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How To Write A Cover Letter For A Government Job (With Examples)

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Wondering how to write an application letter for government employment that puts you ahead of other candidates? When you’re writing an application letter for the government (any branch), the pressure can feel extremely intense.

This article will explain how to write and tailor your cover letter for government positions. We’ll also provide a template and an example government job cover letter for you to use as a reference, and tips on how to add extra umph to your letter.

Key Takeaways

The most important first step in how to write application letter for a job of any kind is to research the job and organization you’re applying to.

Tailoring your cover letter to the government job you’re applying to will help improve your chances of getting to the second round of application reviews.

You should describe your qualifications as well as your passion for the position in your cover letter.

Application letter for government employment: how to

Cover letter for government job example, why it’s important to tailor your cover letter for government jobs, tips for writing a cover letter for a government job, government job cover letter faq.

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Consider the following guidelines when tailoring your cover letter for a government position:

Firstly, research the agency. Every government agency has a different set of mission values and current programs.

Aligning your mindset and goals with those of the agency in your cover letter will improve your chances of receiving an interview .

Refrain from targeting your cover letter towards any particular agency program unless the job listing specifies that’s what you’ll be working on.

Secondly, understand the entire job listing before applying. Missing even a single job requirement when applying for a government position can be disastrous.

Third off, be specific. Rather than vaguely describing your experience , make sure to use numbers and statistics to explain your achievements’ exact results.

Lastly, Be brief. Just as is the case in the private sector, hiring managers will spend very little time reading over your government job cover letter.

Use succinct wording and make sure only to include highly relevant experiences, or you’ll risk the recruiter skimming over key information.

If an individual referred you, either mention them briefly or attach an entirely separate reference letter .

What to include in your government job cover letter

Your cover letter should be composed of the following sections:

First, Header. You should start your cover letter for government job formally, with your contact information, the recipient’s information, and the current date.

Your information should include your name, contact number, and email address.

Second, Introduction. Make sure to address the hiring manager with their appropriate title.

If you’re unable to find the hiring manager’s name , then use a generic professional greeting such as “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Sir or Madam.”

Professional experience. Give a brief overview of your qualifications, skills , and experiences as a professional.

Ensure that every item you mention directly addresses the essential requirements and duties stated in the job listing.

Finally, conclusion. Thank the reader of your government cover letter for their time and consideration and reiterate your interest in the position. Express your interest in a way that invites follow-up action on the part of the recruiter.

A government job cover letter example ending may look like the following,

“I would love to discuss with you further how my lengthy experience and abilities could add value to the projects your agency is working on, such as the “Housing For All Initiative.”

To help you see what your cover letter should look like, we’ve included a template and example letter for you to refer to.

Cover letter template for government jobs

Refrain from simply substituting your details directly into the following template.

Instead, observe how the cover letter is structured and incorporates critical elements. Use this knowledge to draft your own document.

[Your full name] [Your phone number] [Your email address] [Current date] [Hiring manager’s full name] [Hiring manager’s mailing address ] Dear [Hiring manager’s full name], I am writing to convey my interest in the [target position] in the [target government agency]. [Align your personal values/objectives to those of the agency.] I believe my [number of years] of experience as a [relevant position] has given me the [key skills] to further your agency’s goal to [agency goal that you strongly relate to]. I have developed a well-rounded skill set through on-the-job experience that matches many of the key qualifications you are looking for, including: [Key qualification from job listing #1] [Key qualification from job listing #2] [Key qualification from job listing #3] [Previous professional experience that proves you meet qualification #1] [Previous professional experience that proves you meet qualification #2] [Previous professional experience that proves you meet qualification #3] I appreciate the time you have taken to read about my professional background. I look forward to further discussing with you how my extensive experience could greatly contribute to programs your agency is working on, such as [example of agency’s programs]. [sign off]

Cover letter for municipality job example

Caleb Smith 888 555 9252 [email protected] March 19, 2020 David Helm U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street. SW Washington , DC 20410 Dear David Helm, I am writing to convey my interest in the program analyst position in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Amidst the economic havoc caused by the coronavirus, I feel compelled to use my expertise to aid those struggling to find shelter. I believe my 12 years of experience as a program analyst has given me the management and technical expertise to further your agency’s goal to improve the quality of housing available to Americans. I have developed a well-rounded skill set through on-the-job experience that matches many of the key qualifications you are looking for, including: Management analysis Team leadership Regulatory compliance During my time as a senior program analyst at TechX, I designed, developed, and supported live-use applications that were utilized by over 80,000 people. I also spearheaded management analyses that identified and performed process enhancements that improved operational efficiency by up to 23%. At TechX, I also oversaw multiple teams composed of members from completely different departments and backgrounds. I used my interpersonal and problem-solving skills to maintain team cohesion, which led us to exceed all project deadlines and expectations given to us over a five-year period. I also developed programs for multiple organizations to analyze their operational procedures for regulatory compliance and generate monthly reports. In one case, I saved the company $124,000 in legal fees through early detection of non-compliant business processes. I averaged an increase in policy compliance by 35%. I appreciate the time you have taken to read about my professional background. I look forward to further discussing with you how my experience could greatly contribute to the programs your agency is working on, such as the “Housing For All Initiative.” Sincerely, Caleb Smith

It’s essential to tweak your cover letter before applying to a government job for a few key reasons:

Stringent minimum requirements. The requirements stated in job listings for private-sector jobs aren’t always absolute.

Recruiters are given the discretion to hire impressive candidates who can compensate for any requirements they miss.

Government jobs differ in this respect, as many criteria are set in stone. You need to emphasize that you meet these base requirements in your cover letter to ensure that your application isn’t automatically dismissed.

KSA keywords. When applying to a government job, applicant tracking software (ATS) will parse your application for the presence of certain knowledge, ability, and skill (KSA) keywords.

Importance of eligibility. Rules and algorithms tightly govern the hiring process for government positions.

Competition. Cover letters aren’t always required for government jobs. However, there are likely many candidates possessing similar qualifications or even internal references .

