Schematic analysis of job application letters by Malaysian graduates

Schematic analysis of job application letters by Malaysian graduates

This study applied a "moves analysis" approach to examine job application letters written by 25 Malaysian graduates obtained from an outsourcing organisation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The letters were analysed as to whether they adhered to the seven aspects of the "moves structure&qu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Australian journal of career development Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 72 - 79
Main Authors: De Mello, Geraldine, Krishnan, Isai Amutan, Arumugam, Nalini, Ibrahim, Mohammad Nor Afandi bin, Husin @ Ma’mor, Misyana Susanti, Ramalingam, Selvajothi
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-04-2021
Subjects:
Applications for positions
Business Communication
College Graduates
Commercial correspondence
Credentials
Employer Attitudes
Foreign Countries
Graduate students
Job Applicants
Job Application
Letters (Correspondence)
Personnel management
Persuasive Discourse
Recruitment
Malaysia
Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
Malaysian undergraduates
job application letters
Moves analysis
graduates
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Summary:This study applied a "moves analysis" approach to examine job application letters written by 25 Malaysian graduates obtained from an outsourcing organisation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The letters were analysed as to whether they adhered to the seven aspects of the "moves structure" used to analyse job applications (i.e. establishing credentials, introducing candidate, detailing advantages, enclosing relevant documents, ending appropriately, offering incentives, and using pressure tactics). Additionally, interviews were held with five human resource managers from five different organisations. From the interviews, the managers emphasised that it was important that job application letters should contain at least five of the seven moves from the framework. The findings obtained revealed that Malaysian graduates employed five out of the seven strategies from the moves structure and had covered the basic format of the job application letter. Most applicants omitted Move 5 (using pressure tactics), but the findings suggest that this variation did not hinder the communicative purpose of the letters.
Bibliography:Australian Journal of Career Development, Vol. 30, No. 1, Apr 2021: [72]-79
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ISSN:1038-4162
2200-6974
DOI:10.1177/1038416221994208