The Cover Letter

The cover letter is the first component of your application read by a prospective employer. You want it to be a short blurb about yourself that is enticing, interesting, and makes them want to meet you. In order to stand out, a candidate should exhibit their most impressive and relevant experiences on their cover letter. Your goal is to take your own experiences and tie them together in a way that meets the organisation’s aims and addresses the qualities of their ideal employee.

A cover letter allows an employer to evaluate candidates when facing the “quantity problem”. Before commencing the application process, employers develop criteria for candidates. The good news for you is that this generally varies in small and discreet ways. All organisations are looking for people who have strong records of academia, leadership, responsibility and teamwork. It allows an employer to paint a picture of the candidate and cross-reference it with the application criteria.

How can I best address the employer’s needs?

There are three key questions on the employer’s mind as they reading your cover letter: Your cover letter should exhibit your skills, knowledge, and experiences in a way that demonstrates your competencies and how they might be relevant for the role.

1. Can you do the job? Your cover letter should flaunt your skills, knowledge, and experiences in a way that demonstrates your competencies and how they might be relevant for the role.

2. Will you do the job? You should also treat your cover letter as an opportunity to show you are dedicated, interested in the work itself and have the right mindset to succeed in the role and the organisation as a whole.

24 3. Will you fit in? Take some words to describe how you will fit into the organisation’s culture. Throughout the cover letter you want to weave your values and goals into your experiences, demonstrating how these align with those of the firm. Remember, this is a display of written communication skills, demonstrating your capacity to write persuasively and make clear points in correspondence.

a) Clarity of expression – make sure your sentences and paragraphs flow logically to demonstrate your qualities. The language you use should be incisive. Flamboyant language should only be used if it is the most appropriate choice. Remember you only have one page and the employer shouldn’t have to dig for information. Use clean, minimalist formatting that is easy to read and follow.

b) Target your information to the employer – Conduct research about the organisation you’re applying to and cite your most relevant experience e.g. commercial experience should be preferenced in an application to a commercial organisation.

c) Target your communication to your audience – Make sure the language and experiences in your letter are appropriate and relevant. Use the selection criteria to help you address this point.

d) Attention to detail – Ensure there are no typos and that the information is correct; one typo can reduce your chances significantly as this is a highly competitive process. Read it aloud yourself to catch small mistakes, or ask a parent or friend to read over it.

e) Address the selection criteria and key requirements –This is essentially the marking criteria. Just as for an assignment make sure you are answering and addressing these elements.

How do I construct my cover letter?

1. Take stock – Before you start writing your cover letter, evaluate your past few years of law school. Think about some achievements you are particularly proud of and skills you have that may be transferable to the position you are applying for, specifically at the organisation(s) you have chose to apply to. Jot these ideas down in a list or a mind map. Alternatively, if you have an updated CV at hand, this will be a useful tool. This process is a good check for yourself.

2. Research – A cover letter can also demonstrate your research and analytical skills. Employers will be assessing how well you have researched the firm and the position, so if you’ve done this you’ll have an edge. Avoid relying

solely on the information on their website, go the extra mile and look for other sources like newspapers. Think back to the times you were asked to write case notes in law school. The website is the case in this scenario. You wouldn’t just summarise what’s in a case, but instead use it as a starting point to and find out more. The same applies to the firm website. You can also mention the name of anyone you have talked to from that firm, the nature of their work and why you’re specifically interested in that work. Because employers know that anyone can find their website, small efforts (such as looking at their major clients and their websites) might give you the advantage.

3. Get Writing – See the sample for more ideas.

(a) Layout

Cover letters should begin with your name in the upper right-hand corner, followed by your address, contact phone number, and email address. Next, insert the date on the left-hand side, followed by the name of the contact person, their position within the organisation, the name of the organisation, and the address of the organisation.

Always double check the organisation and HR’s name you are addressing the letter to! Begin the letter with Dear [name of the contact person], as it is best to avoid ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ or ‘To Whom it May Concern’. These suggest that you have not bothered to ascertain the name of the relevant person. For graduate programs you can use ‘Dear Head of Recruitment’, but always try to find the name of the HR representative. In the heading, state the name of the position for which you are applying for.

(b) Paragraphs

Briefly and clearly introduce yourself. Try to make your unique personality traits shine through as you write. Outline your university academic credentials e.g. WAM, subjects you have performed well in and any awards or scholarships you have received.

Tell the organisation why it has grabbed your interest. In particular, you should demonstrate researched knowledge of the organisation, such as its most prominent practice areas, its industry connections, its reputation, any awards, and any recent newspaper articles related to the firm.

Outline your professional experiences and credentials, and the skills they have provided you with. Try to subtly link these to the attributes the firm is seeking in a candidate. If possible, show the employer your personality by outlining a few of the more interesting extracurricular activities that can be found on your CV.

