How to write a Job Cover Letter (CV) in Australia?

In Australia, most employers require candidates to submit a cover letter with their job application. A cover letter provides you with the perfect opportunity to add value to your resume.

It focuses on your previous accomplishments, experiences, and skills connected to the role you are applying for in an organization. 

In this post, we’ll discuss the following points:

• The Purpose of a Cover Letter

• What’s the Ideal Length of a Cover Letter?

• Make Your Cover Letter Job-Specific

• What to Include in a Cover Letter?

1. The Purpose of a Cover Letter 

A cover letter is usually single-page and needs to be attached to your resume. It helps you to introduce yourself to the company and show your interest in the organisation or a particular position. All in all, a cover letter draws the attention of the employer and motivates him to interview you. 

A concise and neat cover letter enables you to make a great first impression on your prospective employer. So, when you are writing a cover letter, make sure to consider the following:

• Introduce yourself.

• Mention the type of job position you are looking or applying for.

• Demonstrate in your cover letter that your experiences and skills match the job requirements.

• Motivate the reader to read your cover letter.

• End the cover letter by including call-to-action (for example, asking to schedule an interview and discuss further about the job role). 

2. What’s the Ideal Cover Letter Length?

A cover letter should be short as it is supposed to be a summary of your resume. Keep in mind that employers have a limited time to read your cover letter, so avoid writing more than one page. 

A cover letter can be longer than half a page or less than a full-page and must include around 250 to 300 words. Make sure to divide your cover letter into three paragraphs. Each paragraph should have impressive opening lines and must close with important details that focus on what you can do for the organization.

3. Make Your Cover Letter Job-Specific

Every job you are applying for should have a different cover letter. Your cover letter must demonstrate that you know what your job involves and what exactly the recruiter is looking for in a candidate. Apart from being specific about your qualities and skills, you also need to focus on how you can contribute to the organisation. 

Here a few tips to make your cover letter job-specific:

Find out who you are addressing the cover letter to

When you are addressing the cover letter, avoid writing ‘To whom it may concern’. Instead, try finding out the name of the person who’ll be reviewing your job application. It may require you to put in some effort, but it’s worth it. 

To find out the name of the employer, you can either call the organization or email them. 

If you get to know the person’s name, use their last name in the cover letter, and make sure to include ‘Mr’ or ‘Ms’ before the last name. 

Learn more about the job 

You should know the essential details about the job you are seeking to improve your cover letter. To learn more about the job, you need to find the following things:

• Whether you’ll be working as a part of the team?

• If you got the job, whom would you report to?

• Find out the company’s requirements for a specific job role 

• Find out detailed information about the job position

After you find out the above details, you can use them in your cover letter and make it impressive. 

Search more about the company online

Familiarising yourself with the company will help you tailor your cover letter accordingly.

If you know the company’s name, you can go online to look for more information. You can visit their website and gather as much information you want about them. This will help you to mention correct information about the organisation, making it informative and attention grabbing cover letter. 

4. What to Include in a Cover Letter:

A cover letter needs to be precise and must include all the essential information. Remember, you cannot miss out on any detail. Here are a few things that you can include in your cover letter:

Add your name and contact details

• Mention your name and contact details at the top left side of your cover letter. You can skip writing your postal address, but it’s necessary to mention your phone number and your email address. Make sure to include a professional email address that has your first and last name. 

Add the employer’s details

• After mentioning your name and contact details, you need to include the employer’s name, his position in the company, the company’s name, and their contact details. If you face any problem finding these details, you can directly call the company and ask for the details. 

Add the name of the position you are applying for

• At the beginning of your cover letter, mention what position you are applying for. You can even bolden or underline the position to increase the chances of your cover letter being read rather than being ignored.

Add relevant skills and experiences

• Including your experiences and skills in the cover letter conveys your personality and shows why you are the perfect candidate for the job. Therefore, try highlighting your achievements, motivations, and skills to demonstrate your interest in a particular position. Also, you need to make sure that your skills are relevant to the role.  

Add a summary of why you are right for the job

• After writing about your experiences and skills, explain in a few sentences why you are fit for the job. It’s the part where you explain what makes you different and unique for the role. Remember that from an employer’s point of view, you must be able to add a new perspective to the position you are applying for. 

Add Call to Action

• Your cover letter should end by adding a call to action. This is where you ask the employer to contact you for the interview. By including a call to action to your cover letter, you tell the recruiter that you are looking forward to hearing from them. All in all, adding a call-to-action makes the process easier for the recruiter.  

5. Conclusion 

If you're a recent graduate who wants to write an outstanding cover letter, you can take help from your university’s career department, where professional advisers will give you guidance on what to include in the cover letter. Also, there are several free cover letter samples available online that can help you to write a perfect letter. 

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