Writing and Punctuation / Writing Application letters & CVs for a job / Cover letter for a job
.pdf
Writing a cover letter
Why?
It gives you a chance to put over your character and what kind of person you are. It is a marketing opportunity for you to sell yourself .
In combination with your CV, it will determine whether or not you get to the interview stage.
Before you apply
Do your homework. Find out about the company. What experiences, skills and personal qualities does it seem most interested in?
Make sure that your application is tailored to the specific job and company, and is not a ‘one size fits all’ document.
Do’s
Keep it to the point. HR departments receive a lot of letters, and they will only look through it briefly initially. It has to attract their attention.
Use bullet points—but not excessively!
State why you want this particular opportunity and this particular employer. Show your interest.
What sets you apart from the other applicants? How are your skills relevant to this job?
Make sure it’s presented well.
Check you’ve signed and dated the letter. State your availability for interview Check it for mistakes thoroughly
Don’ts
Don’t repeat what is in your CV
Don’t make it too long— the reader will spend on average 30 seconds to read each page.
|
|
9 Carrot Rd |
|
Your |
|
|
|
Knobston |
|
address + |
|
|
|
Qld |
|
contact |
|
|
|
4228 |
|
details (no |
|
|
|
|
|
name) |
|
The address |
Alison Brown |
(07) 3543 7768 |
|
|
|
isabellec@bigpond.com.au |
|||||
of the person |
HR Manager |
||||
|
|
|
|||
you are |
Microsoft |
|
|
|
|
writing to |
11 Albott St |
|
|
|
|
|
Sydney |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date—very |
30th February |
|
|
|
|
important! |
Dear Sir or Madam, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
I wish to apply for the position of Technology Specialistst |
are writing. |
|||
|
Intern, as advertised in ‘The Times’ on February 31 2010. I |
The reason you |
|||
believe I would enjoy the challenge and the opportunity to learn provided by this position. I also recognise the invaluable experience that would be gained working with the largest name in the industry.
I am currently completing my Bachelor of Engineering at Bond University. Over the past two years in particular, I have achieved an average Grade Point of 4.96 (on a 7 point ascending scale) in subjects completed. I have attained academic excellence in subjects involving large professionalstyle projects, communications, management and business skills.
Academic
Details
My involvement in the operation of EESEC, the largest single campus student society in Queensland, has strengthened my leadership, teamwork, problem solving and decision making abilities, and has enabled me to acquire expertise in all facets of successful business administration. I believe that these factors, along with by broad information technology and engineering knowledge base, my extensive experience with the Microsoft suite of products and my personal skills such as initiative, creativity, adaptability and willingness to learn will enable me to excel in the role of a Microsoft intern.
Work experience details
Please find attached my resume and academic transcript. I |
contacted for |
would appreciate the opportunity of an |
Attach CV and |
how you can be |
|
interviews |
|
interview and I can be contacted at the above |
|
addresses. |
|
I look forward to hearing from you |
|
Closing |
|
Yours faithfully |
|
Isabelle Coverdale |
|
Bond University Career Development. (n.d.). Covering Letters. Retrieved September 2005, 2005, from
www.bond.edu.au/careerdev/resumes/covering_letters.htm