ielts job application letter question

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IELTS General Writing Task 1: Job Application Letter

IELTS Job Application Letter is a formal or semi-formal type of letter . There are usually 3 tasks you have to address in the letter.

Here is an example how the task may look like:

WRITING TASK 1 (General)

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

During a recent plane journey, you sat next to a businessman who owns a chain of restaurants. You talked to him and he suggested that you should contact him about a possible job in one of his restaurants.

Write a letter to this businessman. In your letter

• remind him when and where you met
• tell him what kind of job you are interested in
• say why you think you would be suitable for the job

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Note! You will find the IELTS Job Application Letter Sample with grammar corrections and estimated band score down below.

IELTS Job Application Letter Structure & Vocabulary

We have prepared a job application letter structure with common phrases for you to help you compose the letter and ensure you use the right tone.

JOB APPLICATION LETTER

• 1 Dear Sir/Madam, (or name if given)
• 2 Position – where advertised, when?
• 3 Skills, diplomas, experience, personality
• 4 Why are you interested? Motivation, interview, references
• 5 Formal ending, name, signature
• Dear Sir/Madam, (or name if given)
• I would like to apply for the position of … advertised in "Times" of January 19th, 2022 / "The Wings" issue of December 2021.
• I am writing with regard to your advertisement published in January's "Metro" / in yesterday's "Times".
• I am writing to you to express interest in the ... position as advertised on Careerone.com.au.
• Age, qualifications, present job
• I am a ... with more than 10 years of experience in ...
• I am a recent graduate of the ... University and I have a significant background in ...
• I graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2019 with a degree in ...
• At present, I am employed as a ... by the company ...
• As you can see from my CV, I am a ... with 10 years of experience.
• I had a one-year internship/apprenticeship with ... and the following 3 years ...
• For the past two years I have worked as ... / I was responsible for ...
• Skills and personal qualities
• I consider myself to be reliable, hard-working and enthusiastic.
• I am used to working at a fast pace to meet deadlines.

• I would like to apply my skills in your company.
• I believe the position you offer will give me the opportunity to ...
• If you find my skills and experience suitable, please contact me to schedule an interview.
• I feel that my experience in sales makes me well suited for this position.
• I consider myself a most suitable applicant for the job.
• I have enclosed my references and resume.
• I hope you will consider my application.
• I would be happy to send you references from my previous employers if you require them.
• I would appreciate a reply at your earliest convenience.
• I look forward to meeting you to discuss the possibility of employment.
• Thank you for your time and consideration!
• Yours sincerely, ... (you know the name of person you are writing to)
• Yours faithfully, ... (you don't know the name!)

IELTS Job Application Letter Sample (Corrected)

Begin as follows: Dear ... ,

Dear Tom Mr Smith ,

My name is Edmond Stafford , and we met on a flight from Osaka to Hong Kong of with Peach Airlines on the 1st of July , we arrived at arriving in Hong Kong at 3pm . and we We sat next to each other, we talked during the flight and we exchanged our name business cards. I believe hope you will remember who I am . as you suggested I contact you regarding a job in one of your restaurants. Today I am writing to express my interest in the a position in the chain of your restaurants.

You have mentioned about your chain of restaurants and that you would like to expand it and use more information technology for you to manage them easily, especially the inventory and point of sales. As I told you during the flight, I am an IT expert, so I am particularly interested in the an IT system development job project which can to help you in these two areas.

I am a suitable person for you because I have 10 years of system development experience, specialising in point of sales systems for supermarkets and convenient stores. I believe my skills and experience can help you to set up and customise a robust point of sales system for your chain of restaurants. We can discuss this further face-to-face, and I am available anytime next week, you can call me by the through my contact information to decide set a date. I look forward to hearing from you soon .

Thank you very much.

Yours sincerely,

Edmond Stafford

(229 words)

Band Score Estimate (prior to corrections)

Brief comments:

• arrive at Hong Kong International Airport / arrive in Hong Kong (country)

"I have 7+ years of IELTS teaching experience . I will correct your grammar and give suggestions for more appropriate word use. I will give you tips on how to answer the question in the way the IELTS examiners expect." — Claudia, IELTS teacher from the UK

LETTER RESOURCES

Types of Letters

Job application letter.

Complaint Letter

Business Letter

Request Letter

Informal Letter

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IELTS Writing Task 1: How to write a job application letter

Learning how to successfully write a job application is an important skill to have. In General Training, Writing Task 1, you might be asked to write a job application. So, today we will take a closer look at what you need to include in your response to a potential employer.

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The General Training test includes two writing tasks. One is a 250-word essay and the other is a 150-word letter.  

In the letter-writing task you will need to write a letter to someone for a specific purpose, and in your letter address a common, everyday issues or tasks, such as writing a job application letter. 

Today we will look at some key items you need to address to successfully write a job application letter for Writing Task 1. You can also apply most of what you will learn here to any IELTS letter writing task.  

When writing your job application letter, remember to: 

Present a clear purpose – why you are writing the letter 

Use the correct tone 

Address all three bullet points completely and relevantly 

Write in letter format 

Let’s look at the following sample task. And before you read the tips that follow, think about how you would approach this task so you can compare and adapt your approach after you have finished reading this article. Ask yourself specific questions before you write. 

You have learned about an international job that is available within the company you currently work for and you want to apply. 

Write a letter to the hiring manager. In your letter 

Say why you are applying for this international position 

Describe the job you are currently doing for the company 

Tell him/her why you think you will be good at the job 

Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam

Find the situation and purpose of the letter

Make sure you read the task carefully to understand the situation and purpose of the letter. Pausing for a moment to analyse the task, highlight key points or take notes will help you build a logical background story and make it easier to write the letter.  

If we look at the question above, it appears that:  

You already work for this company 

You now want to work for them in an international location.  

