How to Write an Application Letter in Nigeria & Get that Job in 2023

last Updated on August 17, 2023

Find out how to write an application letter in Nigeria that will land you your next job. If this is your first time writing an application letter or you just need a reminder of how it works, this guide will help you write a great application letter that will you a job.

Hey there, job seeker! Ready to unlock the secret to crafting an irresistible application letter and land that dream job in 2023? Well, look no further. We’ve got your back with the ultimate guide on how to write an application letter in Nigeria that will make employers take notice.

Imagine you’re staring at a blank screen, trying to pen down your qualifications and aspirations in a way that screams “Hire me!” Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. But fear not, because we’re about to dive into a step-by-step journey that will show you the art of application letter writing.

From choosing the right tone to showcasing your skills and highlighting your uniqueness, we’ll walk you through every aspect. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, our tips and tricks are designed to help you stand out in a crowded job market.

So, if you’re ready to take the first step towards landing your dream job, let’s dive into the world of application letter writing and set you on the path to success!

“Have you found the job of your dreams?”

That was the question Linda asked me while we were hunting the internet for jobs that would add value to our lives.

“Yes, I just need an application letter” she responded with a face lit up with a radiant smile.

Many job applicants do not understand why they should write an application letter when applying for a job since they believe they may simply send their resumes.

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Although your CV has all the information a recruiter needs to know about you, it may not always be enough to help you land the job of your dreams.

Your CV may be excellent at demonstrating that you have the skills and education necessary to succeed in a given position, but it may fall short of convincing a potential employer that you are the ideal candidate for the job.

Putting your hopes up too high that you’ll get hired is risky as there are certainly several other qualified individuals scrambling for the same opportunity.

This is when the application letter enters the picture. Including an application letter in addition to your resume will help you impress hiring managers as It demonstrates your exceptional writing abilities, distinguishes you from other applicants, and demonstrates that you went above and beyond.

A job application letter is a formal document that is sent to a potential employer to show that you are interested in a job. An application letter is usually sent on its own and not with another document.

The majority of the time, an application letter isn’t sent until after you’ve seen an advertisement for a job. It’s sent even if there isn’t an advertisement. The CV and the application letter both serve the same purpose.

Definitely, you should write an application letter if you want to get a job. But that is not the only thing you should think about before you write an application letter.

Whenever you see a job ad that looks interesting, the next thing is to write an application letter right? When you write an application letter only, this doesn’t work very well. Employers will not give up on the CV and cover letter and give you a letter to write.

An application letter is different from a CV and a cover letter in how it is written. When the employer doesn’t ask you about the job, you should write an application letter. When there is no job ad or posting.

For example, if you are looking for a job and you have a list of top companies that you would like to work for, you don’t have to wait for a job posting to show that you want to apply for that job. You can just say that you want to apply right away. You can send a job application to a lot of different companies by email.

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How to Write a Simple Application Letter in Nigeria for a Job in 10 Steps

These tips will show you how to write a good application letter in Nigeria, so read them.

• Write an Outline first
• Write a draft from your outline
• Salutation
• Use a friendly voice
• Make it short and straightforward
• Job applicants should tailor their cover letter for a job based on the job description and the needs of the company
• Use typed documents instead of handwritten
• Use good paper
• Make sure you proofread
• Write an engaging summary

Now let’s explain these steps in detail:

1. Write an Outline First

An outline is a good thing to make if you want to write an essay or a cover letter. You should make one too. You write an outline of what you want to say in your letter when you send it to the company. It is good if you make it clear what you want to do and what you want your future employer to know about you.

An outline of your application letter will make it easier for you to write your application letter because you already know how it will look.

2. Write a draft from your outline

Then, you should write a rough draught of your application letter before you write the real one. This way, you can make sure that everything is in place.

To write your letter, use the outline that you made earlier as a guide. There aren’t any grammar or punctuation mistakes that you need to worry about at this point in the process. The goal of this is to help you write a sample application letter.

3. The salutation

Salutation is one part of the application letter that people can see right away. If you write to a company, they are more than likely going to see that first when they open it. Because this is a very important part of the application letter, you need to pay attention to it.

Before you start writing your application letter, you should know a few things about how to say hello:

Your salutation should end with a comma, so you should put one in there.
If you’re writing to more than one person, you should address them as “Dear Sirs/Madams.”
To address someone if you don’t know their name, use “Dear Sir/Madam.”
You should address the person by their full name if they don’t know their gender. When someone says, “Dear David Houston,” you can say that.

4. Use a friendly voice

Employers can tell how you write about yourself because they can see how you talk in your writing. When you write your application letter, you should show the person you are writing to that you are important. Do not be rude when you are writing. Use formal language and be polite. Use words that are not slang or hard to understand.

5. Make it short and straightforward

Even though you need to give your potential employers reasons why you think you are the best person for the job, you also need to be as short as possible. This is because you need to be as clear as possible.

They may not have time to read your letter because they are very busy. The first paragraph of your letter should say what your letter is about. This is where the employer is likely to look first.

