Make sure you mention how you discovered the company and how you found out that they were hiring . In the same paragraph, mention around 2 to 3 skills and qualifications that will signal to the hiring manager that “THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR!”
What makes you so special and so deserving of this job? Why would it be better to give you the job, as opposed to somebody else?
Reflect on why you are so interested in this job in the first place. Amplify what you already have in your resumé, instead of merely repeating it—this should span around 1 to 2 paragraphs.
Chances are, there will be hundreds of other applicants who will also try to sell themselves through their cover letter. However, some of them will make the mistake of telling the employer all about how getting the position will help their personal and professional development.
Unfortunately, the bottom line is that they just don’t care. At the end of the day, employers are interested in how people can help the company, as opposed to how the company can help the people.
“Say not what the company can do for you, say what you can do for the company.”
Usually, job listings will include a section where they list attributes and qualities that they look for in a prospective employee . For example:
To be successful you must:
What we require:
Think of the above as ‘criteria’ —sort of similar to the HSC marking guidelines, if you will. Use it as a guide as to how you might shape and structure your cover letter.
You should aim to give solid evidence of your qualifications and skills , which can take form in several ways. This includes recounting a scenario where you displayed certain skills (such as teamwork and leadership) or describing what you do in your current role .
For example, consider the two below:
Example | Second Paragraph |
---|---|
1 | I am a passionate person with an enthusiastic “can do” attitude. I am very flexible as I am free every day. I love working in a team environment as well as individually. |
2 | As you will observe from the attached resumé, I have involved myself in a variety of leadership roles at school, such as as a school prefect, part of the Student Representative Council and as captain of the school orchestra. These experiences have allowed me to cultivate strong interpersonal skills, which I perceive to be vital when seeking employment while continuing to study. As a result, I am an excellent communicator, both verbally and in writing. |
Whatever you write about, make sure you are being honest with the hiring manager and do not sugarcoat anything. Keep it positive and accurate.
Whew! You’ve endured through the tough bits of writing a killer cover letter. But it is still important to finish as strongly as you started to really wow your hiring manager.
Still, keep it short and sweet. With that being said, try not to write any more than 3 sentences—you should invite them to review your resumé, request to follow-up at their convenience and express your gratitude for the opportunity.
You should also include an appropriate valediction , which is basically just saying goodbye. Some of the most popular ones are:
Just like writing essays for your HSC exams or school assessments, writing cover letters will get easier with time and practice. Like every piece of writing, it is important to edit and revisit your use of language.
Make sure that for every cover letter you write, that you edit the heck out of them. Double and triple-check that you are only containing information relevant to the job. Be succinct. Be confident. But above all, be honest.
Wondering how to find a job once you’ve finished high school? Check out our guide here!
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Frances Tso recently graduated from Sydney Girls High School and is known among her friends as the crazy dog lady without a dog. With an avid interest in the dynamics of global change, she decided her HSC major work was not enough to quench her thirst as to how regional interactions impact political and cultural relationships. So, she has decided to study International Studies at UNSW, majoring in International Relations. In her spare time, Frances is either teaching violin, re-watching episodes of Friends for the twentieth time, or perfecting the art on how to be a dog aficionado.
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In 1992, 24-year-old Harvard graduate Laura Houghteling disappeared from her home in Bethesda, Maryland. Based on the scene, authorities believed she was stabbed to death in her sleep, but her bedroom was meticulously cleaned after the crime, and little evidence remained. What police did find was a hair in Houghteling’s hairbrush, one that turned out to be from a wig – a wig worn by the family’s gardener, a known cross-dresser.
The gardener was Hadden Clark, a Navy-diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic who was then linked to the 1986 disappearance of 6-year-old Michele Dorr in nearby Silver Spring. Once in custody, Clark claimed that another persona of his, Kristin Bluefin, was the real killer, responsible for nearly a dozen murders. Clark told police that he had hundreds of “trophies” and offered to lead law enforcement to his victims’ burial sites.
A new five-part, three-night miniseries from Investigation Discovery and producer Michael Bay (“Pearl Harbor”) sets out to reveal the extent of Hadden Clark’s claimed years-long murder spree in “Born Evil: The Serial Killer and the Savior,” beginning Monday, Sept. 2, 2024.
Bay is known for directing blockbuster action films, but as a producer, his resume gets a little more variance. He has previously lent his experience to the 2012 space program film “Uncharted Territory: NASA’s Future Then and Now” and chasing gold in the depths of the ocean on the 2016 TV series “Billion Dollar Wreck.”
Bay’s latest series takes viewers inside the mind of Clark, who was eventually convicted of killing Dorr and Houghteling and remains a person of interest in potentially dozens of murders. “Born Evil: The Serial Killer and the Savior” tells Clark’s story through recorded conversations between the convicted killer and Bay, who personally interviewed him in a Maryland prison over many hours.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always focused on meeting real people -- from scientists of all kinds to alligator wranglers, law enforcement agents to bank robbers, and even kings and queens -- gaining true insights for my films,” Bay said in a statement. “‘Born Evil' is my first venture into the documentary world, and it revolves around a serial killing family you have never heard of.”
