General Requirements For Writing A Cover Letter
Cover letters for government jobs application should be no more than three to four paragraphs in length and should fit on a single page. It is intended to highlight the most relevant skills and experiences and to make a positive first impression to the hiring committee. Therefore, it is important to be specific and succinct. The applicant should avoid flowery language and make sure that anything included in the cover letter illustrates how hiring the applicant would benefit the company.
When formatting a cover letter for a federal job, it is important to use a simple, clean and professional font. Using a font such as Comic Sans is not recommended. Times New Roman or Calibri are preferred choices.
Ideally, the font type, font size, and header formatting should match that used in the applicants federal resume.
Just as with a federal resume, a cover letter for state government job should use specific numbers: years and dollars. Many federal employees focus on time and money saved, income earned, efficiency and productivity. Using hard numbers can catch the eye of the hiring committee and employer.
Be Straightforward And Specific
It is important to ensure your cover letter is direct. After reading the job description, you may start with a general outline for the cover letter and add the details. Quantifiable details like numbers and statistics describe the results of your achievements better than a vague description of the experience. Highlight what makes you the ideal candidate for the position, and support it with experiences directly related to the job.
Research The Government Agency
Government jobs fall under different agencies. Each agency has different missions, programs, and sets of values. Once you learn more about the agency, you can align your goals and mindset. It helps to improve your chances of getting an interview call. For example, if you are applying for a public safety position, you can express how you value your community’s safety.
Avoid focusing on a particular agency program in your cover letter unless the job post specifies it. Expressing your interest in a specific program shows your passion, but it narrows the scope of your cover letter. A wider scope may lead to the agency considering you for other available roles.
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Final Tip: Be Extra Attentive To The Details
Have you taken all the necessary job application steps? In some cases, you must do more than simply fill out the form and submit your resume. Review the application procedures thoroughly. You may be required to sit for the civil service exam, for example, or provide a certain number of references. Dont miss any important requirements, or you could be excluded from the application pool.
Keep Your Cover Letter Simple And Business
Your letter shouldnt be longer than one page. Ideally, you need to pack all your information into three-four paragraphs in Times New Roman 12 font .
Your letter should include several specific details such as:
- up to date and accurate contact information
- information about any prior military service,
- reference to whether you have worked in a federal job previously, and what your pay grade was .
Beyond that, focus on your core skills and work experience. Be brief and avoid any fluff. Use clean formatting and a font that emphasizes professionalism over style. You can also grab a premade cover letter template to avoid struggling with the format.
ADVICE FROM OUR EXPERTDebi Douma-HerrenSenior Certified HR Professional & Career Coach
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Read The Job Description Thoroughly
Usually, the job description contains all the information about the skills and responsibilities of a federal job. So, always read the job description carefully before writing the cover letter. It will Help you sort out the jobs to find the perfect fit job for you.
You can pick from the skills mentioned in the job descriptions and highlight them throughout your cover letter.
Also, many job descriptions have specific instructions for resumes and cover letters. If you do not read the job description, you will miss these essential instructions, and your resume will never get past the ATS system.
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How To Start Writing A Cover Letter
The most important step to take before writing a cover letter for a federal job is to carefully read the entire job announcement first. Each job announcement is different and contains specific required qualifications and information that must be included in the cover letter and federal resume. If these skills and qualifications are not addressed in a cover letter and resume, the entire job application can be rejected early in the review process.
Pro Tip:
- Print out each job announcement
- Highlight each qualification and skill listed in the job
- Choose between three and five to address in the cover letter
Remember, all of these must be addressed in the federal resume, but a cover letter for job application should highlight the three to five most important qualifications. Do this for each job announcement so that the cover letter can be customized for each job position sought.
It is also helpful to research the agency listed in the job announcement. A cover letter is an applicants first opportunity to sell himself or herself to the company and it is important that the cover letter demonstrates how the applicants skills, experience and qualifications can benefit the company. The most impressive cover letters demonstrate a familiarity with the companys mission, culture and programs.
A federal cover letter is not the place to mention hobbies, experiences that do not directly related to the job qualifications or details about the applicants personal life.
Show That You Did Your Research
Apart from discussing your past experience, include elements about the organization you’re applying for in the body of your cover letter. Essentially, make sure to focus on matching your qualifications to the organization and position’s need. Use your research to tie in how your experience can contribute to the organization’s goal or vision. Doing this shows you’re serious about the job and that you genuinely want to help it succeed.
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Write A Strong Conclusion
At the end of your cover letter, reiterate your enthusiasm about the position and how you’d make a great fit for the role. Make sure to thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration. You should also mention your availability for an interview and let them know you’re looking forward to hearing from them.
Use The Job Listing As A Reference
Think of the job listing as your study guide for both your resume and cover letter. Scan it for the required qualifications and skills. Later, you can add these as keywords in your cover letter and resume. For your cover letter specifically, highlight the on three-to-five skills from the job posting and build up your narrative around these.
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Cant Find A Single Name To Address
Sometimes, even after exhaustive research, you might not be able to find a single name to address your cover letter to. Don’t worry. It’s okay!
