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Create ResumeAn Australian cover letter should be short, specific, and directly connected to the job you are applying for. The best cover letters are not dramatic personal essays or generic “I am writing to express my interest” documents. They explain why your background fits the role, show that you understand the employer’s needs, and give the recruiter or hiring manager enough evidence to take your resume seriously. In Australia, most cover letters should be around half a page to one page, written in plain professional language, and tailored to the position. The template below is designed to help you sound credible, relevant, and human without slipping into stiff corporate theatre.
Use this Australian cover letter template as a starting point, but do not treat it like a script you can send unchanged. Recruiters can spot copied wording very quickly. The structure matters more than the exact phrases.
Your Name
Phone Number
Email Address
LinkedIn URL if relevant
City, State
Date
Hiring Manager Name if known
Company Name
Company Location if known
Dear Hiring Manager Name,
I am applying for the Position Title role at Company Name. My background in relevant field, function, or industry has given me strong experience in key skill one, key skill two, and key result area. What stood out to me about this role is the opportunity to contribute to specific business need, team goal, customer outcome, project, or operational priority.
In my current or most recent role as Your Job Title at Company Name, I have been responsible for brief summary of relevant responsibility. A key example is specific achievement, project, process improvement, client outcome, team contribution, sales result, operational result, compliance result, or technical delivery. This is directly relevant to your role because connect your experience to what the employer needs.
I also bring experience in additional relevant skill, industry knowledge, stakeholder group, software, process, regulation, or environment. I understand that this position requires someone who can , while also . That combination suits the way I work because .
A strong Australian cover letter does not try to repeat your whole resume. That is one of the most common mistakes I see. Candidates often write a cover letter as if the recruiter has unlimited patience and a hot cup of tea waiting beside them. In reality, your cover letter is usually scanned quickly, often after the resume has already created a first impression.
This template works because it does three useful things:
It tells the employer exactly which role you are applying for
It connects your background to the employer’s actual needs
It gives evidence instead of empty enthusiasm
That last point matters. Hiring managers rarely reject candidates because they were not “passionate” enough in the opening paragraph. They reject candidates because the application does not make the fit obvious.
In Australia, the best cover letters are usually practical, direct, and calm. You do not need to oversell yourself. You need to remove doubt. A good cover letter answers the quiet questions sitting in the recruiter’s mind:
Has this person understood the role?
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience could support Company Name in this role. Thank you for considering my application.
Kind regards,
Your Name
Do they have the right kind of experience?
Are they applying thoughtfully or mass applying?
Can they communicate clearly?
Is there a reason to move them to the next stage?
That is the real job of your cover letter.
Most employers are not looking for a beautifully written life story. They are looking for relevance. That sounds simple, but many candidates miss it because they write from their own perspective instead of the employer’s.
A candidate thinks, “I need to explain everything I have done.”
A recruiter thinks, “Can I quickly see whether this person matches the role?”
A hiring manager thinks, “Will this person solve the problem I am hiring for?”
That is the gap your cover letter needs to close.
Australian employers usually want to see:
A clear reason for applying
Relevant experience that matches the job ad
Evidence of capability, not just claims
Communication that feels professional and natural
Some sign that you understand the company, role, or industry
No obvious carelessness, exaggeration, or generic copy and paste language
A cover letter will not save a weak resume, but it can strengthen a good one. It can explain fit, motivation, career changes, industry transitions, location changes, or why your experience is more relevant than it may first appear.
This is especially important when your resume is not perfectly linear. If you are changing careers, returning to work, moving to Australia, applying from interstate, shifting industries, or stepping up into a more senior role, the cover letter can help frame the story before the reader makes assumptions.
And trust me, assumptions happen. Recruiters are human. Busy humans. Sometimes unfairly busy humans. Your job is to make the decision easier.
Your opening paragraph should get to the point quickly. Do not waste space with vague lines like “I am writing to express my interest in the advertised position.” Of course you are. That is why the document exists.
A better opening tells the reader three things:
The role you are applying for
The relevant background you bring
Why this role makes sense for you
Weak Example
I am writing to express my interest in the position advertised online. I believe I would be a great fit for your company and I am very passionate about this opportunity.
Good Example
I am applying for the Marketing Coordinator role at Brightline Health. My background in campaign coordination, content planning, and stakeholder support has given me practical experience across the same areas highlighted in your job ad. What attracted me to this role is the opportunity to support health focused campaigns that require both strong organisation and clear communication.
The good version works because it gives the recruiter useful information immediately. It also sounds like a person, not a template wearing a blazer.
