Cover Letter

Purpose

The cover letter is one of the most under rated elements of a job application yet it’s also one of the most crucial.

A cover letter is essentially a 30 second window of opportunity to sell yourself to a potential employer. Its purpose is to convince the employer of what an asset you will be to their company and it should complement your resume, adding credibility to your claims.

The difference between a good and bad cover letter, or an application submitted without one, can and will convince an employer to take your application to the next step and read your resume.

The fact that employers can make a decision about your career in 30 seconds just reinforces the importance of spending time on your cover letter. It can not only summarise your skills and experience, but it also provides an insight into your personality and how you express yourself. This helps to build an overall picture of you and, as it is the first impression, it is crucial you get it right.

One thing to keep in mind when writing a cover letter is that the employer is probably receiving hundreds of applications for any one job; they will be stressed out and often very busy, so you need to make sure that your cover letter stands out above the rest!

Structure

1. Addressing the Letter

When addressing a cover letter make it as personable as possible. You should send letters to people, not companies. If you’re not sure about the contact’s name, gender or title, the best idea is to call the receptionist and ask. Never guess.

Address your letter using a salutation (Mr or Ms), then their name, title, company name and address. If you’re unable to obtain the gender, just use their full name (John Smith).

Example:

John Smith
Warehouse Manager
Fusion Workforce
2/23 Robinson Street
Dandenong VIC 3175

2. First Paragraph — Acknowledge the Job You are Applying for and Why You are Applying

State the purpose of the letter in first paragraph. Refer to the advertised vacancy (the position you are applying for), the job reference number and where you saw the position advertised. If you meet any of the requirements of the advertisement, put it in here. Opening the cover letter with a statement that grabs their attention and compels them to read more about you is a good idea as well, however, it must be related to the position and the reason you are writing.

3. Second Paragraph — Stake Your Claim

Explain to the reader how employing you will benefit the company — don't leave them to guess. Don’t be afraid to sell yourself. Don’t only match your skills and experience to the requirements of the job, but make a point of offering them more. Every hiring decision, regardless of the size of the company, is a significant investment in money for the employer; remember they are most likely hiring you to increase their bottom line or productivity so you want to make them think you are the perfect person for the job.

Don’t lie, choose your words carefully and don’t make claims that either you or your resume can’t back up!

4. Third Paragraph — Call to Action and Thank You

Always sum up your cover letter with an action point and what you would like the next step to be. If you are answering an advertised position, take a passive approach and wait for them to process all the applications. If they are interested, they'll call you. Chasing them up is just likely to annoy them.

However, there are situations when you can take the initiative and follow them up, in which case you should give them a couple of days to look it over and then call. Ask politely if they have had time to look it over, and if they haven't, ask when you should call back to discuss your application further.

Make sure you thank them for their time, be positive and let them know you’re looking forward to hearing from them and make yourself available for contact should they wish to discuss your application further.

Example Cover Letter (8 KB)