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how to write a cover letterUnderstanding How to write a cover letter

A cover letter should be planned, focused and directly related to the position  you are applying for.

To give you a bit of an understanding of the purppose of a cover letter, firstly you must understand how it is used and why. So you need to know that a cover letter is used to analyse or market yourself for the role you are applying for and may be the only reason the hiring manager even opens your resume.

Recruitment and PR will have many applications to go through and your Cover letter is the first thing they will see. If written effectively then they will read your resume. So you can see why knowing how to write a cover letter can make or break your application.

How to write a cover letter

Your cover letter should demonstrate that you have read and fully understand the position, further more that you are not only interested but determined to get the position. This is your opportunity to really grab the hiring managers attention and draw them into your resume.

Your cover letter should be succinct or straight to the point but not blunt, say what you are trying to say and then go back and see what you can remove by replacing long sentences with action words some smart verbs.

A cover letter should not be more than three to four well thought out paragraphs, if written correctly the hiring manager will identify that you know how to write a cover letter and this will place you in a better light.

Try to be positive, if you find that you have written something that’s a bit doom and gloom try to change the angle to a more positive tone. For example

(how not to write a cover letter)“I finished my masters degree in XYZ then fell pregnant and haven’t had the chance to work in the field and I really need this job”.

This example is a bit over the top but you get the point, you can change the tone by simply changing perspective see below.

(How to write a cover letter)“I mastered in XYZ then me and my partner decided we would like children, as my daughter XYZ has now started school I am excited to be able to offer my valuable knowledge to your company and look forward to establishing myself in the industry” etc.

here’s your next tip for how to write a cover letter, your covering letter should NOT be a repeat of your resume! make some statements that will draw the hiring manager into your resume and then reinforce those statements within the resume. And please do not use a standard cover letter for all of your applications, if you haven’t picked that up already then you will never know how to write a cover letter effectively.

Here’s an example for you of how to write a cover letter:

Dear Ms XYZ,

I am writing in response to your advertisement seeking a Administrative Officer for AQIS.

As you will see from my accompanying Resume, my experience and skills are a good match for the position as indicated by your office.

Of particular relevance is my 6 years experience working in a closely related role and several awards I have been rewarded with.

I’m aware of the high value AQIS places on service and believe I share the same philosophy on customer care.

I look forward to having an opportunity to meet with you to discuss how I could contribute to your team.

Yours sincerely,

Joe Citizen

Hope this article has given you a better understanding of how to write a cover letter, if you feel that you still need more info there is a information product that is available for less than $50 that just might make the difference. I think they are still offering a few Cover letter templates as well.

So if your still not sure how to write a cover letter I recommend: you check it out here at Amazing Cover letters.

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Categories : Cover Letter
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answering state government selection criteria For those of you who are asking yourself, “what do I do need to do when answering state government selection criteria?”

You are not the only ones, trust me! Every day more and more Australians are moving into the state government public sector to gain a more secure career. In light of the recent economic downturn, (I have saying that) we find ourselves struggling to understand what real job security is.

Is it staying with a large company for years? or starting your own business? well personally I think taking the time to at least try to start your own business will see you fail several times but at least you will learn valuable life lessons.

The reality is if your a classic 9-5er like a lot of us, then you will soon come to the conclusion that working for your state government can and will most likely be the safest option.  [disclaimer - I'm not a professional career advisor and recommend you seek proper advice before making any decisions regarding your employment] sorry have to make that clear.

So if you do decide to apply for a state government position, you will find yourself in a position were have to answer to key selection criteria. Now for most of us we’ve never even heard of a selection criteria’ however it is a skill you are going to have to learn in order to get anywhere in the state government selection process that we call “selection criteria”.

We have put together this site in the hope that it may ease your pain a little by providing some great reference to information that may and quite possibly will help you when applying to your state government selection criteria.

Please If you do one thing……. you need to be honest with yourself and ask one thing.

Am I right for the position?

Trust me when I tell you that the selection criteria at state government level is a tested and proven system which is put in place to make sure the right person for the job, get the job.

There’s no point putting in the time to answer the state government selection criteria only top find out your not suited for the position. Do your research, and if you find that you are confident in the position then go for it!

If you need help when answering your state government selection criteria then come here read the whole site and if you want to fast track your learning I recommend you try the selection criteria writer which has been developed for people in your shoes. If you cant find a link around here somewhere I’ll be very surprised, actually I’ll put a link in there for you. :)

Good luck to you!

Wishing you ultimate success

Dustin

key selection criteria

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Selection criteria for 2010

graduate recruitment

You will be assessed against the following selection criteria throughout the application process.  You do not need to address these criterion specifically. The on-ine application includes questions directly relating to the criteria and allows you to demonstrate your skills and experience in your written response.

1. Qualifications

You must have completed (or be completing by 31 December 2009) at least a three year undergraduate degree from an Australian tertiary institution. If you have a degree from an overseas tertiary institution it must be recognised as being equivalent to a three year Australian degree by the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) by 31 December 2009.

Assessment method: Application & sighting of official academic transcripts at interview

2. Knowing the environment

Everyone in DVA works in an often complex environment. It is important for graduates to have a general understanding of the role of DVA, and an appreciation of the needs of its broad range of clients and stakeholders.

Assessment method: Application / interview

3. Building our skills

We have a talented, experienced and skilled workforce and continuing to develop our organisations talent is an important part of the way we operate. Graduates will need to identify and pursue opportunities to learn and apply their skills and capabilities in the working environment.