6. Job applicants should tailor their cover letter for a job based on the job description and the needs of the company

To show your potential employer that you are interested in the job you are applying for and the company, tailor your application to the job you are applying for and the company.

Employers want to hire people who are excited about their job. To get the job of your dreams, you might just have to change your application letter a little.

7. Use typed documents instead of handwritten

If you don’t get permission to write a letter by hand, you should send a typed and computer-generated document. Type your document to make it look good and easy to read. It will help you make it look good, clear, and easy to read.

8. Use good paper

If you want to send a paper copy of your application letter, make sure you use good paper. Do not cut a piece of paper from your notepad and use that paper to write your cover letter. Make your application letter look messy and rough if you do that.

9. Make sure you proofread

The best way to find mistakes in your application letter is to proofread it. This will help you find things to fix before you send it. You can read your application letter out loud to yourself to see if there are any mistakes in it, or you can look for them.

It’s important to make sure your application letter has correct spelling and punctuation. You can use Grammarly.com to make sure your spelling and grammar are correct.

10. Write an engaging summary

The tone that you use when you write your application letter should match that used in the letter. A formal letter ending is polite, respectful, and polite.

These are some common ways to end your application letter:

‘Sincerely’ or ‘Yours faithfully’

‘Your Truly’

‘Faithfully Yours’

Yours faithfully
Yours sincerely
Best regards

Difference between a Job Application Letter and a Cover Letter

Many people use the terms “Application Letter” and “Cover Letter” interchangeably because they think they mean the same thing, but they aren’t the same thing.

Even though the application letter and the cover letter do almost the same thing, they are not the same thing. They are different.

An application letter is meant to stand on its own. A cover letter is usually sent with a CV or resume.

It will start with three to four sentences about the job seeker’s experience, education, and achievements, as well as why the job seeker thinks he or she is the best person for the job.

There may be more information in an application letter than in the CV because it is meant to stand on its own as well.

An application letter is often used as a substitute for a resume, so it is important for the job seeker to include specific information about her work history and professional skills in the letter.

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As for a cover letter, on the other hand, it should not include too much about the job seekers because it is just an introduction to the resume.

A cover letter is like a sales pitch for a job. In order to get the recruiter or hiring manager to read the CV, it needs to make the reader want to.

A cover letter is usually written by a job seeker to show that they are interested in a job. Then, the job seeker will attach a more detailed document to the letter (which is usually a CV).

In most cases, a job seeker sends an application letter in order to show that they’re interested in a job that was not sent to them.

What is an Application Letter?

An application letter is a formal document that has a summary of your most relevant and greatest talents and abilities, which will be expanded in your CV or resume.

An application letter is written to apply for a specific job opening.

It presents you to potential employers and emphasizes your qualifications, knowledge, and expertise for the job you’re applying for.

A job application letter also emphasizes crucial skills that distinguish you from other candidates, as well as your familiarity with the role and firm to which you’re applying.

This letter demonstrates how your personality, professional goals, and aspirations connect with the company’s objectives.

Elements of an Application letter

Every application letter must include the following seven components to meet company requirements and highlight your greatest qualities.

• Header
• Greeting
• Introduction
• Values and objectives
• Qualifications
• Conclusion
• Signature

1. Header

A header must contain your contact information. It appears at the top of every application letter. To maintain consistency throughout their application, many people utilize the same header for their application letter as they do for their resumes.

A header should start with your name and include your email, phone number, and address on distinct lines, regardless of the format you employ. If the material is relevant to the position, some people provide links to their portfolio or social media.

If there is space on the page, you can also provide the name and contact information.

2. Greeting

For salutation or greeting, your first opportunity to set yourself apart from other applicants is by addressing the reader correctly. You could look up the name of the hiring manager for each post.

This information is usually available in the job posting, on the company website, from the referrer, or by calling their office and asking.

If you can’t discover a specific name to address your letter to, use “Dear Hiring Manager”; it is a conventional salutation that can be used when the hiring manager’s name is not provided.

3. Introduction

Your application letter should include basic information about yourself and why you’re applying for the position. Include the title of the job you’re looking for, as well as a basic outline of why you’d be a good fit for the role and why you’re excited about it.

You can highlight how you learned about the opportunity and why you decided to apply, which is a particularly effective tactic if you were suggested to the role by another employee.

Examine the job description for the core skills required for the position, and use your introductory paragraph to describe how you demonstrate those skills.

4. Values and objectives

In this paragraph, you should indicate that you understand the company’s objective and have done research on the role. Concentrate on how your missions fit with theirs and how they connect to the aspects of the corporate society that you enjoy.

Explain how your effort will improve both your future and the demands of your potential employer. This area of your application letter allows you to demonstrate that you can not only do the job well but also that you can work well with others and bring a pleasant attitude to the workplace.

5. Qualification

After your values and objectives, concentrate on your experience and certifications. This allows you to immediately grab the employer’s attention by describing how you can help their team.