Avoid opening with:
Generic enthusiasm without evidence
A long personal backstory
Overly formal language that sounds unnatural
Repeating the job ad word for word
Claims like “I am the perfect candidate”
The phrase “perfect candidate” is rarely convincing. Hiring is not a fairy tale. Employers are usually choosing between trade offs. The stronger move is to show why your experience matches the role better than most.
The middle of your cover letter is where you prove relevance. This is where many candidates either become too vague or too detailed. You do not need to include every responsibility from your resume. You need to choose the evidence that best matches the role.
Before writing this section, read the job ad and identify the employer’s actual priorities. Not the fluffy parts. The practical parts.
Look for:
Core responsibilities
Required technical skills
Stakeholder groups
Industry knowledge
Systems or tools
Leadership requirements
Compliance or reporting needs
Customer, client, or operational outcomes
Then choose one or two examples from your experience that line up with those priorities.
Weak Example
I have excellent communication skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to work well in a team. I am also highly motivated and always willing to learn.
Good Example
In my current role as an Administration Officer at Northside Medical Group, I manage appointment coordination, patient enquiries, document control, and daily support for a team of clinicians. I recently helped improve the intake process by updating patient information templates and reducing repeated follow up calls from reception. This experience is relevant to your role because it combines customer contact, accuracy, confidentiality, and pressure management in a busy service environment.
The weak example could belong to almost anyone. The good example gives context, responsibility, and evidence. That is what makes it useful.
Recruiters do not need you to say you have attention to detail. They need to see where attention to detail mattered.
Your closing paragraph should be polite, simple, and confident. This is not the place to beg, apologise, or write a dramatic statement about your lifelong dream.
A strong closing does three things:
Reinforces interest
Keeps the tone professional
Invites the next step
Good Example
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience in customer service, scheduling, and office coordination could support your team. Thank you for considering my application.
That is enough.
You do not need to write, “I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.” It is not wrong, but it is overused and a little dusty. You can say it if it sounds natural to you, but do not rely on old fashioned phrasing to sound professional.
Professional does not mean stiff. Clear usually wins.
Here is a more complete version you can adapt for most Australian job applications.
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am applying for the Customer Service Officer role at Company Name. My background in customer support, administration, and high volume enquiry handling has given me strong experience in resolving customer issues, managing accurate records, and supporting day to day operations. What interested me about this role is the opportunity to work in a team where clear communication, reliability, and practical problem solving are genuinely important.
In my current role as Customer Support Representative at Current Company, I manage phone and email enquiries, update customer records, process service requests, and work closely with internal teams to resolve issues efficiently. One of my key strengths is staying calm and organised when dealing with competing priorities, especially when customers need clear answers quickly. I have also helped improve response consistency by updating internal response templates and sharing common enquiry patterns with the wider team.
I understand this role requires someone who can communicate professionally, follow processes accurately, and maintain a positive customer experience even during busy periods. That suits the way I work. I am comfortable balancing empathy with structure, and I take pride in making things easier for both customers and colleagues.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my customer service and administration experience could support your team. Thank you for considering my application.
Kind regards,
Your Name
Career change cover letters need a slightly different approach. You are not just saying, “Here is my experience.” You are helping the employer understand why your previous experience transfers into this new role.
Do not apologise for changing careers. Do not over explain your entire life decision. Focus on transferable value.
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am applying for the Human Resources Assistant role at Company Name. While my background has been in retail team leadership, much of my experience aligns closely with the requirements of this position, particularly staff coordination, onboarding support, conflict resolution, rostering, and confidential employee communication. I am now looking to move into a dedicated HR support role where I can build on that experience in a more specialised environment.
In my role as Store Supervisor at Current Company, I have supported recruitment coordination, new starter onboarding, performance conversations, and day to day people management for a team of casual and permanent staff. I have often been the first point of contact for team members needing guidance on rosters, policies, workplace expectations, and operational concerns. This has helped me develop a practical understanding of employee support, documentation, and the importance of fair and consistent communication.
I understand that this role requires accuracy, discretion, and the ability to support both employees and managers professionally. Those are areas I have already had to use in a fast paced workplace, and I am keen to apply them in a more focused HR setting.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my people coordination experience could support your HR team. Thank you for considering my application.
Kind regards,
Your Name
The important thing here is that the candidate does not pretend to have direct HR experience they do not have. They translate their experience instead. That is much more credible.
For graduate and entry level applicants, the challenge is usually not lack of ability. It is lack of proof. You may not have years of professional experience, so you need to use university projects, internships, volunteering, casual work, placements, and transferable skills properly.
