Whether you love them or hate them, a well written cover letter can be the difference between you landing your dream job or missing out. When utilised correctly, a cover letter can showcase your skills and experience and show the recruiting manager why you are the best for the job and their company. Here are three tips that will help you write a killer cover letter that will stand out from the rest.

Tip one: Do your research

Hiring managers are keen to hire candidates who have a genuine interest in working with their company or organisation rather than candidates who are just looking for any job. Do some research on the company and dedicate a few lines in your cover letter describing how your skills and/or values align with those of the company and why you would be the best fit for the role.

Tip two: Tailor your cover letter

Generic cover letters have little to no value. Your cover letter will only stand out if you take the time to tailor it for the specific role that you are applying for. If applicable, address the cover letter to the hiring manager listed on the job advertisement. Additionally, ensure that your cover letter addresses the key attributes listed in the position description. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the role and clearly show the hiring manager that you have the transferable skills and experience to do the job, even if that might not be immediately obvious from your CV.

Tip three: Keep it simple

Your cover letter should be concise. We recommend keeping it to a maximum of one page. Avoid including details that are not relevant to the job – it’s not necessary to mention your forklift licence when applying for a policy position. Hiring managers may well be sifting through several applications a day and will be scanning your cover letter for relevant key words, not reading pages upon pages of text in detail.

Still struggling to get an interview? 

If you’re having trouble refining your cover letter, give us a call on (02) 6103 8094 and let us see if we can help.