Do you want to apply for a job that you have no experience in? If so, a cover letter is a document that you need to know how to write! 

Many job seekers are unaware of what the differences are between a resume and cover letter. Both documents outline your skills and experience but whilst your resume displays your key skills and experience as a quick summary, your cover letter allows the recruiter to get to know your personality and your story.

So, why is it important to nail your cover letter when applying for a "first" job?

Whether it's your first job or your first job in a new industry, it is most likely that you won't have any hard skills that apply to the role, only soft skills. (If you are unaware of what soft skills and hard skills are, take a read of our article "Soft Skills vs Hard Skills; What's the Difference?") 

By submitting a cover letter that outlines how your soft skills will bring value to the business, it will help your chances of getting an interview for the job.

If you're currently in this position of wanting to apply for a job you have no experience in, I'm sure you're asking what you need to put in your cover letter and how to layout it out. 

Here is how you structure it:

Section one:

Introduce yourself and make a strong first impression. This paragraph should include who you are, the role you're applying for and where you found it. If you have just graduated from high school or university, or completed a relevant course, state when you graduated and with what degree. Just like any essay, book or article you've written/read, the first paragraph is an introduction. In a cover letter, you are introducing yourself.

This is an example:

Dear John, 

My name is Mary and I am writing to apply for the Administration position that you have advertised on your website. I am have recently graduated from Victorian University with a Bachelor of Business Degree and believe I am suitable for the role.

Section two:

In this paragraph, you want to talk about your relevant skills and accomplishments. As you are applying for a role you have no experience in, this is where the soft skills will be featured. 

First, before you write this section you should go through the job advertisement and outline all the skills and duties the role requires. By doing this, you will be able to answer how your soft skills can achieve these duties without having the hands-on experience. A great soft skill to add to your cover letter is that you are a fast learner. Some businesses may want to train you to do the job themselves as you will learn their way of operating.

Section three:

After you have briefly introduced yourself and demonstrated how your soft skills can get the job done, it is now time to round it up! This is the section where you explain how your skills, qualities and experience (if you have any) will help make their business grow. Let them know how you suit the role and how your soft skills make you the perfect match for the role and that you will continue to learn and grow.

Lastly,

Finally, you need to thank the reader for their time and conclude when you are available for an interview. Ensure it is within the next week or couple of days as the recruiter will be keen to see you sooner rather than later.

If you are looking for a role with no experience, a great place to start looking is our Job Vacancies board found here: https://www.capturerecruitment.com.au/advancedsearch.aspx?search=1