What a job application is for
A job application, or cover letter, complements the CV. According to Job Market Finland's guidance, the cover letter looks to the future, whereas the CV describes your background. In the letter you explain why you are applying for the position, how you meet the selection criteria for the role and why you in particular should be chosen.
Always write the application specifically for the employer in question. The University of Helsinki career services advise looking for reasons for your motivation in the organisation's values, mission and strategy. A generic text sent to every position stands out to a recruiter immediately.
Structure and length
According to Job Market Finland, a good combination is a one-page cover letter and a CV of at most two pages. The same one-page maximum recurs in the guidance of higher education career services. The application should include the date, the organisation's name and the position applied for, and its appearance should be made consistent with the CV.
Before writing, read the advertisement carefully and underline the requirements and wishes. Choose the two or three most important ones that you can answer with a concrete example. The application does not need to cover everything the CV already says, but it must justify why your skills in particular suit this role.
A working structure goes like this:
- Subject line: the position applied for and the possible reference of the advert
- Opening: why you are applying for this particular position at this organisation
- Skills: 2–3 concrete examples that match the requirements in the job advert
- Who are you: your working style and strengths in brief, preferably through an example
- Closing: propose a follow-up, for example an interview, and add your contact details
Template: sample application
The text below is a fictional template. Replace the parts in square brackets with your own details and edit the content to match your own skills.
[Date]
[Company], [recruiter's name]
Application: [job title], reference [advertisement number]
Hello [recruiter's name],
I am applying for the [job title] position at [company] because I want to work with [field/customer group] at a company that [concrete reason, e.g. invests in customer experience]. In the advertisement you mentioned [requirement], and that is exactly where I have strong experience.
Over the past [x] years I have worked as [role] at [previous employer]. I was responsible for [task or project], which resulted in [measurable result]. In addition, I have [another example of skills relevant to the advertisement].
My colleagues describe me as [two qualities]. For example, [a short situation where the quality showed].
I would be happy to tell you more in an interview. My CV is attached.
Kind regards
Matti Meikäläinen
[phone number] | [email] | [LinkedIn profile]
By email or web form
If you send your application by email, Työmarkkinatori advises writing the word Application and the job title in the subject line. Write the cover letter in the message field, attach your CV and mention the attachment in the text. According to the University of Helsinki career services, it is best to send the CV as a PDF and name it, for example, CV First name Last name.
When the employer uses its own recruitment system, write the texts first in a word processor and only then copy them to the form. Use the keywords from the advertisement, as they help the recruiter find what matters.
Most common mistakes
- The same application for every position without tailoring
- Repeating the CV as a list when the letter should give reasons
- Too long a text: a letter longer than a page
- Wrong company or contact person name left over from copying
- Typos: check the spelling before sending
- A missing contact detail or attachment referred to in the text
If you do not yet have experience
According to Job Market Finland's guidance, it is worth finding out how your skills suit the job and emphasising your ability to learn, motivation and attitude. Studies, internships, summer jobs, organisational activity and volunteer work are all experience when you describe what you learned in them.
With a ready-made template, the structure and layout are in order right away. Tutkat.fi also has a paid CV and job application template, but the template above is a perfectly good starting point. You can get free advice from the employment services in your area and, as a student, from your educational institution's career services.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a job application be?
At most one page. Työmarkkinatori and universities' career services recommend a one-page cover letter and a CV of at most two pages.
Should the application be written as an email attachment or in the message field?
According to Job Market Finland's guidance, the cover letter is written in the message field and the CV is attached to the message. However, always follow the instructions given in the job advertisement.
What is worth writing at the start of an application?
Start with the reason you are applying for this particular position at this organisation. A generic opening, such as introducing your name and age, tells the recruiter nothing new, as that information is in the CV.
Can you use a model application as it is?
The template is worth using as a framework, but the content must be written separately for each application. Untailored text is one of the most common mistakes.
Calculate it yourself
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Sources
- Job Market Finland: Tips for job hunting
- University of Helsinki, career services: Tips for job hunting
The article is general information and does not replace the guidance of an authority, a lawyer or an adviser. Check up-to-date information from the sources.
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