Good and bad cover letters

The link below from Seek uses a nice infographic to show the distinction between a good cover letter and a bad cover letter.

https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/article/cover-letters-the-good-and-the-bad

One of the great things about cover letters is you sell yourself straight up.

One of my clients told me that my cover letters were like a Muhammad Ali punch. That’s a complement.

Every paragraph contains a well thought out reason why they should employ you.

Each paragraph should include your relevant or transferable experience and achievements, academic qualifications and maybe even volunteer work.

I always include a professional motivation for applying.

What is it about that particular job that draws you in like a magnet.

If there’s personal motivation, include a line or two about that too.

Remember, your cover letter doesn’t simply repeat what’s already in the resume.

Write why you are a strong candidate for that particular job.

Think of your cover letter as a laser beam. It has to focus sharply on aspects of the advertised role.

I try to find out the surname of the hiring manager as an added personal touch but that’s not always possible.

Check the cover letter for spelling and grammar mistakes

Put your best foot forward

Malcolm builds expert resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles, which unleash an unbeatable business case to promote you as a ‘must have’ asset to an employer.