Career Coaching

When applying for a job, writing a great cover letter is the first step in getting your application noticed when competing against many other applicants—designed to capture the reader’s attention and encourage them to read your resume. Always tailored to the job you are applying for; your cover letter should demonstrate the value to the company of employing you based on your experience and skills. Essentially it illustrates why you would be the perfect fit for the role.

Here are the top tips for writing an impressive cover letter.

Do your homework and create a new cover letter for each role.

Research the employer before you start to write the cover letter. Write your cover letter tailored to both the role and the company. It is always evident if it is a generic cover letter, and when it hasn’t been tailored, it signals that you are not that interested in the role.

Go beyond your resume.

 This isn’t about regurgitating the same information in your resume; it is the chance to sell yourself. Don’t be afraid to brag about your achievements. This is the employer’s first introduction to you, so you want it to be a good one. After all, this process is a sales pitch; what you are selling is YOU!

Keep it short and to the point.

Your cover letter should not be longer than one page to keep the reader’s attention. Avoid long sentences ensuring you use language that is clear and direct.

Follow instructions.

Address relevant criteria and answer any questions, ensuring you follow the instructions in the job advertisement and address any key selection criteria often required in a separate document.

Structure, format, and edit the cover letter correctly.

• Top left-hand corner type name of the person hiring or hiring manager/recruitment team if no employee name is specified.
• Top right-hand corner, type your contact details (name, email, and phone number).
• Begin the letter with ‘Dear’ name of the employer or hiring manager/recruitment team.
• Written in the first person start by introducing yourself and stating the job you are applying for within the introduction followed by 2-3 paragraphs outlining your value to the company and why you want to work for them.
• In your concluding paragraph, you sum up and welcome the opportunity to meet for an interview.
• Finish with ‘Yours Sincerely’ and your full name.
• Use font size 10 or 12.
• Spell check and have it proofread.

 

Highlight your skills and experience.

Read through the job advertisement and select at least three of the required skills, abilities, or experiences you have that the employer wants. Rather than just stating that you have those skills, you must show how you acquired them by providing brief examples of times you have demonstrated those skills. If they specify the experience they are looking for, and you have experienced similar but not exactly the same, then state that. (e.g., experience using MYOB when the job asks for Xero). You can also include keywords from the job advertisement, especially if you submit your application electronically.

Make sure what you include is relevant. If your experience is broad, only use what is required for this specific role. When you don’t exactly have all the right expertise, mention how you would translate your current experience into the new position rather than noting that you don’t have all the right experience.

Make it personal.

Your opening line needs to express excitement for the role you are applying for, the company, or your passion for this type of work. The tone should be positive, highlighting what is unique about you and what a good fit for the position you would be. Although you want to keep a professional tone when writing your cover letter, it does allow you to reveal some of your personality, what matters to you, and how excited you are about the role.

If you would like support writing great Cover Letters that get you noticed and invited to an interview, please get in touch at info@judeallancareercoach.com.au