Not only does a cover letter allow you to expand on your qualifications and cite experiences to support them, but it also gives you a chance to align your values with those of the agency.

This personalized touch helps you stand out from the crowd .

Here are a few tips for making your cover letter really shine:

Show your enthusiasm. Hiring managers don’t just want to see how you’re qualified for the job, they want to see your passion for the position and company as well.

Match your cover letter and resume headers. This shows readers that your documents go together when they’re in a big stack of applications. It also looks professional and polished.

Include a call to action. Close your letter by explaining what you want to happen after the hiring manager reads your cover letter. This could be requesting to discuss the position further, offering to tell them more about your qualifications, or simply inviting them to contact you for more information.

Thank the reader. Add a sentence to your closing paragraph thanking the reader for their time. This ends the letter on a positive note and furthers the good rapport you’re building.

Proofread, proofread, proofread. Never submit a cover letter without checking it over for grammatical errors. If you can, have someone else look over your letter for typos or confusing sentences, but at the least, you should read it out loud to yourself and run it through a grammar check on your computer.

Why is a cover letter important when applying for a government job?

A cover letter for a government job serves as an introduction to your application, allowing you to highlight your qualifications, skills, and experiences that make you a suitable candidate. It offers a personalized touch, demonstrating your genuine interest in the role and organization, which can set you apart from other applicants.

What should I include in my cover letter for a government job?

As we’ve discussed, your cover letter should start with a professional header containing your contact details and the recipient’s information. Begin with a salutation, followed by an engaging opening paragraph that introduces yourself and the specific job you’re applying for.

Highlight your relevant qualifications, experience, and accomplishments in the body of the letter. Make sure to address the key selection criteria mentioned in the job posting. Conclude with a strong closing paragraph expressing your enthusiasm for the position and your readiness for an interview.

Should I use a formal tone in my government job cover letter?

Yes, a formal and professional tone is essential for a government job cover letter. Avoid using slang, contractions, or overly casual language. Your writing should be clear, concise, and focused on showcasing your skills and qualifications. Use proper salutations and follow standard business letter formatting. This demonstrates your respect for the application process and your potential future employer.

Remember, a well-crafted cover letter can greatly enhance your chances of landing a government job interview. Take the time to research, tailor your content, and present yourself in a compelling and professional manner.

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Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

Matt Warzel a President of a resume writing firm (MJW Careers, LLC) with 15+ years of recruitment, outplacement, career coaching and resume writing experience. Matt is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Focus) from John Carroll University.

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The Everything Guide to a Career in Public Service

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The Everything Guide to a Career in Public Service was originally published on The Muse , a great place to research companies and careers. Click here to search for great jobs and companies near you.

When I was 13 years old, I went to science camp. One day, I sat and listened as a scientist described what global warming was going to do to the planet—rising ocean levels, mass extinctions, devastation of populations around the world. As he spoke, I felt shock and then horror, and then realized: Someone had to do something—even if it was a small thing— and I felt compelled to be one of those “someones.”

After that, I decided that whatever career I had, I wanted my work to make the world better somehow. For me, that’s meant writing grants for nonprofits, helping first-generation college students find good jobs after graduation, working as a recruiter for a civil rights nonprofit, and, for the last 13 years, providing career coaching to people seeking “jobs that matter.”

Are you a do-gooder, like me? Do you have a passion for making your community better? Do you want to help people experiencing poverty or discrimination, improve lives through education, work in international affairs, or protect people’s health and safety? If that’s the case, you may be interested in a public service career.

Why should you consider a career in public service?

Here are a few big motivators:

• You want your daily work to feel meaningful and to contribute to something bigger than yourself.
• You have a passion for a particular mission or topic, possibly for personal reasons. (For example, some people work in public health after watching a family member or friend experience an illness or injury.)
• You’re motivated by the benefits or perks of certain work settings, like excellent retirement plans at government agencies or a vibrant culture in a particular nonprofit organization.
• You’re interested in Public Service Loan Forgiveness —a student debt–relief program for those with certain types of student loans who work for the U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government or not-for-profit organizations for at least 10 years—or other loan repayment or forgiveness programs .

What are some types of organizations where you can do public service work?

So you want to make a difference in the world with your work, but not quite sure where? Traditionally, public service has mostly referred to careers in government, but over the years the definition has expanded to include other sectors that work toward the betterment of society. Depending on what you want to do and what impact you want to make you might work for:

The government, or “the public sector”

Government agencies are funded by tax dollars and deliver services in the interest of all citizens, like public education (including K-12 public schools and state universities), environmental protection, public health and healthcare, infrastructure (like roads, bridges, and electricity), emergency services, public safety and the military, scientific research, and weather forecasts.

You might work for a federal entity like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Or you might work for a state or local government in similar, smaller departments, or for elected officials or the courts. Civil servants—such as postal workers, public school teachers, police officers, and county social workers—are also government employees. Certain jobs exist only or mostly in government.

You can have a tremendous impact working in the public sector, since government policies and programs affect millions of people. And government job security and benefits, especially retirement benefits, are often much better than you can find in other sectors.

Nonprofits, or the “independent sector”

Nonprofit organizations pursue “charitable, religious, educational, or scientific” purposes, according to the IRS . They cannot make a profit, and must use any extra funding toward their mission or purpose. The nonprofit sector is incredibly diverse, comprising 1.3 million different organizations in the U.S. Some nonprofits you may have heard of include Habitat for Humanity, the Sierra Club, Save the Children, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Red Cross, and ASPCA. Many universities, hospitals, religious organizations, and arts organizations (like museums or symphonies) are also nonprofits.

Nonprofit organizations are often filled with people who are inspired, passionate, mission-driven idealists who share common values for the mission of the organization.

Corporations, or the “private sector”

While they may be less traditional, public service jobs also exist in for-profit companies. Some companies incorporate corporate social responsibility into their work, ensuring that their goods or services are beneficial for people and the planet while also earning a profit. Others take that idea further to become “ B Corporations, ” which are specific types of for-profit entities legally committed to balancing profit and purpose (e.g., the Body Shop, Allbirds , and Patagonia ). And finally, some for-profit companies are government contractors, which implement some of the work of government agencies.