On the surface, Clark seemed to come from the ideal American family. He was born in July 1952 to a father who was a skilled chemist and a mother, Flavia, who could trace her lineage to the Mayflower. His father was a Korean War veteran, and both parents were active with the Boy Scouts, PTA meetings and church groups.
But beneath the surface, both parents were alcoholics with deeper issues. The young Clark had behavioral issues, bullying the neighborhood children and fighting with his younger siblings. One of his brothers, Bradfield Clark, was convicted in the 1984 murder of a female coworker in San Francisco. The brother dismembered his victim and is even alleged to have eaten parts of the corpse.
Psychological researchers describe an abusive home life for the Hadden boys. His mother was disappointed Clark wasn’t born a girl and took to dressing him in girls’ clothing and calling him “Kristen.” His father simply called him “the retard,” and would hit him with a belt to try to keep him from dressing in girls’ clothes.
When he was old enough, Clark was sent by his parents to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. After graduating from the prestigious institute in 1974, he had a pedigree that could land him any cooking job in America, and it did – for a while. He had a vindictive streak, however, that could be triggered by any perceived slight, and his bent for revenge, along with strange behavior, cost him jobs time and again.
Eventually, work dried up and Clark joined the Navy as a culinary specialist in 1982. By 1985, his behavior saw him kicked out of the service, but this time the Navy diagnosed the problem: Clark was a paranoid schizophrenic, " manifested by persecutory and grandiose delusions ." He was given treatment at a VA medical center in Washington state. His first legal troubles began that same year, when he was arrested for petty theft.
Unable to secure consistent work, Clark lived in an old Datsun pickup in the woods near Bethesda. He worked as a gardener or handyman for money to eat. Local church groups recalled him being strange, but never thought of him as particularly violent or aggressive. Yet, he was arrested in 1989 for vandalizing property owned by a former landlord. His arrest resulted in one year’s supervised probation and a court order to continue psychiatric treatment at the VA.
His probation officer, however, believed Clark was a danger to the public. He was soon to be proven correct. His brother Geoff would later allege that a concussion he received from his fellow sailors in the Navy might have been what caused his “danger potential to become unleashed.”
After linking Clark to Houghteling’s murder, he was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Investigators soon realized Clark was questioned years prior in relation to the disappearance of Dorr. The Dorr family lived two doors down from where Clark was staying with his brother. Police recalled he’d been nervous during questioning, but they pursued a different suspect.
They learned he’d been kicked out of his brother’s house for inappropriate behavior around children. It was Clark’s prison cellmate who eventually got a confession from Clark, who admitted to killing Dorr in a small bedroom in his brother’s house and meticulously cleaning the evidence, just as he had with Houghteling’s murder. Investigators later found Dorr’s blood between the slats of wood on the bedroom floor.
In 2000, Clark led authorities to the body of Dorr, but he also claimed to have killed a number of other victims, one as early as 1964, when he was just 12 years old. He was taken to Cape Cod, where he spent some time as a youth, to lead authorities to other possible burial sites, with some alleging that he could have killed as many as 11 women across Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Vermont and elsewhere. They didn’t find bodies, but they did find a bucket of jewelry, including some owned by Houghteling, that Clark claimed as trophies.
Bay said: “I spent countless hours personally speaking to [Clark] in prison so that I could get into the mind and psychology of a person who the FBI refers to as 'a person of interest' in over 20 states. ‘Born Evil’ could potentially open the door to solving many cold case murders.”
To learn more about Clark and his motives, watch Michael Bay’s “Born Evil: The Serial Killer and the Savior,” a five-episode docuseries which will air across three consecutive nights starting Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, on Investigation Discovery.
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7. End with a killer call-to-action. The last step in writing a killer cover letter is writing a memorable closing paragraph. This is your last chance to leave a lasting impression on the hiring manager, so make it count by reminding them why they should hire you over every other candidate.
Cover letter header. Start with your name, address, phone number, and email. Add a blank line, the date, another blank, and the hiring manager's name and info. LinkedIn. Add your LinkedIn profile. It's a great way to show them more about you, and 87% of hiring managers will try to find you on LinkedIn anyway.
It's time to create a killer cover letter. With 28 million Americans receiving some form of unemployment compensation right now, job seekers are facing a difficult economic climate. It appears the ...
Here are some tips for writing a powerful resume to impress hiring managers: 1. Know your audience. The first step to writing an effective resume is to know your audience. Researching a company and thoroughly reading job descriptions may help you understand what skills and characteristics the organization values.
Plus, our tool can assist you in crafting a professional letter of absence from work due to family emergency when necessary. Ricky Miller. 357 Main Street. Los Angeles, CA 12345. (210) 567-8123. [email protected]. May 1, 2022. Jane Smith. Example Company.
6. Be Yourself. Last and most importantly, be yourself. There is nothing worse than someone trying to be something they're not. If you land the interview after blatantly lying in your cover letter, the employer is going to find out, and you won't get the job. Be confident in yourself and highlight your true strengths.
