Application Letter Sample and Letter Writing Tips

An application letter sample is easier to adapt when you can see what a short, strong letter looks like. The sample below is for a job, and the tips that follow work just as well when you're applying for a scholarship, a grant or a membership.

application letters hero: an envelope with a gold seal

An application letter usually goes with a completed application form. When you're applying for a job, it's often called a cover letter, and it gives you room to explain why you want the role and why you'd be a good fit.

This type of letter is short, so choose every sentence carefully. Read each one back and cut anything the reader wouldn't miss.

Share one thing about your background that's relevant to the role and that other applicants probably can't say, such as a result you produced or a problem you solved. Keep the tone professional, and let that example set you apart.

It also helps to think of it as a motivation letter. Before you send it, ask yourself what in the letter would make the decision maker want to meet you, and if the answer isn't clear, revise it until it is.

Jump To: Sample | When to Use One | Tips | FAQ

Short Application Letter Sample

SAMPLE APPLICATION LETTER

Dear Ms. Patel,

I'm applying for the Operations Coordinator position at Cascade Supply that was posted on your website last week. I've spent four years as a shift lead in a 60,000-square-foot warehouse, and I'd like to bring that experience to your team.

Last year I noticed that most of our picking errors came from two aisles with similar bin labels. I worked with our supervisor to relabel 340 bins and retrain the shift, and our pick error rate dropped from 3.1% to 0.8% in three months.

Your posting mentions improving accuracy across three distribution centers, and that's the kind of work I enjoy most. I've attached my resume and my last two annual reviews, and I'd welcome the chance to talk about the role.

Thank you for your time,

Luis Ortega
(541) 555-0142 | luis.ortega@email.com

Luis kept his job application letter sample to four short paragraphs, and the same structure works for a short cover letter sample or any other application:

Address it to a person by name and title.
Open by naming the role or program you're applying for.
Share one specific result, with a number if you can.
Connect that result to what the reader needs.
Close by thanking the reader and asking for the next step.

When you're applying for something other than a job, only the opening changes:

Scholarship: "I'm applying for the Riverside Community Foundation Trades Scholarship for the fall term at Lane Community College, where I've been accepted into the electrical apprenticeship program."

Grant: "On behalf of the Westside Food Pantry, I'm applying for a $7,500 Community Impact Grant to add a second weekly distribution day for the 140 families on our waiting list."

For a fill-in version you can adapt, use the free cover letter template.

“Letter writing is an excellent way of slowing down this lunatic helter-skelter universe long enough to gather one’s thoughts”

- Nick Bantock

When to Use an Application Letter

A job application letter is the most common kind, but the same short format works anytime you're asking someone to choose you. Use one when you're:

Applying to a university, technical or vocational school
Applying for a scholarship
Applying for a grant
Requesting donations or sponsorships
Applying for credit or other financial help
Applying for a club membership
Applying for a professional license or apprenticeship
Applying for local, state or federal assistance programs
Bidding on government contracts

Whatever you're applying for, keep the letter short and give the reader one clear reason to remember you.

Application Letter Tips

Use every resource available to you before you write. If there's an advisor, counselor or program contact, schedule a few minutes with them and ask what reviewers look for. What you learn can shape how you present yourself and your materials.

Find out the name and title of the decision maker, so you can address the letter to a person.
Research the program or company before you write, and mention one detail that shows you did.
Proofread for spelling and grammar.
Ask someone else to proofread it too, because it's hard to catch your own mistakes.
Submit your application and letter before the deadline.
Keep a copy for your records.

Free Business Letter Writing Templates

An application letter is one of many letters leaders and business owners need to write. The free Business Letter Templates collection covers the rest: apology, appreciation, complaint, collection, condolence, cover, donation, introduction and resignation letters.

Each letter has its own page with a sample, and the whole collection is a free download in PDF, Word and Google Docs.

Application Letter FAQ

The questions below address what leaders most commonly ask about application letters.

Click on the (+) sign below to expand each question. Click the (-) sign to collapse it again.

What is an application letter?

An application letter is a short letter that goes with an application for a job, school, scholarship, grant or membership. It explains why you're applying and why you're a good fit, in a few short paragraphs.

Is an application letter the same as a cover letter?

For a job, yes, and most people call it a cover letter. Application letters are also used for scholarships, grants, memberships and other programs, where cover letter isn't the usual term.

How long should an application letter be?

Keep it to one page, usually three or four short paragraphs. A short cover letter sample like the one on this page runs under 150 words, which is enough to make your case without losing the reader.

What should an application letter include?

Name the role or program, share one specific result that shows you're a fit, connect it to what the reader needs and ask for the next step, such as an interview. Address it to a person by name whenever you can.

Can I use an application letter for a scholarship or grant?

Yes. Use the same pattern: what you're applying for, one specific example that sets you apart, why it fits the program and a thank-you with a request to be considered.