What jobs exist in public service?

There are hundreds of different kinds of jobs in public service. As in any workplace, functions such as human resources, IT, accounting and finance, marketing, communications, community outreach, and public affairs are needed to keep an organization running smoothly. But there are a few other kinds of employees that are particularly in demand in the realm of public service, including:

Program managers

Program managers focus on designing and delivering the core service of the organization. This can include conducting assessments of a community’s needs and strengths, planning and implementing a program, and conducting evaluations of a program’s effectiveness.

Program managers often need specialized training or knowledge of a particular program area. For example, someone designing a public health program like a diabetes education initiative would need a background in public health, nutrition, or other related fields.

Find program manager jobs on The Muse

Technical specialists

While you won’t see “technical specialist” as a job title very often, many jobs in public service require specific training or credentials that align with the particular mission and work of the organization. For example, an educational organization will hire teachers, therapists, social workers, and librarians; an environmental organization may hire a fisheries biologist, an environmental educator, a sustainability specialist, an environmental scientist, and a park ranger; a city government might hire an urban planner, a civil engineer, an emergency-preparedness specialist, and a water treatment specialist. What you’d do in these positions of course varies widely, but they’re a vital part of the public service workforce.

Policy analysts and advocacy specialists

Some organizations hire policy analysts, advocacy specialists, and others whose roles include analyzing the possible impacts of proposed legislation in terms of effects on the community or the cost to taxpayers. These roles often require some extra training in policy analysis or public administration, as well as political savvy and strong analytical, writing, and persuasive communication skills . A policy analyst could work in government, nonprofits, or even for-profit companies, while an advocacy specialist (including a community organizer, advocacy director, policy advocacy specialist, or lobbyist) would be more likely to work for a nonprofit or advocacy organization.

Find policy analyst and advocacy specialist (including community organizer , advocacy director , policy advocacy specialist , or lobbyist ) jobs on The Muse

Fundraisers

Roles in fundraising and development exist primarily in nonprofit organizations. You might focus on institutional grant or donor report writing or on appeals to individual donors. Some roles are even more specialized, like jobs focused on asking people to include a nonprofit organization in their will (planned giving) or running large-scale fundraising events.

Find fundraising , development , corporate relations manager , annual giving director , alumni relations coordinator , and grant writer jobs on The Muse

So how do you find a public service job?

Have a strong feeling you want to make the world a better place, but aren’t sure how? One resource to help you find a public service job is my book, Jobs That Matter: Find a Stable, Fulfilling Career in Public Service , or, if you’re interested in public health specifically, you can turn to my other book, 101+ Careers in Public Health Third Edition . They both contain specialized career exploration exercises as well as extensive information about careers in public service.

Here are a few suggested steps to help you get started:

1. Decide what mission you care about.

Start by narrowing down the missions or issues you’re most passionate about. Think about what problems you want to solve or what topics excite you. Even a broad concept like environmental conservation, homelessness, or education will help. Then, identify organizations that focus on these problems.

2. Decide what job you want to do.

Think about what job function or occupation you’d like to have within public service. To start, consider your skills and interests. What are some tasks that you really enjoy (or think you would enjoy) doing? If you’re not sure, you can try a simple and free career assessment like MyNextMove .

Then, do some research to see if these occupations exist in the organizations that focus on your mission or topic area. Look on LinkedIn or the organization’s website to see what job titles people have.

3. Find out what qualifications you’ll need.

Once you know what job titles might make sense for you, find out whether you need to build your skills to obtain that job or get special training. You can read some job descriptions to look for key skills. You can also use LinkedIn to look up people who have the kinds of roles you’re interested in pursuing and see what they studied and what other training, skills, or experience they have.

4. Do some networking, informational interviews, and career exploration.

Networking is crucial. Looking for people in your chosen organization or field on LinkedIn and other social networking sites can help you explore a career field. Talking with those already in public service (for example, through informational interviews ) will give you insight that’ll help you decide exactly what you want to do. Plus, especially in nonprofit organizations, corporate social responsibility, and work with elected officials, making connections is vital to finding and landing the positions you want.

5. Search for open positions.

Some of the best sites for finding jobs in government include USAjobs.gov and gogovernment.org . Plus, each state and local government agency has its own hiring website, and certain professions also have job boards specific to occupations in their field, like publichealthjobs.org for public health or careers.socialworkers.org for social workers. Nonprofit organization jobs can be found on sites like idealist.org . Jobs in corporate social responsibility can be found at netimpact.org and bsr.org . You can also search for open jobs right here on The Muse—for example, by using our “ social good ” industry filter.

You can also take advantage of free or low-cost resources to help you find (and land) a job, such as your college career center (which may offer services for alumni well after graduation) workforce development agencies , Career OneStop , or your public library. Some colleges and universities also have a separate public services career center.

How do you prepare your application materials for public service jobs?

Whether you’re switching into public service from another sector or just starting your career, you’ll need to show how you fit the job requirements, of course, but it’s just as important to let your commitment to the organization’s mission shine through.

Here’s how to create a public service resume and cover letter that’ll help you land the interview:

Regardless of what type of public service job you’re applying to, it’s important to tailor your resume to match the language of public service—particularly if you’re entering the field for the first time. So carefully read the job description and make sure you’re using the keywords from the posting in your resume and emphasizing qualifications that are relevant to the position.

For public service specifically, ask yourself:

• If you’ve been working at a for-profit company, can you change the word “customer” or “client” to “stakeholder” without stretching the truth on your resume? Many public service organizations use the term “stakeholders” to refer to their clients, community partners, or other key people or organizations they partner with.
• Can you find a way to frame your achievements besides profit or dollars? For instance, can you reframe your achievements as improvements in efficiency, cost savings, or the impact on key partners?

