Writing resumes is challenging, but an application is even more difficult if you don’t know how! It is essential to step out of your comfort zone to follow your dreams of working abroad, and it is worth all the application writing agony.
A job application letter details you and your interest in a role. Sending an application letter with your resume helps you stand out and improves your likelihood of securing an interview.
Most job offers start with a good application preceded by research and more research! In this article, we explain how to write an international job application letter and provide valuable tips to note when writing one.
How to Write an International Job Application
1. Research the company and position
Your cover letter should be specific to the business and job you’re looking for. Study the industry and position before you start drafting one.
Learn more about the position on the company’s website and job posting. Next, compare your skills with the requirements listed in the job offering.
In addition, your application letter should include relevant information about the business to show a hiring manager that you had researched and prepared the material before writing.
2. Start by expressing your interest in the position
Write an exciting and straightforward introduction to get the hiring manager’s attention. Please provide the job title and the source of the posting.
Bringing up your interest in the particular position makes it more apparent to the reader that this isn’t a template or generic cover letter. Consider adding details that immediately connect you with the company.
3. Mention your qualifications and experience
After you’ve written your introduction, emphasize your experience, education, and talents in your application letter. Make sure this section aligns with the business’s objectives.
If you’re seeking a job in electrical engineering, describe how your background as an electrician might assist a company in meeting its electrical testing objectives.
4. Describe your personality
Although an application letter should sound professional, your reader will be more receptive if it is personable. Come up with ideas for including facets of your personality so the reader can see how and why you’d be a good fit for their company.
For instance, if you’re applying for a job as a cashier, mention that you know your occupation needs being outgoing and that you respect integrity.
5. Appreciate the reader
Before you close your application letter, thank the reader for considering your application. Hiring managers take time to review several application letters, so appreciating them is a polite approach. You can briefly recap your strengths in this section.
6. Close the letter
Though “Sincerely” is frequently used, any formal closing is appropriate. After signing off, make sure to include your entire name.
When sending an email, your contact information should appear below your name. If not, sign your name in handwriting above the printed version.
Tips to Note When Writing a Job Application Letter
1. Make it short
Application letters must be concise and straightforward to read. Hiring managers need more time to read several pages despite the temptation to include as much information as possible.
Your application letter, which should be one page maximum, should include the relevant material supporting your candidacy.
2. Proofread your application letter
Writing a solid application makes a positive impression because it is often your first contact with hiring managers. Ask friends, relatives, or a career counselor about your completed document.
Before submitting your letter, ask them to modify and proofread it if they have time. They could point out mistakes you would have missed or recommend ways to make reading more straightforward.
3. Convey enthusiasm
Since your application letter is an opportunity to convince hiring managers you’re the best candidate, be sure to exhibit enthusiasm for the position. Express your excitement, understanding of the job, and desire to be considered.
4. Customize your application for each job specifically
For every job that you apply for, write a different application letter. In what way does your previous experience apply specifically to the position’s duties?
The application letter should include any experience and qualifications unrelated to the position. If your cover letter highlights your familiarity with the business and the position you seek, it could work in your favor.
Although you can utilize sections of an old application for a new one, a prospective employer will quickly recognize a templated letter.
5. Use keywords from the job posting
Many job listings include requirements that hiring managers expect in an application letter. Circle out keywords that you see in job postings and include them in different sections of your application letter.
6. Focus on the future
Unlike your resume, your application letter should focus on how you can contribute to an organization. Leave out information about your past employers if it doesn’t relate to how you can benefit the company.
7. Emphasize your qualifications
Recruiting managers look for applicants who can solve issues and advance the organization toward its objectives. They also require workers who quickly learn new skills and adjust to the company’s culture.
In your cover letter, make sure to highlight your qualifications. If you’re seeking a doctor’s job, describe how you comprehend the healthcare facility’s objective of achieving 100% patient satisfaction.
It would be best if you discussed how your medical expertise and interpersonal abilities can assist the facility in achieving its goal.
8. Make it original
While you can use some aspects of your resume to write your application letter, try not to use direct excerpts. Most hiring managers read both documents back-to-back.
It’s also important to decide whether to send an email or a hard copy before writing the first draft.
9. Use a professional format for your application letter
Use a formal typeface while drafting an application letter. Select black-only typefaces such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. In addition, please select a font size of 10 or 12 points and align it with single spacing.
Your name and contact information should appear in a formal business header on your application letter. Put the address, firm name, and date on paper. Your reader will find following up on your application more straightforward with these polished headlines.
Research your readers’ names to ensure you spell and address them accurately. When addressing someone, start your message with a formal salutation like “Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms.” and end with their last name.
If you know the recruiting manager’s preferred gender pronoun, you may additionally follow the salutation with their complete name.
10. Look for “concealed” jobs
Many companies post their job openings on their websites and advertise them through other channels. These channels include social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook, Instagram or TikTok nowadays, professional networks like Slack, and employee referral programs.
These are all great places to find international jobs that don’t appear on the company’s leading job board or website. Try searching Google with keywords such as “internships,” “contract positions,” or “consultancies.” You might be surprised by what you discover!
How to Better Prepare for an International Career
- Personal growth: Living and working abroad can foster your independence, self-assurance, and flexibility. Additionally, it can widen your horizons and promote a greater respect and understanding of many cultures and lifestyles.
- Professional development: Gaining international experience can help you expand your professional network, learn new skills, and understand your field. Additionally, it can increase your competitiveness in the job market because companies like applicants with foreign experience and the ability to work well with people from other backgrounds.
- Language acquisition: Immersing yourself in a foreign culture can also provide an opportunity to learn a new language, which can be a valuable skill in your personal and professional life.
- Cultural awareness and sensitivity: You can get a deeper appreciation and understanding of diverse cultures and increase cultural sensitivity and awareness by spending time abroad. This can be helpful in business transactions with individuals from other countries and personal and professional relationships.
- Career advancement: Gaining international experience might help you stand out in the competitive global job market and lead to new professional options. Additionally, it can offer beneficial cross-cultural knowledge for various positions and sectors.
Living abroad can significantly impact a person’s personal and professional life by making them more knowledgeable, adaptive, and well-rounded.
