AUSTRALIAN COVER LETTERS - STEPS TO CREATING AN EFFECTIVE AUSTRALIAN COVER LETTER By Nadine Myers AUSTRALIAN COVER LETTERS – STEPS TO CREATING AN EFFECTIVE AUSTRALIAN COVER LETTER Published by: Resume Australia www.ResumeAustralia.net Copyright © 2014 Nadine Myers All Rights Reserved Published by Resume Australia No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mec hanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to australianjobsearch@gmail.com. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nadine Myers is the Founder and Director of many of Australia’s leading job search assistance websites, assisting locals as well as migrants from all over the world to successfully secure employment in Australia. Degree qualified in Business Management through the University of Queensland, Australia; Nadine took on further studies in Organisational Psychology, gained through the University of London, UK. With more than 14 years work experience gained in Australia and Internationally in Human Resource Management, Recruitment and Job Search Strategies, across several industries, including Tourism, Engineering, Government, Health Care, Engineering, Manufacturing, Skincare and Finance; Nadine has expertise in assisting people to achieve their career dreams. Nadine current runs www.ResumeAustralia.net, www.SponsoredJobsInAustralia.com, www.Me2Aus.com and www.FindJobsInOz.com; as well as LinkedIn Group, Employer Sponsorship Australia (http://linkd.in/1ixncLP); is author of several books on the topic of job search in Australia (see Recommended Books & Websites for full list of books available), and has been featured twice in Australian & NZ Magazine, UK. Nadine not only assists locals and emigrants to prepare their CV and cover letter for the Australian job market, but also provides job search strategies and techniques to help people find jobs in Australia through the hidden job market. COPYRIGHT © Nadine Myers 2014 – All Rights Reserved TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR INTRODUCTION DON’T WRITE AN ESSAY TAILOR YOUR COVER LETTER TO THE JOB YOU ARE APPLYING FOR ADDRESS THE SELECTION CRITERIA Government and Other Selection Criteria Recruitment Consultant PSO Specialist KEEP A CLEAR AND CONCISE LAYOUT Example 1 Example 2 FORMATTING YOUR AUSTRALIAN COVER LETTER WATCH YOUR SPELLING AND GRAMMAR STATE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR YOUR AVAILABILITY PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER Step-by-Step Guide to WRITING a Successful Australian Cover Letter: CASE STUDIES EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2 SUCCESSFUL AUSTRALIAN COVER LETTER TEMPLATES Australian Resumes: STEPS TO CREATING AN EFFECTIVE AUSTRALIAN RESUME CVs For Job Sponsorship in Australia Cover Letter Templates Download SUCCESSFUL AUSTRALIAN COVER LETTER CHECKLIST Getting the Basics Right Putting it All Together Australian JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE Australian Job Sponsorship Package Australian Job Search Package Final Word Reccommended Books & Websites Books Websites Social Media INTRODUCTION Although your CV or resume is the most important part of your Australian job application, your cover letter comes a very close second. The reason being, that in many cases, the cover letter is the first thing that the Australian employer will read, and therefore, your first chance to make a real impression on the Australia employer. A well written cover letter that is straight to the point and relevant to the job you are applying for can act as an excellent support to your CV, particularly if your CV doesn't quite match up to the requirements of the job you are applying for. Further, when applying for job sponsorship in Australia, your cover letter plays quite a key role as to whether the Australian employer will eagerly move on to read your CV, or make a decision not to consider you any further, before even assessing your background and suitability against their requirements for their vacancy. This e-guide will assist you to create an effective and enticing cover letter to accompany your CV, and increase your chance of being considered for an interview with an Australian employer. You will find that this e-guide is set out in sections, addressing the key points to consider when writing an effective cover letter for job sponsorship in Australia. You will also find that the e-guide includes a step-by-step guide for you to follow, and introduce you to our cover letter templates so that you can create your successful cover letter right here with ease. The e-guide then finishes up with our final points to remember and to apply when writing your cover letter, and applying for jobs in Australia. We also include a section detailing our professional services for job sponsorship that will assist you further in being more successful when applying for jobs in Australia. DON’T WRITE AN ESSAY One of the biggest mistakes that people make when applying for a job is to write a cover page that is unnecessarily long. The reason this is significant is because the Australian employer has a list of key criteria that they are looking for when they are considering applicants for their vacancies, and they are generally more interested in what is actually on your CV, or resume, than what you actually write in your cover letter. Keeping this in mind, you should aim to keep your cover letter short and to the point. A good length to aim for is less than one page. You only want to include information in your cover letter that you need to highlight, for example, your skills and experience that are relevant to the job you are applying for; or what your CV lacks, such as an explanation for gaps in your