Letter of application

Your cover letter of application accompanying your resume/CV must be tailored to the position you are applying for.  Do not just repeat what you have already put in your resume/CV.

Your letter must address the accountabilities or selection criteria for the position, by showing how your skills and experience align with the position advertised.  Nominating your achievements and/or results previously achieved against each identified accountability or selection criteria, using statistics if you can, for example, “resulting in a 15% increase in sales”.

Demonstrate your skills using action verbs.  My pet hat when reading letters and resumes is to see the word “assisted”, how does your reader know HOW involved you were; what you actually did, learnt and achieved?

Tailor your letter to each position you apply for and the main message is, DO NOT use the same letter for all positions you apply for, you are missing an opportunity to sell yourself and show your ‘skills fit’ with the company/job you are targeting.

“Just a quick note to say a very big Thank You for your work on my resume and letter of introduction. I’m thrilled with how they both read! You did such a great job of putting the real me on the page not just what I have done in my career. Thank You.”

Zoe A. Sydney, Teacher

“Sounds fantastic to me. That is a fantastic cover letter – you have a way with words.”

Maritime National Plant Manager, Sydney