Ask yourself the following questions to help craft your response: 

Why would someone want to move to another country to work?  

What kind of work could you be doing now that would make you a good candidate to move?  

What special skills or experience could you have that would make you good for the job? 

If we put the above tips into action, we might imagine a scenario where your job application letter would address the following points: 

Maybe you work as a product manager with a company and you are very familiar with the product that is launching in this other part of the world.  

You would also like to travel abroad with your family for the experience and you have all the skills and success stories that would make you the best person to launch the product somewhere else.  

You also speak the mother tongue of that country or perhaps you are fluent in English which is the business language there.  

And remember to write an opening sentence that clearly explains why you are writing the job application. For example: 

I am writing to express an interest in... 

I am writing to apply for... 

I am writing in response to the international job opening... 

Determine if you need to write a formal or informal letter.

You will be told in the instructions who you are writing to. If you are told to begin a letter with “Dear Sir or Madam” this is a signal to be formal, using a formal tone. 

In this case, you are writing to the hiring manager, not your boss or anyone you know and you are specifically instructed to begin your letter with ‘Dear Sir or Madam’. So, make sure you do this.  

If you are not given instructions to begin your letter with “Dear Sir or Madam”, then make sure you begin your formal letter with ‘Dear Mr./ Miss/ Mrs. / Ms. Smith’ because you are not friends with the recipient.   

In addition, the purpose of the letter is a serious one because you are applying for a job, so use a more serious tone to write your letter. To keep to the formal tone: 

Begin your letter with a formal address (e.g. Dear Sir or Madam) 

Keep to the point or purpose of the letter and don’t use contractions (e.g. can’t, don’t, won’t) 

Sign your letter off formally (e.g. Yours faithfully, followed by your full name)

Answer all the bullet points

You will notice that this task specifically asks you to do three things in three bullets:  

Say  why  you are applying for this  international position 

Describe the job  you are  currently doing  for the company  that would make you a good choice  

Tell him/her  why you think you will be good at the job in another country  

The highlighted words can help you see how the situation informs this task’s requirements.  

Remember that the ultimate purpose of this letter is to get the job. Therefore, you should keep that in mind when choosing details to include in each bullet and come up with ideas to support that objective. 

Take your time to come up with a good story, so you can better interpret the task and create details that clearly and logically support your points. Take notes to answer the questions in the task. For example: 

When you write your answers, be sure to give examples that support your ideas. 

Use paragraphs

If you are not sure on how many paragraphs to include in your response to the job opening, the simple answer is 5:  

A short one to begin.  

Three longer ones in the middle 

Another short one to end.  

And remember, you must start and finish the letter using the correct letter-writing conventions (Dear.../Yours...). 

For example: 

Dear Sir or Madam: 

Paragraph One begins:  

My name is Mark Jones and I am writing to express my interest in the position of product manager for the launch of moon boots in Italy . . .  

Paragraph Two begins:  

The reason why I am seeking this international position is . . .  

Paragraph Three begins:  

My current position as product manager of moon boots in Australia has given me many valid skills and experiences for this job . . . 

Paragraph Four begins:  

I believe that I am an excellent candidate for two good reasons . . . 

Paragraph Five begins:  

Should you require further information, do not hesitate to contact me. Please find my CV attached. 

Yours faithfully, 

Mark Jones 

Notice how each of the three longer body paragraphs begin with a sentence that directly relates back to the bullets in the task. This is a great way to remind yourself what details to include in that paragraph. It will also make your letter easier to follow.  

You do not have to limit yourself to one paragraph for each bullet point. If you have a lot to say about each bullet point in the task, you can break it out into more paragraphs. 

You can divide supporting details into separate paragraphs, so long as you clearly indicate (using connecting words and/or indenting the next paragraph) when you have moved to the next detail or next main bullet point. 

Practising writing letters can be fun if you take the time to create a logical back story. A good imagination makes it easier, but if you put these tips into practice in your response, you might get more than just the IELTS score you need. It can help you apply for your dream job abroad.

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IELTS General Training, Writing Task 1: How to write a letter

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IELTS General Writing Task 1: Job application letter

Model answer for general writing task 1 ielts, a letter to your boss about a job application..

As mentioned before in my previous posts about IELTS general writing task 1, there are 2 styles for letters. Formal and Informal. Click here to see the differences between IELTS academic task 1 and the General Test. In this lesson, I will look at a letter applying for a job. The style here will be formal because it is a letter to a company.

When you are given a task question there are 3 points to cover. These points will be written about in the body paragraphs. At the start of the letter you should give a reason for why you are writing. This is usually one sentence.

You need to analyse the task question first to make sure you are writing the right kind of letter and covering the key points. If you do not clearly cover all 3 bullet points you could lose a Band score in Task response. I advise about 4 minutes planning your ideas here. You have only 20 minutes to write the letter.

At the end of the letter, especially in formal writing, you should have a sentence such as :

‘I look forward to hearing from you again soon’

I look forward to your reply’ … (or something similar).

Aim for about 170 to 180 words in this task, the minimum is 150 words. Always check your letter for mistakes after writing. Spelling and punctuation are marked in the Grammar criteria.

Task question

You are applying for a job and need a reference. Write a letter to the boss in your former job. In your letter:


• Give details of the job • Explain why it is important to you • Suggest what information your ex-boss could put in the reference.



Model answer

Dear Mr Evans,

I am writing this letter to request a reference from my time at your company.

The company I am hoping to join is connected to NASA and develops software for the international space station. The role consists of developing software that controls the airflow system in the space station. I will have to use my previous skills with Unix to write programs. Additionally, I am expected to work in a team of 20 people to resolve software issues in the filtration systems in the capsules.

