Job Application Pack V.01
Job Application Pack V.01
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Resume Resources
Resume Tipsheet .................................................................................................................... 1
Resume Guideline ............................................................................................................... 2-5
Resume Template................................................................................................................ 6-7
Resume Action Words ............................................................................................................ 8
Cover Letter Resources
Cover Letter Tipsheet ............................................................................................................. 9
Cover Letter Guideline ....................................................................................................10-11
Introduction Letter Resources
Introduction Letter Tipsheet ................................................................................................ 12
Introduction Letter Guideline .........................................................................................13-14
1
RESUME
TIPSHEET
RESUME PURPOSE
A resume is a self-marketing tool for individuals seeking to initiate or progress their career; or for those
simply wishing to apply for a new job opportunity.
WRITING STYLE
A resume is a sample of your written communication skills and must use professional language. It is
critical to ensure you double check for any spelling or grammatical errors. Recruiters are reading
between the lines (e.g. dates/bullets not aligned show you lack attention to detail; using the same
words repeatedly give the impression you have poor vocabulary). You should analyse the job advert
to incorporate key words where possible, as well as research the company to appeal to their values.
IRRELEVANT INFORMATION
Do not feature a photo as this is considered inappropriate in Australia because it could cause
unconscious bias in the recruitment process. You should also not include personal or family details,
such as your Date of Birth, Gender, Nationality, Visa status, Marital Status, etc.
NAME/NAMING CONVENTION
You can use your preferred English name and middle names are not mandatory to include. Save your
resume as “Your Name – Resume” and your Cover Letter as “Your Name – Cover Letter – Company
you are applying to”, NOT “My resume” or “Resume – Date”
LENGTH
There is a common myth that resumes should not exceed one page. A target length for a graduate
should be 2 - 3 pages a professional/mid-level Manager 3 – 4 pages and a senior level executive in 3 –
5 pgs. Remember to add page numbers in your footer.
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RESUME
GUIDELINE
HEADLINE (OPTIONAL)
Your headline should incorporate keywords (2-3 titles, 1-2 words each) that highlight your industry
profession, occupation title, or key areas of expertise.
Examples:
FULL-STACK DEVELOPER | WEBSITE DESIGNER
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE | ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE | BOOKKEEPING
DIGITAL MARKETING | SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT
1. Start by introducing who you are e.g. “Professional with X amount of experience” or “Student
at Torrens University studying a Master of...”
2. What are you looking for? - Job and Industry Specific
3. What can you offer? - Background and years’ experience compatible with the job
4. What do you want to achieve? - Career Goal
Recommendations:
• Write strong, clear, concise statements that are personalised
• Do not use first-person narrative or excessive use of the word “I”
• Limit the lengths to 1-2 short paragraphs
3
• Avoid generic statements, such as:
o “Seeking a position that will utilise my graduate knowledge”
o “To enhance my skills in a dynamic and professional workplace”
o “Contribute to a company’s goals and objectives”
KEY SKILLS
To help identify your key skills acquired through learning and practice, consider the different types of
skills that are applicable to you and that are relevant to the industry or position you are applying for.
*These should not appear as subheadings on your resume. Feature 6-8 bullet points.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
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• Start with a strong action verb to describe each responsibility
o Past tense for previous roles; present tense for current roles
o Use a variety of verbs attached to each role (refer to examples in attachment)
• Incorporate achievements or accomplishments that you wish to highlight where you have
improved something in the workplace or added value which was not expected from you.
• You can highlight your achievements in a separate sub-heading OR make your responsibilities
sound like achievements by incorporating measurable data as success factors.
o E.g. “Promoted successful product development that increased sales by 80% within
6 months”.
• For international students, we encourage you to include your local part-time jobs, even if
they are unrelated to your field of study because it showcases valuable transferrable skills
and your employer can act as a local referee.
Volunteer work experience offers many benefits, including the opportunity to gain local work
experience, build your professional network, develop your employability skills and gain exposure to
Australian workplace culture.
Professional Associations are organisations that act as a peak body for professionals working in the
same or similar fields. Examples include the Australian Computer Society (ACS), Chartered
Accountants (CA ANZ) and Project Management Institute (PMI).
If your course includes a capstone subject or form of work-integrated learning that offered you the
opportunity to engage with industry, you may highlight this experience on your resume.