Assessment method: Application / interview

4. Connecting with clients and collaborating with colleagues

The ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people of all ages, levels, backgrounds etc and contribute in a small team environment is key to the graduate role.

Assessment method: Written skills – application and written testing at interview / Oral & interpersonal communication skills – application and interview

5. Searching for solutions

You will be working in a variety of roles which focus on the development and delivery of solutions and services to internal and external clients. Well developed research and analysis skills are required along with the ability to show initiative and flexibility in a changing environment.

Assessment method: Application / interview

Article source: www.dva.gov.au
key selection criteria

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question mark

What are Selection Criteria and why are they used?

Key Selection Criteria are used to seek out the best possible applicant based on skills, abilities, knowledge and experience to fulfill the roles requirements. In order to be considered for a position you must be able to demonstrate through your application that you meet the key selection criteria. If you do not meet the key selection criteria, most likely you will not make it through to the interview process.

Your selection criteria statement will assist the selection panel to assess your application against your fellow applicants and the requirements of the position. Many applicants are overlooked because they don’t clearly address the key selection criteria, they assume that the panel will be able to read between the lines in the cover letter or Resume.

For a better understanding of the Key selection criteria i recommend you view the Selection Criteria Writer Package.

key selection criteria

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Why Selection Criteria?

A larger number of clients make contact with me once they have had a look at the position description provided when considering applying for a government position.

I have noticed also, since the media onslaught of “mass sackings” and “lack of job security” that there has been a marked move from the private to public sector.  It seems candidates believe that in today’s employment market here in Australia (and across the globe for that matter) a move to the government sector is a safe bet.

But this proposed job security comes at a price.  That price is preparing selection criteria.  These can send a large percentage of the population into a panic.  This panic seems to stem from two sources:

  • The complex language, jargon and sheer length of the position description;
  • Lack of experience and expertise in addressing selection criteria.

After reading various online forums in this regard, it seems there a number of people out there who consider that having a professional writer prepare your selection criteria is not possible.  Even more startling to me is the lack of information out there in regards to the government selection process.  I’m unsure as to where their expertise is based, but I can only surmise that these comments are based on most people’s reaction; in the absence of information, a vacuum is formed, and into that vacuum go people’s own invention.

Just to clarify the matter here are some points in regard to selection criteria.  These are the most frequently asked questions put to me by clients, and potential clients, and the associated answers.  Please note that my answers and advice are based on 11 years of experience in writing selection criteria, as well as government tenders and contract.  In fact, in the last month alone I have written two tenders for two business clients, both of whom were awarded contacts.  One client was offered four contracts with a value of an extra $150,000!  This information is provided not to “blow my own trumpet” rather to establish the fact that I do know what I am talking about based on results.  I have lost count of the number of clients that I have secured job interviews for government based interviews based on my writing efforts.  Those that excelled in the job interview process ultimately secured the role.

Here are the questions and my answers:

1.     Do I really have to provide situational examples for each criterion?  How old should these examples be?

Answer: Yes, Yes, and Yes.  If you do your research on the web, including a good one created by the Australian Public Service Commission, you will see that these are a necessity rather than a luxury.  You need to talk about a situation or challenge, and the result of your actions.  More particularly, if the criterion is asking you to meet a criterion about your prioritisation and organisational abilities, you might for example, talk about a time when you were experiencing heavy demands on your time at work, the context of the actual situation, what you did specifically to resolve the situation, and then the result.  In this way you make it easy for the selection criteria to assess your application.  Assuming that the selection criteria panel will glean this information from your resume is a one way ticket to the waste paper basket, and often means your application will not be considered as highly as others that do address the criterion with evidence based answers.  I usually recommend describing situations from no longer than say three years ago, to keep them relevant.  One client asked me to write an application for him, and his examples were twenty years old!  Needless to say, I recommended he wait until a more suitable position present itself.

2.     Do the situations that I use as evidence within my criterion need to be from a position I held which is closely related to the position advertised?

Not necessarily.  For example one of my clients was the manager of a child care centre, and was applying for a position with the National Archives.  However, she still met the criterion, including having worked with voluminous amounts of confidential records.  Basically, as long as you can address the criterion all is well.  Keep in mind however that other applicants may have a background more relevant to the advertised position, and if they submit a well written selection criteria application this may mean they are considered more highly.

3.      How long should my answers be?

A contentious issue.  I usually recommend half a page to a page in length.  However, often the government department will stipulate the length with a word limit listed within the position description document itself.  However, if in doubt it is always safer to establish contact with the relevant contact person listed within the position description itself.

Apply these tips and recommendations to your application and you should be well on the way to preparing a well written selection criteria document.

All the best in your job search journey!

119935_hpwku1Andrea Drew formed Impressive Resumes in 1998 and the business has grown steadily over the last 10 years. It is an enjoyment of the English language, and a lifetime passion for writing, which she brings to the company, in the preparation and writing of resumes. In her spare time (between midnight and 7am) she has started writing her latest book/how to guide – “So, you think you can write?” stay tuned for further details With a background in Human Resources and Recruitment, Andrea has worked in helping people with jobs since 1992. Her roles included: culling CV’s, arranging interviews, assessing resumes; writing marketing material; writing tenders; editing, proofreading and rewriting large documents. Andrea delivers resume workshops at Victorian Eastern Regional libraries and is a member of Career Directors International and the Association of Online Resume and Career Professionals. For more information go to http://www.impressiveresumes.com.au

key selection criteria

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