87 Soft Skills

"Soft skills" is an unfortunate term. It sounds weak or dull.

The fact is that soft skills are the most important skills for your career. They are the skills that are
difficult to systemize and automate. They are the skills that define leadership and creativity.

By definition, soft skills are those skills that are difficult to measure. In other words, hard skills can
easily be measured by a test but soft skills can't.

It's easy to determine who has the best math skills. It's difficult to determine who's best at innovation
or diplomacy.

Communication Skills
1. Verbal Communication
2. Body Language
3. Physical Communication
4. Writing
5. Storytelling
6. Visual Communication
7. Humor
8. Quick-wittedness
9. Listening
10. Presentation Skills
11. Public Speaking
12. Interviewing
Leadership
13. Team Building
14. Strategic Planning
15. Coaching
16. Mentoring
17. Delegation
18. Dispute Resolution
19. Diplomacy
20. Giving Feedback
21. Managing Difficult Conversations
22. Decision Making
23. Performance Management
24. Supervising
25. Managing
26. Manager Management
27. Talent Management
28. Managing Remote Teams
29. Managing Virtual Teams
30. Crisis Management
Influencing
31. Facilitation
32. Selling
33. Inspiring
34. Persuasion
35. Negotiation
36. Motivating
37. Collaborating

Interpersonal Skills
38. Networking
39. Interpersonal Relationships
40. Dealing with Difficult People
41. Conflict Resolution
42. Personal Branding
43. Office Politics
Personal Skills
44. Emotional Intelligence
45. Self Awareness
46. Emotion Management
47. Stress Management
48. Tolerance of Change and Uncertainty
49. Taking Criticism
50. Self Confidence
51. Adaptability
52. Resilience
53. Assertiveness
54. Competitiveness
55. Self Leadership
56. Self Assessment
57. Work-Life Balance
58. Friendliness
59. Enthusiasm
60. Empathy
Creativity
61. Problem Solving
62. Critical Thinking
63. Innovation
64. Troubleshooting
65. Design Sense
66. Artistic Sense
Professional Skills
67. Organization
68. Planning
69. Scheduling
70. Time Management
71. Meeting Management
72. Technology Savvy
73. Technology Trend Awareness
74. Business Trend Awareness
75. Research
76. Business Etiquette
77. Business Ethics
78. Diversity Awareness
79. Disability Awareness
80. Intercultural Competence
81. Training
82. Train the Trainer
83. Process Improvement
84. Knowledge Management
85. Writing Reports and Proposals
86. Customer Service
87. Entrepreneurial Thinking
CV Action Word
Worksheet




Use Action Words SMARTly

Specificity Measurability Attainability Relevance Timing
Ive used a verb to My action words intro- The verbs Ive selected are My action words intro- I have focused on the
clearly introduce each duce accomplishments true indications of what Ive duce points that are experience and accom-
accomplishment. and experiences that are done. relevant to the job to plishments of the last
measurable. which Im applying. few years, which are the
most relevant.



3 Steps to Using Action Words in Your CV

1. Verb List
Verbs indicate actions you have taken to make something happen. They can be extremely powerful and persuasive when used appropriately.
Sending the right message about your action-orientation to potential employers will increase your chances of moving to the next stage - the interview.
Action verbs should be used to introduce each bullet pointed accomplishment in your CV to give them greater impact.

a) Consider the difference between the following statements:

Responsible for cupcakes
Created 300 award-winning cupcakes in 2 hours, surpassing the competition by 50%.

