OXFORD

APPLICATION ESSENTIALS
D
Your Address
your.email@provider.com
Their Address
Date
s
Dear . . .
OPENING PARAGRAPH: Simply state what you are applying for and where you found out about it.
This tells the recruiter why they are reading the letter, and helps them know which promotional tools
Explain why you are interested in the position and/or the organisation. Differentiate yourself.
sending generic letters. Draw on your research to demonstrate understanding of the business and
particularly attractive for you: back this up with evidence from your past, or link this to your broader
career plans and aspirations.
Help the person reading your letter to understand how you meet ‘essential’ requirements for the
role. State explicitly how you match their criteria, supported by evidence from you CV. Focus on
your accomplishments and the most relevant transferable skills you have for the role. If you have
Support your claims with examples from your CV. You may build a stronger, more credible case by
linking different experiences to highlight different aspects of competencies or development of a
skill. Consider these examples:
• having run [named event] at school, I further developed my organisational skills when raising [£££]
[named Society] attended by [number] of people.
• the [role applied for] would allow me use my passion for helping others, which underpins both
disadvantaged children through Oxford’s Schools Plus programme.
CLOSING PARAGRAPH: Keep it simple and clear. Thank the employer for their interest in your
'I look forward to interviewing with [Company name] in 2 weeks‘ or ‘discussing the position with you
soon’.
Yours faithfully, (If you started ‘Dear Sir or Madam’)
or
Signature
www.careers.ox.ac.uk 47