A good job application comprises three main sections.

1. Your covering letter 
2. Your resume 
3. Your response to specific selection criteria.

• Strategies for getting employers' attention (ppt, 349kb)

Other university Career Centre webpages also have great information on job applications, resumes, selection criteria and interview techniques.  Here are a couple of examples:

• University of Western Sydney
• University of Sydney

1.  Covering Letter

Your covering letter should be personalised to the particular organisation that you are targeting. It should be restricted to one page as the intent is to provide an overview of who you are and the qualities or talents that make you special.

Career Services Information Sheets

Sample Cover Letter (pdf, 41kb)

Sample Cover Letter and Resume (pdf, 82b)

Cover Letter Don'ts (pdf, 49b)

Cover Letters That Sell (pdf, 56kb)

Some helpful websites:

• Improve Your Cover Letter
• CVTips - Cover Letter

2. Resumes

While a good covering letter will engage an employer's attention the resume provides the detailed information that helps to distinguish between applicants. There are several styles of resume. One of the most commonly accepted styles presents a history of the person's experiences.

The headings used most frequently in this style resume are: 

• personal contact details 
• educational background and academic qualifications 
• employment history 
• extracurricular activities and interests, and 
• special technical competencies & skills, eg languages or computing 
• referees

Career Services Information Sheets

Sample Resume (pdf, 81kb)

Writing an Effective Resume (pdf, 50kb)

Sample Cover Letter and Resume (pdf, 82kb)

Action Word List for Resumes (pdf, 72kb)

Workshop 3 Powerpoint - Your CV: Presenting Yourself on Paper (ppt, 97kb)

Some helpful websites:

• Write a Killer CV
• CV Tips - Resume

3. Selection Criteria

More and more employers in both the private and public sectors are using your ability to address their selection criteria to assist them to short-list applicants for interviews. Each applicant is rated on how closely he or she meets each of the criteria and then ranked accordingly. There are a handful of criteria that tend to apply across nearly all graduate vacancies. Examples of these include: 

• Well developed oral and written communication skills 
• Commitment to the delivery of quality customer service 
• Flexibility and a willingness to adapt to change 
• Enthusiasm and a positive attitude 
• Problem solving skills, and 
• Teamwork skills 

Use examples from your work experience, university and extracurricular activities, and other life experiences.

• Understanding and Addressing Selection Criteria (Word, 247kb)
• Selection Criteria.com.au 
• Writing Your Selection Criteria
• APS Criteria - the STAR Model 

For further important information on writing a winning application go to the Graduate Careers Australia web site and follow the link to "How to find a job".