How else might I use action words to introduce this point?





b) Ive reviewed the list of action words below to help me qualify my own statements, and perhaps added some of my own:

Achieved Delegated Guided Led Raised
Acquired Delivered Headed Maintained Ranked
Adapted Designed Identified Managed Reduced
Administered Detected Illustrated Mastered Referred
Advised Determined Implemented Maximized Responded
Analyzed Developed Improved Mentored Reviewed
Approved Devised Improvised Minimized Solved
Assembled Diagnosed Increased Modified Specialized
Attained Directed Indicated Monitored Strategized
Bolstered Discovered Influenced Narrated Strengthened
Briefed Drove Initiated Negotiated Studied
Built Edited Inspected Observed Taught
Coached Established Instituted Obtained Trained
Collaborated Evaluated Integrated Offered Translated
Collected Exceeded Interpreted Organized Upgraded
Communicated Excelled Introduced Originated Utilized
Completed Expanded Investigated Provided Validated
Composed Expedited Launched Publicized Wrote
Coordinated Created Facilitated Lectured Published



Copyright 2008 ReadySet HIRED!
SHW-2052908-2
CV Action Word
Worksheet



2. Animating My CV

a) Have I used a variety of action words to introduce my experiences and accomplishments? If I use the same word more than twice, how can I
vary them? Can I use another verb instead?




b) If I already have verbs introducing the points in my CV, can I use more impactful ones?





3. Variety and Verity

a) Have I used a variety of action words to introduce my experiences and accomplishments? If I use the same word more than twice, how can I
vary them? Can I use another verb instead?




b) Are my statements factual? Are they credible? Can I support them if probed? For example, if say Led a team of 5! did I really lead the team
or was I a participant?

































Copyright 2008 ReadySet HIRED!
RSHW-2052908-2

CV Worksheet

BRAINSTORM YOUR STRENGTHS
The most important part of a CV is the content. Make sure that you are emphasizing your strengths that you want to
use going forward. Think of your strengths as those areas in which you have a high interest level and high ability
level. For example, if you have an ability to balance your checkbook every month to the penny, but have no interest
in working with numbers; accounting isn't something you would consider strength

CHOOSE SECTIONS OF YOUR CV
Typically, all CVs start with a heading of contact information. An "Objective" which explains to the employer
what you are seeking can be the following entry, but is optional if you will be personally delivering your CV to
an employer. Unless you have some impressive professional experience, "Education" will be included next.
Following your education can be any of the following: "Skills," "Experience," "Awards," "Activities,"
"Publications," "Community Service," or "Professional Associations." Organize your strengths and
accomplishments under relevant headings in rank order of the most impressive.

EDIT YOUR CV
Your CV must be one page. Go through each section and ask yourself, "Is this relevant to the job and my
objective?" "Is this valuable to the employer?" "Is anything repetitive?" This will help you omit the less
important information and keep the CV focused.

ASK AN EXPERIENCED PERSON FOR A CV CRITIQUE
Remember to have others look at your CV and ask for feedback on your information. People that know you
well may remember something that you overlooked or forgot to include.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Heading: Personal Information
Name ___________________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________
City _____________________________________ State __________ Zip ____________
Phone ___________________________________ Email __________________________

Employment Objective:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Employment History: (List your most recent employment first) Leave out months if you have a spotty
work history
Employer ______________________________________ City ____________ State ______
Dates of Employment: from ____________________ to _____________________
Job Title ________________________________________________________________

Responsibilities (list your duties and responsibilities using action words)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________



Employer ______________________________________ City ____________ State ______
Dates of Employment: from ____________________ to ___________________
Job Title ________________________________________________________________

Responsibilities (list your duties and responsibilities using action words)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Education: (List your most recent education first; include all degrees, diplomas,
certificates, licenses, honors, and significant course work)

High School (This is only necessary if you have not completed college.):
_________________________________________ City and State: __________________
Year Graduated: ____________
List any academic honors or special achievements________________________________
________________________________________________________________________


College: ________________________________________________________________
City, State: _______________________________________________________________
Degree: __________________________________ Major: _________________________
Year Graduated: ____________
Include your GPA or Class Rank only if you feel that it will help in your job search. Academic
honors or special achievements _____________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Skills: (list your relevant skills, use action words) (special skills: language, art, laboratory, computer
systems, software, technical skills, secretarial skills, machinery skills, licenses. Write your experiences in which
you used these special skills. Think of jobs, course projects, club activities, volunteerism, etc.)
_______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________