For government jobs specifically, resumes might look very different than you’re used to. If you’re applying for government and civil service jobs, here are a few pointers:

• Follow all instructions. Sometimes, a resume is not part of government applications at all–instead, you might be required to fill out special questionnaires, answer essay questions, or even take a civil service exam.
• You may need a federal resume. The federal government has a specific resume format so you may need to restructure your resume significantly—especially for civil service or federal government positions.
• Exact qualifications matter. Many government job postings include a specific number of months and years of experience you need in a given role or with a certain skill. Civil service hiring processes are heavily regulated, and the HR professionals who screen your resume may not be allowed to interview someone who’s almost qualified for the job. For instance, a city research scientist job at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene usually requires three years of full-time research experience. If you had a full-time research position for two years along with a part-time research job for one year beforehand, you’d only be given credit for six months of full-time equivalent experience for the latter (called “pro-rating” your experience) and would likely get automatically rejected.
• More is more , as opposed to a typical resume, where you’re trying to be concise. If the job requires specific skills, clearly describe how you used those skills in any past job that you did or you may not make it to the next round.

Cover Letters

For some public service jobs—especially those in fundraising, policy analysis, communications, program management, or other functions where writing is a critical part of the role—a cover letter is an important part of your application. Consider it a writing sample that can prove you have the skills to do the work, or not.

Regardless of the role, your cover letter is the best place for you to show your commitment to the cause. When I was briefly a recruiter at a mission-driven nonprofit organization, every position at the organization, from administrative assistant to accountant to director, listed “commitment to the mission” as a job requirement, so someone who’d demonstrated interest in the mission was literally more qualified than someone who hadn’t. I read all the cover letters , and would often select candidates who had less experience, but who clearly communicated their passion for the mission, over those with more experience who showed no knowledge of, or interest in, the mission.

To write an effective cover letter, you can start by sharing your passion for the mission of the organization (perhaps highlighting a personal connection to the mission or your prior volunteer experience), then clearly describe how you match the job requirements, and then end by reiterating your passion for the organization.

After many years of helping people find “jobs that matter,” I’ve seen hundreds of people discover ways to make the world better while also making a living. The joy of knowing that the work you do every day is contributing to something you care about can be a huge source of motivation—transforming a job into a calling.

How to Tailor Your Cover Letter to a Government Job

Getting Started Don’t apply at the last minute and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to take these steps :

• Carefully read the entire announcement before applying. It seems obvious, but each announcement, even in USAJobs, is different and will have different skills needed for the job. Print a hard copy of the announcement and highlight a checklist to ensure you can address at least 3 out of 5 of the skills they’re asking for. Once you highlight their requirements, it will be easier to go back to your own cover letter to address those points.
• Research the agency to which you are applying. Your cover letter is your first opportunity to express how your mindset and talent matches with that of the organization. Catch the hiring manager’s eye by demonstrating you’ve done your homework and are familiar with the agency’s mission and some of its current programs.
• Get specific . Explain exactly what experiences you have had that make you a great candidate for the position. Don’t just say “I did x,y, and z.” For government jobs, use numbers, dollar amounts, and specify how many years for as much as you can.

Tailor Your Cover Letter So what does it mean to tailor your cover letter to the job? It’s not just highlighting your experiences and hoping the hiring manager will see a good fit. You have to connect the dots for them and that means making your skills match the required skills almost word-for-word.

First, compare your resume and the job announcement side by side. Highlight the requirements they’re asking for the job and highlight corresponding skills and experiences you have from your resume. Try doing this process in about 15 to 20 minutes. This will also help you practice for interviews since you will eventually be required to quickly recall your job experiences.

And of course, go over your applications materials in depth to make sure you don’t submit any formatting, grammatical, or punctuation errors.

Here is an example of a post from USAJobs with keywords in bold:   The Student Trainee (Contract Specialist) – PATHWAYS Intern  is a member of a team responsible for the negotiation, award, and monitoring/administration of Federal assistance agreements (grants and cooperative agreements) and contracts for a wide array of research, non-personnel support services, specialized studies and other activities necessary to support the FHWA Headquarter, FHWA Turner-Fairbanks Highway Research Center, State Division Office, and Resource Center program offices.  Under close supervision of the Team Leader, the intern will perform the following functions:

• Assists in pre-award and post-award functions involving a full range of procurement actions, typically involving technical services or programs of research and development , specialized equipment or systems.
• Assists with  developing requests  for  applications  (RFA), requests for  proposals  (RFP), and requests for  quotations  (RFQ).  The intern will help to  analyze, evaluate, and negotiate  proposals and applications for agency contracting and Federal assistance opportunities.
• Assists with  acquisition planning, scheduling  procurement from time of acceptance through award.

Here’s an example from my undergraduate resume to match with some of the above points:

• Nonprofit Volunteer Coordinator: Oversaw research and development as well as the technical production of building Tunnel on campus and acquirement of specialized equipment systems needed for sound and visual media. Cost of production was over $20,000 and took a total of 9 months to plan.
• University Program Board Director: Developed and negotiated over 50 proposals and contracts with speakers and agencies, scheduled and planned 100 events by coordinating facilities, catering, as well as budget of over $30,000.

You’re not going to have the exact same positions as specified in the job announcement. But chances are you’ve had some academic, volunteer, and/or professional experiences that are applicable. Be sure you’re also not making up your skills just to fit the job requirements. Just adjust words in your resume and cover letter to better fit the job vacancy.

Draft the Cover Letter Now that you have gone through your resume and highlighted matching examples to the job requirements, it’s time to start writing your cover letter. Choose the three most relevant examples from your resume that you can tailor to the position. This is because a cover letter should be no more than 3-4 paragraphs, so you want to be succinct. Use numbers, years, and any dollar amounts to be as specific as possible.

Here’s an example to start off with relevant points highlighted from the above USAJobs vacancy:

Dear Ms. Smith,

As a recent graduate of (xyx program), I am seeking to apply my 4 years of research, administrative, and event planning to a career in public service. I am interested in the Student Trainee Contract Specialist Position because I want to specialize in negotiation, award, and monitoring of Federal assistance agreements . More importantly, I believe my negotiating, evaluative, and analytical skills all would be highly suitable for the position.

The next two to three paragraphs should each draw on a bulleted example you use from your resume elaborating on how your experiences in the position apply to the job vacancy and how it would help you to grow in the role.

