How to write a winning cover letter and land that job
You’ve found an ad on Seek for your dream job (or, at least something to get your foot in the door and pay the bills). You scroll through the job description, look at the key selection criteria, and stalk the office on Google Maps for good lunch spots nearby. Now what!?
Almost all job listings will ask for some form of a cover letter to send in with your resume. Cover letters are a quick and easy way for employers to decide whether you’re the right person for the job and to get a good first impression of you, and they’re the perfect opportunity to sell yourself in a way that lets you show some personality. Basically, they’re a chance for you to talk about yourself for a whole 500 words or less. Amazing.
So, how do you write a great cover letter that will leave employers wanting to grab the phone and give you a 📞 ASAP? We’ve put together four easy tips that will help you nail your cover letter and land that job. Thank us later.
Get personal
The easiest way to stand out from the virtual slush pile of cover letters is to get personal from the get go. That means no ‘to whom it may concern’ or ‘dear sir/madam’, instead you need to put in the effort to do some research and find out who will be reading your cover letter.
Many job descriptions will list who to send your application through to, or if the job is on LinkedIn, you can scroll down to the bottom of the listing and see who has posted it. If you can’t find anything, make the opening line as personal as you can and related to the role you’re applying for—for example, ‘Attention: Communications Manager’.
Keep it simple
Nobody likes to see a massive wall of text, and rambling with unnecessary information is one way for all your hard work to potentially end up in the bin 🙁 . Make sure your cover letter is no longer than one page, and make white space your friend. While it is important to show some personality, don’t waste time talking about your 2018 holiday in Greece.
Read the job description and selection criteria carefully, and only include information that is relevant and will really make your skills and knowledge shine. For example, if they’re asking for someone who can write a range of content types for various digital platforms, you could include a bit about your Commsgrad internship experience with social media, blog writing and media releases.
Tailor it
If there’s one thing you take away from these tips, let it be this: don’t use a generic template. A great cover letter is one that is tailored for the job and for the company. You wouldn’t send the same text to your best friend and your boss, right?! Take the time to research the company, stalk it on socials and get a feel for their vibe.
This is where you get to show some personality and speak their language; no two roles are the same, so you need your cover letter to really address the specific needs of the business and the role. Replicate the company tone—if it’s a fun, tight knit advertising agency, you can get a bit more conversational and relaxed. For a more professional internal communications role for a national law firm, you’d probably want to be a bit more formal.
Show proof
It’s all well and good to say you’re a problem solver, people person and PR whiz, but you need to back your claims. This is where the STAR method comes in. With the STAR method, you respond to selection criteria by providing information about a particular:
Situation (what is the context?)
Task (what were you assigned and asked to carry out?)
Action (what did you do to achieve the task and solve problems along the way?)
Result (did you achieve any particular KPI’s, or were you offered a promotion?).
This provides employers with tangible evidence and real life examples of your working style, achievements and expertise.
Sanam Goodman