• Before You Read irLanguage.

com
A. Connect with the topic. When people apply for a job, they often send
a letter of application to the employer. What do you know about letters
of application? Check (.f)True or False for each statement.
True False
I.
The reason for writing a letter of application is to get D D
a job interview.
2. When sending a letter of application you must always D D
send a resume, l too.
3.
It's a good idea to talk about your best qualities and D D
biggest accomplishments in a letter of application.
4. You should mention the salary you want in a letter D D
of application.

B. Pair work. Have you ever had a job? How did you get your job? Compare
your experiences with a partner.

C. Preview the reading. Look quickly over the reading on pages 103-105 to
complete the Previewing Chart below.

Previewing Chart

1. Title of the reading: -

2. Key words. {What words appear several times? List 3 more.)
le.tter

3. Read the first sentence in each paragraph. What do you think the
reading is probably about?

4. Read the first paragraph. What questions do you have about letters
of application? (Write 2 questions.)
?
?

l resume one- or two-page summary ofyour education and work experience

102 Chapter 11 I Letters of Application

 AUDI©
DOWNLOAD

Letters of Application
by Andrea B. Geffner
from Business Letters the Easy Way

A letter of application is a sales letter in which you are both

salesperson and product, for the purpose of an application is to attract
an employer's attention and persuade him or her to grant you an
interview.2 To do this, the letter presents what you can offer the
5 employer, rather than what you want from the job.
Like a resume, the letter of application is a sample of your work;
and it is, as well, an opportunity to demonstrate, not just talk about,
your skills and personality. If it is written with flair3 and understanding
and prepared with professional care, it is likely to hit its mark.4
10 There are two types of application letters. A solicited letter (see
page 110) is sent in response to a help-wanted ad. Because such
a letter will be in competition with many, perhaps several hundred
others, it must be composed with distinction.5 At the same time,
it must refer to the ad and the specific job advertised.
15 An unsolicited letter is sent to a company for which you would like
to work though you know of no particular opening. The advantage of
this type of application, however, is that there will be little competition
and you can define yourself the position you would like to apply for. You
can send out as many letters as you wish, to as many companies as you
20 are aware of; it is a good idea, though, to find out the name of a specific
person to whom you can send the letter-a more effective approach than
simply addressing the letter to "Personnel:'
Because a letter of application must sell your qualifications,6 it must
do more than simply restate your resume in paragraph form. While
the
25 resume must be factual, objective, and brief, the letter is your chance to
interpret and expand. It should state explicitly how your background
Culture and
relates to the specific job, and it should emphasize your strongest and Language Notes
most pertinent characteristics. The letter should demonstrate that you page 153
know both yourself and the company.

2 grant you an interview schedule an interview with you

3 written with flair written with special skill and style
4 hit the mark be very effective
5 composed with dist.inction written extremely well
6 sell your qualifications present your skills and abilities in the best way

103
 30 A letter of application must communicate your ambition and
enthusiasm. Yet it must, at the same time, be modest. It should be
neither aggressive nor meek: neither pat yourself on the back7 nor ask
for sympathy. It should never express dissatisfaction with a present or
former job or employer. And you should avoid discussing your
reasons
35 for leaving your last job.

Keep in mind the following principles when writing your letter of

application:
1. Start by attracting attention. You must say, of course, that you are
applying and mention both the specific job and how you heard about
it.
40 But try to avoid a mundane opening.8 Instead of:
I would like to apply for the position of legal secretary, which you
advertised in the Los Angeles Times of Sunday, August 10...
Try something a bit more original:
I believe you will find my experiences in the Alameda District Attorney's
45 office have prepared me well for the position of legal secretary, which you
advertised in the Los Angeles Times ofSunday, August 10...
2. Continue by describing your qualifications. Highlight your strengths and
achievements and say how they suit you for the job at hand.9 Provide
details and explanations not found on your resume, and refer the
so reader to the resume for the remaining, less pertinent facts.
3. Assure the employer that you are the person for the job. List verifiable
factslo that prove you are not exaggerating or lying. Mention the names
of any familiar or prominent references you may have. In some way,
distinguish yourself from the mass of other qualified applicants. I I
ss 4. Conclude by requesting an interview. Urge the employer to action by
making it easy to contact you. Mention your telephone number and
the best hours to reach you, or state that you will call him or her within
a few days.
A complete application should contain both a letter of application and
60 a resume. While it is possible to write a letter so complete in detail that a
resume seems redundant,12 it is always most professional to include both.