Thank the organisation for considering your application, tell them you have attached a copy of your resume and transcript, and when you would be available for an interview. Provide your contact details (phone/email). State that you look forward to hearing from them!

Tips

• Only use the sample cover letter as an inspiration and do not just copy it as everyone may access this guide. • Have a distinctive style and a logically flowing cover letter. This will attract the employer’s attention, making them want to read your resume and meet you. Highlight your unique selling point whether it is speaking a second language or excellent mooting skills. • Show, don’t tell. Steer clear from simply stating that you have ‘good communication skills’ or are a ‘diligent’ person. Instead, show you have these qualities through examples of experiences. • Clearly demonstrate your values align with those of the firm you are applying for. You may want to state these specific values. • Feel free to mention that you ‘achieved a distinction average’ or ‘topped the course in Contracts’ but only if this is relevant to the job. Remember, the employer already has a copy of your transcript and can see all your grades. • Make sure you mention why you would be an asset for the firm and what you can do for them. • Use resources such as UNSW Careers & Employment to check your cover letter and resume in detail. • Use the full firm name, no abbreviations!

19 May 2020

Sally Gong M: 0450 123 456 E: s.gong@student.unsw.edu.au linkedin.com/sally-gong/

Donna Greggory Graduate Recruitment and Development Manager Pearson, Spector & Litt 155 Smith Place, Sydney NSW 2000

Dear Ms Greggory,

Re: Application for 2020/21 Sydney Summer Clerkship

I am currently in my penultimate year of a Bachelor of Commerce (International Business and Marketing)/Laws at the University of New South Wales (‘UNSW’). I am interested in a career in commercial law at a firm that offers an opportunity to interact with a diverse range of clients on an international scale.

I have a keen interest in commercial law, and I believe that I would be a good fit for Pearson, Specter & Litt. I am a highly motivated and dedicated individual, demonstrated through my excellent academic record, and I have developed a broad range of analytical skills through both of my degrees. Throughout my time at university, I have also been involved in a number of extracurricular activities, such as debating, where I learnt to work in a team and gained leadership skills through my term as Vice-President on the executive committee in 2018. I have also worked in a variety of environments, from retail roles to paralegal positions, which have honed my professional, communication and legal skills.

My attraction to Pearson, Spector & Litt began when I had the opportunity to visit your offices earlier this year. As an international business major, I was able to appreciate Spector & Litt’s focus on unique regional global deals and pro bono support provided to the United Nations in the Maldives and Myanmar. This demonstrated the firm’s ability to work across offices, particularly when providing support to a range of clients to deliver impactful results within emerging markets. Over the last few years, I have developed a strong passion to take my career abroad and believe that Pearson, Spector & Litt will provide me the invaluable opportunity to fulfil my career aspirations. Being fluent in over two languages and having an international mindset through my strategic consultancy work in Thailand over the last summer, I believe that I have developed

strong practical skills that will prove to be an asset to the firm. Further to this, my strong performance in numerous competitions while representing UNSW and my 3-year executive commitment to both my law school and business school demonstrate my ability to innovate, collaborate and work within a team environment.

I have also come to strongly admire the firm’s commitment to world leading technology companies and its ability to invest heavily in emerging fintech. Pearson, Spector & Litt’s recent advice on WiseTech IPO on the ASX led by Rachel Zane demonstrates the firm’s active involvement in technology practices globally, a growing practice within global markets. My dedication and passion in engaging with disruptive thinking mirrors the approach of change and improvement, a point of conversation discussed with intellectual property lawyer Mike Ross on the night of my firm visit. Over the last year, I have been an active policy research assistant with FinTech Australia, a grassroots organisation with a strong commitment to disruptive innovation and legal technology within financial services. As part of my work, I have been able to help lead research into Australian FinTech expansion, including Open Banking and Consumer Data Right legislation.

Whilst pursuing my education at UNSW, I have been able to enhance my leadership ability through my substantial involvement in legal competitions, university societies and part time legal work. I have continued to demonstrate significant improvements as a well-rounded individual through my unique and broad experience in legal research, legal technology and consultancy. I believe that working at Pearson, Spector & Litt will provide me with an unparalleled opportunity to establish a rewarding career in commercial law. I look forward to meeting in person to discuss this opportunity further.

Yours Sincerely, Sally Gong

Notes:

This cover letter is quite long. Please note that some firms impose a one-page limit or 500-word cap on their resumes. This is a sample that covers a broad range of topics or interests to demonstrate how students can potentially engage with a firm. You may wish to condense this into a more digestible format for some firms, depending on their preference. If you believe that you are not able to cover as much detail in a one-page cover letter, you are able to push the boundary, albeit it being a bit of a risk. Important things to consider when it comes to length include the readability of your cover letter, the language used and style.