The four-paragraph plan
Each paragraph has one job. Make the subject line just as precise: the post title and any reference number.
- Purpose: the exact post. “I am writing to apply for the fixed-term analyst post.”
- Evidence: your current role and two achievements that match the advert. “In my current post, where I coordinate six partners, I have introduced a shared schedule over the past year.”
- Motivation and contribution: “The post particularly interests me because it combines research and delivery.” “My mediation experience would allow me to contribute quickly.”
- Close: attachments, availability and the next step. “I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the role.”
Two relevant achievements, one measured result
Choose one achievement for each of the advert’s top two requirements and leave out the rest. An achievement is a change you caused; a duty is what your job description says. Give one a before-and-after figure: one number makes a claim checkable, five make a report.
- Duty: “Responsible for partner meetings.” Achievement: “Over the past year, I have introduced a shared referral process; consequently, average response time has fallen from nine days to four.”
- A where clause adds context without a second sentence: “I coordinate a regional mentoring programme, where I manage eight partner organizations.”
- Present perfect for a period up to now, past simple for a finished time: “Over the past year, I have trained twelve new volunteers.” / “In 2024, I led the move to a new database.”
Linkers with the right grammar
Two precise linkers are enough. At C1, the grammar after the linker matters as much as the choice.
- Result: consequently or as a result, after a semicolon or full stop. “As a result, approval now takes two weeks, not six.”
- Contrast: although + clause; despite + noun or -ing, never despite of. “Despite having a smaller budget, the team met every deadline.”
- Purpose: so that + could or would for a past result. “I rewrote the handover notes so that new staff could start without supervision.”
Confidence without unsupported praise
Adjectives about yourself are claims the reader must take on trust. Show what the quality produced instead, and use would for your future contribution: it sounds confident without promising what you cannot know.
- “I am a highly motivated team player.” Show it instead: “I chair a monthly meeting of six partners with competing priorities.”
- “I am very thorough.” Better: “My handover checklist stopped the same error recurring.”
- “I will transform your partnerships.” Better: “My experience of chairing difficult meetings would allow me to contribute quickly.”
Editing a first draft
Two colleagues review a draft. Listen: what should the writer cut, and what comes after the edit?
Maya My draft lists every task I have done.
Owen Select two achievements because relevance is stronger than volume.
Maya I will quantify one result and explain why this organization interests me.
Owen Then edit unsupported praise and defend your choices aloud.
Defend your choices aloud
Each claim invites an interview question: “How did you measure that result?” “What exactly was your role?” Answer each aloud in three or four sentences. The marker in fact adds a stronger detail: “In fact, the referral process was my proposal, not a management target.”
Then discuss, with a reason and an example:
- “Is it dishonest to leave out an impressive achievement that does not fit the post?”
- “Should a covering email explain a career change, or leave it for the interview?”
Common mistakes
Check your draft for these:
- “I am writing to apply to the analyst post.” You apply for a post and to an organization.
- “I have led the project in 2023.” A finished time needs the past simple: “I led the project in 2023.”
- “I look forward to hear from you.” Here to is a preposition: “I look forward to hearing from you.”
- “Dear Sir or Madam … Yours sincerely.” British usage pairs an unnamed greeting with “Yours faithfully”. In email, “Kind regards” suits either.
A 15-minute daily practice routine
Use a real or invented advert in your field.
- 3 minutes: play the five phrase cards and repeat each example.
- 4 minutes: turn two duties from your job into achievements with a result.
- 4 minutes: write one sentence with where and one with consequently or despite.
- 4 minutes: answer “How did you measure that?” aloud about your figure.
What comes next
Next at C1: a reflective article about a memory that changed, a balanced view of a difficult colleague, and spoiler warnings that judge how much to reveal. Or practise questioning advice politely.