irLanguage.com
7 pat yourself on the back give yourself credit for your accomplishments
8 mundane opening boring or unoriginal introduction
9 the job at hand the work to be done
10 verifiable facts professional information that someone can easily check
11 mass of other qualified applicants all of the other qualified people who applied for the job
12 redundant unnecessary because it repeats the same information
104 Chapter 11 I Letters of Applkation
 Finally, a word about salary: basically, unless instructed by the want ad,
it is best that you not broach the subject. 13 Indeed, even ifan ad requires
that you mention your salary requirements, it is advisable simply to
65 call them "negotiable:' 14 However, when you go on and interview, you
should be prepared to mention a salary range (e.g., $40,000-$45,000). For
this reason, you should investigate both your field, and, if possible, the
particular company. You don't want to ask for less than you deserve or
more than is reasonable.

Word Count: 896 : Reading Time: : Words per Minute:

! (Minutes} ! (Word Count/Reading Time)

About the Author

Andrea B. Geffner is a business educator and writer. She is the former dean of
the Taylor Business Institute in New York.

After You Read

Understanding the Text
A. Comprehension
For each item below, fill in the correct circle.
I. Identifying the Author,s Purpose The main purpose of this reading is to .
® show people how to write effective letters of application
® help people find interesting jobs
© explain the differences between a resume and a letter of application
® explain how to have a good job interview
2. Scanning for Details A letter written in response to a help-wanted ad is .
® an unsolicited letter
® a solicited letter
© a reference letter
® a resume

13 broach the subject introduce the subject

14 negotiable something that can be changed after discussion

105
 3. Scanning for Details A letter of application should the information
contained in a resume.
@ restate © expand upon
® not address ® analyze

4. Using Context Pertinent characteristics in line 28 is closest in meaning

to
@ qualities you used to © unusual qualities
have ® qualities that are directly related
® interesting qualities to the job
5. Understanding Tone The overall tone of this reading is _.
@ light and informative © personal and informal
® serious and informative ® entertaining
B. Consider the Issues
Work with a partner to answer the questions below.
1. According to the author, what are the things you should and shouldn't
do when writing a letter of application? Fill in the chart with ideas from
the article. Then add two ideas of your own to each column.

Should j Shouldn't

be original

Your idea: Your idea:

Your idea: Your idea:

2. It's good to know some information about a company before you write
a letter of application. What are three ways you can gather information
on a company?
3. Why is it important not to express dissatisfaction with a former job
or employer in a letter of application or on an interview?

106 Chapter 11 I Letters ofApplication

Building Vocabulary
Understanding Conneding Words
As you learned in Chapter 4, connecting words signal the type of
information that is coming next. We also use connecting words to
show relationships between phrases or sentences. Each connecting
word has a specific purpose.

add new I also In addition to my administrative

information I and duties, I was responsible for
in addition to scheduling all of Ms. Jenkins'
appointments.
compare and but A letter of application must
contrast yet communicate your ambition
however and enthusiasm. Yet, it must, at
the same time, be modest.
show a result therefore I did everything I could to make
I thus Ms. Jenkins' heavy responsibilities
easier. Thus, I am familiar with the
I duties of an executive assistant.

