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.")