Experience: (list your relevant experience) When you write about any experience, try to recreate it so
another person will be able to understand what you did and how you did it. Initially, it may be best to
write, in paragraph form, all you can remember about your specific duties or the tasks you performed,
the skills you used to perform those tasks, and your accomplishments. Later you can edit, clarify and
prioritize. _________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Accomplishments / Contributions: You may want to note an aspect of the job of which you
are proud, or something about the experience which simply made you feel good. For example, you
may choose to highlight listening, communication, or management skills on your CV in the hope of
finding a job that will allow you to use the skills that come naturally to you.
_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Other Training: In-service training classes, workshops, or seminars. On the job training sessions;
professional seminars.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Honors (and dates awarded)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

References: (Do not include on your CV. Contact several people and ask their permission to use them as
references. Choose both professional and personal references. Do not use relatives as a reference).

Professional references (people who can speak about your work abilities)
Name _____________________________________________________________
Phone ________________________ Title ________________________________

Name _____________________________________________________________
Phone ________________________ Title ________________________________

Name _____________________________________________________________
Phone ________________________ Title ________________________________

Personal references (people, other than relatives, who can speak about you as a person)
Name _____________________________________________________________
Phone ________________________ Title ________________________________

Name _____________________________________________________________
Phone ________________________ Title ______________________________



Your Name
Contact Details (including Town and County)
Telephone numbers including mobile contact details
Email address & professional linkedin address

Do not include any further personal details including martial status, gender, nationality as this
does not add any value and may impede your application. You should use Arial or similar
business font and the size should be 10.5 to 12.


PROFILE
This section should include a brief history of your academic and employment career to date, it
should include details of the sectors that you are keen on working in and it should also include
some of the skills you have used in your career to date. This section should never be in bullet
point format and should be no more than 8 to 10 sentences long. This is your opportunity to
present your unique skill set and the value you can bring to a new organisation. Example:
Resourceful, goal-oriented, personable, hard working, motivated, proactive individual with
extensive experience in culinary arts, upper management, team work and organization. Strengths
include organization, managing and motivating team and a strong work ethic. Track record of
successful projects saving the company money and ensuring satisfied customers.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
This section should include a list of 4-8 achievements using the STAR method and should
be presented in bullet point format. Use this section to highlight any achievements you
may have had in a voluntary capacity.
You should include outstanding academic qualifications, results etc.
You should include details of group presentations that you have led, presented etc.
If you have employment experience then you should provide examples of your
achievements, you need to show employers that you have solved problems similar to
theirs and that you achieved the results for which they are looking.
Example: Secured 90% in group project on statistical research, allocated tasks and led
project through to conclusion.

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Remember you should start with your most recent employment first and work backwards even if
this position was not in your chosen field. You should also include details of voluntary work
including supporting fundraising activities or memberships of societies etc!

Name of Company Dates of employment
Title Held
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active
verbs including sold, solved performed etc.
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active
verbs including sold, solved etc.
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active
verbs including sold, solved etc.
Example: Reorganised stock room improving operational performance of the team.

Name of Company Dates of employment
Title Held
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active
verbs including sold, solved etc.
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active
verbs including sold, solved etc.
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active
verbs including sold, solved etc.



EDUCATION and TRAINING
List any qualifications gained
University Name, dates (if applicable)

List any qualifications gained
College Name dates (if applicable)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Insert details of memberships

Example: Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Surveyors since 2010

CORE SKILLS
Include details of all skill you have to offer potential employers.
Include details of all skill you have to offer potential employers.
Include details of all skill you have to offer potential employers.
Example: IT Skills: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Explorer
Example: Well developed analytical and numerical ability.

INTERESTS
Include brief details of interests if you have the space on your document however avoid phrases
including 'socialising', 'partying' etc.