Remember, your cover letter is your opportunity to make a good first impression with the hiring manager. It can determine whether or not the hiring manager will even read your resume. While it is a long and tedious process for a seemingly short letter, it’s important to allow the necessary time and research to make sure that your cover letter keeps the potential employer reading.

For more resources on cover letter writing, be sure to check out these posts:

– How to Tweak Your Cover Letter and Resume for More Impact

– Are You Making These 4 Mistakes in Your Cover Letter?

For more reading about millennials in public service, check out this weekly GovLoop series,  First 5: Advice from millennial to millennial

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• Why Are You in Public Service? 

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great points. would have loved to see an example of a complete cover letter (the link is broken in :Example of a cover letter tailored to a federal position”)

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Cover Letter Writing Resources 

The Muse – How to Write a Cover Letter: 31 Tips You Need to Know

Forbes – 6 Secrets To Writing A Great Cover Letter

TIME – What Your Cover Letter Should Look Like in 2018

IdealistCareers.org – Presenting Yourself on Paper: Resumes & Cover Letters

Writing your application

When preparing your application, there are some key things we need to know about you. Focus on how your knowledge, skills, and abilities match those needed for the job. Applicants who are able to do this are more likely to progress through the application process.

Think about what you did in other jobs and your achievements. You can draw on your experiences from other contexts to show how you have relevant skills. These might be from:

• volunteer activities
• casual work
• university, TAFE or school if you have limited work experience.

This will help you to write a cover letter, update your resume and respond to targeted questions.

If the job ad requests a cover letter, you must submit one with your application to be considered for the role.

Writing a cover letter

Good cover letters use the STAR method to structure your work examples by explaining the Situation, Task, Action and Result. Your cover letter should:

• include any specific information requested in the job ad
• address the focus capabilities listed in the job ad, look through the Capability Framework for details on what these mean
• showcase your achievements in past jobs or from other contexts, for example volunteer work
• show us that you have most of the skills we are looking for
• tell us about your passions and interests
• explain why you want the job
• show us how your current skills are transferable to new situations
• show why you are a good fit for the agency and NSW Public Service.

If the job involves managing a team, tell us about important things you did before such as how you supported your team to deliver for the business.

A good cover letter:

• is brief (usually 1 to 2 pages)
• uses plain English
• is well structured
• is specific to the job you are applying for
• uses specific examples of what you’ve done and what you’ve achieved.

Writing a resume

Your resume (also known as curriculum vitae or CV) is a summary of your:

• qualifications

A resume needs to be up-to-date, clear, concise and well organised. It is best if you can tailor the content to the job you are applying for.

As a guide, your resume could include the following sections:

• Personal details – your name and contact details.
• Summary – a brief introduction about you, your work experience, training and interests.
• Education – qualifications and relevant training.
• employer / organisation / agency
• dates of employment
• your responsibilities
• your achievements.
• Other information such as skills, achievements, and relevant memberships.
• Referees – name, title and contact details.

Do not include copies of qualifications with your resume or application unless asked.

Answering targeted questions

Targeted questions are open-ended questions. They may ask you to:

• explain how you’ve shown your knowledge, skills, and abilities in a certain situation
• describe why you’re interested in working for the agency or in the NSW Public Service.

They are often designed to find out about your capabilities and if these suit the role. Capabilities are:

• transferable knowledge (theoretical or practical understanding of a subject)
• skills (developed through training, experience, or practice)
• abilities relevant to a job.

They come from the NSW Public Sector Capability Framework.

Responding to targeted questions on capabilities

A targeted question on capabilities asks you to describe how you used your knowledge, skills, and abilities in a certain situation.

To answer this type of question you should:

• Read the question to identify the information you need to give us, looking for key words.
• capability description explains what the capability covers
• behavioural indicators describe the behaviours or actions at different levels for each capability
• key accountabilities give a high-level summary of the outcomes the role is expected to deliver.
• Use the behavioural indicators to help you think of a relevant example of what you did in other jobs or contexts.
• Be specific – don’t tell us what you think you might do in the situation – tell us what you did.
• Use full sentences, check your spelling and grammar, and stay within the word limit.
• Remember communication skills are important for all jobs.

Use the STAR method to structure your work examples by explaining the Situation, Task, Action and Result.

Example: Responding to a targeted question about your capabilities

The following question is about the 'Commit to Customer Service' intermediate capability.

Give an example of a situation where you provided services that were customer-focused.

How to respond:

• Use the behavioural indicators to prompt you on customer service actions and responsibilities
• Where were you working?
• What was your job?
• Describe a customer problem you identified.
• Explain why it was a problem.
• Tell us what you did to resolve it. If you did something as part of a team, be specific about your role
• Tell us what happened because of what you did – describe the impact on the customer experience.

Responding to targeted questions about your interests

Sometimes targeted questions ask you about:

• your reasons for applying for a job
• why you want the job
• why you want to work in the agency
• why you want to work in the NSW Public Service.

These types of questions give you the chance to tell us about what drives and motivates you.

• Read the question and look for key words that will help you respond. These questions are often framed to get a personal response.
• Review the role description to help you think about what’s involved in the job.
• Think about what we are looking for in asking this question. Our merit principles put importance on fit for the role and agency. Not only on capabilities, knowledge and experience.
• Write your response with honesty and passion.
• Use full sentences, check your spelling and grammar and stay within the word limit.

Example: Responding to a targeted question about your interests

Tell us why you want to work for the NSW Public Service.

• Explain what attracted you to want to work for the NSW Government.
• Describe why the job stood out for you.
• Tell us why you suit the job.
• How does the job fit with my values and standards?
• Have I always wanted to work in this occupation or sector?
• Is this the next step in my career journey?
• Will the job help me to serve my community?
• Relate your passions and interests to what the job offers you.

Cover Letters

E. common cover letter mistakes.

• Vide o and Slides from the CDO program “ Cover Letters That Do The Job” and handouts: Job Postings & Tips and Sample PIPS Cover Letters .

