to apply for an employment opening), cites the specific job title, mentions how she heard about the opening, and summarizes her best qualifications.
Experience. In this first of two experience sections, the writer summarizes two jobs in which she did database programming work.
Experience—continued. In this second experience sections, the writer summarizes summarizes related database programming work. Even though we see details such as company names, software product names, this and the preceding paragraph could be improved with additional specific detail. Remember that strong details, related directly to the job you are seeking, are one of the keys to effective application letters. Of course, you don't want to overwhelm readers with details—provide just enough to capture readers' attention, make you stand out, and cause readers to remember you.
Newspaper, magazine, and book titles. Use italics (or underscores) for newspaper names, as well as for magazines and books. (Use quotation marks for titles of chapters or articles within newspapers, magazines, and books.)
Wrap-up. This final portion of the application letter contains the concluding paragraph and the signature block. Writers typically include information about contacting them, such as phone numbers, dates, and times, as is done in this example. When you write an application letter, don't forget to sign in the open area above your typed name. Also don't forget to indicate the enclosure of the resume.
That completes the comments for this example.