A. Look back at the reading on pages 103-105. Circle one example of these
connecting words: and, but, yet, and however.

B. Use a connecting word from the chart above to complete each

sentence below. More than one answer is possible.
1. John was nervous about his interview. he began to feel
confident after reading a book about how to prepare for an
interview.
2. John knew he couldn't wear his usual casual jeans and T-shirt to
the interview. , he went out and bought a suit.
3. Looking very professional in his new suit, John made sure to arrive
at the interview early. , he was able to make a good first
impression.
4. John did some research about the company before his interview.
, he practiced answering questions he thought the
interviewer might ask
5. The interviewer was a very important person in the company.
-----:• he had a warm and friendly smile that put John at ease.
107
 Reading Sl<ill
Notetaktng
Taking notes on a reading helps you to remember and study the
information. Good notes are always short and clear. They should help
you to remember something without confusing you later. Follow these
tips for taking good notes:
I. Write down only the most important ideas. Look for:
• bold, italicized, or underlined words.
• headings or subheadings.
• information that is repeated.
2. Don't write complete sentences.
3. Abbrevate words (president= pres, you are = u r) and use symbols
(+, -, =, <).
4. Use bulleted lists.

A. Analyze the Reading

The notes below are based on the reading on pages 103-105. Write E (for
effective) or I (for ineffective) next to each note. Then explain why the note
is effective or ineffective.

2. Like a resume, the letter of application is

a sample of your work; and it is, as well, an
opportunity to demonstrate, not just talk
about, your skills and personality.

3. application letter= sales letter

4. would like to apply for position of
legal secretary
5. _ • Use original opening
• Describe qualif.
• Assure emplyr u r person for job
• Request intvw

108 Chapter 11 I Letters of Application

B. Apply the Reading Skill
Read the selection below and take notes. Use the notetaking rules you
have learned.

After a Job Interview

by Peggy Schmidt
from The 90-Minute Interview Prep Book
This section provides some guidelines that will help you end a good job interview.
Before You Leave the Interview
• Thank the interviewer for the opportunity to meet with him or her. Mention
your interest in the job and the company.
• Ask about the company's time frame for making a hiring decision.
• Ask if it's all right for you to call back in a week's time to check where
things stand.15
Interview Follow-Up
Writing a note to the person or people with whom you interviewed is an incredibly
simple but important idea. And it can make the difference in getting hired.
1. Type the letter; it's more professional-looking.
2. Thank the interviewer for talking to you. Mention something he or she said
that was particularly interesting to you.
3. Explain in a sentence or two why you think you are a good match for the job or
company. Be specific about what you think you can do for the company.
4. Conclude your letter by saying you hope to get the job and that you are happy
to answer any additional questions that the interviewer has for you.

Supporting Ideas

IS check where things stand see if the company has made a decision to hire an one
y

109
 Discussion & Writing
1. You are going to write a letter of application for a job you would like to
have. Complete the chart. Your qualifications can be real or imagined.

Name of the job:

My qualifications:

2. Write a letter of application. Use your ideas in the chart above and the
advice in the reading on pages 103-105.
Example

Dear Ms. Martinez,

Having served for the past several years as the administrative assistant
for a private business, I would like to apply for the position of executive
assistant which you advertised on the AssistantJobs.com website on
Sunday, February 28.
As administrative assistant at the Benlow Corporation in Chicago, I was
directly responsible to Alba Jenkins, the company's owner. In addition to
my administrative duties, I was responsible for...

Words to Remember
Mini-Dictionary
I NOUNS VERBS ADJECTIVES
page 163 advantage assure aggressive
ambition contain aware
approach deserve brief
characteristic exaggerate reasonable
competition expand
enthusiasm grant
mass highlight
objective mention
principle refer

110 Chapter 11 I Letters ofApplication

 Before You Read
A. Connect with the topic. In some countries, businesses and schools close
for several hours in the middle of the day so that people can go h�me to
eat and relax. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of
this custom? List your ideas in the chart below.

Advantages I Disadvantages
.
You have more time to spend with
your family.