The job which I am applying for is my dream job. As you know, I have always wanted to get a position related to space development and computer systems, so this is very important for my career.

I would like to kindly request that you include information about my previous duties which relate directly to this new role. Furthermore, would it be possible to mention my previous success with software development? I would be very grateful if you could put these in the reference.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours Sincerely, David Smith

• Give details of the job – I covered this in paragraph one, I mentioned the type of company and what my duties are going to be. I added extra information about working in a team and other duties. In this paragraph, I have used the future tense ‘ expected to’ and ‘will’ because I have not yet started working there.

• Explain why it is important to you – The second paragraph, which is only 2 sentences, covers my reasons for wanting to join the new company.

• Suggest what information your ex-boss could put in the reference – In the third paragraph I have explained this using ‘I would like to kindly request…’ this is a polite formal request. I have also added extra information of what I require. I ended with the phrase  ‘ I would be very grateful if you could…’   again, this is a formal request and it is polite language.

You must begin with a ‘salutation’ something like Dear Mr Smith or Dear Ms Jones etc..

Always end a formal letter with ‘Yours Sincerely’ or if you don’t know the name of the person write ‘Yours Faithfully’. You can also use the phrase ‘Kind Regards ‘ in a formal letter.

Any questions or comments? leave them below

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IELTS Writing Task-1 Sample Formal Letters + Answers

IELTS Writing Task-1 Sample Formal Letters + Answers: IELTS formal letters are commonly asked topics in General Training Writing. These type of questions generally correspond to a person that you have never met, and you do not know their name.

In this lesson, you will learn how to write a perfect band 7+ answer using THREE sample letters and their model answers. We will adopt the following structure which has proven to be the most suitable for formal letters. Practice this structure on the PDF version of the IELTS Writing Task 1 answer sheet .

(a salutation)

Para 1- Say why you are writing to them

Para 2- Bullet point 1 + supporting details 

Para 3- Bullet point 2 + supporting details 

Para 4- Bullet point 3 + supporting details 

(a farewell note)

Yours faithfully ,

[Your Full Name]

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write at least 150 words.

Sample Letter #1 – Complain about missing luggage

You recently took a plane to a holiday. On arrival, you found your luggage missing. You did not receive your luggage until the final day of your vacation. Write a letter to your airline: – Complain about the missing luggage – Tell the company why it caused problems – Seek compensation

RELATED: IELTS Writing Agree / Disagree Essay Topics

Sample Letter #2 – Local newspaper

You are unhappy about a proposal to make domestic airport bigger and increase the total number of flights. You live near the airport. Write a letter to local newspaper: – Explain where you live – Describe your problems – Give reasons why you do not want this development

Sample Letter #3 – Applying for job

The school library is seeking applications for a job over summer break. You want to apply for the job. Write a letter to the manager of the library: – Introduce yourself – Tell about your past experience and skills – Give reasons why you need that job

We hope that this complete overview of IELTS Writing Task-1 Sample Formal Letters and Answers will help you organize your writing better and ultimately fetch you a high band score.

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IELTS Letter Writing Samples How To Write an Application or Resignation Letter

This lesson includes two IELTS letter writing samples. The first is an application letter which I show you how to plan and write step-by-step. The second is an example of a letter of resignation.

Here’s what the lesson includes:

Question structure

Letter structure.

• Formal or informal?
• Greeting & signoff
• Generating ideas
• Sample letters

All questions for IELTS letters have the same structure. They are made up of 3 parts.

Part 1 –  The topic.

Part 2 –  The person you must write to.

Part 3 –  What you should write about (listed as 3 bullet points).

Here is a sample question for an application letter with the 3 parts illustrated.

IELTS letter writing samples - question 1

Understanding this will help you to quickly analyse the question and plan your answer. To help you plan, use the letter structure below.

For a full lesson on planning, including more IELTS letter writing samples,  click here: How To Plan IELTS Letters

The layout of your letter should follow the structure of the question and consist of four paragraphs with a greeting at the beginning and a signoff at the end.

Use this easy to remember 6 part structure.

1)  Dear .....

2)  Paragraph 1:  Purpose – why you are writing

3)  Paragraph 2:  Write about 1 st  bullet point

4)  Paragraph 3:  Write about 2 nd  bullet point

5)  Paragraph 4:  Write about 3 rd  bullet point

6)  Signoff

All you need to do to create your plan is to add in the details from the question, like this:

  1)  Dear ..... 

  2)  Paragraph 1:  Purpose –  to apply for a summer camp job

  3)  Paragraph 2:    describe your personality   (bullet point 1)

  4)  Paragraph 3:   say what relevant experience and skills you have    (bullet point 2)

  5)  Paragraph 4:   explain what sort of work you would like to do    (bullet point 3)

  6)  Signoff

Formal & Informal Letters

Your letter must be written in the appropriate tone and style. There are two options:

• Formal – to someone you don’t know or don’t know well.
• Informal – to a friend.

It is essential that you are able to identify what type of question you’re required to write. Follow this general:

• If the question includes the word ‘friend’, use informal language.
• If the question  does not  include the word ‘friend’, use formal language.

To learn more about formal and informal letters and see two more IELTS letter writing samples, click here;

IELTS Letter Writing

The person we are writing to in this question is not a friend so, we must write a formal letter. This leads us on to the opening of the letter – the greeting.

The Greeting & Signoff

The greeting.

There are two ways you can begin a formal letter.

• Use  Dear Sir or Madam  if you don’t know the name of the person you are writing to.
• Use  Dear + surname  if you do know their name, e.g.  Dear Mr Smith  or  Dear Mrs Jones .

It’s quite likely that you would not know the name of someone you were making a job application to but if you want to use a surname, just make one up.

The greeting you use will determine how you sign off your letter.

