COVER LETTER CHECKLIST Use this list to check that you have completed a professional cover letter and have tailored it to the position/role. Remember to always address the selection criteria required for the position.
Does your letter show your genuine interest and enthusiasm for the job / organisation?
Does your letter look tailored to the role / organisation and not based on a standard template?
Does your letter try to build a connection with the reader? Does it differentiate you enough?
Does your letter show your research and knowledge of the organisation beyond a quick google search?
Does your letter present you in a positive light and as a good fit for the organisation and role?
Is your letter one A4 page long with no more than 4 paragraphs?
Does your letter have the right tone? (read out loud to check)
Have you taken out any information about yourself that might highlight any gaps / weaknesses?
Have you included your contact phone number and professional email address?
Is the cover letter addressed to the correct person with their title, address?
Have you commenced with the correct greeting? eg. Dear Ms Slater
Have you included the title and reference number of the job?
Does the employer know why you are applying for the position and where you saw the position?
Have you included your education, qualifications and current study?
Have you provided specific evidence of your skills for this specific job and written about them without exaggerating?
Have you highlighted your most relevant work experience first, ie. legal?
Have you included the most relevant and recent achievements that promote you well?
Have you addressed any other requirements of the job? eg. global relocation, etc
Is your letter grammatically correct with no spelling or typing errors?
Have you had someone proof read it just in case?
collaw.edu.au/PLT
RESUME CHECKLIST Use this list to check that you have completed a professional resume and have tailored it to the position/role. Remember you can move areas of your resume around to highlight the most relevant information for the position.
Have you captured the employer’s attention on the first page with your most relevant experience and skills?
oes the resume look tailored and not based on a standard template? Is the information relevant to the hiring D manager’s needs, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all document?
Did you include relevant keywords and appropriate industry terms?
Is the resume without any careless typos, spelling, grammar or syntax errors?
Did you write the resume in an implied first-person voice, avoiding personal pronouns (I, me, and my)?
oes the resume provide a visually pleasing, professional presentation? Is the resume inviting to read, with D clear sections and ample white space?
I s a career summary included so the reader immediately knows your value proposition (recommended for later lawyers, career changers)?
I f this is a resume for a career change, does it include supporting details that show how your past experience is relevant to the new job?
I s the resume’s length and overall appearance appropriate given your career level and summary (2-3 pages as a guideline)?
re there design elements (bullets, bolding, lines, margins) to guide the readers’ eyes through the document A and highlight important content?
Does your resume contain key headings? Is the page break formatted correctly so it doesn’t break up sentences?
Is your career history listed in reverse chronological order (most recent job first), with your legal experience first?
re your achievements distinguished from your responsibilities? Remember achievements are outcome A focused and over and above your day-to-day responsibilities
re achievements quantified by using numbers, percentages, dollar amounts, or other concrete measures A of success?
Do achievement statements begin with strong, varied action verbs? eg. developed, delivered, managed?
collaw.edu.au/PLT