Applications · 5 min read
Job application letter sample for Tanzania, for government and company jobs
A good letter fits on one page: your details, the date, the employer's address, a heading with the post, why you fit in two or three short paragraphs, your documents, and your signature. For a government post, sign it, write it in Swahili or English, address it as your notice says and upload it on the Ajira Portal. Below are three samples you can copy.
Sample 1: a government post through PSRS
The address below is from the PSRS notice of 21 October 2026. Each notice has the final word, so check yours before you copy it.
Your full name, as on your certificates P.O. Box or street, town Phone number, email [Date] Secretary, Presidents Office, Public Service Recruitment Secretariat, P.O. Box 2320, Mahakama Street, Tambukareli, Dodoma. Dear Sir or Madam, RE: APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF [POST NAME], REF [NOTICE REFERENCE] I am applying for the post of [post name] at [institution], as advertised in your notice dated [date]. I hold a [award] in [subject] from [school or college], completed in [year]. For the past [number] years I have worked at [place], where I [one duty from the advert that you have really done]. This has prepared me for the duties in the notice, especially [duty]. I am a citizen of Tanzania and I am not employed in the public service. My certified certificates, transcripts, birth certificate and my three referees are on the portal. I am ready for an interview on any date you choose. Yours faithfully, [Signature] Your full name
Write this only if each sentence is true for you: for instance, if you already work in the public service, the notice sends you to a circular instead.
Sample 2: a company job, with experience
Your full name Town, phone number, email [Date] The Human Resources Manager, [Company name], [Address from the advert]. Dear Sir or Madam, RE: APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF SALES REPRESENTATIVE I am applying for the post of Sales Representative in Mbeya, which I saw on Work.tz. For two years I have sold soft drinks to shops around Mbeya for a local distributor. I look after 60 shops, I collect payment, and I report stock every week. Last year my route grew from 45 shops to 60. Your advert asks for someone who knows the Mbeya market and can keep good records, and that is the work I do each day. I hold a Diploma in Business Administration, and I have a valid driving licence. My CV and certificates are attached. You can reach me on the number above, and I can start after 28 days of notice. Yours faithfully, [Signature] Your full name
The shops and the numbers are only an example, so change them to yours. If you know the manager's name, write Dear Ms Mushi and end with Yours sincerely.
Sample 3: your first job, with no experience
Your full name Town, phone number, email [Date] The Human Resources Manager, [Company name], [Address from the advert]. Dear Sir or Madam, RE: APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT I am applying for the post of Accounts Assistant, which I saw on your careers page. I finished a Diploma in Accountancy this year. During eight weeks of field attachment at a district council, I recorded receipts, matched them to the bank statement each week, and helped prepare the monthly report. I am comfortable with Excel and I check my own work. I have not yet held a paid post, and I would work hard to learn how your team does things. My CV, certificates and a letter from my attachment supervisor are attached. I can start at once, and I would welcome an interview. Yours faithfully, [Signature] Your full name
You don't need to apologise for having no experience. Field attachment, a final year project and volunteering all count as evidence if you say what you did.
The rules from a real PSRS notice
These come from the general conditions of the notice we read, and all 50 PSRS adverts open on 1 November 2026 carry them. Some older notices also asked for a CV, so read your own.
- A signed application letter, written either in Swahili or English.
- Addressed to the Secretary at the address in the notice.
- Sent through the portal. Applications submitted through any other means will not be considered.
- Three reputable referees with reliable contacts.
- Certified copies of certificates and transcripts, and your birth certificate. Result slips, testimonials and partial transcripts are not accepted.
In practice that means printing and signing the letter, then scanning it, or signing it in a way the portal accepts. Keep a copy, and read our Ajira Portal checklist next.
Mistakes that lose you the post
- A letter that could go to any employer. Name the post and one duty from the advert.
- Copying an address from an old letter or a friend. Use the one in this notice.
- A different name from your certificates. PSRS checks certificates with NECTA, RITA and TRA.
- Saying you have a qualification you are still studying for.
- Two pages about your life. Keep it to one.
- Sending the letter by email when the advert names a portal, or to a portal when the advert asks for email.
Faster ways to write it
The application letter builder fills in your details and writes both the letter and a short email. For a company job sent by email, see how to apply by email. For how to make the case in your letter, see the cover letter guide. Then look through jobs for beginners in Tanzania or government jobs. Applying is free, and nobody should ask you to pay to have your letter accepted.
Sources and further reading
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Frequently asked questions
Can I write the letter in Swahili?
For a PSRS post, yes: the notice says either Swahili or English. For a company, use the language of the advert.
Should I handwrite my application letter?
Follow the advert. PSRS asks for a signed letter, and doesn't ask for it to be handwritten in the notice we read. If an advert asks for a handwritten letter, write one.
Who do I address it to if the advert gives no name?
Use the job title, such as The Human Resources Manager, and Dear Sir or Madam, then end with Yours faithfully.
How long should it be?
One page is enough. Three short paragraphs will do.