Do not fill the page with “I am eager to learn.” Employers expect that. Show how you have already behaved in ways that suit the role.
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am applying for the Graduate Accountant role at Company Name. I recently completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting and have developed a strong foundation in financial reporting, data analysis, business communication, and accounting software. What attracted me to this role is the opportunity to build practical accounting experience in a team that values accuracy, client service, and continuous learning.
During my studies, I completed projects involving financial statement analysis, budgeting, variance reporting, and business case evaluation. I also worked part time in customer service while studying, which helped me develop strong communication, time management, and problem solving skills. Balancing work and study taught me how to manage deadlines, ask useful questions, and stay organised under pressure.
I understand that graduate roles require strong attention to detail, willingness to learn, and the ability to take feedback well. I am comfortable working with numbers, documentation, and structured processes, and I am keen to keep building my technical skills in a professional accounting environment.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my academic background and practical work experience could support your team. Thank you for considering my application.
Kind regards,
Your Name
The best graduate cover letters are not trying to sound senior. They show readiness, maturity, and relevance. Hiring managers do not expect you to know everything. They do expect you to communicate clearly and show good judgement.
Most Australian cover letters should be between half a page and one page. That is usually enough to show relevance without exhausting the reader.
The better question is not “How long should it be?” The better question is “How much does the reader need to know to understand why I am relevant?”
For most applications, aim for:
Three to five short paragraphs
Around 250 to 450 words
One clear example of relevant experience
A professional opening and closing
No repeated resume content unless it is being framed for the role
A two page cover letter is usually too long unless the application specifically asks for detailed selection criteria or a statement addressing requirements. This is common in government, university, public sector, and some not for profit roles.
For standard private sector roles, a long cover letter can work against you. It tells the recruiter you may struggle to prioritise information. Fair or not, that is how it can be read.
A strong Australian cover letter should include the information that helps the employer understand your fit quickly.
Include:
Your contact details
The role title and company name
A direct opening that explains your relevant background
One or two examples that connect to the job requirements
Relevant skills, systems, industry experience, or stakeholder exposure
A short explanation of why the role makes sense for you
A polite closing
You can also briefly explain practical details if they matter, such as:
Relocation plans
Work rights in Australia
Availability
Career change context
A return to work after a break
Why you are moving from one industry to another
Keep these explanations short and confident. Do not turn them into a confession.
For example, if you have recently moved to Australia, you might write:
I have recently relocated to Melbourne and hold full working rights in Australia. I am now seeking a role where I can apply my background in project coordination, stakeholder communication, and reporting within a local business environment.
That is clear. No drama. No over explaining.
A cover letter can lose impact very quickly when it includes the wrong information. I see this often. The candidate may be perfectly suitable, but the cover letter makes them look unfocused, generic, or strangely intense.
Avoid including:
Your full career history
Salary expectations unless requested
Personal problems or emotional explanations
Negative comments about previous employers
Generic claims without evidence
Repeated phrases from online templates
Long paragraphs about passion
Unnecessary personal details
A list of every skill you have ever used
Apologies for gaps, career changes, or lack of exact experience
The biggest mistake is writing a cover letter that sounds like it could be sent to any employer in any industry. That tells the recruiter one of two things. Either you did not tailor it, or you do not understand what matters in the role. Neither helps you.
Also be careful with overused phrases such as:
I am a hard worker
I am a fast learner
I work well independently and in a team
I have excellent communication skills
I am passionate about this opportunity
These phrases are not banned, but they need evidence. Without evidence, they are just background noise.
Applicant tracking systems are used by many Australian employers, but cover letters are still usually read by people, not magically scored by robots in a dark basement. The ATS matters because it stores and processes your application. It may also help recruiters search for keywords later.
To make your cover letter ATS friendly:
Use a simple document format
Avoid text boxes, graphics, columns, tables, and images
Use the exact job title where appropriate
Include natural references to core skills from the job ad
Save the file as a Word document or PDF unless instructed otherwise
Use a clear file name such as First Name Last Name Cover Letter
Do not stuff keywords awkwardly
The goal is not to trick the system. The goal is to make your relevance easy to identify.
For example, if the job ad mentions stakeholder management, monthly reporting, Salesforce, and client onboarding, it is reasonable to include those terms if they genuinely reflect your experience.
What you should not do is paste a list of keywords at the bottom of the document like it is 2009 and everyone involved has given up on dignity.
You do not need to rewrite your cover letter from scratch every time. But you do need to tailor the parts that matter.
