How to Write an Application Letter That Gets Read (With a Sample)

5 min readUpdated 28 October 2026

Your application letter is often the first thing an employer reads about you, and it is usually read quickly. A clear, properly addressed letter tells the reader you are serious before they even open your CV.

This guide to writing an application letter for a job in Nigeria is for fresh graduates and other job seekers. It covers layout, what to say, NYSC and sending by email.

What an application letter is for

An application letter (also called a cover letter) does not repeat your CV. It says which job you want, why you fit it and why you want to work for this employer. Your CV holds the details. The letter gives the reader a reason to look at them.

Keep it to one page, in three or four short paragraphs. If the advert says what to include or how to apply, follow it exactly. Ignoring the instructions is one of the easiest ways to be screened out.

Lay it out like a formal letter

Many Nigerian employers still expect the formal letter layout many of us learnt in school.

• Your address and the date at the top right, with your phone number and email address under the address.
• The employer’s details on the left, a little lower: the person’s name or title, the company name and its address. If you have no name, “The Head of Human Resources” works.
• The salutation. Use the person’s name if you know it, for example “Dear Mrs Okafor”. If you do not, write “Dear Sir or Madam”. Check the spelling of any name twice.
• A heading in bold under the salutation, such as “Application for the Position of Graduate Trainee”. Add the job reference number if the advert gives one.
• The sign-off. “Yours faithfully” goes with “Dear Sir or Madam”, and “Yours sincerely” goes with a name. Sign above your typed full name on a printed or scanned copy.

What to say in each paragraph

1. The opening. Name the job, say where you saw it and say in one line who you are. Plain and direct works better than “I humbly write to apply”.
2. Why you fit. Pick two or three things the advert asks for and show where you have done them: a project, SIWES, an internship, a volunteer role or a part-time job. Use details the reader can check, such as tools, numbers and results.
3. Why this employer. One or two sentences that show you have looked them up, such as a product you use or the graduate training they offer. This is the part generic letters skip.
4. The close. Say you would welcome an interview, give your phone number and thank them. Two or three sentences are enough.

Be clear about your NYSC status

Many Nigerian employers ask about national service, especially for graduate roles. State where you stand in one clear line, in the letter and on your CV.

• Completed: say when you finished, and have your Certificate of National Service ready.
• Still serving: give your state of deployment and the month you expect to pass out, so the employer knows when you can start full time.
• Exempted or excluded: say so, and have the certificate ready to show.

Sending it by email

• Use a professional email address, ideally built from your name.
• Use the subject line the advert asks for. If it gives none, use the job title and any reference number.
• Attach the letter and CV as PDFs with clear file names, such as Chidinma_Okoro_Application_Letter.pdf. A PDF keeps your layout the same on any device.
• Write a short email body. Never send attachments with a blank email. Three lines will do: which job you are applying for, that your letter and CV are attached, and thanks for their time.
• Never pay to apply. A genuine employer will not ask for a fee to process your application or book an interview.

Make the letter your own

Use your own details, and write your reasons to fit the employer you are writing to.

[Your address]

[Your phone number], [your email address]

[Date]

The Head of Human Resources, [Company Name], [Company Address]

Dear Sir or Madam,

Application for the Position of Graduate Trainee (IT Support)

I am applying for the Graduate Trainee (IT Support) position advertised on your website. I graduated from the University of Benin with a Second Class Upper degree in Computer Science, and I completed my National Youth Service in [month and year].

During my six-month SIWES placement with a logistics company in Benin City, I helped the IT team set up laptops for new staff, fixed common network faults and kept a log of support requests. For my final-year project, I built a simple web app that lets students book meetings with their course advisers. Both taught me to explain technical problems in plain language, which your advert lists as a key part of this role.

I would like to join [Company Name] because [a specific reason, such as your graduate training programme or a product I use]. I am comfortable with Windows, Microsoft Office and basic networking, and I would bring the same care to your staff that I brought to my SIWES team.

I would welcome the chance to discuss my application at an interview. I can be reached on [phone number] or [email address]. Thank you for considering my application.

Yours faithfully,

[Signature]

Chidinma Okoro

Check it twice, then send

Read your letter aloud once, because it catches missing words faster than reading silently. Then check the company name, the job title and the reader’s name, since a letter addressed to the wrong company rarely gets a second look.

If one of the AI tools Nigerians are actually using helped with your first draft, rewrite it in your own words and make sure every claim is true. Then send it with a CV that matches, using our guide on how to write a CV for Nigerian employers.