The Signoff

For a formal letter, there are two main options. The correct one will depend on who you are addressing:

• Dear Mr Smith (name known) –  Yours sincerely
• Dear Sir/Madam (name unknown) –  Yours faithfully

You could also use ‘ Kind regards ’. This is formal but friendly and is appropriate for most situations. It is particularly useful if you struggle to remember how to spell ‘sincerely’ and ‘faithfully’.

Always sign off a formal letter with your full name, e.g. Jacky Spear

For our sample letter, we will use this greeting and signoff:

      Dear Sir or Madam...

     ....Yours faithfully,

     Jacky Spear

We are now ready to think up some ideas to write about. We have the guidelines of the 3 bullet points to help us so this won’t be difficult.

How To Generate Ideas for an Application or Resignation Letter

You only have to write 150 words, so you won’t need many ideas but do make sure that you write about each bullet point and develop each idea fully.

They don't have to be the best ideas you can possibly think of. Go with your first thoughts and don’t waste time trying to think of better ideas. However, they must relate directly to the bullet points.

Note them beside each bullet point on the exam paper, like this:

You would like a job working in a summer camp which runs sports and outdoor activities for children and young people.

Write a letter to the organiser of the summer camp. In your letter:

• describe your personality

Outgoing, fun-loving, energetic

• say what relevant experience and skills you have

Scout leader, qualified instructor – kayaking & climbing

• explain what sort of work you would like to do.

Lead group activities, campfire cooking

That’s our planning complete. Once you’ve had some practice, you’ll be able to do this in just a few minutes. Taking time to plan makes writing IELTS letters far quicker and easier than if you don’t do this step. You will also write a better letter and get higher marks.

We're now ready to start writing our letter.

Writing the Letter

Here’s our plan again with all our notes added in.

  3)  Paragraph 2:    describe your personality

  4)  Paragraph 3:   say what relevant experience and skills you have

  5)  Paragraph 4:   explain what sort of work you would like to do.

We’ve already decided on the greeting so we’ll start with paragraph 1.

Paragraph 1

In the first paragraph, you must state the reason for writing the letter, that is, its purpose.

Paragraph 1:  Purpose –  to apply for a summer camp job

Many students make the mistake of missing this purpose sentence out but it's very important. Including it will gain you marks.

It only requires one sentence. For example,

I would like to apply for a position at your Devon summer camp this year.

Top vocabulary tip:  Do not use contractions in formal letters. They are informal language. So, do not write ‘I’d like to apply…

Paragraph 2

In the second paragraph, you write about bullet point 1.  Remember to keep the language informal for this question. 

Paragraph 2:    describe your personality

Outgoing, fun-loving, energetic, responsible

Remember to keep the language formal. Aim for around 50 words for each of paragraphs 2, 3 and 4. You could write something like this.

I am an outgoing person with lots of energy and a great sense of fun and adventure. I show dedication and a high level of responsibility in everything I do and am known for being very reliable. Furthermore, I am confident working on my own but equally enjoy being part of a team.

Paragraph 3

The third paragraph should cover the second bullet point.

Paragraph 3:   say what relevant experience and skills you have

I have many relevant skills to offer. These include level 4 instructor certificates for both for kayaking and climbing as well as being an experienced dinghy sailor. I was a Scout Leader for two years before going to university and was popular with and respected by all the boys and girls in our pack.

Paragraph 4

Paragraph 4 addresses the third bullet point.

Paragraph 4:   explain what sort of work you would like to do.

I am especially interested in being an activity leader at the summer camp but would consider any position appropriate to my skills and experience. I would also be willing to organize and lead campfire cooking session several evenings a week as this is another passion of mine and always a favourite with kids.

This letter needs one final sentence to round it off before we add the signoff. For example:

I thank you for your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.

Now we just need to add the signoff we decided on earlier and our letter is complete.

IELTS Letter Writing Sample

Here is the finished letter.

Practice Question

Now practice writing a letter of resignation using the question below.

IELTS letter writing samples - question 2

You have decided to leave your current employment.

Write a letter to your employer. In the letter:

• explain why you have decided to leave the company
• tell your employer what you plan to do after leaving your present employment
• say what you have gained from working for the company.

Use the planning structure I showed you above to plan before you start writing. You will know the name of your employer so make one up for this letter.

You'll find more IELTS l etter writing  samples in the lessons below.

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Common letter topics.

• Letter of Complaint
• Letter of Explanation
• Letters of Application & Resignation
• Letters to Make an Arrangement
• An Invitation

IELTS General Writing Task 1 – All Lessons

Includes many IELTS letter writing samples.

IELTS General Writing  –  A summary of the test including important facts, test format & assessment.

Letter Format  – The format, the 7 topics, letter structure, formal & informal, assessment & marking criteria, sample questions. Essential information  you need to know.

Letter Writing Tips   – Learn top tips on how to meet the assessment and marking criteria and achieve a high score.

Letter Writing Structure  – Find out how to use this   easy to   learn letter structure to write a high-scoring letter. Includes a model answer.

How To Plan a Letter  – Learn a simple 5 step process & 6 part letter structure. Also, help to understand the question & generate ideas.

Formal or Informal  – How to decide what type of letter to write. Sample questions & 2 model letters.

Letter Writing Vocabulary  – Learn useful phrases to help you achieve a high score. Also, know how to start & end your letter.

How To Write an Informal Letter – Step-by-step instructions, simple 4 step plan & 6 part letter structure, model letter.

How To Write a Formal Letter – Step-by-step instructions, simple 4 step plan & 6 part letter structure, model letter.

Letter Topics  – Learn the 7 most common letter topics   & other popular subjects. Includes 20 sample questions.

