Imagine walking into a bookstore and finding that in order to decide which book to purchase you need to read every book in the store, cover to cover. It is impossible. This is why all books have an advertisement or introduction on the back, so that we can, in fact, judge a book by its cover! This summary tells you very briefly what the book is about, the genre of the book, eg. mystery, drama or fantasy, and the success of the book as quoted by critics. This is exactly the same function of your Cover Letter; its purpose is to sell your résumé.

Just like your résumé, a Winning Cover letter cannot be generic, if we all used the same standard cover letter we would lose our competitive advantage. The success of a cover letter lies in its uniqueness. However, while there are no magic words to fit all cover letters, there are standard templates and some basic key components every résumé must have.

[In order of appearance]

• The Date
  
  
• Contact Details
  [Your Name, Address, Phone Numbers and Email Address]
  
  
• Address Details
  [The Employer/ Recruiter’s Name, Position, Company and Address]
  
  
• Title
  [Re: Application for the position of ……]
  
  
• An Engaging Introduction
  
  
• Body Text
  [Competency Matching and Professional Development]
  
  
• Value Adding
  [Competency Statements]
  
  
• Conclusion
  [Invitation to request further information, arrange interview etc.]

In general, there are two types of cover letters, each different in style and detail to suit two different methods of job hunting. They are the General Cover Letter and the Targeted Cover Letter.

General Cover Letters
Are used to send applications to multiple companies within the one industry.

When preparing a General Cover Letter:

• DO contact each company on your list to find out the name of the Human Resources Manager and address each standard letter personally.
  
  
• DO write an engaging introduction, specific to the industry you are applying within.
  
  
• DO highlight your experience and match competencies to those required by the industry.
  
  
• DO add value, by mentioning any personal attributes that make you a favourable employee.
  
  
• DO conclude by mentioning any final relevant issues, not addressed in your résumé. For example, you may be willing to relocate interstate, or attend an interstate interview at your own expense.*

*It is important to use your cover letter to explain any such issues that otherwise may eliminate you from being considered for a position.

Targeted Cover Letters
Are used to send a specific application to one target employer.

When preparing a Targeted Cover Letter:

• DO call the advertised job contact to get as much information as possible about the job you are applying for, including a job description if available.
  
  
• DO address the letter to the application contact provided.
  
  
• DO use the Internet to research the company’s background.
  
  
• DO write an engaging introduction which demonstrates your knowledge of the compnay and an understanding of their core values.
  
  
• DO explain why you want to work for this company in your introduction.
  
  
• DO highlight your experience and match your key competencies to the criteria outlined in the job advertisement or job description.
  
  
• DO add value, by mentioning any personal attributes that compliment the company’s mission and values.
  
  
• DO conclude by mentioning any final relevant issues, not addressed in your résumé.

Now that you have an idea of the type of content required, the next step letter is to write your letter in a way that is engaging and enticing to the reader. You will need to develop the body text by using ‘Competency Matching’, ‘Professional Development ‘ and ‘Value Adding’ and bring it all together in a professional letter-writing format.

The few tips listed above will help you on your way. However, if you feel that you do not have the writing skill or the time to develop a winning cover letter, you may also want to consider our cover letter writing services and/or Winning Resumes Training.

Résumés  Cover Letters  Selection Criteria  Career Resources