Cover letters for career change (tips and tricks)

I don't know anyone who likes writing cover letters - it can feel uncomfortable to talk about your achievements and be hard to put your expertise and experiences into succinct text. But, cover letters are a way to get a step closer to an interview for your dream job. As annoying as it is, it is important to customise each letter for the job, although you will likely have stock phrases and body paragraphs that you can recycle from one to another.

Application formats and processes are fairly similar across industries, but I've found that non-teaching applications tend to be shorter. Many hiring managers don't want to read three (or more!) pages of key selection criteria. Many government jobs require an online application form with questions to answer and limited space. You're usually able to upload a CV and cover letter with online forms so have a letter ready to go as well.

Writing tips for cover letters:

1. Make a list of your values and expertise and compare that to the position description, values and core business of the organisation you are applying to. Use the words from the ad or website as flags throughout your letter (and CV if you're personalising that too). For example, if it talks about clear communication style, use that phrase instead of saying that you communicate effectively/openly/etc.

2. Gendered greetings can be problematic so unless you are sure of the contact person's gender/pronouns you should address the letter to Dear Hiring Manager. To whom it may concern is another option, but that can sound a bit old fashioned.

3. Along with the role you're applying for, include a summary of your relevant skills and qualifications in the introductory paragraph. It can also be useful to include a sentence about why you are applying for non-teaching roles at this time (without being too negative or critical of your current situation).

4. Use examples to show how you've implemented the relevant skills and how they are transferable to this new organisation or industry. For example, when describing your communication skills, you could describe writing report cards and newsletter/website posts for an audience from different language backgrounds.

5. If you have any volunteer or community (non-work) experience that has developed your skills, it's a good idea to highlight these too. This is a good way to show that you are not 'just' a teacher. Also, you can account for time away from paid work by highlighting transferable skills from your personal life.

6. Make sure to mention hard and soft skills, and don't assume that people know what teachers do day-to-day. Although almost everyone has attended school, people outside of education generally only have vague memories or know the stereotypes about teachers. For example, rather than stating that you have skills in classroom management, it could be more effective to describe balancing the needs in a group of diverse students and the ability to shift focus between competing demands.

My final tip is to read the letter aloud and, if possible, get someone from outside teaching to read it so you know you're expressing your skills effectively and selling yourself enough.

Comment below with any other techniques you've found useful in applying for jobs. Click the button to book a one-on-one session to talk about your own transferable skills.

Further Reading:

• How to Write a Cover Letter with No Experience in 8 Steps | Indeed

• How to Write a Cover Letter With No Experience (Examples Included!) | The Muse

• How to write a cover letter with no experience | Seek