References available on request

Privacy and identity theft have become an issue in recent years and it is best to protect the
details of your referees, do not include their contact information on your CV. Employers don't
need this information within the early stages of the recruitment process.





Your Name
Contact Details (including Town and County)
Telephone numbers including mobile contact details
Email address and professional linkedin address

Do not include any further personal details including martial status, gender, nationality as this
does not add any value and may impede your application. You should use Arial or similar
business font and the size should be 10.5 or 11.


PROFILE
This section should include a brief history of your career to date, it should include details of the
sectors you worked in, and it should also include some of the skills you have used in your career
to date. This section should never be in bullet point format and should be no more thank 8 to 10
sentences long. This is your opportunity to present your unique skill set and the value you bring
to a new organisation. Do not include details relating to your period of unemployment and
ensure that all statements are positive. Examples of opening your document could include:
Resourceful, goal-oriented, personable, hard working, motivated, proactive individual with
extensive experience in culinary arts, upper management, team work and organization. Strengths
include organization, managing and motivating team and a strong work ethic. Track record of
successful projects saving the company money and ensuring satisfied customers.
.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
This section should include a list of 4-8 achievements using the STAR method and should
be presented in bullet point format. Use this section to highlight any achievements you
may have had in a voluntary capacity during your period of unemployment.
You should include details of a situation you were involved in that resulted in a positive
outcome for your employer. You should describe the tasks involved in that situation, talk
about the various actions taken and the results relating to the actions taken.
Employers want to know that you have solved problems similar to theirs and that you
achieved the results for which they are looking.
Example: Acted as Treasurer of local hockey club, in addition set up club website and
maintained website content.

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Remember you should start with your most recent employment first and work backwards. If you
have had a long period of unemployment then you should include details of training and voluntary
work. Example: Supporting fundraising activities in the local school, supporting tenant
association etc!

If you have completed training or further education during your period of long term unemployment
then you should include details of this training in this section in addition to including it in the
Education section.

Title Held, Name of Company Dates of employment
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active
verbs including sold, solved performed etc..
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active
verbs including sold, solved etc.
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active
verbs including sold, solved etc..
Example: Recruited, led and developed team of 10






Title Held, Name of Company Dates of employment
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active
verbs including sold, solved etc..
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active
verbs including sold, solved etc..
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active
verbs including sold, solved etc..

Continued/!.


EDUCATION & TRAINING
List any qualifications gained
University Name, dates (if applicable)

List any qualifications gained
College Name dates (if applicable)

List qualifications gained (do not include GCSE results if you have a Degree qualification)
School Name: dates (if applicable)

Employers will always review the education section. Include details of the qualifications and
training you do have. If you are concerned about your lack of qualifications don't worry, many
highly regarded business professionals do not have academic qualifications. Employers
generally value experience over education.

CORE SKILLS
If your experience is weak you may wish to include a list of the skills you have to offer
potential employers.
If your experience is weak you may wish to include a list of the skills you have to offer
potential employers.
If your experience is weak you may wish to include a list of the skills you have to offer
potential employers.
If your experience is weak you may wish to include a list of the skills you have to offer
potential employers.
Example: IT Skills: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Explorer

INTERESTS
Include brief details of interests if you have the space on your document however avoid phrases
including 'socialising', 'partying' etc..


References available on request

Privacy and identity theft have become an issue in recent years and it is best to protect the
details of your referees, do not include their contact information on your CV. Employers don't
need this information within the early stages of the recruitment process.





Your Name
email@address.co.uk
07712 345678 | 99 Example Street, Example Town, EX4 3PL

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Your personal statement is perhaps the single most important part of you CV. Get
it wrong and your chances of being invited to interview are drastically reduced.


Its aim is to highlight your professional attributes and goals, summarising why
someone should consider your application.


