A cover letter?? But I already wrote a whole résumé!!

I know, applying for jobs is a lot of work – but think of a cover letter as an opportunity to wow the and go into more depth then you can in a résumé!

So… What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a short letter that accompanies your resume when you apply for jobs. Sometimes employers will ask you to include a cover letter in your job application. 

The letter should be a brief introduction to you and the skills you have that suit the job. It will be different if you are applying for an advertised job or if you are writing to inquire about potential vacancies at a company. 

It is divided into for main sections:

Addressing the reader:

In the cover letter, it is good to begin by greeting the reader of the letter. It is good to avoid using “To whom it may concern”. If possible locate who in the company will be reading your letter, either the Head of Human Resources or the Hiring Manager. 

Introduction: 

Begin with an introduction of who you are, this can include your education level, any experience you have – either volunteer or paid work and some of the personal attributes about yourself that speak to how well you will complete this job. 

You want this part specifically to grab the reader’s attention! Remember, they read HEAPPPSSS of these, so it’s good to make yours stand out by highlighting what makes you different.

Rather than say: 

I am a year 10 student who is looking for a job at your retail store. 

You could stay: 

As a high school student looking to apply my enthusiasm for technology and passion for customer service, I was attracted to the checkout position at Officeworks Balaklava. It would be the perfect opportunity for me to connect with the community by engaging in interpersonal conversations where my flare for the products and services of your establishment would shine. 

Body paragraphs: 

It is a good idea to include 2 or three body paragraphs that address specific details in the job advertisement or company website and then link these back to your experience or skill set. 

For example:

the job listing might include details about the job’s requirements for effective communication. You could then apply this to a time or experience in your life where to grew or used these skills. 

Such as: Being the Captain of my netball team for two years has led me to grow my communication skillset. I have been tasked with dispute resolution management and am required to facilitate a positive environment where my fellow athletes can communicate with me and each other effectively. This would translate perfectly into the position at <intert company name> as I would assist in the creation of a productive and cheerful atmosphere. 

Conclusion: 

It is good to conclude by thanking the reader for their time and to express your excitement to hear from them again. A call to action can help show your enthusiasm like requesting an interview or meeting to continue this discussion. 

For example: 

Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to hearing from you soon. I would love to continue this conversation in an interview if that suits you. Please feel free to contact me on <your number> or at <your email address>. 

Watch this video to see an example of a full cover letter!

Tips and tricks: 

• Write fresh: 
  • Your cover letter should be specific to the job you are applying for, which means you should write a new one for each new job you apply for
  • You can reuse some examples and phrases about yourself but ensuring that your cover letter is specific to the job or company you are interested in shows an important level of detail to your future employer 
• Be specific: 
  • through your research about the company pick some things that stand out to you to add to your cover letter, this can be things from their mission statements of values or projects that they run that may interest you
• Be brief: 
  • your letter should not exceed a page as it is just an expression of interest and you can expand on your points in an interview. This means that what you do say should pop, so do your best to excite your reader and stand out! 

 Youth Central has some great tips to help you get started.

What to avoid

• Typos and spelling mistakes: 
  • make sure you proofread your letter to make sure you sound and present yourself as professional as you can. Double-check to make sure what you say is correct, for example, make sure the company name is the one you’re applying for! 
• Repeating yourself: 
  • Make sure that the information in your cover letter goes beyond just reciting what you have written in your resume. Try to think of ways to incorporate attributes about yourself and expand on preexisting information. 
  • Try to vary your writing. You can do this by mixing up the start of and structure of your sentences by not always using ‘I’. 

There you go! All the tips and tricks you need to create your letter – so get writing!