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IELTS Sample Letters for Writing Task 1

Here is a collection of sample letters to help you prepare for IELTS writing task 1 for the General Training Paper (students taking the Academic Paper will not get letters for writing task 1). The IELTS sample letters below are a range of personal, semi-formal and formal which are all common in task 1.

Letter of Instruction

You have just spent a week with a friend on holiday. When you got home, you realised you had left your wallet there. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: thank your friend for the holiday explain that you left your wallet in their house give them instructions of how to send it back to you

Asking for a Letter of Reference

You are applying for a job and need a letter of reference. Write a letter to a former teacher. In your letter: give details of the job explain why it is important to you suggest what information your teacher could put in the reference  

Letter of Advice

A friend has written to you asking for advice about a problem at work. You have had a similar problem in the past. Write a reply to your friend. In your letter: tell your friend you understand the problem explain what happened to you in the past suggest possible solutions to the problem.

Letter of Complaint

Work is being done on the street where you live. The noise is disturbing you. Write a letter of complaint to your local council. In your letter: introduce yourself explain what the problem is suggest solutions to the problem

Letter of Application

You saw an advert in the newspaper asking for volunteers to help run a charity event. Write a letter of application to the organisers. In your letter: explain why you are interested in helping give details suitable past experience suggest ways you might help with the event

Letter of Request

You need to take leave from your work of over one month for personal reasons. Write a letter to your boss. In your letter: explain the reason for the leave and the length of leave you need explain how you will keep up-to-date while you’re away suggest how your work could be covered while you are away

Letter of Resignation

You have decided to resign from your work in order to try a new field. Write a letter of resignation to your boss. In your letter: tell your boss of your decision and explain why you are leaving explain what you have learnt from your current job and how you feel about leaving ask for a letter of reference

Letter of Arrangement

You have organised to go on holiday with your friend. However, you must change your plans. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: tell them how much you are looking forward to the holiday explain why you must change your plans suggest alternative arrangements

You recently ordered something online. When the delivery came it was not complete. Write a letter to the company. In your letter: explain what you ordered and what was missing from your delivery explain the importance of this delivery ask for a replacement item to be sent

Letter of Acceptance

A friend has offered you some work in his company. You are currently employed and not able to start for three months. Write a reply to your friend. In your letter: give details of what you know about his company explain your current situation give your answer to the offer and explain why

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A job application cover letter

Home  »  IELTS general writing task 1: letter samples, phrases and tips.  » A job application cover letter   

You are applying for a job. As well as attaching a CV, you need to write a cover letter explaining your reasons for choosing this particular job at this particular company, and why you would be a good hire. Things to include are: 1. Possible qualifications or reasons for you to be hired 2. Your energy and enthusiasm for the job 3. Your past experience in a similar position.

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to express my interest in the position of Lead Software Engineer that was advertised in The Times newspaper on 24/09/2017. My education consists of a Bachelor’s Degree with first class honours in Computer Science from the University of Manchester, as well as a Master’s Degree in Applied Software Engineering from the University of Barcelona, where I assisted in the development of an artificial intelligence that has the ability to recognise individual personality traits in humans with great accuracy. Further to this, I have since worked for Intel Corporation as a Senior Engineer for over eight years. My main responsibilities centred around the management of a team of fifteen developers whose job it was to provide machine code solutions to processing problems. I believe it is this well-developed problem solving ability which makes me a suitable candidate for a leadership position at your esteemed company. Finally, I have been compelled to participate in the technology sector since I was a teenager, and so my enthusiasm for the industry is considerable. Please find my CV attached for your perusal, and I look forward to discussing this opportunity further at interview.

Yours faithfully, Nicola Sturgeon

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IELTS Writing Task 1: How to write a job application letter

Learning how to successfully write a job application is an important skill to have. In General Training, Writing Task 1, you might be asked to write a job application. So, today we will take a closer look at what you need to include in your response to a potential employer.

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The General Training test includes two writing tasks. One is a 250-word essay and the other is a 150-word letter.  

In the letter-writing task you will need to write a letter to someone for a specific purpose, and in your letter address a common, everyday issues or tasks, such as writing a job application letter. 

Today we will look at some key items you need to address to successfully write a job application letter for Writing Task 1. You can also apply most of what you will learn here to any IELTS letter writing task.  

When writing your job application letter, remember to: 

Present a clear purpose – why you are writing the letter 

Use the correct tone 

Address all three bullet points completely and relevantly 

Write in letter format 

Let’s look at the following sample task. And before you read the tips that follow, think about how you would approach this task so you can compare and adapt your approach after you have finished reading this article. Ask yourself specific questions before you write. 

You have learned about an international job that is available within the company you currently work for and you want to apply. 

Write a letter to the hiring manager. In your letter 

Say why you are applying for this international position 

Describe the job you are currently doing for the company 

Tell him/her why you think you will be good at the job 

Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam

Find the situation and purpose of the letter

Make sure you read the task carefully to understand the situation and purpose of the letter. Pausing for a moment to analyse the task, highlight key points or take notes will help you build a logical background story and make it easier to write the letter.  

If we look at the question above, it appears that:  

You already work for this company 

You now want to work for them in an international location.  

Ask yourself the following questions to help craft your response: 

Why would someone want to move to another country to work?  

What kind of work could you be doing now that would make you a good candidate to move?  

What special skills or experience could you have that would make you good for the job? 

If we put the above tips into action, we might imagine a scenario where your job application letter would address the following points: 

Maybe you work as a product manager with a company and you are very familiar with the product that is launching in this other part of the world.  

You would also like to travel abroad with your family for the experience and you have all the skills and success stories that would make you the best person to launch the product somewhere else.  

You also speak the mother tongue of that country or perhaps you are fluent in English which is the business language there.  

And remember to write an opening sentence that clearly explains why you are writing the job application. For example: 

I am writing to express an interest in... 

I am writing to apply for... 