If you choose to include hobbies and interests, they should be related to your career pathway or be
particularly compelling by revealing a special talent (E.g. Winning a National Chess Championship), as
opposed to generic or commonly popular hobbies, such as “watching movies” or “playing sports”.
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REFERENCES
• DO NOT include referee’s contact details on your resume for confidentiality purposes, unless
specifically requested in the job advertisement.
• Two professional referees from previous employers is usually required
• Personal referees (friends and family) are generally NOT accepted
• Letters of Recommendation from overseas employers are usually accepted
• You must ensure that your referees have given you permission to be listed on your resume
and always notify them when they can expect a call or email.
*DISCLAIMER:
This resume guideline has been tailored for Business Students, as this is the preferred structure and
layout in Business-related industries. In creative professions, more artistic fonts and layouts, such as
Canva Templates are preferred, as candidates are expected to showcase their creative design skills.
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RESUME
TEMPLATE
PREFERRED NAME AND SURNAME
Mobile | Email | Suburb State | LinkedIn URL
1 paragraph
KEY SKILLS
•
•
•
•
•
•
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
•
•
•
•
•
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•
DEGREE-RELATED PROJECTS
Project Name:
Client (Organisation):
Project Objective:
Key tasks:
•
•
•
Project Outcome:
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
REFERENCES
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RESUME ACTION WORDS
Using a variety of action words in your resume when describing your responsibilities and achievements
will help you to attract the reader’s attention and add impact to the start of your sentences.
administered integrated
achieved introduced
adapted initiated
addressed investigated
advised involved
allocated installed
analysed judged
approved led
arranged maintained
assessed managed
assisted monitored
collaborated motivated
compiled negotiated
completed observed
conducted obtained
consolidated operated
contributed ordered
coordinated organised
demonstrated outlined
designed oversaw
developed participated
enhanced persuaded
established processed
evaluated promoted
executed provided
explored reconciled
ensured recorded
facilitated rectified
generated reduced
identified reported
implemented resolved
improved reviewed
incorporated supported
increased streamlined
influenced strengthened
informed supervised
*These verbs are in past tense and should be used for previous positions. Change them to present
tense for your current position(s).
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COVER LETTER
TIPSHEET
PURPOSE
A Cover Letter introduces your candidate profile and your expression of interest in applying for an
advertised position. You cannot use a generic Cover Letter for all your job applications; Each and every
Cover Letter must be tailored towards the role you are applying for because effective Cover Letters
address or evidence the key selection criteria in the job advert.
You should also demonstrate that you have researched the company and carefully read the job advert
(or Position Description). It could also draw the readers' attention to specific achievements or career
milestones that are relevant to the role, however, do not repeat the contents of your resume.
Ultimately, your Cover Letter should entice the reader to shortlist you and invite you for an interview.
WRITING STYLE
A Cover Letter is a sample of your written communication skills and must use professional language.
It is critical to ensure you double check for any spelling or grammatical errors. Avoid meaningless
buzzwords or flowery language. Be sincere and authentic with a positive, enthusiastic tone; Do not
exaggerate, use flattery or make yourself sound desperate for the job.
The content of the letter should clearly link your experience and skills to the role and incorporate
keywords that appear on the job advert. You should use evidence-based examples to back up your
statements and claims to demonstrate that you are capable of meeting the job requirements. Never
make promises or assumptions e.g. “I will contribute to the success of your business and boost sales
targets.” In addition, avoid repetitive use of the word “I” at the start of each sentence.
SALUTATION
Do NOT use ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ or ‘To whom it may concern’. Personalise your Cover Letter by
addressing it to the Hiring Manager, Recruiter or HR/Talent Acquisition staff member. The name
should appear in the job advert or Position Description. If not, you could use LinkedIn profile search
or call the company to ask who you should address the application to.
STRUCTURE
Your Cover Letter should be dated and be one full-page in length, beginning with a short introductory
sentence, followed by 3-4 short paragraphs and a complimentary close. Refer to the guideline
document to see where both the company and your address should be featured.
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COVER LETTER
GUIDELINE
Your Address
Your Email Address
Your Mobile Number
DATE (dd/mm/yyyy)
Company Name
Company Address
Salutation
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name (more formal)
OR
Hi First Name (more casual)
Introduction
Nominate the position you wish to apply for with enthusiasm.