employment, or why you feel that you are suitable for the job considering that your work experience is not an exact fit for what the Australian employer is looking for. Only write relevant points that support your application to the specific job you are applying for, and don't fill your cover letter with information that has nothing to do with the job that has been described. For example, if you are an Architect who has worked on church and bridge projects, and you are applying for a job as a Bridge Architect, you should only highlight your bridge projects in your cover letter. The Australian employer does not want to hear about your work with churches, because it is not something that you would be doing in this particular role. Some employers will have a set of criteria that they require you to address in your cover letter, particularly Government organizations whom have more complex recruitment processes than most private Australian organisations. In these cases, it is expected that you support your resume with a one-two page cover letter addressing their criteria. This type of cover letter doubles as an assessment of your writing ability. This particular type of cover letter will be addressed at a later stage, since it has a different approach to normal cover letters. My suggestion for every cover letter is to always address the selection criteria and how you ‘rate’ yourself against the criteria, even if the Australian employer does not specifically ask you to do this. If written well, this should serve the purpose of strengthening your application, and increasing your chance of being invited for an interview with the Australian employer. We’ll do some case studies later in this eBook to give you a good understanding of how to create an effective cover letter for Australia. TAILOR YOUR COVER LETTER TO THE JOB YOU ARE APPLYING FOR Tailoring your cover letter to the job you are applying for is key to writing a successful cover letter for Australia. Quite often when a job seeker is applying for jobs, they will have a standard cover letter that they use over and over for various jobs that they are applying for. This can have a negative effect when applications are rushed and the job seeker does not take the time to read over the cover letter before sending it, as sometimes the job types vary, making the cover letter not quite the right “fit” for the role. A job seeker can also look quite ‘sloppy’ and portray having poor attention to detail if the cover letter is addressed to someone for one job, then forwarded with their resume for a different role, and a different person. Our advice is to take the time to tailor the cover letter to each individual job. What this will in effect do, is appear that you specifically would like the job you are applying for, rather than just wanting any job that is available. Australian employers are looking to employ staff who want to work for their particular organisation, who have specifically been looking for the job the employer is advertising, and who are of course, suitably skilled for that role or at least willing to undertake the necessary education to attain the skills and experience for that role. TIP: To make the best impression possible, ALWAYS check your cover letter before sending it out so as to ensure that it is tailored to the specific job and company you are applying to. ADDRESS THE SELECTION CRITERIA As mentioned earlier, if there are specific selection criteria the employer is looking for, or the advert refers to attributes, skills and/or experience they are looking for in their ideal candidate, then you should always ensure that you address how these specific items relate to yourself. Recruiting managers in Australia have listed those specific criteria on their job advert because they are looking for candidates who match those skills or have that particular experience or qualifications. Let’s face it otherwise they wouldn't have listed the criteria in their adverts. They are trying to make it easier for the candidate (i.e., you) to determine whether they are suitable for the role; and on the other hand, they want to make the job easier for themselves when they screen the applications. TIP: If you do not make the employer aware of your “match” to what they are looking for, your CV may not be considered for the position. When addressing the selection criteria, you should always back up your statements with a brief example. For instance, instead of stating, "I am highly organised and work well to tight deadlines"; support this statement with why. An example could be, "I am highly organised and work well under pressure and have demonstrated this in my previous roles through my adoption of techniques such as proper planning, prioritisation and delegation of work load". Now you are making a powerful statement against the selection criteria! GOVERNMENT AND OTHER SELECTION CRITERIA As mentioned earlier, Australian Government recruitment processes are a lot more complex than private Australian organizations. For one, they tend to have a list of selection criteria that you need to address before you will be considered for any position within the Government organization. Some private Australian companies also use this technique to assist the recruiters in their screening process. An example of a typical Government advert, as taken from Seek.com.au on 8 June, 2011 is set out below: RECRUITMENT CONSULTANT PSO SPECIALI Recruitment Consultant - Protective Service Officers Challenging and fun working environment Excellent on-site facilities including gym and cafes City centre Location $53,502 to $64,962 plus super Victoria Police is a large organisation employing more employees, including police, public