I am writing in response to the international job opening... 

Determine if you need to write a formal or informal letter.

You will be told in the instructions who you are writing to. If you are told to begin a letter with “Dear Sir or Madam” this is a signal to be formal, using a formal tone. 

In this case, you are writing to the hiring manager, not your boss or anyone you know and you are specifically instructed to begin your letter with ‘Dear Sir or Madam’. So, make sure you do this.  

If you are not given instructions to begin your letter with “Dear Sir or Madam”, then make sure you begin your formal letter with ‘Dear Mr./ Miss/ Mrs. / Ms. Smith’ because you are not friends with the recipient.   

In addition, the purpose of the letter is a serious one because you are applying for a job, so use a more serious tone to write your letter. To keep to the formal tone: 

Begin your letter with a formal address (e.g. Dear Sir or Madam) 

Keep to the point or purpose of the letter and don’t use contractions (e.g. can’t, don’t, won’t) 

Sign your letter off formally (e.g. Yours faithfully, followed by your full name)

Answer all the bullet points

You will notice that this task specifically asks you to do three things in three bullets:  

Say  why  you are applying for this  international position 

Describe the job  you are  currently doing  for the company  that would make you a good choice  

Tell him/her  why you think you will be good at the job in another country  

The highlighted words can help you see how the situation informs this task’s requirements.  

Remember that the ultimate purpose of this letter is to get the job. Therefore, you should keep that in mind when choosing details to include in each bullet and come up with ideas to support that objective. 

Take your time to come up with a good story, so you can better interpret the task and create details that clearly and logically support your points. Take notes to answer the questions in the task. For example: 

When you write your answers, be sure to give examples that support your ideas. 

Use paragraphs

If you are not sure on how many paragraphs to include in your response to the job opening, the simple answer is 5:  

A short one to begin.  

Three longer ones in the middle 

Another short one to end.  

And remember, you must start and finish the letter using the correct letter-writing conventions (Dear.../Yours...). 

For example: 

Dear Sir or Madam: 

Paragraph One begins:  

My name is Mark Jones and I am writing to express my interest in the position of product manager for the launch of moon boots in Italy . . .  

Paragraph Two begins:  

The reason why I am seeking this international position is . . .  

Paragraph Three begins:  

My current position as product manager of moon boots in Australia has given me many valid skills and experiences for this job . . . 

Paragraph Four begins:  

I believe that I am an excellent candidate for two good reasons . . . 

Paragraph Five begins:  

Should you require further information, do not hesitate to contact me. Please find my CV attached. 

Yours faithfully, 

Mark Jones 

Notice how each of the three longer body paragraphs begin with a sentence that directly relates back to the bullets in the task. This is a great way to remind yourself what details to include in that paragraph. It will also make your letter easier to follow.  

You do not have to limit yourself to one paragraph for each bullet point. If you have a lot to say about each bullet point in the task, you can break it out into more paragraphs. 

You can divide supporting details into separate paragraphs, so long as you clearly indicate (using connecting words and/or indenting the next paragraph) when you have moved to the next detail or next main bullet point. 

Practising writing letters can be fun if you take the time to create a logical back story. A good imagination makes it easier, but if you put these tips into practice in your response, you might get more than just the IELTS score you need. It can help you apply for your dream job abroad.

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Letter#9 | Applying for a job

General Training Writing Task 1  should be written in the style appropriate to the task: if it is a letter to a friend, it should be written in a friendly, informal style; if it is a letter to a company or institution, it should be written in a formal style.

The following are the basic features of formal style:

• All verbs forms must be written in full: do not write contractions such as  can’t, don’t,  etc.
• Do not use abbreviations such as  info  for  information  or  ads  for  advertisements .
• Avoid using the active voice and the first person singular; in a formal letter you should write: ‘A copy of the receipt will be forwarded to you as soon as possible’ instead of ‘I will send you a copy of the receipt ASAP.’
• Avoid using informal intensifiers such as  really, so, absolutely ; use  extremely, highly, entirely, fully  instead.
• Avoid using phrasal verbs which tend to be used in informal writing and conversation; for example, use  seek a job  instead of  look for a job ; most phrasal verbs are idiomatic in nature, that is, their meaning cannot usually be inferred from their individual parts.
• Avoid using informal discourse markers and link words such as  besides  or  by the way  and use  incidentally  instead.
• Do not use set phrases and idioms, for example, ‘I am not going to pay you a penny’ instead of ‘Your fee will not be paid.’
• Avoid ellipsis (leaving out words), for example, leaving out the subject  I  in ‘Hope to hear from you soon.’

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You have seen an advertisement for a community college that needs teachers for night classes.

Write a letter to the community college. In your letter:

• say which advertisement you are answering
• describe which course(s) you want to teach, and what it/they would be about
• explain why you would be a suitable teacher

Write at least 150 words.

Model answer.

I am writing to City Evening College in reference to an advertisement I saw in The Vancouver Sun on May 14th for language teachers at your college.

I am interested in teaching Korean and Korean Cookery. I have seen that your guide for last term does not include these courses, but I understand there are now large numbers of second and third-generation Koreans living in this part of the city who may be keen to learn more about their language and culture.

I have a Bachelor of Science degree and a teaching diploma. I hold special qualifications in language teaching and cookery. I was a science teacher in Korea, but moved to San Francisco in 2010. There, I taught Korean for Beginners and Korean Cookery at two community colleges. The language course assumed students had no prior knowledge of Korean. It gave them simple everyday language, as well as recognition of the alphabet. The cookery course focused on easy meal preparation and the art of pickling, or  kim chi .

