How to write a good unsolicited application?
7 April 2012
Read by 3725 persons
1. Basic rules to follow: form and substance
An unsolicited application isn't a standard letter sent to 200 people, but a personalized letter to a clearly identified person. Your approach must be resolutely positive and the reader should see you as an "expert contributor" and not a "job seeker". To achieve this, certain rules must be followed in both form and substance:
- Quality paper, neat writing
- A letter addressed by name
- Your letter should preferably be handwritten
- An airy presentation and short, punchy sentences
- No verbiage or pompous phrases
- No allusions or negative formulations
- Impeccable spelling
- Use of future and present tense (no conditional)
- Don't repeat your CV. The letter makes them want to read your CV, not the other way around.
- Don't only talk about yourself, but say how you are useful to the company
- Argue by giving concrete examples (results, figures)
- Don't lie
- Express and explain your motivation without resorting to clichés
- Document your letter with precise information about the company
- Sign your letter
2. Structure your ideas using a guiding thread
The approach of an unsolicited application is somewhat similar to an advertising letter. You are offering a product (your expertise) and you create the desire in your reader to use it.
To engage the reader and arouse this "need" for a meeting, we advise you to structure your letter following a guiding thread. This "thread" corresponds to stages and/or paragraphs whose progression brings more clarity to your ideas and therefore more strength to your messages.
Monster.fr
Posted on April 7, 2012.
