Cover Letters

Create a good cover letter for a good first impression

Follow this simple guide to help you create effective cover letters for job applications.

A cover letter is used to complement your resume

Application Cover letters are an important part of any job application.

A letter of application is the first correspondence you will have with a prospective employer - it answers the question of why you have applied for the position, and it shows them a bit about yourself.

Cover letters are a useful way to provide personal information that may not be detailed in your resume, and to fill in any gaps for the employer. It is important to create cover letters specific to each job application, even if some of the content is similar.

Here’s a checklist for creating a cover letter:

• Always type up your cover letters, unless the employer asks for a hand written application
• Avoid using slang terms and abbreviations
• Address the letter to the contact person in the job advert / or to the manager when cold canvassing. Make sure you spell the person’s name correctly!
• Highlight the key skills from the job advert and incorporate each of these into your letter.
• Keep it short. Explain how you meet the requirement of the position. Provide a brief overview of your skills, experience and qualifications and the reasons why you applied for the position.
• One page maximum.
• Use positive words. Talk about what you do, rather than what you don’t do.
• Check the formatting of your letter and that it contains no grammatical or spelling errors.
• Get someone else to proof-read it for you.
• Close your letter with ‘Yours Sincerely’ or ‘Kind Regards’ as well as your signature and the date.

For further tips and examples of cover letters, visit the websites below:

MyFuture Jobs and Skills WA Job Jumpstart 

Discover more free tips and resources to help with your job applications:

Selection Criteria Resumes More Resources