If that is the case, you don’t need to stress out. The company is likely to keep its information secretive and is very well aware of this.
If you don’t have any name to use, still try to be as specific as possible.
For example, If you are applying for a Data analyst profile, you can write it as- “Data Analyst Hiring Manager”.
Government Cover Letter Examples Australia
The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed’s data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.
Cover letters are one of the first impressions hiring committees have of job candidates. With a thoughtfully written cover letter, you can impress potential employers and have a better chance of getting an interview. Reading government cover letter examples from Australia can help you convey your thoughts and demonstrate the necessary skills when writing cover letters for government jobs. In this article, we explain how to write cover letters for government jobs and provide a template and example of government cover letters.
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Writing An Effective Cover Letter For A Public Sector Job
11 months ago By Emily Harris
Perhaps one of the most challenging parts of the job application process is writing an effective cover letter. A cover letter is like a personalised letter from you, to the person overseeing the hiring process for the job youre applying for. Because its often the first point of contact you make with a potential employer, hiring manager or recruiter for a job application, the cover letters aim is to formally introduce yourself and summarise what makes you a great fit for both the role and the organisation youre applying for in terms of your experience, skills, interests etc. Consequently, a cover letter – especially if done effectively – is the best way to gain the attention of the hiring manager or recruiter and distinguish yourself from other candidates, which in a competitive job market will give you a significant advantage. But, just like writing an effective resume or preparing for a job interview, writing an effective cover letter is a skill and there are key factors that will differentiate a good cover letter from a bad one.
Luckily within the public sector, job applications are pretty clear on when to include a cover letter and what points to cover. But theres still an art to crafting a letter that will effectively highlight a particular roles capability and address key selection criteria while still adhering to a specific word or page limit. To help those currently applying for new jobs, we elaborate on these key factors below:
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By using any part of the Services you agree that you have read this policy, your personal data will be processed as described herein, and you agree to be bound by this Policy. This Policy is incorporated into our Terms of Use. Definitions not explicitly defined herein shall retain the meaning as prescribed in the Terms of Use. Any dispute related to privacy is subject to the Terms of Use and this Policy, including limitations on liability.
We are the controller for the personal data discussed in this Policy, except as noted in the Where We Are a Service Provider section below.
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A Federal Cover Letter Example Text Format
Dear Dr. Orlando Williams,
My name is David Ninja, and I am a graduate of the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, and a current research assistant at the Illinois Department of Conservation. I am writing this letter to express my interest in the open position of Soil Conservationist at the Environmental Protection Agency.
As mentioned in the job listing, I have completed 12 hours of coursework in environmental science, and 6 hours of coursework in chemistry in a laboratory setting. I also have more than the required 6 months of experience in field research that I conducted for Wildlife Org NGO. My work has specifically involved:
- Collecting soil samples, and conducting standard testing for toxic compounds.
- Reporting the results to the Environmental Protection Agency as required by law.
- Acting as the NGOs spokesperson and interacting with the public on a weekly basis. Ive hosted educational workshops for the local farming community explaining how to properly dispose of waste to avoid soil and water contamination.
Thus, I believe I am qualified for the position of Soil Conservationist as someone who understands the processes required to do the job as well as the regulations involved. I am also interested in moving forward with the application process.
Please contact me at your convenience so that we may meet, or to inform me of the next steps to take. My resume and references are attached for your review.
Sincerely,
Your California Privacy Rights
If you are a California resident, you have the additional data rights listed below. You can exercise some of these rights by utilizing the prompts within messages we send you within your account settings, or within the privacy settings on our web pages. Otherwise, you are also able to exercise these rights by contacting our support team using the privacy support emails listed at the end of this Policy. Please note, if we cannot verify your identity we may deny certain data right requests. You can designate an authorized agent to submit requests on your behalf, but we require written proof of the agents permission and verify your identity directly.
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How To Write A Cover Letter For A Government Job
When applying for a government job, it is important to have a well-written cover letter. Your cover letter should highlight your skills and experience, as well as your commitment to public service. To help you get started, weve gathered seven of the best cover letter samples for government jobs.
Include Your Accomplishments And Skills
The second paragraph of your cover letter is where you can describe your professional and educational accomplishments. In the first half, describe your achievements. Then, in the second half of the paragraph, describe how you can apply those skills to the organisation’s current goals. This can help a potential employer see how your abilities and the organisation’s mission align, improving your ability to get the desired role. For example, if you have a career history of creating public works and want to work with a government agency doing the same, you can describe that in this section.
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Read The Job Description
Before writing your cover letter, carefully read the job posting. Identify which skills and experiences are required for the position. Think about which of these qualifications you have and how you could address them throughout your cover letter. The application may have specific cover letter requirements, so be sure to take note of them.
Read more:A Guide to Civil Service Jobs
Federal Cover Letter Example For Government Job Applicants
Federal government jobs are known for good pay and attractive benefits. However, to get one, you must navigate a rather demanding job application process and follow all the instructions to the dot. This largely applies to how you should style your resume and cover letter.
In this post, we offer several essential tips just for that, followed by a detailed federal cover letter sample that you can use as a reference.
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