KEY SKILLS

Technical Skills
Show that you have the knowledge required to succeed in the role
Include computer software you have used and relevant training courses

Personal Skills
Include some of your main attributes that are vital to the role
Good communication and flexibility are qualities that all employers look out
for

CERTIFICATES & MEMBERSHIPS

Include any relevant professional qualifications here
Make sure you most impressive accreditations are
highest
Add any professional associations of which you are a
member

Date gained
Date gained
Date joined

EDUCATION

University Name, Location Course Title, Grade
College Name, Location Course Title, Grade
School Name, Location Grades

Briefly explain how the courses you took have led you to your chosen career
path.



EMPLOYMENT

Job Title
Company Name - www.examplelink.co.uk - Location
Dates of Employment

You should give your reader a brief introduction to what the company
does and explain a bit about the responsibilities your role covered.

Key Achievements:

Provide a list of the key achievements you have made in your job
Try to show evidence such as percentage increases or financial figures
Provide enough information to entice your potential employers to call you
Always keep examples relevant to the role you are applying for


Job Title
Company Name - www.examplelink.co.uk - Location
Dates of Employment

For older jobs you should keep the details slightly shorter, only offering
information that will help you reach the next stage in your career.

Key Achievements:

Try to avoid clich phrases that dont differentiate you as a candidate
Always tailor your CV for each job application to match the
requirements
If something isnt relevant, dont be scared to leave it out


PERSONAL INTERESTS

Outside interests enable a potential employer to gain an understanding to what
motivates you, what personal skills you may have and how you will integrate into the
team.

Look at how job advertisements stipulate certain personality traits required for
positions. Identify what they are and show how your hobbies can relate to their
requirements.


REFERENCES

References are available on request.





First Name Surname

PERSONAL STATEMENT

A statement of about 30 to 40 words that describe your work skills, such as highly
organised, ability to work in a team or alone, motivated by a challenge. Dont just list your
own personal ambitions here, employers want to hire people that will contribute and add
value to organisations so, what are you going to do for them?

PERSONAL DETAILS

Address 123 Anywhere Avenue, A city, XX1 ZZ2, UK
Mobile 01234 5678910. Email anyone@hotmail.com


EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

University of Anytown, BSc Accounting and Financial Management 2007 Onwards

Financial Accounting Financial Management
Accounting and Finance Business Economics
Financial Reporting International Business
I am currently averaging more than 65% in all my modules and I am on target to
achieve a 2:1 or 1
st
class degree.


Old Town High School, Old Town 2005 2007

A Levels: Law (A), Business Studies (B), Psychology (C)
Awarded Principals Prize for Highest Academic Achievement in 2007
GCSEs: English (B), Mathematics (B), Business Studies (B), Law (B),
Geography (B), ICT (B), Modern Materials (D), History (D)

WORK EXPERIENCE

Hoods Online Catalogue Service, Tele-Sales Advisor September 2008 - Present
I currently work in a Call Centre for 12 hours per week
Duties included taking orders, answering queries, dealing with
complaints
This experience has enabled me to develop selling skills, improve my
communication and interpersonal skills; and learn to persuade and
influence people.



Electrical Stores, Customer Service Advisor January March 2008
Worked within Customer Service department.
Responsibilities included dealing with customers complaints, warranty
issues; booking deliveries and collections; communicating with other
departments.
In this position I improved my IT skills and learnt to use commercial
data base systems; and I developed strong problem-solving, listening
and organizational skills.

Worldwide Restaurants, Old Town 2006 Summer
Worked in a team as a waiter
I gained customer service experience and developed strong team-
working skills.

VOLUNTEERING WORK

Anytown University International Student Welcome Week 2008 September
Meeting new international students; organizing city and campus tour;
helping them to settle into their accommodations
This enabled me to develop my leadership skills, cultural awareness
and empathy skills.