In Vancouver, I could teach the same courses as previously, or we could devise new ones, depending on what the college considered its market to be.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Kim Stevenson

(206 words)

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GT Writing Task 1 Sample

In Writing Task 1 of the IELTS GT Test, a prompt will be given that gives you a situation that requires you to write a letter of around 150 words. For example, you may be asked to congratulate a friend who has recently been promoted in his/her job; a letter to your landlord describing a problem in the house you have rented; or a letter to your manager in your office.

You need to write a letter which can be informal (to a friend), semi-formal (to a neighbour) or formal (to a shop manager). We have produced many letter responses which are band 7.5+ level and you can practice them so that you can write any type of letter in your IELTS test. Best of luck!  

Band 8/9 IELTS Letter Samples

12 Recent IELTS Letter Topics

IELTS Letter Types with model answers

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IELTS Sample Letters

These IELTS sample letters illustrate the different types you may come across in the test.

Letters tend to be one of these types:

• Informal (e.g. to a friend or family member)
• Semi-formal (e.g. to your landlord or employer, who you know)
• Formal (e.g. to the manager of a company)

They also have broad purposes such as a complaint, resignation, arrangement, advice, request, explanation or apology, though any one letter may include several of these purposes based on the bullet points.

• Sample 1: Letter to landlord - see below (request)
• Sample 2: Letter to insurance company (complaint)
• Sample 3: Letter to theatre manager (complaint)
• Sample 4: Letter to friend (apology/explanation)
• Sample 5: Letter to train company (complaint)
• Sample 6: Letter to head teacher (complaint)
• Sample 7: Letter to restaurant (job application)
• Sample 8: Letter to employer (request)
• Sample 9: Letter to friend (arrangement)
• Sample 10: Letter to friend (advice)

You can also view letters that have been written by students practicing for the test:

• IELTS Student Letters

IELTS Letter to Landlord

You are experiencing financial problems and want to ask your landlord if you can pay your rent late.  Write a letter to your landlord.

In your letter explain:

• Why you cannot pay the rent
• When you will pay the rent.
• How you will ensure you can pay your rent in the future

Write at least 150 words

You do  NOT  need to write any addresses

Begin your letter as follows:

Model Answer

Dear Mr Strickland,

I am writing to you to request that you allow me to pay my rent late this month.

The reason is that I am having a few financial problems at the moment. Last month, I was made redundant from my job due to the fact that the company I work for is closing down. Because I have not worked at the company for long, I have not received a redundancy payment, therefore leaving me short of money this month.

I can assure you that I will be able to pay the rent on the 15th of next month. I have now found another job, and they have kindly agreed to give me an advance on my wages, but they are unable to arrange this until next week.

I can assure you that I will be able to continue to pay rent at the full rate and on time in the future. As I mentioned, I have a new job and this is on a long-term contract, meaning that I will have a secure and timely income. I may also set up a direct debit so the payment goes to your automatically each month. 

I hope this will be acceptable to you, but please contact me if it is a problem.

Yours sincerely,

John Streetham.

(210 Words)

The letter is well-structured as the writer makes it clear in the first sentence why the letter is being written, gives further details of the problem in the first body paragraph, and then sets out when payment will be made, finally discussing the future.

The tone of the letter is appropriate as it is polite ( I am writing to you to request..., I can assure you...., I apologise for this problem..., please contact me if it is a problem...  ).

The opening and closing of the letter are correct for a semi-formal letter to someone if you know their name ( Dear Mr Strickland..., Yours sincerely...  ).

There are good examples of correct use of tenses, demonstrating that the writer has a very good working use of grammar:

• present continuous for what is happening now:  I am having a few financial problems at the moment
• past simple passive for events in the past and when the subject is not doing the verb:  I was made redundant
• Future:  I can assure you that I will be able to pay
• Present perfect:  I have now found

More on IELTS Letters:

IELTS Letter Tenses

Learn about how to ensure the tenses you use in IELTS letters are correct to get a high band score.

Task 1 GT Letter: Making a Complaint

This sample Task 1 GT Letter is about making a complaint about problems at a recreation ground.

Task 1 Letter: Complaint to Train Company

In a task 1 letter of complaint you usually need to explain why you are not pleased with an aspect of customer service.

IELTS Letter: Job Application to Restaurant

In this IELTS letter you are have to write a job application for a position in a restaurant.

Opening and Closing a Letter

In this lesson you will learn about opening and closing a letter for the IELTS task 1 General Training.

IELTS Advice letter: Advising a Friend

This is an IELTS advice letter in which you have to write to a friend and advise them whether to go to college or apply for a job.

IELTS Informal Letter: Getting the Tone Right

This is an IELTS informal letter sample and shows you how to use the right tone when its not formal.

IELTS Letter Feedback Forum

IELTS Letter Feedback Forum - would you like to get feedback on a task 1 letter for General Training IELTS? Then post it here. Other students can comment.

IELTS Formal Letter Sample: Theatre Visit

This IELTS formal letter sample is regarding a visit to the theatre. It's a complaint letter as person did not enjoy it.

IELTS Letter Lessons: Writing Letters for the Task 1 General

An IELTS letter has to be written for the task 1 of IELTS general training. Take lessons on how to write high-scoring answers.

IELTS Complaint Letter

IELTS Complaint Letter - Get the best tips and strategies on how to write a letter of complaint for the IELTS General Training.

IELTS Formal Letter to an Insurance Company

This is an IELTS formal letter to an insurance company It is an example of how to write a letter of complaint.

IELTS Arrangement Letter: Holiday with a Friend

This is a sample IELTS Arrangement Letter in which you have to contact a friend to explain how your holiday plans have changed.

IELTS Request Letter: Time Off Work

This is an IELTS request letter in which you need to take leave from your work of over one month for personal reasons.

IELTS Band 9 Letters

Tips for IELTS band 9 letters, showing you how to get 9 for task achievement, coherence, lexis and grammar.