For example:
“The opportunity to join your team as a [Job Title] engaged my interest as the role closely aligns
with my [professional experience/industry knowledge/technical expertise] and career
[interests/direction/aspirations].”
First Paragraph:
The first paragraph should demonstrate knowledge of the organisation and express why YOU want
to work for THEM. Consider how your personal values align with their employer brand. Companies
want to hire people who have a genuine interest in them. You may be applying for multiple different
jobs but you need to make each prospective employer believe that their job is the only one you want.
For example:
“What attracts me most to this unique opportunity is that [Organisation] take an innovative approach
to [highlight their mission or services] and my passion for… aligns with your…”
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Middle Paragraphs:
Use short paragraphs instead of one large block of text or bullets.
The next section of your cover letter should address the key selection criteria outlined in the job
advert. You will need to carefully read the job application instructions because some roles may
request you address ALL the key selection criteria (sometimes in a separate document), or if no clear
instructions are provided, you can narrow down at least 3 key areas to address. You should also draw
connections from your qualifications/skills/experience to the position requirements and support
your statements with examples or measurable achievements.
Optional:
Creatively include something which makes you stand out. This could be a particular passion, quality
or life experience which is distinctive and still relevant to the position.
Final Paragraph:
Lastly, politely request that they consider your application, conveying your appreciation for their time.
These are the ONLY sentences that can be generic for most cover letters:
Thank you in advance for your time, I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Complimentary Close:
Kind Regards,
Signature
Your Preferred Name Surname
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INTRODUCTION LETTER
TIPSHEET
PURPOSE
An Introduction Letter, or sometimes referred to as an Expression of Interest (EoI) Letter, is a self-
marketing tool used for approaching companies directly to promote your professional profile.
Candidates who send Introductory Letters may be considered for job opportunities in the pipeline,
before the job is advertised. Students or Graduates can also use this approach to self-source a Host
Organisation for an internship opportunity.
It is important to research the company so that you are aware of their culture and what they do so
that you can showcase skills and experience the company would value. Do not use or create generic
Introduction Letters because it will be clear you have not taken the time to personalise it or adapt it
to what the company is looking for. If a professional connection has referred you to this company who
is an employee, you can mention their name, with permission.
Some organisations have a dedicated Careers page on their website where current vacancies are listed
and there is a space to invite candidates who wish to work for them that is often titled “Want to work
with us?” In such instances, there may be an option to type your EoI in a textbox and submit or there
could be a functionality to attach your Resume and Introduction Letter.
WRITING STYLE
An Introduction Letter is a sample of your written communication skills and must use professional
language. It is critical to ensure you double check for any spelling or grammatical errors. Avoid
meaningless buzzwords or flowery language. Be sincere and authentic with a positive, enthusiastic
tone; Do not exaggerate, use flattery or make yourself sound desperate to work for them.
STRUCTURE
Your Introduction Letter should be one full-page in length, beginning with a short introductory
sentence, followed by 3-4 short paragraphs and a complimentary close. Include the date. Refer to the
guideline document to see where both the company and your address should be featured. You may
also place your letter in the body of an email and attach your resume if you have access to the
company’s recruitment email address.
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INTRODUCTION LETTER
GUIDELINE
Your Address
Your Email Address
Your Mobile Number
DATE (dd/mm/yyyy)
Company Name
Company Address
Introduction
Express why you are interested in employment or internship opportunities within the organisation,
demonstrating that you are familiar with their brand.
For example:
“I am writing to express my strong interest and motivation in joining [Organsisation’s] team, having
closely followed your growth and accomplishments in recent years. [Organsisation Name] is my
employer of choice for its reputable position in the market, and your [products/services/values] of
closely align with my [previous experience/industry knowledge/professional brand].”
Middle Paragraphs:
Here, you sell yourself, letting the employer know how you could meet their organisational needs in
line with what they do. Summarise your relevant knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications.
These claims must be supported by evidence based examples.
Optional:
You may wish to provide some context around your current situation (why you are on the market),
your flexibility (whether you are open to relocation or working remotely) your work preferences (e.g.
work remotely from home) or availability (whether you are seeking an internship opportunity, part-
time or full-time position).
Final Paragraph:
Please find enclosed my resume which details my experience and skills to assess my suitability for
upcoming positions within your organisation.
Thank you in advance for considering my profile - I look forward to hearing your feedback.
Complimentary Close:
Kind Regards,
Signature
Your Preferred Name and Surname
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