servants and prote officers, serving Victoria, with a population in excess of fi Being part of Victoria Police means you have the op contribute and make a difference to the community. Ou to deliver a safer Victoria in conjunction with our partner Currently we have an exciting opportunity for an recruitment professional to come on board to a Recruitment of Protective Service Officers. This is a new place 940 PSOs in all metro Railway Stations and 4 Regi next 4 years. As this is a new initiative we require someone who excellent selection skills, can manage end to end re volume capacity and is a self starter. You will have exc and oral communication skills and will have intermedia excel. Some of your key responsibilities will include: • Manage end to end recruitment activities for PSOs • Co-ordinate and assist with recruit selection panels. • Process and assess applications for employment in Victo • Report on various recruiting stats for department To apply online and for furthur information on positio and selection criteria, visit www.careers.vic.gov.au a position number 20023386. Closing date for applications midnight, Sunday 19th June Victoria Police … Delivering a Safer Victoria www.police.vic.gov.au As you can see, applicants are then directed to the website where they can download the position description, selection criteria and application form for applying for this role. This Australian Government website gives very valuable guidelines for addressing selection criteria: http://www.bom.gov.au/careers/guide2SC.shtml . Ensure you read through this website extensively before completing your Government selection criteria application, because it is written by Human Resource professionals within Government to assist you to be more successful when addressing their selection criteria. They also explain what their expectations are and how you can meet them. What you will find on this web page is: · Understanding the selection criteria · How to respond to each selection criteria · How to brainstorm before providing your response to selection criteria · Providing evidence in support of your response to the criteria · Checking your work · Layout – what is expected · Expectations of length KEEP A CLEAR AND CONCISE LAYOUT Like your CV, you should aim for your Australian cover letter to be clear, concise and to the point. Australian recruiting managers generally tend to scan CVs and cover letters for key points before going back to read the information in more detail. With this in mind, don’t be afraid to highlight certain relevant points in bold, italics or even set out your strengths and examples against the job description in bullet points or numbered - this makes the information very easy to process when scanning over the cover letter. Refrain from long drawn out descriptions and paragraphs unless you are asked to address the selection criteria in a more comprehensive or formal manner, such as with Government applications, as mentioned earlier. To provide you with examples of how a “clear and concise” layout with key points highlighted looks in comparison to a cover letter that is not so clear and concise are set out below. The position for this example is Electrical Engineer, and was advertised on www.seek.com.au on 12th January 2010 by the company, Generic Engineering. The selection criteria for the position is: 5 years’ experience as an electrical engineer, degree qualified, experience leading projects, working towards post degree qualifications. Both candidates have the required experience and skills for this position, however their approach to their cover letters are both very different. Which example do you feel is more powerful? EXAMPLE 1 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing in application for the position you had advertised on the SEEK website and I feel I am suitable for this position due to my extensive experience in the field of electrical engineering. My experience has been gained internationally in positions of great responsibility, with companies such as Georgian Electrical, American Energy and IAT Inc. I have proven my experience with each of these companies and progressed steadily into my current role as Electrical Engineer for IAT Inc. I am very honest and hardworking with excellent selfmotivation and ability to multi-task. People I have worked with have told me that I am a good team player and I also work very well on my own. I enjoy working as an Electrical Engineer. I would love to work for a reputable global company based in Australia. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Janet Goodwin EXAMPLE 2 To Whom It May Concern, RE: Electrical Engineer Vacancy – Generic Engineering I write with great interest in the above position, advertised on the SEEK website on January 12th, 2010. I am a degree qualified Electrical Engineer with approximately six and a half years’ experience gained within a similar-sized organization to Generic Engineering, called General Engineering. I am also working towards my Masters in Electrical Engineering, in which I am due to complete in 2011. As one of two senior Electrical Engineers at General Engineering, I have been responsible in the past three years for leading 11 electrical engineering projects, including delegating and motivating teams of up to 12 technicians and junior Engineers. In credit to my leadership and project management skills, these projects have all run smoothly and were successfully completed within the set timelines and budgets. Please refer to my attached CV for full details of each of these projects. I am available for an interview at your convenience, and look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, Susan Sharpe If you