B. Pair work. Compare charts with a partner. How many of your ideas were
the same?

C. Preview the reading. Skim the reading on pages 113-115 to complete the
Previewing Chart below.

Previewing Chart

1. Title of the reading:

2. Names of people and places in 3. Key words. (What words appear
the reading. (List 3 more.) several times? List 3 more.)
6uroIve
nav

4. Read the first sentence in each paragraph. What do you think the
reading is probably about?

n>�
Len_ ir
112 Chapter 12 I Out to Lunch
Language.com
 AUDIO
DOWNLOAD

Out To Lunch
by Joe Robinson
from Escape magazine
A big meal and a· long nap is still a way oflife in Madrid.
Birds do it. Cats do it. And Spaniards most especially do it-every day,
in broad daylight. They nap. Grown adults-executives, teachers, civil
servants1 -wink off2 in the middle of the workday. From 1 or 2 o'clock
s to 4:30 or so every afternoon, Spain stops the world for a stroll home,
a leisurely meal, and a few z's.3 Common Market technocrats4 have
informed the Spanish that this is not the way things will get done in
a unified Europe.

At a time when productivity is the world's largest religion, the siesta

10 tradition lives on.5 In Spain, work operates under the command of life, 6
instead of the other way around. No task is so critical that it can't wait a Map page 159
couple of hours while you attend to7 more important matters like eating,
relaxing, or catching up on sleep. When the midday break hits, offices
Culture and
empty and streets clear. Befuddled foreigners quickly learn that they have Language Notes
15 entered a new circadian order.s page 154

I civil servants government employees

2 wink off go to sleep
3 a few z's a nap; a short sleep
4 technocrats government experts in science and technology
5 lives on continues
6 work operates under the command of life working is less important than living
7 attend to take care of; do
8 a new circadian order a new way of organizing sleep and wake patterns

113
 "At first, I kept looking for things to do in the afternoon, and I just
couldn't believe that nothing was open;' recalls Pier Roberts, an Oakland
writer who lived in Spain for several years. "I walked the streets of Madrid
looking for somewhere to go. It was a thousand degrees9 outside, you
20 could see the heat waves, and it was like a ghost town:·10
Taking a long break in the middle of the day is not only healthier than
the conventional lunch, it's apparently more natural. Sleep researchers
have found that the Spanish biorhythm11 may be tuned more closely
to our biological clocks.12 Studies suggest that humans are "biphasic"
25 creatures, requiring days broken up by two periods of sleep instead of one
"monophasic" shift. The drowsiness you feel after lunch comes not from
the food but from the time of day.
''.All animals, including humans, have a biological rhythm;' explains
Claudio Stampi, director of the Chrono Biology Research Institute in
30 Newton, Massachusetts. "One is a 24-hour rhythm-we get tired by
the end of the day and go to sleep-and there is a secondary peak of
sleepiness and a decrease in alertness in the early afternoon. Some people
have difficulty remaining awake, doing any sort of task between one and
four in the afternoon. For others it's less difficult, but it's there. So there is
35 a biological reason for siestas:'
Unlike the average lunch break, the siesta is a true break in the action
because there is no choice but to come to a full and complete stop. You
can't do errands; the shops are closed. You can't make business calls;
nobody's at the office. Most people go home for lunch, or get together
40 with family or friends and nod outl3 afterwards.
The Spanish need their sleep. They've got a long night ahead of them
because another key component of the siesta lifestyle is its nocturnal
orbit. 14 After the afternoon work shift, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. or so, they may
join friends for a drink. Dinner starts at 9 or 10 p.m., and from there it's
45 out on the town15 until one or two in the morning.
"It's a bad night in Madrid if you get home before six in the morning;'
laughs Roberts. The siesta's origins lie in climate and architecture. Like
people in other places around the globe that are blast furnaces16 much of

irLanguage.com
9 a thousand degrees extremely hot
lO a ghost town an empty town; a town without people
I I biorhythm rhythm of life
12 biological clocks natural body rhythms
13 nod out go to sleep
14 nocturnal orbit nighttime activity
15 out on the town having fun in town
16 blast furnaces very hot places