The easiest way is to create a base cover letter with flexible sections. Then adjust:
The job title
The company name
The opening reason for applying
The main example of relevant experience
The skills or requirements you highlight
The final sentence connecting your background to the role
The middle paragraph usually needs the most tailoring. That is where relevance lives.
Here is a practical tailoring framework:
Identify the three most important requirements in the job ad
Choose one example from your experience that proves at least two of them
Use language that matches the role without copying the ad mechanically
Remove anything that does not support the application
For example, if the role is focused on operations coordination, do not spend half the letter talking about your interest in strategy. If the role needs customer service and administration, do not lead with creative ambition. Match the employer’s problem.
This is where candidates often go wrong. They write about what they are proud of, not what the employer needs to believe.
A good cover letter sits at the intersection of both.
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am applying for the Project Coordinator role at Company Name. My background in project administration, stakeholder coordination, reporting, and process support has given me practical experience across the areas highlighted in your job ad. What interested me about this opportunity is the chance to support projects that require strong organisation, clear communication, and reliable follow through.
In my current role as Project Administrator at Current Company, I support project timelines, meeting coordination, document control, risk registers, status reporting, and communication between internal teams and external suppliers. One project I supported involved coordinating documentation and weekly reporting across multiple workstreams, helping the project manager maintain visibility over deadlines, issues, and stakeholder actions. This experience is directly relevant to your role because it required accuracy, prioritisation, and the ability to keep information moving between busy people.
I also bring experience using Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and project tracking tools, along with a practical understanding of how small delays and unclear ownership can affect delivery. I enjoy roles where strong coordination makes the wider team more effective, and I am comfortable working behind the scenes to keep projects organised.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my project coordination experience could support your team. Thank you for considering my application.
Kind regards,
Your Name
This example works because it does not try to sound impressive for the sake of it. It explains the actual work. Hiring managers like that. Vague confidence is less useful than practical evidence.
The most common cover letter mistakes are not always dramatic. Usually, they are small choices that make the application weaker than it needs to be.
A generic cover letter feels safe, but it is usually forgettable. If your letter could be sent to ten different companies without changing anything, it is not tailored enough.
Recruiters notice when the company name is the only customised part. Sometimes even that is wrong, which is awkward for everyone involved.
Your cover letter should frame your resume, not duplicate it. Do not list every role and responsibility again. Choose the most relevant points and explain why they matter for this job.
Some candidates write in a way they would never speak. They use stiff phrases because they think it sounds professional. The problem is that it often creates distance.
A good test is this: would a reasonable professional person actually say this sentence out loud?
If not, simplify it.
If there is a career gap, you can explain it briefly if needed. But do not give the employer a long emotional narrative unless it is directly relevant. Most gaps are not as shocking as candidates think. The bigger issue is whether you are ready and suitable now.
Desperation rarely improves an application. You can be enthusiastic without making the employer feel like they are your last hope. Keep the tone positive and steady.
Anyone can say they are motivated, reliable, adaptable, and organised. Your examples need to prove it. The stronger your evidence, the less you need to decorate it with adjectives.
Not every job application needs a cover letter, but many still benefit from one. If the employer requests it, include it. If the job ad provides a cover letter upload field, it is usually worth adding one, especially if you can tailor it properly.
A cover letter is particularly useful when:
The role is competitive
You are changing careers
Your resume needs context
You are applying for government, education, health, community, or not for profit roles
You have relevant experience that may not be obvious at first glance
You want to explain relocation, work rights, or availability
The role values written communication
A cover letter may matter less when:
The application is through a quick apply platform
The employer only asks for a resume
The role is highly technical and the resume clearly proves fit
You do not have time to tailor it properly
That last point is important. A bad generic cover letter can do more harm than no cover letter. If you are going to include one, make it useful.
The simplest way to understand a cover letter is this: it is a relevance document.
It is not a biography. It is not a motivational speech. It is not a place to repeat every detail from your resume. It is a short, clear argument for why your background fits this specific role.
When I read a good cover letter, I can usually see three things quickly:
The candidate understands the role
Their experience connects to the employer’s needs
They can communicate clearly
That is enough to strengthen an application.
The cover letter does not need to be perfect. It needs to be useful. It should make the recruiter’s job easier, not harder. It should help the hiring manager see why your resume is worth proper attention.
If you remember one thing, remember this: write less about how much you want the job and more about why your experience makes sense for the job. That shift alone will make your cover letter stronger than most.
Written by Simar Malhi, a recruiter and headhunter with international recruitment experience. I write about CVs, job applications, hiring decisions, and the reality behind recruitment processes. My goal is to help candidates understand more honestly how employers, recruiters, and hiring managers actually select candidates.
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