Earthquake Relief Work, Pakistan 2005 October
Helped to supply basic goods for the victims of earthquake
Developed skills in working under pressure, working long hours,


IT SKILLS (or SKILLS)

MS Office Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Project
Advanced searching skills on the Internet
Use of specialist company databases

OTHER ACTIVITIES (or INTERESTS, AWARDS etc)

Chairperson of the Business Students Social Club (BUSSOC) this role involves me leading a
small committee and organising a series of business-related and social events each year. This
provides me with opportunities to network with leading business people. In 2007 we won the
University prize for being the most innovative and inclusive student society.
Member of the University Squash Club I am a member of the committee and also represent the
University in inter-university matches.
Squash Coach I coach local teenagers once a week as part of the Universitys community
activities.

REFERENCES

Available on Request

Example:
SUMMARY

Resourceful, goal-oriented, personable, hard working, motivated, proactive individual with extensive
experience in culinary arts, upper management, team work and organization. Strengths include
organization, managing and motivating team and a strong work ethic. Track record of successful
projects saving the company money and ensuring satisfied customers.

!"#$#%& ( )*+," -,$$,"
When it comes to the application process, you should know by now that everything you
do matters. There's so much attention given to resumes that we often forget how
important a cover letter can be for our job prospects.
The cover letter is an opportunity for you to tell the recruiters and hiring managers why
you're the perfect person for the job. It's also the place for you to show them you have
good communication skills.
1. Address the cover letter directly to the hiring manager or recruiter. If this
person's name isn't in the job listing, take the extra effort to call or email the company
and find out.
2. Don't reiterate your resume. The purpose of having a cover letter is to zero in on
why you should be the one considered for the position. Otherwise, there's no point in
having one.
3. It's a professional document, so don't go too over-the-top. Yes, trying to
figure out ways to be creative may be difficult, but don't go overboard out of
desperation. And especially don't say anything like this summer analyst did in his cover
letter, which made him a laughing stock on Wall Street:
"I am unequivocally the most unflaggingly hard worker I know, and I love self-
improvement. I have always felt that my time should be spent wisely, so I continuously
challenge myself ... I decided to redouble my effort by placing out of two classes, taking
two honors classes, and holding two part-time jobs. That semester I achieved a 3.93,
and in the same time I managed to bench double my bodyweight and do 35 pull-ups."
4. Make sure the reader knows you've done your research. Convey that you
understand the company and its goals, and explain how you'd help it reach those goals.
5. Always close your cover letter with an action statement. Tell the reader what
you're planning on doing next for example, calling in a week or two to follow up.
6. Keep your letter no longer than one page. Your cover letter is an introduction
to yourself. It's supposed to show that you have strong communication skills. Be brief
and concise.






7. Show the recruiter that you'd be a good match based on your skills. This is
a highly recommended approach: Make two columns in the cover letter. On one side, list
the top five requirements that the company wants, and on the other, list how you'd meet
each requirement:




When you send off your resume in a cold contact with
a potential employer or with a job application you
should always include a cover letter. This worksheet
gives you some tips for writing a cover letter.
Presentation
Cover letters win interviewsnot jobs! A cover letter
should:
capture the employers interest
show why you are writing
indicate how you will benefit the company
convince the employer to ask you for an interview.
Cover letters target your skills, highlight your selling
points and answer these questions:
Can you do the job? What are your abilities, skills,
knowledge, experience and qualifications?
Will you do the job well? Are you motivated,
dependable and enthusiastic?
Will you fit into the organisation? Do you match the
companys image, values and goals? Will you get
along well with clients and co-workers?
Time pressures and the number of applications give an
employer approximately 30 seconds to decide whether
to consider your application further. At a glance an
employer looks for:
how you match the selection criteria
how well you communicate, including structure,
grammar, spelling and punctuation of the letter
your experience, skills and qualifications
your level of professionalism
clues to your personality
your attention to detail (eg errors or wrong
information).
How should I write it?
Use simple, natural language and:
be honest, professional, warm and friendly
use positive words and phrases such as:
I have
I am able to
I can
Experienced in
dont use negative statements such as I had
personality conflicts with
dont start every sentence or paragraph with Itry
to limit yourself to one I per paragraph or less
make the letter interesting to read, short and to the
point
be enthusiastic and assertive but not pushy or
begging for a position.
What should a cover letter look like?
Type your cover letter on a computer and print on
clean, white A4 paper.
Leave space around the edges and clear space
between each paragraph.
Use an A4 envelope if your cover letter and
attachments dont fit a DL size envelope.
Staple your cover letter neatly.
Dont send cover letters that are photocopied.
Use a basic font such as Arial, Bookman Old Style
or Century Gothic.
WHAT SHOULD A COVER
LETTER CONTAIN?
Check that it contains the following:
Contact details
Date
Name and address of recipient
Salutation
Opening paragraphintroduction to the topic of the
letter
Second paragraphyour qualifications and skills
Third paragraphyour interests and
personal qualities
Fourth paragraphconclusion
Closing
On page 2 you can see an example.
W O R K S H E E T 6
Write a cover letter
Commonwealth Government
FACT SHEET 6 26/2/03 10:05 AM Page 1
Example layout
Kathy Porter
1 Looking Street
ADELAIDE SA 5000
Phone: (08) 8123 4567
Mobile: 0405 111 111
E-mail: kporter@somewhere.com.au
Date
Ms Sarah Job
The Principal
Burnleigh Primary School
11 High Street
Burnleigh SA 5432
Dear Ms Job
Ref: Teacher Aide
I wish to apply for the position of teacher aide as advertised in the
Adelaide Advertiser on 2 September 2002.
Last year I completed Year 12 at Valley View Secondary School. I obtained
good results in English, mathematics, home economics, biology and
geography. I am particularly keen to obtain a position as a teacher aide
as I am interested in working with children and have held several
voluntary and paid positions as a baby sitter for children up to ten years
old. I relate well to children and can sing and play the guitar. I also have
a portfolio of my art work.
Since leaving school, I have been employed part-time as a checkout
operator. In this role I have demonstrated that I am responsible and
reliable and a good team worker. Customers have often complimented me
on my attention to their needs and my willingness to go beyond the call
of duty.
Thank you for considering my application. I have enclosed a copy of my
resume. I look forward to meeting you and providing further information
in an interview. I can be contacted at anytime on my mobile phone
number which is 0405 111 111.
Yours sincerely
Kathy Porter
KATHY PORTER
Enc
W O R K S H E E T 6
Write a cover letter
Salutation should
use correct spelling of
persons name.
If you started with Dear
Ms Smith you should end
with Yours sincerely.
If you started with Dear
Sir/Madam you should
end with Yours faithfully.
First paragraph explains
the purpose of the letter.
Use this abbreviation
if you enclosed your
resume or other pages.
Name and address:
Persons full name
title
Company name
Street number and
name or PO Box
Town or suburb, state,
postcode.
The second paragraph
demonstrates that you can
do the job, why you are the
best fit for the
organisation and how your
skills meet the
organisations needs.
The third paragraph
shows you are willing to
do the job, motivated and
enthusiastic and can fit
into the organisation (eg
communicate well with
co-workers and clients).
The fourth and
final paragraph:
Refers to your enclosed
resume, application form
or other attachments.
Thanks the reader for
considering your
application.
States you would
welcome an interview to
discuss your suitability
(include your phone
number again).
Your contact details.
FACT SHEET 6 26/2/03 10:05 AM Page 2
Addressing selection criteria