selected Example 2 as the most powerful cover letter for this role, you are 100% correct. As you can see, Susan Sharpe’s cover letter is concise and straight to the point of highlighting the key skills and qualifications that Generic Engineering is looking for. Not only that, Susan has been very specific with his information, including with the date that he saw the advert on the Seek website – indicating attention to detail. Susan also noted that the company that she currently works for is a similar sized organization to Generic Engineering – thereby pointing out that her experience would be quite suitable for Generic Engineering. Further, when addressing the selection criteria of having experience leading projects, Susan not only stated that she had experience in this area, she noted the exact amount of experience leading projects, and gave brief details of the projects, as well as highlighting that each project was successful. Not only that, she gave the Australian employer just enough information to want to know more about her experience, and referred the Australian employer to her CV for more detailed information. In comparison, Janet did not address the selection criteria, she did not highlight why she is the best person for this job, and she did not give any relevant details or facts in her cover letter, except for mentioning that she is an Electrical Engineer. Further, she mentioned that she is looking to work for a ‘reputable global company’, which shows very poor attention to detail, since the job advert mentions that Generic Engineering is a local Australian company – and therefore not a global organization. Janet may have used a general cover letter for this role, and did not carefully go through it to tailor it for this particular application. Can you see how an Australian employer would not be too impressed by Janet’s cover letter, however would be quite eager to learn more about Susan? Now let’s move on to formatting your cover letter. FORMATTING YOUR AUSTRALIAN COVER LETTER The majority of recruiting managers appreciate a traditional letter format with your name, address and contact number, their company name, address and the correct person you are applying to all at the top. Then underneath your address ("Dear Mr/Mrs/etc") a subject heading outlining the job you are applying for, the body/content and signed off by yourself. This shows respect, indicates that you value presentation and demonstrates your skill level with word processing. It is also generally acceptable to write your cover letter in an email, however it shows more effort and importance if you take the time to write a formal letter; and therefore can make more of an impression. Sometimes it's the little things that determine whether you are screened out or short listed for an interview. Furthermore, where you can, stick with Microsoft Word documents. Although other programs may provide better-looking CVs, your potential employer may not have the program you are using on their computers, and so will not be able to open your letter and CV. This could mean an instant strike out! Recruitment consultants also like to have the ability to manipulate your resume. Usually recruitment consultants, for example, will hide your personal details on your resume when they are forwarding your application to Australian employers, so they are in control of the recruitment process and control all contact with candidates. Recruitment consultants will sometimes make adjustments or improvements to your resume (with your permission, of course) prior to forwarding your resume on to Australian employers. This is nothing for you to be alarmed about, it is just the way things work in the recruitment world in Australia. If you do have any concerns with this though, I recommend addressing them with the recruitment consultant you are dealing with. Microsoft Word is the safest option with all of your Australian job application documents. Another tip to remember when writing a cover letter, is to keep the formatting the same as what you have used on your resume. For example, if you have used size 11 Arial font for your resume, you should use the same for your cover letter. NB All of RESUME AUSTRALIA’S resumes and cover letters are always in Word format. WATCH YOUR SPELLING AND GRAMMAR This may seem obvious, but you should really take care with spelling and grammar in your applications. This is particularly important for jobs where written communication is important. If you can't write a simple letter without making spelling mistakes and using incorrect grammar, you will make a bad impression from the start and may not get the opportunity to make up for it at the interview stage. Always do spelling and grammar checks before sending your application, and where possible, have a friend or family member run their eyes over your application before sending. If your first language is not English, we recommend that you take particular care when writing your cover letter and resume for an Australian job application. Many job seekers in the Australian job market do not take a lot of care with their spelling, grammar and use of the English language when applying for jobs. This leaves a very bad impression on the Australian employer, and also makes it easy for them to quickly screen out your application if the cover letter is full of errors. Since your cover letter is the first document that the Australian employer reads, this is your absolute first opportunity to make a positive impression on the employer. If your cover letter is poorly written, the employer may decide not to take your application seriously and disregard your application before even looking at your resume. You do not want this to