How to develop a professional cover letter

How to develop a professional cover letter

• Tips
• Resources
• Advice

Click here to see the How to Develop a Resume video

Cover letter tips

• First impressions- A cover letter is your first written correspondence with a hiring manager so it’s imperative that it is concise, seamless, error-free and purposeful. Three or four paragraphs in length should be sufficient.
• With or without you- A Cover letter should always accompany a resume and should compliment your resume NOT duplicate it. Include your name, date and contact details in case the cover letter is separated from your resume.
• Get personal- Take the trouble to find out who the hiring manager/recruiter is and address your cover letter to that person. This will help your cover letter stand out from the rest.
• Link-up –Tailor your cover letter to the job advertisement outlining how your qualifications and experience reflect the requirements of the position.
• Don’t be lazy- Using the same generic cover-letter will not get you anywhere; in fact, it would be better if your resume was not accompanied by a cover-letter at all! It’s important to tailor each letter to the job to demonstrate how your experience reflects the position requirements.

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Resources

• See the 'How to write a cover letter' fact sheet for examples 
• Use the BEL Employment Services Cover Letter Checklist to review your cover letter before sending it to an employer

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Workshops and advice

• If you are still unsure how to develop a cover letter, attend the How to Write a Resume & Cover Letter workshop offered by the Student Services Careers and Graduate Employment team. To find out when the next workshop will be held and to register visit UQCareerHub www.careerhub.uq.edu.au.
• For assistance with job search strategies and obtaining internships, volunteer or graduate opportunities contact BEL Employment Services careers@bel.uq.edu.au.

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