More information on these should be added to your CV, focusing on how your experiences relate to the job. Include examples of relevant projects or situations that demonstrate how you overcome challenges and perform successfully at work.

Describe how you contributed to the success of previous projects and emphasize the value of your actions.

6. Conclusion

This paragraph should highlight your excitement and offer opinions on the next stages in the application process. Thank the hiring manager for taking the time to look over your application and express an interest in learning more about the position or setting up an interview.

Focus on the skills and potential you intend to contribute to their team in your application letter to show how you can benefit the company.

7. Signature

Finish with a professional ending line and your name written and signed. You could use any of these as closing remarks:

A Practical Example of a Job Application Letter in Nigeria

There are some rules you should follow if you want to make writing a letter for a job easy and simple. From the salutation and ending to the overall structure of your letter, there are some rules that make your letter look good.

Heading

When you write an application letter, you should start with your name and phone number. Your phone number and the number of the company you work for should be in the contact information.

In order to for the company you are applying for to be able to get in touch with you, you need to add your name and address as well as your phone number, e-mail, and the date. After your signature, you can put your email address at the end of the letter.

The salutation and contact information are at the top of your application letter.

(Your contact information)
Name
Address
City, State Zip Code
Phone Number
Email Address
Date

(Potential employer’s contact information)
Name
Title
Company
Address
City, State Zip Code

Salutation

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name,
(Salutation)
It’s polite to say hello to someone when you’re filling out an application. The most common way to start a greeting is with “Dear Mr./Ms.” and the person’s last name.

The body of the application letter

It tells the employer what job you are applying for, why they should look at your application, and how they would follow up with you if they chose you for the job.
The body of your letter is made up of different paragraphs that lead up to the end. Here, we’re going to look at the different parts of the text.

First paragraph

To start your letter, write down why you’re writing it. During this paragraph, you will talk about the job that you want to get and where you saw the job application.
In the first paragraph, you make an impression on the employer that will last a long time. In this part, you sell yourself to the person who will be hiring you.

Second and Third paragraph

People who are reading your application letter should know what you can do for the company and what you can do for the job. The second and third paragraphs should do this.
Here is where you have to show the employer that you are the person they want to hire.
To do this, you’d have to talk about the things that make you a good candidate for the job.
Remember to say why you are the best person for the job.

Note: You should do some research on the company and find out some things that will help you show that you are the best person for the job. You can look into the job you want to do to find out what the company expects of you, and then tailor your application to that.
Also, don’t forget to use a specific example when you can, if possible. If you say that you are good at marketing, you should be able to give examples that show that.

Last paragraph

This is the last paragraph of your application letter. It should sum up your application letter. In this part of your letter, you should also thank your employer. You should thank your employer for considering you for the job at the end of this paragraph.
You can also say how the employer or the company will follow up with you.
This is a good match.
Close your letter in a polite way. For instance;

Sincerely,

Signature (for a hard copy letter)

Job Application Letter in Nigeria Sample for Teaching Job, Hotel Job & Sales Girl or any Job Vacancy

When you write an application letter for a job for the first time, it may not be easy.
A good application letter example will help you write your own without much stress. This example of an application letter will help you write your own letter, so look at it.

Bibiana Nyong
11 South Street
Ocean View Estate, Lekki,
Lagos, Nigeria.
555-555-5555
david.emmanuel@email.com
November 13th, 2019.

Daniel Victor
Human Resources Director
Capital Solutions, Inc.
101 Admiralty Way
Lekki, Lagos,
Nigeria.

Dear Mr. Samuel,
My friend, Daine James, told me that Capital Solutions is looking for a Human Resources Specialist with at least two years of experience. I was very happy to hear that.
When I did research on the company, I found out that Capital Solutions sees teamwork as an important part of the performance that can help the company reach its goals. I also learned how much the company needs a Human Resources specialist who can join the team and start working right away. That’s why I think I’d be a good fit for your team.
I’m David Emmanuel, and I’m a graduate of the University of Lagos’s Human Resources and People Management programme. I worked in Human Resources for five years, and I’ve gathered so much experience specializing in this field.
It’s my job as the Human Resources Manager to look after a team of 20 people, plan the onboarding process for new employees, and figure out how much the company should pay. Also, I’ve done the following:

• Data entry and data reporting on HRM software
• Recruiting and hiring processes (which include; creating job descriptions, posting job vacancies, creating candidate awareness on available job vacancies, screening CVs and scheduling interviews).
• Organizing company events. (organising a party for the end of the year and team-bonding events).

We can talk about my skills and what I can do for your team on request. Thank you for taking the time to think about it.

Sincerely,

(Signature)
Bibiana Nyong

In Conclusion:

After you send your application letter and CV to an office or email, it can be very disheartening if you don’t hear from them.
The truth is, it won’t help you to just wait for a response that might never come.
You should follow up with the hiring manager if you don’t hear back from them for a week or two after you sent your application letter or CV.