Your cover letter is as important as your resume because it is often read first and plays a vital role in your quest for an interview. A cover letter is not a transmittal letter, and you may be surprised at how time-consuming it is to craft a good one. A cover letter has a purpose, which is to let an employer know why they should bother reading your resume and why they should meet you. It also serves as an example of your written work product; thus it should be clear, brief, and written in a business letter style, without any typographical errors.

1. Cover letters for unsolicited applications come in three main types:

• Personal Letter. These are the most effective cover letters and are sent to people you have met or with whom you have a mutual acquaintance. These letters should all start with the sentence: “_______ recommended that I contact you.” As this type of letter is most likely to get a response, if you have any possibility of establishing this sort of connection to a prospective employer in advance of sending your letter, you should try your best to do so.
• Targeted Letters. Next best thing. Targeted letters are based on research of the employer, and are individually tailored. Your letter should incorporate the information learned through your research to show the employer that you have skills they will be able to put to use.
• Mass Mailers. Least desirable. These are generic except for the name and address of the employer, and have a very low success rate of getting interviews.

2. When you respond to a job listing, you will usually be requested to submit a cover letter as part of your application. In this case, use the job description and requested qualifications as a guide. While not simply imitating the language of the listing, your letter should demonstrate that you have what the employer is looking for.

3. A few employers at OCI request that students bring a cover letter to the initial interview. This is essentially to require students to think about why they want to work for this employer, but it makes for a letter which deviates from the usual “please consider me for an interview” approach. See below for suggestions on OCI cover letters.

Cover letters should follow standard business letter format, as to spacing, salutation, etc. If you are not sure of the fine points, consult a business correspondence reference source. Avoid abbreviations, contractions and shortcuts (such as a slash instead of “or”), although if there is an accepted short form of the name of the organization you are writing to (e.g., ACLU or Coblentz) it is acceptable to use it in the text of your letter. Your telephone number and email address should appear somewhere in the letter, either at the top with your address, or in the closing paragraph, when you ask them to contact you. Note that your resume is “enclosed,” not “attached” (which means clipped or stapled).

If you are not sure to whom you should send your letter, it is always acceptable to write to the executive director of a nonprofit, or the hiring partner or head of recruiting at a firm; they can forward your application to the appropriate person within the organization. If at all possible, write to an individual by name, not to “Director” or “Recruiting Coordinator.” Firm and organization web sites are very useful in finding this information (and for confirming correct spellings and the like); it may be more difficult to find the name of an individual addressee for government job opportunities. If you do not have the name of an individual, the salutation should be “Dear Sir or Madam” (not “To Whom It May Concern”). Of course if you are responding to a job posting, address your letter exactly as instructed.

As for the appropriate salutation, traditionally, it is “Dear [Mr./Ms.] [Last Name].  However, we understand that this prevailing business norm may not be inclusive of individuals who do not use either of those titles (for example, because they identify as gender nonconforming). One alternative, “Dear [First Name] [Last Name]”, avoids presuming how the recipient may identify, but it is not without some risk.  

If you use this approach, a recipient less attuned to thinking about gender inclusivity (and accustomed to seeing only “Dear [Mr./Ms] [Last Name]”) may wrongly conclude that you were unfamiliar with professional etiquette or that you used a mail merge template and did not bother to customize it.  While awareness around these issues is increasing, we believe that, unfortunately, it is still not a small number of recruiting representatives and attorneys who might draw the wrong conclusion.

One way to navigate this tricky situation might be to see if the recipient has an online presence (e.g., on the firm website or LinkedIn) that might give you a strong clue as to how they would like to be addressed.  Otherwise, you will need to make your own judgment as to whether recipients are more likely to recognize your inclusivity or to view the greeting as awkward or erroneous.

In our office, we are also working to help employers become familiar with gender-inclusive approaches like “Dear [First Name] [Last Name],” but like any process of education, this will take time. In the meantime, our primary goal is to make sure that all Berkeley Law students are fully informed as you navigate legal job markets. We are always available to discuss individually what approach would be the best fit for you.

First Paragraph. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing. Introduce yourself as a law student (including the year you are in) or a graduate of Berkeley Law and specify what it is you are seeking: a summer job, an associate position, a clerkship, part-time work during the school year, etc.

The goal of this paragraph is to give the reader a reason to want to finish reading the letter. If you don’t have a personal connection to cite, try to establish a nexus between yourself and the employer, such as knowledge of their practice, an established commitment to or interest in their work, a connection to their city, or something else which conveys that you are not just writing to them as part of a mass mailing for any job in any location. (If that in fact is what you are doing, try not to be too obvious about it. An employer wants to think that you sought him or her out purposely rather than randomly.)

Body Paragraph(s). This is the section in which you “sell” your experience and qualifications to the employer. Your goal here is to answer the question, “Why should the employer meet you?”

Call attention to something which substantiates your interest in this particular employer. It could be coursework in their specialty, the recommendation of a professor in their area of practice, undergraduate residency in their city, or any other indication of your interest. Try also to show how your experiences will translate into skills which will be useful to this particular employer. Highlight relevant qualifications which are not on your resume, such as coursework, research, or a prior connection to the organization or the issues they work on. If you have general legal skills such as negotiation, litigation, client counseling, interviewing, mock trials, etc., you may want to include them. As much as possible, try to convey understanding of, and enthusiasm for, the aims of the organization.

Employers do not expect first-year students to have highly-developed legal skills to offer. Therefore, for first-year students writing to private firms, this section can be a single, short paragraph, unless you have a strong background in a relevant area. However, even inexperienced first-year students writing to public interest/sector organizations should make an effort to describe skills and interests that are relevant to the employer.

It is appropriate and not uncommon for a public interest cover letter to be somewhat more detailed or personal than a private sector cover letter. Of course, it is still very important to be concise, but it is acceptable for the letter to be a full page if your experience dictates. In a public interest cover letter, it is important both to highlight your demonstrated commitment to the mission/work/client base of the organization through your own relevant work or life experience, and to illustrate your relevant skills. Take another look at your resume for items that show your interest, commitment and skills. Even if you do not have experience in the specific area in which an organization works, it is still important to emphasize your demonstrated commitment to the public interest, and to draw connections between that general commitment and the specific work of the organization. As it is important not to merely regurgitate your resume, consider including a story that illustrates you are interested or qualified in the position.

