How to Write a Job Application Essay to Get an Offer

A job application essay could be more effective than a regular resume or CV as it includes a call-to-action. The goal is not just to list your skills and experience, but to motivate an employer to pick you out of the pool of other candidates. You should show all your qualities in the best light as competition on the recruiting market is rather harsh, especially when it comes to senior positions. You’ll have to get your work cut out.

In this post, we will explain how to compose great job application essays: from the purpose of this document and things you have to reveal to its detailed structure.

What Is a Job Application Essay? Definition by Expert

A job application essay (a.k.a. admission essay or supporting/personal statement) is an integral part of most job applications nowadays. The length of this document should not exceed 2 pages depending on the applicant’s skills and experience. The purpose of this document is to help college applicants showcase their academic & professional expertise and skills that meet the requirements of the specific position. Many candidates confuse a job application paper with a resume. While a resume is a brief summary of the candidate’s skills, qualifications, work experience, education, and achievements; a job application is rather a narrative explaining why you might be the best candidate for the job.

Unless you were invited to work for the organization, you should come up with a powerful job application package that includes a resume/CV, job application essay, and cover letter. In some cases, you may also need a follow-up and thank-you letter.

How to Write a Good Job Application Essay: Basic Info

We have analyzed more than 20 top positions in the United States and the United Kingdom to find out which qualities a worthy candidate should possess. Most of the market belongs to business-related organizations, so most of the modern employers value MBA diploma most of all.

According to the feedback obtained from numerous recruiters and HR managers, an average applicant should have these qualities:

• Leadership;
• Collaborative nature;
• Critical thinking;
• Emotional intelligence;
• Integrity;
• Creative approach;
• Global viewpoint;
• Self-awareness;
• Time management;
• Community orientation.

On the whole, you should understand that a job application is a legal document, and requires less creativity and more formal tone. You should not go into details while listing your professional qualities and skills. At the same time, a resume contains even fewer details. While a job application essay looks like a complete story, a resume is a statement of bare facts about the candidate. The primary goal is to help the employers to compare and contrast all the candidates to pick the best one.

How to Start a Job Application Essay: Pre-Writing Stages

Before you actually start writing, you should check examples of successful application essays for a job. Try to find the ones that were written for the position you’re interested in. Also, it is critical to read the prompt (in the case of job application essay, it is the description of job vacancy) several times to understand what exactly the hiring managers expect to see. Consider the relevant keywords and use them in your paper. Usually, those are the specific skills: from creative to technical.

Prepare a draft before writing the final version of your essay. Unlike a college essay, there is no need to come up with a specific topic or title, but you can make it a narrative for a creative position like the author of books or designer. Get ready with your portfolio as it might be useful to submit it along with the rest of the application documents. Then, develop an outline based on the paper’s structure.

How to Structure a Job Application Essay Properly

The first thing to mention about a job application essay structure is its chronological order. It means that, for example, in the section about your employment history, you should start with your earliest experience mentioning the dates and place of work and finish with your last position and responsibilities.

On the whole, an outline for this paper looks like an outline of an ordinary essay, but the content is different (more selling):

• Introduction;
• Main point 1 (and three more supporting points);
• Main point 2 (and three more supporting points);
• Main point 3 (and three more supporting points);

Also, you should include your contact information before the title and introduction. In the upper-left corner, add such details as your name and last name, physical address (full), phone number, email address, and date. After that, add the basic info about the employer (name, title, organization, address).

Things to Include in Your Job Application Essay Introduction

An introduction has to be as brief as possible. It is a general statement introducing the candidate and specifying the job of his or her interest. You may also shortly explain why you would like to work as this expert in the particular field. The good idea is to mention how you learned about the vacancy (online, magazine, word-of-mouth, ad in a subway, etc.)

One more recommendation is to list 3-5 job responsibilities from the vacancy description to prove that you understand what you’re applying for.

What to Write in the Job Application Essay Body

In the first body paragraph, state the reason for applying as well as why you believe you’re the best applicant.

In the second paragraph of your body, explain what you can offer to the recruiting agency. We recommend creating bullet lists with your qualifications that match the vacancy best of all. Do not forget to use the highlighted keywords!

Use specific examples from real life and professional career to prove your competence in the chosen area. Unite all the body paragraphs with the help of transition words.

Job Application Essay Conclusion to Leave a Positive Impression

Do not forget about good manners to leave a positive impression – always thank the potential employer for dedicating some time to reading your application. Admit how you plan to follow up. The best way is to start with the word, “sincerely,” and then conclude with your signature and typed signature.

If you find it hard to cope with your job application essay or wish to make sure the paper is excellent before submitting it to the employer, hire professional writers or editors from our writing team. For a reasonable price, you will get a polished application essay for your success!