Starting your government job application can be daunting, especially when you realize a cover letter is required. Crafting a cover letter that stands out is about more than rehashing your resume; it's your chance to share a defining professional achievement in a compelling narrative. Striking the right balance between formality and originality, while keeping it concise, can be tricky. Here's how to convey your story effectively within the one-page limit, avoiding the usual clichés.
- Including all the must-have paragraphs in your structure for an excellent first impression;
- Learning how to write individual sections from industry-leading cover letter examples;
- Selecting the best accomplishment to tell an interesting and authority-building professional story;
- Introducing your profile with personality, while meeting industry standards.
And, if you want to save some time, drag and drop your government resume into Enhancv's AI, which will assess your profile and write your job-winning cover letter for you.
If the government isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
Government cover letter example
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- Demonstrating a clear alignment between the applicant's experience and the organization's focus can enhance the relevance of the application. For instance, highlighting experience in policy analysis and stakeholder engagement conveys the applicability of skills to the economic development focus of the hiring organization.
- Providing specific examples of past achievements, like influencing pivotal policy decisions and authoring policy briefs that led to economic initiatives, showcases the applicant's capabilities and provides tangible evidence of their competence and success.
- Expressing a strong familiarity and admiration for the hiring organization's work shows the applicant has done their research and is genuinely interested in contributing to its missions — in this case, noting the organization's use of data-driven insights for policymaking.
What should your government cover letter look like - formatting and organizing your information
Have you ever wondered what are the must-have sections you need to include in your government cover letter? Our builder sets those up for you with:
- Header - dedicated to your contact information, the role you're applying for, and the date (don't forget to include your name);
- Greeting and opening paragraph - to create a personalized and memorable experience for recruiters;
- Body paragraph - emphasizing your skill set and knowledge that aligns with the role and helps you to stand out;
- Closing paragraph - leaving a great impression and ending with an optional signature.
Use a cover letter template to discover the best formatting for your government cover letter: that is single-spaced paragraphs and wrapping your content in a one-inch margin.
Ensure that both your resume and government cover letter are in the same font. Stand apart from the crowd by using modern, yet simple fonts, like Chivo and Rubik, instead of the overused Arial and Times New Roman.
Did you know that the Applicant Tracker System (or ATS) won't be assessing your government cover letter? Instead, submit your profile in PDF to recruiters to keep the same formatting and the design intact.
The top sections on a government cover letter
- Header: Include your contact information, date, and the employer's contact information, which demonstrates professionalism and makes it easy for the recruiter to contact you for follow-up.
- Opening Greeting: Address the letter to a specific individual if possible, showing respect and a personal touch rather than using a generic salutation.
- Introduction: Briefly state the position you are applying for and mention how you learned about the opportunity, which helps the recruiter quickly identify the job in question and the source of your application.
- Body: Highlight relevant skills, experience, and achievements that specifically tie to the requirements of the government role, demonstrating that you have done your research and understand what the job entails.
- Closing: Express your enthusiasm for the opportunity to serve in a public capacity, reiterate your suitability for the role, and politely invite further discussion, showing your commitment to the position and eagerness to move forward in the selection process.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
Understanding of public policies and legislative processes: Important to navigate and influence policy direction, ensuring the work aligns with legislative requirements and strategic government objectives.
Knowledge of government protocols and procedures: Essential for efficiently navigating the bureaucracies and understanding the unique operational dynamics of the public sector.
Strong commitment to public service and ethics: Recruiters look for a genuine interest in serving the public interest and the ability to uphold high ethical standards, prioritizing the common good over personal gain.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills: Critical for drafting clear and concise government documentation, policy briefs, and for effectively communicating with various stakeholders, including the public and government officials.
Experience in stakeholder and community engagement: Shows the ability to consult with and involve multiple parties, facilitating collaboration and building consensus on government initiatives.
Proven problem-solving and analytical abilities: Necessary for developing solutions to complex public sector challenges and for informed decision-making based on careful analysis and evidence.
Kick off your government cover letter: the salutation or greeting
When writing your government cover letter, remember that you're not writing for some complex AI or robot, but for actual human beings.
And recruiters, while on the lookout to understand your experience, would enjoy seeing a cover letter that is tailored to the role and addresses them. Personally.
So, if you haven't done so, invest some time in finding out who's the hiring manager for the role you're applying to. A good place to start would be LinkedIn and the corporate website.
Alternatively, you could also get in touch with the company to find out more information about the role and the name of the recruiter.
If you haven't met the hiring manager, yet, your government cover letter salutation should be on a last-name basis (e.g. "Dear Mr. Donaldson" or "Dear Ms. Estephan").
A good old, "Dear HR Professional" (or something along those lines) could work as your last resort if you're struggling to find out the recruiter's name.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Job Title] Hiring Committee,
- Dear [Department Name] Team,
- Dear Director [Last Name],
- Dear [Job Title] Search Committee,
Get creative with your government cover letter introduction
Recruiters are going to assess plenty of candidate profiles for the role. Thus, anything you do to stand out will win you brownie points.
Use your government cover letter introduction to share something memorable about your experience.
But before you go down the rabbit hole of creativity and humor, align your message with the company culture.
For example, if you are applying for a role in some startup, use those first two sentences to tell a funny story (about your experience) to quickly connect with the recruiter.
The middle or body of your government cover letter body: a great instrument to tell a story
Now that you've set the right tone with the greeting and introduction of your government cover letter, it's time to get down to business.
Hear us out, the body of your government cover letter is the best storytelling instrument you have, in your job-hunting arsenal.
Writing the next three to six paragraphs, take the time to reassess the advert to discover job-crucial requirements.
Next, choose one accomplishment that covers those key skills and talents.
Use precisely that achievement to tell an exciting story of how you match the ideal candidate profile.
In the undertones of your story or government cover letter body, hint at the difference you'd make and sell your application as the perfect one for the job.
Time to wrap up your government cover letter
Writing the closing paragraph of your government cover letter is just as important as the salutation.
You have to make it personalized to the job advert and recruiter.
Experienced professionals advise candidates to end with a request or reminder for follow-up. Write that you're grateful for the opportunity, and, at the same time, hint that you're available for the next steps of the process.
Otherwise, you could also conclude your government cover letter by facing the future. How do you see yourself, as part of the team? In particular, how would you settle in your new role in the first six months to a year?
Which story should you tell in your government cover letter when you have zero experience
Candidates, lacking professional experience in the field - this one is for you.
Your government cover letter is an exercise of integrity, honesty, and, above all, spinning a positive narrative around your strengths.
And what better way to capture recruiters' attention than with your most job-relevant achievement (this could be from your internship or volunteering experience)?
Make sure to back up your success with transferrable skills that are relevant to the job (e.g. how your year, studying abroad, has taught you to be more motivated and handle multicultural environments).
Another safe card you can bet on is your career dream: in the body of your government cover letter, go into the details of how your ambitions would help make the company you're applying for better.
Key takeaways
Writing your government cover letter has never been easier, so remember to:
- Select a government cover letter template that automatically meets industry formatting (e.g. has one-inch margins, is single-spaced, is in PDF, etc.);
- Make your government cover letter personal by mentioning the recruiters' first or last name;
- Within the introduction, describe what you like best about the company in no more than two sentences;
- Use your government cover letter body to tell a story of your greatest achievement, backed up by job-relevant skills and technologies;
- If you have no professional experience, be honest about it in your government cover letter, but also write about your unique talents.
