Cover letters for advertised jobs

How do you write a letter in response to an advertised position? Here are some step-by-step instructions for drafting your own cover letter.

Drafting your letter
Example: Cover letter for an advertised job

Drafting your letter

A cover letter is made up of several different sections. For each section, look at the cover letter example provided below and read the description and notes. Then have a go at drafting that section of your own cover letter. You can use a job advertisement you're really applying for or practise on one you find interesting.

Addresses, date, greeting and title

Put your name and address, as well as the recipient's name and address at the top of your cover letter. Sometimes the recipient's name doesn't appear on the job advertisement. It's worthwhile finding out the full name of the right person to address your letter to, rather than using the greeting 'Dear Sir/Madam'.

It's a good idea to include a title for your cover letter, so that a busy reader knows at a glance what your letter concerns. Underline your title or begin it with 'Re.' (short for 'Regarding'), and include the job reference number (if there is one).

Opening paragraph

In this first paragraph you introduce yourself and clearly explain the opportunity you are seeking. Pretend you're talking to the employer directly. How would you introduce yourself? How would you summarise your reason for writing? What about the job you want?

Avoid using long words and complicated phrases. Stick to language you would normally use when talking to an employer.

Middle paragraphs

Here you demonstrate that:

• your knowledge, skills and experience meet the selection criteria for the job
• you understand the employer's expectations of people who work for them
• you can make a significant contribution to the organisation.

This section of your cover letter is critical and dictates how impressed the employer is by your written application. In the example, notice how Alice 'sells' herself to the employer in her cover letter. Note the research she must have done to know precisely which criteria to address. Like Alice, you have to present yourself in the best possible light, without exaggerating.

Limit the length of your letter to one page, as employers don't have time to read more. Present your information in a way that's easy to understand. Alice chose to use short paragraphs to present her information. It would have been just as acceptable to use bullet points instead, or other methods of highlighting the criteria of most interest to the employer.

If you have trouble writing these middle paragraphs, you might want to review:

• What employers look for
• Demonstrating skills
• Addressing selection criteria

Last paragraph and sign-off

This section is where you express your desire for an interview. You should also reiterate your contact details. Note in the example how Alice comes across as enthusiastic and confident. It's important that you show you believe you are worth an interview!

Example: Cover letter for an advertised job