Your cover letter should contain a brief summary of how
you meet the selection criteria. It is easier to write a
cover letter after you have prepared your resume (see
Worksheet 7: Write a resume).
Make sure you have addressed the selection criteria by
checking off all the following steps.
SELECTION CRITERIA CHECKLIST
Read the advertisement, job and person
specification or selection criteria carefully.
Phone the employer for more information if you
dont understand something.
Highlight all the requirements.
Divide the requirements into hard and soft
requirements. Hard requirements include the
desired work experience, qualifications and
particular skills. Soft requirements are personal
qualities such as energetic, a good
communicator and organised.
Identify what you have done that proves you can
meet the job requirements. These are your selling
points.
Think about how well you meet the requirements in
the categories of:
skills
qualifications
experience
desirable personal qualities.
Collect proof of your skills, knowledge, experience
and personal qualities.
Decide how you will address any barriers to your
application (eg demonstrate how you could manage
the job with a few weeks experience and transfer
of skills if you dont have knowledge of a particular
software program).
Summarise your skills, knowledge, experience
and personal qualities under each of the
selection criteria.
Different types of cover letters
There are four different types of cover letters:
responding to an advertisement
cold-call or canvassing letters
referral letters
online letters.
Identify which type of letter you are writing and follow
the hints below.
Responding to an advertisement
These letters should highlight your skills and respond to
the requirements stated in the advertisement.
You should write directly to the contact person stated in
the advertisement.
When responding to a recruitment agency, refer to your
client or your clients organisation rather than you or
your company.
Cold-call or canvassing letters
This type of letter is written to find out about and
express interest in jobs that may be available now or
in the future.
Because youre not writing to answer a specific job
advertisement you need to:
say in the opening paragraph that youre enquiring
if a position is available
describe the type of position youre looking for
research the company to match your selling points
to the needs of the company
interest the reader enough to contact you.
Referral letters
A referral letter is written to a person in a company or
recruiting firm on the recommendation of someone in
your network (see Worksheet 4: Find a job).
The main difference and advantage of a referral letter is
that you begin with mentioning the person who has
referred you as an introduction.
Make sure that the person who has referred you has
given you permission to use their name.
Online letters
An online letter uses e-mail to respond to
advertisements on the Internet, in the newspaper or on
a touchscreen.
You need to consider the following features of an
online letter:
The letter is briefer, but still includes the top two or
three selling points.
Short paragraphs or bullet style format is common.
W O R K S H E E T 6
Write a cover letter
FACT SHEET 6 26/2/03 10:05 AM Page 3
The letter should be easy to read and to the point.
The title of the position you are applying for goes
in the Subject line of the e-mail.
Dont put the full mailing address of the person you
are sending it to in an e-mail. Use the salutation
line only (eg Dear Mr Jones).
Remember that writing in all upper case in an
e-mail is seen to be a form of yelling.
Dont use bold type or italics.
W O R K S H E E T 6
Copyright Notice
This worksheet is one of a series which supplements the booklet, Getting A Job future directions.
The worksheets and the booklet can be downloaded from the DEST website at
www.dest.gov.au/schools/careers/ciproducts.htm . Further information about careers and job searching is
available on the Australian online careers site, myfuture, at www.myfuture.edu.au.
Commonwealth of Australia 2003.
This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in
unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use
within your organisation. All other rights are reserved. Requests and inquiries concerning
reproduction and rights should be addressed to Commonwealth Copyright Administration, GPO
Box 2154, Canberra ACT 2601 or e-mail commonwealth.copyright@dcita.gov.au.
Write a cover letter
TIPS FOR COVER LETTERS
A cover letter should accompany your resume.
Cover letters communicate what you can offer,
not what you want.
Write a rough draft first to refine, order and edit
the letter, and get someone else to read it.
Keep copies of letters so that you have a record of
who you have written to and what you said.
Make sure your contact details are up to date.
Use similar terms the employer uses in the
advertisement or terms that are industry specific.
Dont list your work history if you already have it
on your resume.
Highlight points from your resume you want to
draw attention to.
Remember you have less time to catch an
agencys attention. An agency wants someone
who matches the hiring companys criteria, so be
honest and quick.
FACT SHEET 6 26/2/03 10:05 AM Page 4