114 Chapter 12 I Out to Lunch

 the year, Spaniards turned to shade and stillness to avoid incineration I 7
so in the middle of the day. At night, packed, simmering dwellings drove
people into the streets to cool down.
While climate is still a factor, the siesta lifestyle today is driven
primarily by the social imperativers of Spanish life, which places an equal,
if not greater, emphasis on life outside the office. "We are not so obsessed
55 only with work;' says Florentino Sotomayor of the Spanish Tourist Board.
"We take a break and have the opportunity of having coffee with friends
and thinking and talking about different issues, not only work."

Word Count: 661 : Reading Time: : Words per Minute:

: (Minutes) j (Word Count/Reading Time)

About the Source

Escape magazine, published in Santa Monica, California, features a wide range
of advice and feature articles for the adventurous traveler. It focuses on unusual
vacations to out-of-the-way places, eco-tourism, and outdoor adventure.

After You Read

Understanding the Text
A. Comprehension
For each item below, fill in the correct circle.
1. Finding the Main Idea The main idea of this article is that _.
@ people everywhere should take naps
([) napping is an important tradition in Spain
© it is important to have traditions
<ID the nightlife is exciting in Spain
2. Finding the Main Idea The main idea of �aragraph 4 is that _.
@ it's okay to feel sleepy in the middle of the day
Cl) all animals have biological clocks
© food makes you feel drowsy
CID it's natural and healthy for humans to nap

17 incineration burning up
18 social imperative society's demands

•
115
3. Scanning for Details During the midday break in Spain, people _.
@ go home for © make business calls
lunch CID go shopping
® do errands
4. Scanning for Details A biphasic creature needs_.
@ two periods of sleep per day © two days of sleep
® eight hours of sleep per day @ a long night of sleep
5. Using Context The word peak in line 31 is closest in meaning to_.
@ high point © cause
® mountain top CID decrease
6. Making Inferences You can infer from the article that some
businesspeople in other European countries_.
@ hope the siesta tradition will be introduced in their countries
® think that the siesta tradition is impractical
© think that the siesta tradition will grow in popularity
CID don't agree that napping is good for you
7. Identifying Pronoun References In paragraph 1, the word this refers
to_.
@ eating quickly © going home for lunch and a nap
® joining the Common Market CID sleeping at night
8. Understanding Tone The overall tone of this article is _.
@ serious and academic . © light and informative
® light and silly CID scientific and technical
B. Consider the Issues
Work with a partner to answer the questions below.
I. According to the article, what are the advantages of the siesta?
2. In line 9, the writer claims that "productivity is the world's largest religion:'
What do you think he means by this? Do you agree? Why or why not?
3. Each of the statements below is an exaggeration of the truth. What is
an exaggeration of the truth? Why do you think the author exaggerates
the truth?
• It was a thousand degrees outside.
• It's a bad night in Madrid if you get home before six in the morning.
116 Chapter 12 I Out to Lunch
Building Vocabulary
Learning Word Forms
When you learn a new word, you can easily expand your vocabulary by
learning other forms of the same word. For example, the noun form of
the verb emphasize is emphasis. You can find different forms of a word
in a dictionary.

A. Scan the reading on pages 113-115 to add the missing words to the
chart below.

1. information informative
2. produce productive
3. suggestion suggestive
4. drowse drowsy
5. sleep sleepy
6. . alert alert
x->>, '�I.·<>,
1.
:· ' .
difficult
)�:"\:i)r\.· !' · · . ·
8. leisure
ilii{{,:;?t>t.':. .�.:·: .:\f.1_:.� ..- : /

B. Now use a word from the chart above to complete each sentence below.
1. One of the most articles I ever read on the subject appeared
in the Japan Times.
2. Some researchers think that people would be more if they
took a nap during the day.
3. Do you have any on how to improve my speech?
4. Hot weather can give you a headache and make you feel __
5. If you suffer from excessive during the winter, you may
need to get more sunlight.
6. I feel sleepy in the morning, but around 4 p.m. I start to feel
7. Some people don't have any with new technology; it seems
easy for them.
8. I had such a stressful morning that I'm in need of a lunch.