happen! A well-written cover letter should entice the Australian employer to assess your resume. Your spelling, grammar and use of the English language play a vital part in writing an effective cover letter. Tip: Have someone you trust, who has good command of the English language and excellent spelling and grammatical skills to read your cover letter before applying for a job in Australia. STATE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR Don't forget, when you're applying for a job with an organization in Australia, you're also assessing THEM on whether they are the type of organisation YOU are looking for. This is particularly important if you are seeking sponsorship. After all, if an Australian employer is willing to sponsor you, it should be high on your priority list to work in an organization that would suit you and keep you motivated and happy. By stating what kind of organisation you are ideally looking for, you are putting the ball back in the recruiting company's court to assess whether they are up to YOUR standards! An example of a statement of what you are looking for, that you could include in your cover letter, is; "I am ideally looking for a company that values its employees, and demonstrates this through supporting personal development, offering career progression or succession planning, having a flexible work place, and a friendly and positive working environment". This statement effectively communicates to the Australian employer that if you could find these values in an Australian employer, then you would be willing to commit long-term to a career with the Australian organization. In addition, you could then follow up your statement with an impression you have received about this company possibly being on track with meeting your criteria, such as; "From my research, company X appears to have this kind of culture, and I look forward to having the opportunity to learn more about your organisation and discussing this role in more detail". You are now setting your application apart from other candidates, and potentially creating the Australian employer want to find out how they can impress YOU. NB: It is optional to include in the letter what it is that you are looking for in an Australian employer; however, it can be very effective to do so. YOUR AVAILABILITY Always include your availability for commencing a new role, by indicating your notice period with your current employer, or whether you are available to commence a new job immediately. You may feel it appropriate at the beginning of the letter to state why you are now on the market for a new job - whether it is that you are seeking new challenges, or putting your newly completed qualifications to use etc. We, however, recommends that you refrain from stating your reason for seeking new employment, if it is that you have been retrenched or have had your job terminated. This can open up opportunities for conclusions to be reached before you have the opportunity to explain yourself, and usually this has a negative effect. If an unpleasant experience has lead you to be seeking new employment, it is best to save this kind of information for the interview, or sometimes, not to be mentioned at all. Where you need to be careful with withholding information, is when the information is likely to be divulged during the referencing stage of the recruitment process. This is another topic that is covered in interview guides available on the market. If you are applying for a job from overseas, it can sometimes be better not to mention your availability until you have stirred up enough interest in the Australian Employer for them to want to know that information. Your main aim with your job application is to have the Australian employer want to learn more about you. If you give away too much information upfront, you may effectively close the door on any opportunity for an interview, as many Australian employers may choose a local applicant above one whom is overseas, due to the ease of interviewing and the speed of having the candidate to commence employment. This is not always the case, but you have to keep in mind that the majority of Australian employers want to find the most suitable and skilled candidate for their company, and they also have time frames for filling their roles. However, sometimes it is more important for an employer to fill a role within given time frames, than it is to find the ideal candidate. If you position yourself as the ideal candidate and do not indicate the time frame that you could commence a role; you may engage the Australian employer and gain enough commitment to you for the Australian employer to consider you for their role, even though it may take a little time for you to migrate to Australia. My point is that it is “challenging” to find an Australian employer who will employ an overseas national and wait for them to migrate to Australia – however, it is not impossible. It will simply take patience on your part. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER That is enough theory for now on what to do and what not to do when writing a cover letter for Australia – let’s get started by putting it all together. STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO WRITING A SUCCESSFUL AUSTRALIAN COVER LETTER: 1 Rather than including your home address on the letter (unless you have an Australian address), just include your email address, telephone number and/or Skype number (aligned right). If you don’t already have a Skype account, you should set one up now by visiting: www.skype.com . See the Case Studies to follow for examples. 2 Add the date that you are writing the letter underneath your contact details (also aligned right). 