If your application raises questions that are readily answered, such as availability after the Bar exam, judicial clerkship plans, etc., the letter can address those; other issues may be better deferred to the interview stage. Consult a CDO attorney-counselor if you’re not sure whether to include something in your cover letter.

Final Paragraph. In your last paragraph, thank them for their consideration, and say you hope to hear from them soon. For out-of-town employers, indicate when you plan to be in their geographic area and state your availability for an interview. Be sure to include your phone number and email in this paragraph unless you use a letterhead style that includes them at the top of the page. If you state that you will call the employer to follow up on your application, be sure you do so.

If you are bringing a cover letter to an on-campus interview (which you should do only if the employer requests you to), the content will be a bit different. You don’t need to introduce yourself, as you will be there in person, and you won’t request an interview at the closing. But you can thank the employer for interviewing you and say that you welcome the opportunity to learn more about the employer and to discuss the possibility of working for them. The important thing is to show why you are interested in this particular employer, and how you think your background makes you a good match for them.

The mistakes most commonly found in student cover letters are:

• Restating your resume. “ I graduated from the University of Oregon in 2005, with a B.A., cum laude, in Political Science, then worked as a substitute teacher in an urban high school before starting law school in the fall of 2008 .” Don’t waste space with facts that are readily gleaned from your resume! Instead, you could say (briefly) how your work experience led you to pursue a legal career in an area practiced by the employer.
• Focusing on what you stand to gain from the job . “ I am particularly interested in your firm’s excellent training program for summer associates, and in gaining exposure to a variety of different practice areas.” Remember, employers only grant interviews to candidates who offer something of potential use to the employer. Try to say how your skills and enthusiasm will help the employer serve its clients, or otherwise further its aims.
• Being too informal or familiar. “I’m thrilled by the possibility of working with you this summer, and would love to meet with you in person/by phone to chat about what the options might be.” Enthusiasm is good, but it must be presented professionally.

Other cover letter mistakes include: being defensive or apologetic; appearing arrogant or entitled, and being too long and wordy. Unsupported statements of your qualities (“I am highly motivated and a quick study”) do not help your case. Generic reasons for your interest in the employer (e.g., its “excellent reputation”) tend to demonstrate your lack of specific knowledge. Of course typos and inaccuracies, such as misspelled names, or (please!) stating an interest in a practice area that the firm doesn’t have, are automatic application-killers.

Our cover letter template  provides suggestions only; please do not feel excessively constrained by its approach. Your letter should, of course, be original work that reflects your unique background and the job you are aiming at.

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To Serve His Country, President Biden Should Leave the Race

By The Editorial Board

The editorial board is a group of opinion journalists whose views are informed by expertise, research, debate and certain longstanding values . It is separate from the newsroom.

President Biden has repeatedly and rightfully described the stakes in this November’s presidential election as nothing less than the future of American democracy.

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Election latest: Starmer's 6pm finishes on Fridays to spend time with his kids attacked by minister who says she works '20-hour days'

Rishi Sunak says he has never finished before 6pm, and health minister Maria Caulfield has told Sky News she works 20-hour days, in an attack on Sir Keir Starmer after he said he'd continuing finishing at 6pm on Fridays to spend time with his kids if Labour won the election.

Tuesday 2 July 2024 11:26, UK

• General Election 2024

Election week

• Starmer 'can hardly believe' latest Tory attack line
• Minister latest to hit out at Labour leader's 6pm Friday finishes
• Royal Mail points finger of blame over postal vote delays
• PM delivers? Sunak starts day with 5am Ocado trip
• Explained:  Why 'supermajority' warnings don't add up
• Sky News Daily:  Five things main parties aren't talking about
• Live reporting by Faith Ridler

Expert analysis

• Rob Powell:  PM's talking like Labour's already won
• Ed Conway:  The science and security of the exit poll
• Matthew Thompson:  What's a good result for the Lib Dems?

Election essentials

• Manifesto pledges:  Conservatives | Greens | Labour | Lib Dems | Plaid | Reform | SNP
• Trackers:  Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts:  Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more:  Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency is changing | Guide to election lingo
• How to watch election on Sky News

More on one of the day's top stories now - namely reports that some postal votes have not yet arrived at the homes of voters. 

Royal Mail officials have said they "remain confident" that those postal votes that were received on time will be delivered before polling day, adding there is "no backlog".

The Post Office minister said earlier she is urgently investigating delays to people receiving their postal votes.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "We have no backlog of postal votes and, whilst we are not complacent, we remain confident that postal votes handed to us on time will be delivered prior to polling day."

It suggested that "stakeholders" involved in "printing and administering" the postal votes could be to blame. 

"Where specific concerns have been raised, we have investigated, and confirmed ballot packs are being delivered as soon as they arrive in our network.

"We would welcome a review into the timetable for future elections with all stakeholders to ensure that the system for printing and administering postal votes before they are handed to Royal Mail works as smoothly as possible."

Sir Keir Starmer has said Tory attacks on his desire to spend Friday evenings with his family were a sign of "increasing desperation bordering on hysterical". 

The father-of-two said he would continue to have "protected time for the kids" at the end of the week if he were to take over the top job on 5 July.

The Conservatives have tried to make hay with the comments, with an attack on social media saying: "Keir Starmer has said he'd clock off work at 6pm if he became prime minister.

"You deserve better than a part-time prime minister. The only way to prevent this is to vote Conservative on Thursday."

Asked about the Tory criticism, Sir Keir said: "This is just increasingly desperate stuff. 

"I actually can hardly believe that 48 hours before an election, the Conservative Party has got nothing positive to say as they go into this."

Sir Keir said they were in a "negative, desperate loop".

He added: "My family is really important to me, as they will be to every single person watching this. And I just think it's increasing desperation bordering on hysterical."

The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is now asked about reports that some postal votes have not yet arrived at the homes of voters. 