117
 Reading Sl<ill
Summarizing
When you summarize a piece of writing, you use your own words to
express the main points in the text. A summary is always shorter than the
original text.
When you write a summary:
• Focus on the main points in the reading.
• Don't include details or examples.
• Use your own words.
• Keep the author's viewpoint.
Hint! You might need to create the topic sentence for your summary from
a combination of several points in the original.

A. Analyze the Reading

The ideas below are from the reading on pages 113-115. Write M next to the
main points. Write D next to the details.
_ I. In Spain, your life is more important than your job.
_ 2. The siesta starts at 1 or 2 oclock and lasts until 4:30.
_ 3. Everything closes during the siesta; you can't do business.
_ 4. If you feel drowsy in the afternoon, it's because of the time of day.
_ 5. Taking a noontime break is healthy and natural.
_ 6. The hot climate in places like Spain gave rise to the siesta tradition.
7. In Spain, people stay out very late.
_ 8. Most people don' t have dinner until 9 or 10 p.m.

8. Evaluate the Reading Skill

Read this summary of the reading and answer the questions below.
Everyday from 1 or 2 oclock to 4:30, the people in Spain stop the world for
a stroll home, a leisurely meal, and a few z's. In Spain, the siesta tradition
lives on. Taking a long break �n the middle· of the day is healthier and more
natural than the conventional lunch. Claudio Stampi says that all animals,
including humans, have a biological rhythm.
I. Does the summary include all of the main points in the reading?
2. Did the writer of the summary use his own words?
3. Did the writer include any unnecessary details or examples?

118 Chapter 12 I Out to Lunch

C. Apply the Reading Skill
Read the paragraph below and identify the writer's main points. Then write
a short summar y of the paragraph.

A few years ago, I was sent by my company to work in Abu Dhabi. I really
didn't know very much about the place. When I first arrived, I noticed two
things that I thought were ver y different from the United States. First, the
working week is different. It begins on Sunday, and the weekend is Friday
and Saturday. In the U.S., the working week is Monday through Friday. At
first it was hard to get up early for work on Sunday-I wanted to sleep late
that day! Another difference that I noticed in Abu Dhabi is that services like
housecleaning and laundry are very affordable. For example, most people
I met have maids. This really surprised me. Back in the U.S., these services
are quite expensive, and I am used to doing these things myself.

Main Points

•
•
•

Summary

119
 Discussion & Writing
I. Group work. Traditions give information about values, or what people
believe is important. What do you think these traditions say about values?
•In Spain, it's a tradition to take a long lunch break so you can have
a leisurely lunch with your family and take a nap.
• In Turkey, it's a custom to take your shoes off before you enter a house.
•In the United States, it's a tradition for people to give flowers on
birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions.
2. Work with your group to answer the questions below. Then share your
answers with the class.
•What is one of your culture's most important traditions? What does it say
about your culture's values?
•When you were a child, what was one of your favorite holiday traditions?
Why did you like it?
•What do these two quotations mean to you?
"A tradition without intelligence is not worth having:'
-T.S. Eliot, British writer (1888-1965)
"Tradition is a guide and not a jailer:'
-W Somerset Maugham, British writer (1874-1965)

Words to Remember
Mini-Dictionary NOUNS VERBS ADJECTIVES
page 163 I
command include average
difficulty inform complete
emphasis operate conventional
factor remain critical
origins require key
shift
task
tradition

120 Chapter 12 I Out to Lunch