How do I find a job

in Australia?
Once you have identified the position(s) you wish to apply for, you will need to prepare three key pieces
of documentation:
• An introductory letter or ‘cover’ letter
• Key Selection Criteria
• A Resume also known as CV or Curriculum Vitae

Introductory Letter or Cover Letter

When you send out your Resume/Curriculum Vitae, whether it be to apply for a formal job or if you are “cold calling”
companies, you need to include a letter of introduction or a cover letter. This letter is a fantastic opportunity for you
to summarise why you would be the ideal person for the job.
Each time you apply for a job you should customise a cover letter for that particular job. That is, you should match
what the employer is looking for with your relevant experiences and skills. Using a standard letter leaves all the
matching of skills and experience to the employer. When there are many applications, you may be overlooked.
A standard cover letter can be interpreted as a sign of laziness.
A cover letter must include:
• Date
• Your name, address and contact details
• Name and address of the person and company you are applying to.
(Larger companies often have more than one job being advertised at the same time)
• Greeting
• Reference to the position title and job number if identified
• Strong, brief statement using key words emphasising that you would be the best person for the job.
The statement should demonstrate your knowledge of the company and that you have read the job
advertisement carefully
• Statement that you are looking forward to the opportunity of an interview
• Sign-off
• Signature

Greeting
To start your letter you should greet the person or position as nominated in the advertisement if one appears.
For example:
1. If the advertisements has a contact name then address your correspondence to the contact for example:
Mr Anthony Jones. You would address your greeting as Dear Mr Jones.
2. If there is only a title such as Human Resources Manager then you would address the letter as per the title,
Dear Human Resources Manager
3. Where there is no name or position the greeting would just be Dear Sir/Madam

Global Skills for Provincial Victoria. City of Ballarat. Page 8

 If you are writing to a company to seek work and you have the name of the person you wish to contact then you
would use the general greeting of Dear Mr Smith. If you have met the person and know them you can address your
greeting as Dear Frank.

Sign off
To finish off your cover letter the greeting is
If you don’t know their name Yours faithfully
If you know their name Yours sincerely
If you have met them Yours truly

Mr Ashwin Kumar
5/23 Tree Street
3216
BELMONT VICTORIA
4884
Home: (03) 5272
037
Mobile: 0437 770
gsat.com.au
E-mail: akumar@

1 October 2008

Manager
Human Resources
Ltd
Target Australia Pty
d
12 Thompson Roa
VICTORIA 3215
NORTH BALLARAT

rces Manager
Dear Human Resou
: 1569
MA NAGER POSITION
RE: SENIOR SALES The Age
er as advertised in
nior Sales Manag
the position of Se
I wish to apply for er 20 08 .
27 Septemb
newspaper Saturday

marise your skills”

paragraphs that sum
“write a couple of

Criteria.
the Key Selection
letter addressing
I have attached a interview.
ume with you at an
y to discuss my Res
I look forwa rd to the opportunit

Yours faithfully

(signature)

Ashwin Kumar

Address the Key Selection Criteria

Where an employer has prepared a specific outline of the job or a job description, it is advisable that you prepare
a separate page where you respond to the key selection criteria. The key selection criteria are the “must haves”
that an employer is looking for. The cover letter, key selection criteria and resume should complement one another.

How to address the key selection criteria

• Create a new document separate from your resume.
Make sure it has the same look and feel to your cover letter.
• Use each of the stated selection criteria in the position description as a heading.
• Under each of the heading describe how you are able to meet the criteria.
Use examples to support your claims.

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