"I am concerned about the postal ballots because it is really important in this election that every single person has the ability to vote - and I hope vote for change," he says in response. 

"I think it's on all of us on a sort of non-party political basis to say we must do everything we collectively can to ensure that those ballot papers get to people and they can fill them in and have the vote to which they are entitled so that the country can move forward with the change that I hope will be delivered at this election."

Sir Keir Starmer is now taking questions from the media, including from our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh .

She asks about the cost of living crisis, which has eased because Europe is still reliant on Russian gas imports - with UK companies still facilitating the trade through insurance and ownership.

Would Sir Keir toughen sanctions to clamp down on this?

The Labour leader says the UK needs to have a "clear framework in place when it comes to trade". 

He adds: "But what I would say you started with energy. 

"One of the reasons that we've paid such high prices in energy is because we're over reliant on the international market.

"That is precisely why we want to start the work on day one, setting up Great British Energy, a home-grown renewable energy company, because that will give us lower bills for good, because we control it. 

"It will give us independence and security, because whatever happens in Ukraine and Russia will not impact in the way that it has done."

You can read more on how British firms help to keep Russian gas flowing into Europe from our economics and data editor Ed Conway here:

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is also busy on the campaign trail today, addressing those gathered at a rally in Nottingham.

Less than 48 hours before polls open, Sir Keir hails his party for running a "positive campaign... all about change".

"What a contrast to the increasingly desperate, negative campaign that the Tories are running," he says. 

"They have literally got nothing to say to the electorate."

In contrast, the Labour leader says: "We have got plenty to say.

"This campaign is about change, it is about turning the page and rebuilding our country."

Sir Keir says if you don't vote Labour on Thursday, we could end up "on Friday morning with five more years" of the Conservatives.

"Have you seen anything in their campaign that suggests they have changed?"

He adds that "every single vote counts", stressing that some constituencies will go down to "a few hundred votes" either side on election night.

"People want change, but change will only happen if you vote for it."

Still in Oxfordshire, the prime minister is now taking questions from the audience. 

One woman says she's waited three years for an autism and ADHD diagnosis for her son and eventually ended up going private anyway. 

She asks how the prime minister can tackle the waiting lists and support those with diagnoses. 

Rishi Sunak says he's introduced a scheme that allows people to access the private sector via the NHS if the wait times are too long. 

"What I tell the NHS is: 'Look, if there's a private provider that can do whatever it might be, whether it's an assessment or a hip replacement, and they can do it at the same tariff rate, then people should be able to choose where to get their treatment and get it done there'," he says. 

He says this "because I don't have any ideological disagreement with the private sector", in an apparent stab at Sir Keir Starmer, adding that is one of the differences between the Conservatives and Labour. 

He then references the "pharmacy first" policy which should also help cut GP waits, before adding that six million NHS referrals were not carried out during the pandemic, slowing wait times further. 

"We're now starting to see waiting lists come down," he says. 

As for why he can be trusted, the prime minister repeats that he was right when warning of the dangers Liz Truss posed, and "that's why you can trust me now when I'm warning you about the dangers of what Labour would do if they were in power". 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is in Oxfordshire today, where he is taking questions from staff at a warehouse.

Ahead of the Q&A, he addresses those gathered. 

As he has throughout his campaigning, Mr Sunak admits that the Tories haven't got everything right in the past, but this election is about the future.

He repeats his attacks on Labour and says the Conservatives will continue to cut taxes if re-elected. 

"There is an important choice, and a vote for the Conservatives... is a vote to lower your taxes and continue the progress [we've made]," he says. 

"Don't sleepwalk into something you haven't thought properly about... every vote matters, you can make the difference."

We're just two days away from the election now. 

Georgie David, who was the Reform candidate for West Ham and Beckton, has confirmed her decision to suspend her campaign - and back the Conservatives.

She said she is "in no doubt that the party and its senior leadership are not racist", but said the "vast majority of candidates are indeed racist, misogynistic and bigoted".

Ms David added: "I do not wish to be directly associated with people who hold such views that are so vastly opposing to my own and what I stand for.

"I also have been significantly frustrated and dismayed by the failure of the Reform Party’s leadership to tackle this issue in any meaningful way, and their attempts to instead try to brush it under the carpet or cry foul play.

"As such, I have now suspended my campaign with Reform, and I an endorsing the Conservative Party – I would encourage all of my fellow patriots to do the same."

It comes two days after Reform's candidate in Erewash also  defected to the Conservatives over racism concerns .

The other candidates in West Ham and Beckton are:

• James Edward Asser - Labour
• Lois Austin - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
• Emily Bigland - Liberal Democrats
• Rob Callender - Green Party
• Sophia Naqvi -  Newham Independents Party
• Holly Alice Ramsey - Conservative and Unionist Party
• Kayode Shedowo - Christian Peoples Alliance

Moving to renewables will help Europe stop the Russian war machine, the Liberal Democrat leader has said. 

Speaking to reporters, he said "we need to work across Europe to embrace renewables". 

He said this would not only help stop funding for Putin's regime, but also bring energy bills down in the UK for families facing high costs. 

This comes after our economics and data editor Ed Conway showed that British firms were helping to keep Russian gas flowing into Europe - despite a wave of sanctions intended to stop exactly that.

You can read Conway's report here . 

Voters have responded very well to Liberal Democrat stunts, Sir Ed Davey has said.

Speaking to the media after knocking down blue dominos with a yellow "Lib Dem domino" (see 09.35 post), the party leader was asked if people had started to get bored of his antics.

He's bungee jumped, taken part in Zumba classes and rode a roller coaster in recent days. 

He said people seemed to enjoy them, adding he feels the party have conveyed a series of "serious" policies while having "a bit of fun". 

He said he hoped people will vote Lib Dem in constituencies which are contested between them and the Tories.

"Don't vote Green, Labour or Reform [in those constituencies], because we'll let the Tories in the back door," he said. 

"I'm really concerned," he said of the reports that some postal votes have not yet arrived at the homes of voters. 

"It is a genuine worry."

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