Woman: Dear Sir or Madam.
Man: When you write a formal letter in English and you don’t know the person’s name, (note this is often not given in a job advertisement) you should start it with Dear Sir or Madam. For example:
Woman: You can’t just write “Dear Sir”
Man: Why not? I don’t know the person’s name.
Woman: Well the person could be a woman. Do you know how many female mangers there are in England? You’ll offend them before they even read the letter, you have to write “Dear Sir or Madam”.
Woman: With reference to your advertisement in the……………
Man: If you are applying for a job, in your opening paragraph you must state where and when you saw the job advertised. For example:
Woman: Okay where did you see the job advertised?
Man: In the Guardian last Saturday.
Woman: So write, “with reference to your advertisement in “The Guardian” on Saturday the 21st of May, I would like to apply for the position of PR manager for Messina.”

Woman: I am currently employed as …………..
Man: In the second paragraph you should say what your current occupation is and why you want to change jobs.
Woman: Now write what you do now and why you are qualified for this position.
Man: How does this sound: “ I’m currently employed as an English professor, but, I have a background in International relations and a Phd in Tourism Management, so I’d welcome the challenge to promote the city in the best light possible”
Woman: Fantastic.
Woman: Yours Faithfully or Yours Sincerely?
Man: Even English people confuse how to finish a formal letter, if you know the person’s name, you write “yours sincerely,” if you don’t you write “yours faithfully.” The rule of thumb to remember is: if you write “S” for Sir at the start then you write the opposite “F” for faithfully at the end. Now listen:
Woman: You can’t write Dear Sir, and finish with Yours Sincerely.
Man: Why not?
Woman: Because you don’t know the person, you must write “Yours Faithfully.”
Man: Gosh this is so complicated.
Woman: Do you want the job or not? This is the first impression you give them and your chance to catch their eye and get an interview.

Woman: Now you will listen to a person perfecting his job application letter.

Woman: Have you finished that job application letter yet?
Man: I think so, this is the final copy.
Woman: Well read it to me then.
Man: Ok, here goes. Dear Sir,
Woman: Stop, I told you before “Dear Sir or Madam,”
Man: Dear Sir or Madam,
With reference to your advertisement in “The Times” on the 24th of June, I would like to apply for the position of International PR manager for Messina.
Woman: Very good, continue.
Man: I am currently employed as an English professor, however I have a background in International Relations and a Phd in Tourism Management. I would welcome the opportunity to promote Messina and its rich culture and history in the best light possible, in order to encourage more international tourism and improve the local economy.
Woman: Excellent, and how have you closed the letter?
Man: I have enclosed my CV for your perusal and look forward to meeting you for an interview at your earliest convenience. Thanking you in advance for your attention to my details. Yours Faithfully, Joe Brown.
Woman: Very Good, just one thing, you’ve typed the letter, In England they prefer the application letter to be in your own handwriting, as some companies analyse this.
Man: Anything to be different. Ok, give me a pen, and I’ll write it, I should just have enough time to catch the last post.