Remember to be honest and focus on presenting the accomplishments you have earned and don't exaggerate or make false claims. 5. Use keywords related to the job posting. Listen up, people! The secret weapon to making your resume noticed by a potential employer is to have the right keywords in it.
This will come in handy both while writing a cover letter and during your interview. 7. Proofread the right way. Proofreading is super important. Spelling or grammar mistakes will make you look careless. The best way to proofread is to print out your cover letter and read it on a physical sheet of paper.
Keep Your Cover Letter Short. A good cover letter doesn't exceed 300 words. Hiring managers receive hundreds—maybe thousands, depending on the company—resumes and cover letters to read through. They're likely to give lengthy cover letters a quick skim and toss them aside, so master brevity. A Bonus Tip For Cover Letter Creation
That's why it's crucial to concentrate on a killer cover letter. Some may say that a cover letter is a thing of the past - because your resume speaks for itself. But the fact is, your resume can't talk, or write, and your LinkedIn profile is never the whole story. That's why it's a good idea for you to get going on the number one ...
Start with a snappy statement of purpose. Your opening sentence doesn't necessarily need to be clever; it just needs to be concise and to the point. A more formal cover letter might start with something like "Please accept this cover letter and accompanying resume as my application for the role of X at Employer Y.".
How having a killer cover letter can set your candidature apart and win you an interview for your dream job. A comprehensive guide to win the competition. close. ... Make sure you have an exceptional cover letter to back up your resume and you will be sure to stand out from all the other candidates. Employers have to wade through hundreds of ...
How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter #1. Choose the Right Cover Letter Template #2. Put Contact Information in the Header #3. Address the Hiring Manager #4. Write an Eye-Catching Introduction #5. Use the Cover Letter Body for Details #6. Wrap It Up and Sign It Cover Letter Writing Checklist 15 Cover Letter Tips 15+ Cover Letter Examples 5 ...
Font Style of Cover Letter: There is no specific font style you can use whatever you like but make sure you don't change your font. Only use one font style. Cover Letter Line Spacing Format: The cover letter line spacing should either be 1 or 1.15 so that you can add as many words as you can without going to the next page. Cover letter margins.
A killer cover letter puts the focus on the organization you're applying to, as well as the description of the open position. ... The purpose of your cover letter is to amplify your resume, not to ...
You have a great resume, but that doesn't always mean you'll get the job. Imagine another candidate with an almost identical set of skills and experience. The trick to distinguishing yourself among comparable candidates is to set the tone with a terrific cover letter. It can really make the difference in making the final cut. Pitch It Right
How to write a killer resume. Here are steps to guide you to write a killer resume that may influence the hiring manager's decision: 1. Determine the layout. The goal of creating a good layout is to encourage the hiring manager to read through your entire resume. There are three aspects you may focus on for the layout.
Gimmicky attempts to gain attention can appear insincere. It is best to keep your letter polished and professional as well as interesting and visually appealing. Mention only positive things and be formal, yet friendly and open. 5. Highlight what is Most Relevant. A cover letter should be brief and to the point.
A great cover letter can make your resume stand out among a sea of other candidates, but writing one can be daunting. ... 7 Must-Know Tips for Writing a Killer Cover Letter. ... A cover letter should outline your qualifications and paint a picture of what you'll bring to the table if you're hired. You want to concentrate on expanding upon ...
Remember, your cover letter should only be a single page. For a few examples of the overall layout of a cover letter, try using a search engine to view examples. Search images for: cover letter examples. 2. The Salutation. When you send out a cover letter, address the exact person who will receive it.
Finish strong. End your cover letter with a short paragraph reiterating your enthusiasm for the job and a sentence or two of why you think you're the best fit. Add a quick thank you for being considered say you look forward to hearing back regarding next steps. - Melba Newsome. Too many job seekers focus on creating the perfect resume only ...
2. get the hiring manager's attention. To write an impressive cover letter, start with a punchline. A strong opening statement is very much like an elevator pitch. Right off the bat, effectively convey who you are and the position that you are applying for.
Think about the layout of the cover letter. In the top-centre, have your name in a large, bold font so that the company can quickly identify you. In the line below that, type out your address, phone number and email address. After that, spell out the date e.g. January 22nd, 2020. In the next line, you should include the name and job title of ...
While starting a cover letter correctly can grab the hiring manager's attention, your cover letter closing is where you reinforce your strongest selling points as a candidate. To accomplish this, when closing your cover letter, ensure you include the following three sections: To accomplish this, when closing your cover letter, ensure you include the following three sections:
3. Know the Company . Take the time to research the company you are applying to so that you can express how your experience can help. Plus, having knowledge of the company is ideal for when you ...
A new five-part, three-night miniseries from Investigation Discovery and producer Michael Bay sets out to reveal the extent of Hadden Clark's claimed years-long murder spree in "Born Evil: The ...
If your resume is just a snapshot into you and your work experience, your. cover letter is the whole picture. The cover letter is your opportunity to tell your story. To show a little bit. more of your personality. To add color to those bullet points listed on your. resume. Your cover letter will really paint the picture of who you are, what