Letters
How to write an application letter for a job (with a sample)
Updated 2 November 2026 · By the AfriCV career team
An application letter, also called a job application letter or letter of application, is a formal letter you send to an employer to apply for a specific job. It introduces you, names the position, explains why you are qualified and asks for an interview. In Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and many other African countries, employers still expect a well-written application letter alongside your CV, and many recruiters read the letter first.
This guide explains the correct application letter format, what to write in each paragraph, mistakes that get letters ignored, and gives you a complete sample application letter with the matching CV. If you would rather not start from a blank page, our AI can write a tailored application letter from your CV and the job advert in seconds.
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Chinedu Eze
Customer Service Representative
Abuja, Nigeria · chinedu.eze@email.com · +234 806 555 1234
Professional Summary
Customer service representative with 3 years in telecoms and fintech contact centres. Handles 70+ customer contacts a day across phone, chat and email with a 92% satisfaction score and 85% first-contact resolution.
Work Experience
Customer Experience Agent, SwiftPay Fintech Ltd (Jun 2023 – Present)
- Resolve 70+ chat, email and phone requests daily on Zendesk, keeping CSAT at 92%
- Cut average handling time from 7 to 5 minutes by building a library of saved replies
- Escalate fraud cases to the risk team within 15 minutes, helping recover customer funds
Call Centre Agent, ConnectNet Telecoms (Mar 2022 – May 2023)
- Handled 90+ inbound calls per shift on billing, data plans and SIM issues
- Retained 40+ customers a month who called to cancel by offering suitable plans
Education
- B.Sc. Mass Communication, Second Class Lower, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2016 – 2020)
Skills
Zendesk · Freshdesk · Live chat · Complaint resolution · Upselling · Typing 55 wpm · Active listening
Certifications
- Customer Service Fundamentals, Coursera / Google, 2023
Application letter format
A formal application letter follows a standard layout. Use this order from top to bottom:
- 1
Your address and contacts
Your name, address (or town), phone number and email, at the top right or top left.
- 2
Date
Write the full date, e.g. 3 November 2026.
- 3
Employer's address
The title of the person (e.g. The Head of Human Resources), company name and address.
- 4
Salutation
“Dear Sir/Madam,” if you do not know the name, or “Dear Mrs Adeyemi,” if you do.
- 5
Heading (subject line)
In capitals and often bold or underlined: “APPLICATION FOR THE POSITION OF …”.
- 6
Body
Three or four short paragraphs: introduction, qualifications and experience, why this employer, and a closing.
- 7
Complimentary close and name
“Yours faithfully,” after “Dear Sir/Madam”, or “Yours sincerely,” after a name. Then your full name (and signature if printing).
What to write in each paragraph
Paragraph 1: Introduction
State the position you are applying for, where you saw the advert and the date, and one sentence about why you are a strong candidate. Example: “I am writing to apply for the position of Accounts Assistant advertised in the Daily Graphic on 28 October 2026. As a graduate with practical experience in bookkeeping and payroll, I am confident I can support your finance team.”
Paragraph 2: Your qualifications and experience
Match your experience to the main requirements in the advert. Give two or three specific achievements with numbers. Do not repeat your whole CV; choose what matters most for this job.
Paragraph 3: Why you and why them
Show you understand the organisation and explain what you will bring. Mention a relevant skill, value or project, and connect it to the employer's needs.
Paragraph 4: Closing
Mention that your CV is attached, say you are available for an interview, and thank the reader.
Tips for a strong application letter
- Keep it to one page: 250–400 words is ideal.
- Write a new letter for every job. Generic letters are easy to spot.
- Use the advert's words for key requirements where they are true for you.
- Be specific: numbers and names beat adjectives such as “hardworking” and “dedicated”.
- Be formal but natural. Avoid old-fashioned phrases like “I humbly beg to apply”.
- Proofread carefully, especially the employer's name and the job title.
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Create my CVApplication letter mistakes to avoid
- Addressing the wrong company or job title, a common copy-and-paste error.
- Begging or sharing personal hardship instead of focusing on what you offer.
- Repeating your CV line by line.
- Writing more than one page.
- Forgetting to attach your CV, or attaching an old version.
- Using an unprofessional email address.
Application letter vs cover letter
The two are very similar. An application letter is usually more formal and stands on its own, often used for government, school and traditional employers, and sometimes sent without a CV. A cover letter “covers” your CV, is usually a little shorter and less formal, and is common for private-sector and international roles. If an advert asks for either, the structure above works for both.
How to send your application letter
By email
Use the job title as the subject line (e.g. “Application for Customer Experience Team Lead: Chinedu Eze”). Put a short version of your letter in the email body and attach your full letter and CV as PDFs.
Through an online portal
Upload your letter as a PDF if there is an upload field, or paste it into the cover letter box.
By hand or post
Print on clean white paper, sign above your name, and place it on top of your CV and certificates.
Write your application letter with AI
Paste the job advert into our cover letter tool, and AI writes a formal, tailored letter based on your real CV: the right format, your genuine achievements and the employer's keywords. You can edit the letter, copy it into an email or download it as PDF or Word.
Sample application letter for a job
Chinedu Eze 14 Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja +234 806 555 1234 · chinedu.eze@email.com 3 November 2026 The Head of Human Resources SwiftPay Fintech Ltd Plot 22, Central Business District Abuja Dear Sir/Madam, APPLICATION FOR THE POSITION OF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE TEAM LEAD I am writing to apply for the position of Customer Experience Team Lead advertised on your careers page on 28 October 2026. With three years of experience in telecoms and fintech contact centres and a consistent 92% customer satisfaction score, I am confident I can help your team deliver faster, friendlier support as SwiftPay grows. In my current role as a Customer Experience Agent, I resolve more than 70 chat, email and phone requests every day on Zendesk. I reduced our average handling time from seven to five minutes by building a library of saved replies that the whole team now uses, and I work closely with the risk team to escalate fraud cases within 15 minutes. Before this, I handled over 90 calls per shift at ConnectNet Telecoms, where I retained more than 40 customers a month who had called to cancel. I am ready to lead. I regularly coach new agents during their first month, and I enjoy turning customer feedback into simple improvements. I hold a B.Sc. in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and have completed my NYSC. Please find my CV attached. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to your customer experience team. Thank you for considering my application. Yours faithfully, Chinedu Eze
Frequently asked questions
How long should an application letter be?
One page, about 250–400 words.
Should I write “Yours faithfully” or “Yours sincerely”?
“Yours faithfully” when you started with “Dear Sir/Madam”; “Yours sincerely” when you used the person's name.
Can I send an application letter without a CV?
Only if the advert asks for a letter alone. Otherwise always attach your CV.
Is an application letter the same as a cover letter?
They are very similar. An application letter is usually more formal.
Can AI write my application letter?
Yes. Our AI writes a tailored letter from your CV and the job advert, and you can edit it before sending.
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