Does a Cover Letter Matter?
Short answer: Yes.
A strong cover letter can be the difference between getting noticed or getting overlooked. But it’s not just a formality, it’s your chance to introduce yourself, highlight your strengths, and let your story shine.
At Thanbarran Careers, we believe a cover letter is more than words on a page. It’s a space where mob can bring culture, lived experience, and community leadership into the application process on your terms, in your voice.
What Your Cover Letter Can Do:
Think of your cover letter as your introduction, a way of saying “This is me. This is what I bring.”
It’s your chance to:
- Share who you are and what drives you
- Show how your experiences connect to the role
- Highlight your most relevant skills, even from community or cultural responsibilities
- Demonstrate confidence and professionalism in your own words
- Bring your cultural identity and lived experience into the application, on your terms
Make It Easy for the Panel
One of the biggest mistakes people make is treating a cover letter like a short version of their CV. Instead, use it to address the role criteria directly.
Recruitment panels and HR teams often have limited time. If you spell out exactly how your skills and experience meet the requirements, you take away the guesswork and put yourself in a stronger position.
This is especially important if your experience is translatable rather than a direct match. Don’t leave it to chance, connect the dots for them.
Example 1:
“The role asks for project management experience. I have coordinated several large community events, managing budgets, logistics and volunteers. These skills directly relate to planning and delivering projects in your organisation.”
Example 2:
“The role asks for strong communication skills. Through speaking at community events and mentoring young people, I’ve developed the ability to share ideas clearly, listen deeply, and build trust. These experiences translate directly into effective teamwork and stakeholder engagement in your organisation.”
By laying it out clearly, you turn “Do they meet the criteria?” into “Yes, they can do the job.”
Positioning Yourself for Identified Roles
If you’re applying for an identified role, or one where cultural capability is part of the criteria, your cover letter is the place to show this. Too often, candidates skip this step, and that’s a red flag for Indigenous recruitment staff.
Remember: Culture comes first. These roles exist because cultural knowledge and lived experience are vital.
That doesn’t mean sharing more than you’re comfortable with, but it does mean positioning yourself clearly:
- Who you are (Nation, Country, or community connections)
- How your cultural knowledge and responsibilities guide your work
- Why that matters for the role
Example:
“As a proud Gamilaraay woman, I bring strong cultural knowledge and a commitment to creating safe spaces for mob. My experience supporting community-led projects has taught me the importance of listening with respect and ensuring culture is always at the centre of decision-making. This aligns closely with the cultural capability required in this role.”
Three Ways to Keep It Strong
- Tailor It, But Stay True to You: Every job is different, and your cover letter should reflect that. Use the job ad as a guide, but explain it in your own way. Show how your community or lived experience has given you the skills they’re looking for.
- Keep It Clear, Kind and Confident: Stick to one page, use respectful language, and show you’re serious, without losing your own voice. Think of it as a polished yarn, not a robotic email.
- Check It, Then Send It Proud: Even small errors can distract from a strong story. Read it out loud, or ask someone you trust to look it over. Make sure it represents the best version of you.
Extra Tips to Back You
- Length: 3–4 paragraphs, one or two pages max
- Font: Simple and readable
- Closing line: Invite a yarn or follow-up
- Optional: Share flexibility or cultural responsibilities, especially for identified roles
Example closing:
“I’d love the chance to yarn further about how I can contribute to your team and bring strong cultural values to the workplace.”
Final Word
Your cover letter is where you can stand proud and say:
This is me. This is what I bring. This is why I’m ready.
No one can tell your story the way you can. Write it strong, write it true, and always write with pride.
At Thanbarran Careers, we’re here to back you every step of the way.
You’ve got this, and we’ve got you.