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IELTS General Training Task 1- Structure of Writing Job Application Letter

General training IELTS exam is an exam which is conducted for the students who want to immigrate permanently to abroad in order to work or to be employed there. General Training IELTS Exam format is is all the same with some major changes in writing and reading exams. The General Training test includes two writing tasks.

In this particular article, GT's writing test task 1 will be discussed within which tips to write a letter of job application under GT writing task 1 (letter writing) will be shared.

IELTS General Training Task 1- Structure of Writing Formal Apology Letter

IELTS General Training Task 1- Structure of Writing Formal Complaint Letter

Job Application

A letter of job application is focused on an everyday issue that is writing a letter to the prospective employers for applying for a job in their organisation. Writing a job application letter is a formal letter and requires highly formal language to be written in it.

Following are some points to be remembered before writing a job application letter

● Write the clear purpose of the letter in the introductory paragraph only.

Position – where and when it was advertised?

Skills, diplomas, experience, personality

Why are you interested? Motivation, interview, references

Formal ending with full name and signature.

● Notice how each of the three longer body paragraphs begin with a sentence that directly relates back to the bullets in the task.

● Job application letters should be written in a formal language only and the tone should be very polite and respectful.

● Address all the bullet points given in the question relevantly.

● Write in the format only that is of a formal letter which will be discussed further in the article.

● Take care of the word limit and write qualitatively only.

● Do not use short forms and contractions such as don't, won't, can't etcetera. (Refer to the previous blog for writing more formal language)

Structure Of Writing A Job Application Letter

1. greetings.

It is the first step in writing any letter to greet the receiver of the letter. In this case, you are writing to the hiring manager of another company, not your boss or anyone you know and make sure you do this.

The way to greet in a formal letter is to write:-

● Dear Sir/Madam

Remember to write 'D' , 'S' , 'M' as in uppercase format.

In case, if you are writing to your own company's owner, then it would be better to write-

● Dear Mr. Smith ('M' and 'S' capital)

It's better to address the recipient with the last name as you are not friends with the recipient.

Also Read-  How to greet examiner in IELTS Speaking test?

2. Introductory paragraph

After greetings, it's time to write an introductory paragraph. It is a type of a formal letter, so it is required to introduce yourself first and write the clear purpose of the letter.

Make sure you read the task carefully to understand the situation and purpose of the letter and remember to write an opening sentence that clearly explains why you are writing the job application.

Take your time to come up with a good story, so you can better interpret the task and create details that clearly and logically support your points. Take notes to answer the questions in the task

Mark out the key points or take notes as it will help you to build a logical background and makes it easier to write a letter.

● I am writing to express an interest in one of the advertised positions in your company…..

● I am writing to apply for a position….

● I am writing in response to the international job opening…

How To Write Effective Introduction & Conclusion In IELTS?

fluent in English

3. Body Paragraph 1

It is the paragraph where you should write about the skills which you possess related to that job position. Also, convince them and answer them why they should hire you. Ask yourself the following questions to help craft your response:

What kind of position are you currently at and would you be a good candidate to move?

What special skills or experience do you have that would make you good for the job?

Why would I like to switch my current job?

● I would like to work as an…….

If you are applying for an international position.

(You also speak the mother tongue of that country or perhaps you are fluent in English which is the business language there)

● I would be able to serve my best at…..

● I would appreciate it if you could spare some of your precious time….

I had a one-year internship/apprenticeship with ... and the following 3 years ...

For the past two years I have worked as ... / I was responsible for …

4. Body paragraph 2

Once you have convinced and completed talking about the position and your enthusiasm towards that post, Body paragraph 2 should include your academic and curriculum vitae. It should mention the following points.

● I have completed my graduation from….

● I have worked for…

● I have worked as an….

● I am currently working with….

● I am serving at….. position in ….. company……

(Maybe you work as a product manager with a company and you are very familiar with the product that is launching in this other part of the world).

● My extra curricular skills include….

● I am a recent graduate of the ... University and I have a significant background in ...

● I graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2019 with a degree in ...

● At present, I am employed as a ... by the company …

5. Conclusion

Last paragraph is the conclusion paragraph where you should mention what you expect to happen next.

● I look forward to hearing from you…..

● I shall be grateful if you could shortlist me…..

● Kindly see the attached….

● Kindly have a look at my CV…..

6. Ending of the Letter

Sign your letter off formally

● Yours faithfully.

● Your full name.

Sample Letter

During a recent plane journey, you sat next to a businessman who owns a chain of restaurants. You talked to him and he suggested that you should contact him about a possible job in one of his restaurants.

Write a letter to this businessman. In your letter

remind him when and where you met

tell him what kind of job you are interested in

say why you think you would be suitable for the job

Begin as follows: Dear ... ,

Dear Mr Smith,

My name is Mark Jones and we met on a flight from India to Hong Kong with Indi Airlines on the 1st of July arriving in Hong Kong at 3pm. We sat next to each other, talked during the flight and exchanged our business cards. I hope you will remember who I am. As you suggested, I have contacted you regarding a job in one of your restaurants. Today, I am writing to express my interest in a position in the chain of your restaurants.

You mentioned your chain of restaurants and that you would like to expand it and use more information technology to manage them easily. As I told you during the flight, I am an IT expert, so I am interested in an IT system development project to help you in this area, especially, the point of sales.

I am a suitable person for you because I have 10 years' experience in system development, specializing in point of sales systems for supermarkets and convenience stores. I believe my skills and experience can help you to set up a strong sales system in this industry. We can discuss this further face-to-face, and I am available anytime next week, you can call me through my contact information to set a date. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you very much.

Yours sincerely,

I hope the letter of writing a job application is clear to you. Keep practicing for it and more examples like this. Keep in touch for more blogs and informative articles.

Best of luck!

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