Writing a strong job application letter

What the letter is for

Your CV lists facts. The application letter connects those facts to the specific job and shows that you can communicate clearly. Many Tanzanian employers, especially government and NGOs, ask for a signed letter addressed to a named officer, so read the advert to see who it should go to.

Layout

• Your name, address, phone and email at the top right or top left.
• The date.
• The recipient's title and address exactly as written in the advert.
• A reference line, for example: RE: APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT.
• Three or four short paragraphs, then your signature and full name.

What to write

• Paragraph one: the post you are applying for and where you saw it.
• Paragraph two: your most relevant qualification and experience, matched to the requirements in the advert.
• Paragraph three: one or two achievements and why you want to work for this employer.
• Closing: say that your CV and certificates are attached and that you are available for interview.

Keep it to one page

A focused letter of 250 to 400 words is enough. Avoid copying a template word for word; recruiters see the same templates many times and they do not explain why you fit this particular role.

A short example opening

"I am writing to apply for the post of Accounts Assistant advertised on Daraja on 2 October. I hold a Diploma in Accountancy and have two years' experience preparing payment vouchers, bank reconciliations and monthly reports for a distribution company in Mwanza." In two sentences the reader knows the post, the source, your qualification and your most relevant experience. Write your own version using your real details.

Swahili or English?

Write in the language used in the advert unless it says otherwise. Government and local employers often accept Swahili letters, while banks, international NGOs and multinational companies usually expect English. Whichever you choose, keep the language formal, avoid slang and check grammar and spelling carefully before you sign.

Kwa Kiswahili

Barua ya maombi ya kazi inaonyesha kwa nini unafaa nafasi husika. Iandikie ofisa aliyetajwa kwenye tangazo, weka kichwa cha habari (KUH: MAOMBI YA NAFASI YA ...), kisha aya tatu au nne fupi: nafasi unayoomba, sifa na uzoefu wako unaoendana na mahitaji, na mafanikio yako. Isizidi ukurasa mmoja na usisahau kusaini.