Letter of ApplicationwTodays world can be compared to a big market. At the talent market, universities are attracting promising students and companies are seeking qualified employees. Whether you intend to study abroad or get a job in a company, you should know that there are usually many applicants competing for few openings. wGood preparations may make you stand out among those competitors. To be successful in securing a position in a company or admission to a university, you must prepare a series of letters of application and get ready for possible interviews. wGreat efforts ought to be made to ensure a successful interview. You should know what exactly to write about and how to write it adequately well. wFirst of all, a letter of application must be written. Attached to it are the resume and at least two letters of recommendation. Then, you should also know how to write a letter of acceptance or refusal.wLetters of Application w What Is a Letter of Application w A letter of application, also called a cover letter or face letter, is written for a job or admission to a university. In the letter, you should firstly make clear what specific job you want to get or what particular program you intend to major in and where you get the information about the vacancies. wSecondly, wyou need to explain your qualifications, including relevant educational background, working experience and any other information that highlight your unique qualities. Finally, you may ask for possible interviews and refer your reader to your resume and letters of recommendation.w Writing a letter of application is communicating with prospective employers. Through your letter, they are learning something about your academic performance, working experience and personal qualities, etc. More importantly, they are finding whether you can communicate your qualifications effectively. Therefore, letters of application are important types of writing for both college students and those who are changing positions.wYour application letter is one of the most important documents in getting a job or admission to a university. An effective letter can get you a phone call for an interview while a poorly written one may keep you on the waiting list. The difference can be a matter of how you deal with some key points. To be effective, your letter of application should be:w 1. Written on the best quality paper you can afford. Remember that a letter of application is usually discarded at once if it is written 1) in pencil or red ink; 2) on wrinkled or dirty paper; 3) on stationery with a letter-head that has been crossed out; 4) on brightly colored or perfumed stationery(信纸); 5) on odd-sized or odd- shaped stationery, and 6) on a post card.w 2. No longer than one page of A4. w 3. Typed, unless the job advertisement suggests otherwise. w4. Personalized, if possible. Find out the name and the job title of the person that you are writing to. If it is a woman, check whether she is Miss, Mrs, or Ms. w5. Business-like in language and standard in format. The language should be clear and to the point. The format should be currently fashionable unless otherwise called for.w 6. Carefully checked for the correct use of grammar and spelling. w The above are some key points to observe when you are writing a letter of application. As for the actual writing, you still need to pay great attention to the following discussion about the major parts of an application letter. A letter of application may be divided into three parts: the introductory application, the explanatory body and the request conclusion.w The Introduction w The introduction of an application letter serves two main purposes: w 1) making clear the purpose of application and the source of information; and 2) arousing the readers interest by providing the extraordinary qualification for a job or the source of financial aid for admission to a university.wTo make clear the purpose of application, you are stating specifically whether you are applying for a position like a tourist guide or a sales representative. Or you are applying for a scholarship in or obtaining admission to a particular university. Then, tell how you learned about the opening-through a newspaper advertisement, from a friend or on the Internet. On the other hand, you can usually arouse the readers interest by providing such statements as:w1. “I believe my practical experience as a spare-time tourist guide in the past three summer vacations together with my four years academic training in tourism has prepared me as a suitable tourist guide for your travel agency.“ w2. “My parents are running a private enterprise doing business in iron and steel with an annual income of mo