Cover Letter Template - Applying For A Specific Advertised Job printable pdf download

Cover Letter Template

Applying for a specific advertised job (if you don’t have work experience)

The aim with any cover letter is to keep it brief (no more than a page).

Employers don’t have time to read every job application they receive in full, so they scan them for

key information. Make sure your cover letter shows how you meet the criteria for the job – this

could be through your personal strengths, skills and abilities, work experience, or academic

results.

When applying for a specific position, the basic format for a cover letter is:

•

State that you’re applying for a particular job - naming both the job title as it was written in the

advertisement, and the company's name too

•

State why you want to work for the company - what is it about the role or the company that

appeals to you? Where possible, try to show that you have some knowledge of the company,

and its products or services

•

Highlight the skills and qualifications that you believe make you the best candidate for the job -

always try to link these with the key requirements of the position (as stated in the position

description or job ad)

•

Ask for an interview. Don’t be shy - this shows you have initiative and are enthusiastic about

the job

Tip #1 –

Make sure your cover letter addresses each of the key skills and requirements of the

job's position description - there's no use talking about things that your future employer isn't

actually looking for!

Tip #2 –

Use your resume to back up and expand upon the key points in your cover letter

Tip #3 –

List your key selling points in bullet form to make them easy to read

Tip #4 –

A personal touch will help you stand out from other job applicants (e.g. briefly explaining

why you think you would fit in with the company culture, how much you like the company’s

products/services, or the interest you have in the area the organisation works in)

How to highlight your skills and qualities if you don’t have work experience:

If you don't have specific, paid work experience, you’ll still be able to use your cover letter to

highlight the skills, abilities and experience you’ve gained through school, training, work

experience programs or voluntary positions. The letter needs to be brief (no longer than a page),

so you'll need to write only one or two paragraphs that describe these key selling points. This

might include:

•

Your relevant experience specific to the job (e.g. "I have two years' experience with all aspects

of customer service and retail sales gained as a part-time volunteer with the Salvation Army's

'Savers' program")

•

Your key skills, qualities and abilities specific to the job (e.g. “I have hands-on experience with

a range of computer applications and I work well with others in stressful situations.")

•

Your relevant qualifications or training/academic track record specific to the job (e.g. "My

studies have focused on mathematics and science, and I took additional applied maths and

chemistry electives in Year 11.")

Cover Letter Template - Applying For A Specific Advertised Job

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