3 Address the letter to the name of the person on the job advert, or, if you do not have a name, “To Whom It May Concern”. Australian’s generally use “Dear [Name]” when writing a covering letter. 4 Follow the above with “RE: [name of job advert], Ref# [reference number if listed]”, meaning that you are writing regarding a job advert that you have seen. 5 The first paragraph should state why you are writing the letter. If you are writing in regards to a job advert, you should state here the name of the job advert, where you saw it advertised, the date the job was advertised and refer the reader to your CV/Resume attached. For example: “I apply with great interest to the above position that was advertised on [SEEK.com/name of website or newspaper], on [DATE]; and attach my resume for your consideration.” 6 The second paragraph should tell the reader a bit more about yourself, only sharing information that is relevant to the job you are applying for. Read the job advert carefully, making note of what the company is looking for and what particular skills, experiences and qualifications the employer is looking for. This is where you need to state your relevant qualifications, years of experience in your field. 7 If there are some skills or experiences you are lacking in relation to what the company is looking for, be sure to counter this with something like: “Although I do not have X experience”, I have proven in my previous roles to be extremely adaptable and versatile, with the ability to pick up new skills very quickly”. See example 1 under Case Studies for an example of this. 8 The third paragraph should state your strengths that you can offer the employer in relation to the skills they are looking for. This is a good place to back up statements with examples, particularly if the advert has asked for experience in specific areas of your field. 9 Paragraph four should effectively “wrap up” the letter, and is the place where you would state what you are looking for in an employer, or specific information about the employer or the job that appeals to you and why. 10 You should finish the letter, letting the reader know how much you are looking forward to discussing the position and your suitability in more detail; and advising of your availability for an interview – whether it be telephone or face-to-face. 11 The majority of people in Australia sign off their cover letters with “yours sincerely”, and therefore we recommend that you do the same. Although “Kind regards” is a good way to end a letter in most circumstances, with a cover letter, stating that you are writing your letter in all sincerity is more effective. 12 Finally, write your full name, leaving a space for you to sign above. However, these days most letters are delivered electronically. Feel free to insert an electronic signature here, or just leave blank for your online applications. CASE STUDIES Below are two examples of simple, yet effective, cover letters that you can use to get an idea of the type of information you should include in your cover letter. Both cover letters were written by Resume Australia, the first for a British Occupational Health and Safety professional, for him to use as a general template and amend as appropriate to suit each job that he applies for. The second cover letter was for a South African Instructional Design professional for the same purpose – to use as a template. EXAMPLE 1 [Your Name] E: [Your Email] T/M: [Your contact Telephone Number] S: [Your Skype Name or Number] [Date] To Whom It May Concern: RE: [NAME OF VACANCY] I apply with great interest to the above position that was advertised on [SEEK.com/name of website or newspaper], on [DATE]; and attach my resume for your consideration. I am a qualified Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) professional, with continuing education and training in this field. With more than four (4) years gained in OH&S, and approximately 16 years gained as a Research Chemist prior to this; my speciality area has become that of OH&S of chemicals/catalysts. However, I consider myself to be an extremely versatile and adaptive individual, and therefore could successfully apply my OH&S expertise to various industries and business types. I pride myself on my ability to build effective business relationships at all levels, my organisational ability, and my superior attention to detail – a crucial component to success in OH&S in the workplace. I would love to have the opportunity to discuss this position, and my suitability, in more detail, and am available for an interview at your convenience. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, [Your Name] EXAMPLE 2 [Your Name] E: [Your Email Address] T/M: [Your Contact Telephone Number] S: [Your Skype Name or Number] [Date] To Whom It May Concern: RE: [NAME OF VACANCY] I apply with great interest to the above position that was advertised on [SEEK.com or other website or newspaper], on [DATE]; and attach my resume for your consideration. I am a degree qualified learning and instructional design professional, with continuing education and training in this specialty field. My experience totals more than 10 years, gained across various industries; including IT, Banking, Mining and Technical Training organisations. As well as facilitation, training and coaching, my experience also includes Instructional Design, Business Analysis, Learning Analysis, Design Learning interventions, Project Management, Account Management, Resource Management, Business Development, LMS, Communication, Marketing and Change Management. I pride myself on my ability to build effective business relationships at all levels, my exemplary organisational and project management skills and my proven ability to reach targeted goals. I would love to have the opportunity to discuss this position, and my suitability, in more detail, and am available for an interview at your convenience. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, [Your Name] SUCCESSFUL AUSTRALIAN COVER LETTER TEMPLATES Resume Australia has developed standard templates for you to use when creating your own successful Australian cover letter. These templates are set out so that you can just fill in the relevant information in the places indicated on the template, and so you can delete specific paragraphs so that the cover letter can be tailored for whatever situation you are using it, for example, for job applications through job search websites, or for direct applications to companies who have not advertised a vacancy. These templates were created so you can match them up with the templates you downloaded with your Resume Writing ebook. If you have not yet purchased your Resume Writing ebook, do this now so that you ensure you have a cover letter template that will match in with the resume template you selected: AUSTRALIAN RESUMES: STEPS TO CREATING AN EFFECTIVE AUSTRALIAN RESUME This is a standard ebook for those who are Australian residents or already have their Australian visa. You receive the Australian resume writing ebook FREE with your purchase of this ebook. Click here to download: http://www.resumeaustralia.net/153-2 . CVS FOR JOB SPONSORSHIP IN AUSTRALIA This is an ebook for those who require employer sponsorship to migrate to Australia. This ebook is included in the package, “How to Find Sponsored Jobs in Australia, which can be purchased and downloaded here: http://www.sponsoredjobsinaustralia.com . COVER LETTER TEMPLATES DOWNLOAD To download your successful Australian cover letter templates now, visit: http://www.resumeaustralia.net/153-2 If you’re not sure which cover letter template is best for your occupation, it is best to select your cover letter template based on the CV template you have selected from one of the above CV writing ebooks. The reason being, each CV template is suitable for specific industries and occupations. If you first select your CV template, you can then simply select the matching cover letter template. SUCCESSFUL AUSTRALIAN COVER LETTER CHECKLIST Getting the Basics Right □ □ Keep your cover letter to one page or less □ □ □ Address the selection criteria in the job advert Tailor your cover letter to each job you are applying for Keep the information concise and to the point Ensure your cover letter matches the formatting in your CV □ Ensure spelling and grammar is correct and suitable for Australia □ State what you’re looking for in an employer if you feel comfortable □ Include your availability for both interviews and commencing employment Putting it All Together □ Follow the step-by-step guide on page 27 for constructing your cover letter □ If you have not already purchased the CV writing ebook, do so now to ensure you select the write cover letter template (go to page 35 for the download links) □ Review our job search assistance packages to see whether they would benefit you in your job search □ Start applying for jobs! AUSTRALIAN JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE Resume Australia has developed various job search assistance packages that are aimed at both people who are residents in Australia as well as people who are from overseas and are applying for jobs either within Australia or from their home countries. To view our professional job search services, click on one of the below links: AUSTRALIAN JOB SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE For people requiring employer sponsorship: http://www.sponsoredjobsinaustralia.com AUSTRALIAN JOB SEARCH PACKAGE For people who are residents, have PR or have working rights in Australia: http://www.findjobsinoz.com FINAL WORD You can now start applying for jobs, and watch your results improve as you start using your new and effective Australian cover letter! I wish you all the best in your search for employment in Australia! I am sure you have found this eGuide to be very useful in your application process. Kind regards, Nadine Myers Managing Director & Emigration Job Search Strategist www.ResumeAustralia.net www.SponsoredJobsinAustralia.com www.findjobsinoz.com www.me2aus.com RECCOMMENDED BOOKS & WEBSITES BOOKS Nadine Myers is author of the following books which are recommended for assisting you with your job search in Australia: Mission: Find a Job in Australia – Free book available on Kindle (www.amazon.com) CVs for Job Sponsorship in Australia – Available on Kindle (www.amazon.com) How to Write a Successful Australian Cover Letter – Available with this purchase, on Kindle (www.amazon.com) and at www.resumeaustralia.net How to Find Sponsored Jobs in Australia – Available at www.sponsoredjobsinaustralia.com and on Kindle (www.amazon.com) LinkedIn Advantage for Job Search – Free book available on Kindle (www.amazon.com) Find Jobs in Oz – Available at www.findjobsinoz.com and on Kindle (www.amazon.com) WEBSITES Resume Australia – www.resumeaustralia.net Me2Aus – www.me2aus.com Find Sponsored Jobs in Australia – www.sponsoredjobsinaustralia.com Find Jobs in Oz – www.findjobsinoz.com SOCIAL MEDIA Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Facebook – Nab That Job https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nab-ThatJob/9735347303 NB - please note that this page will soon be changed to Me2Aus. If you therefore cannot find the Nab That Job page, please search Me2Aus. Twitter - Aussiejobsearch https://twitter.com/aussiejobsearch LinkedIn - Employer Sponsorship Australia http://linkd.in/1g2eCKP