Top 12 tips for writing an effective firefighter cover letter
1. Job cover letter, application tips, interview questions – free pdf download Page 1 of 15
Top 12 tips for writing an effective
firefighter cover letter
Other useful materials for firefighter interview: 50 firefighter interview
questions, 440 behavioral interview questions, 290 competency based interview
questions, top 36 situational interview questions, 95 management interview
questions and answers, 45 internship interview questions, 13 types of interview
questions and how to face them.
2. Job cover letter, application tips, interview questions – free pdf download Page 2 of 15
1.Do your homework
Find subtle ways to demonstrate
your knowledge of the
organization. Weave in some
dialogue that reflects their
history, their products, their
messaging, etc. You’ve got a
limited amount of space to let
the reader know you’re their guy
(or girl). Remember, you want
to be perceived as a natural fit
and someone who ―gets‖ the
company.
3. Job cover letter, application tips, interview questions – free pdf download Page 3 of 15
2.Writer unique cover letter
Always customize your cover letter
for the position you are applying to.
Sending the same letter to each
position will not only make you
sound generic, but it will also leave
room for costly mistakes like
having the wrong company name.
4. Job cover letter, application tips, interview questions – free pdf download Page 4 of 15
3.First Paragraph and last line
Don't waffle in your first
paragraph, make the reason
you're writing clear and sell
yourself; writing what makes
you better than others straight
off. Finish with a call to
action, request they contact
you for a meeting or
interview and let them know
you will be in touch to
discuss.
5. Job cover letter, application tips, interview questions – free pdf download Page 5 of 15
4.Provide quality evidence of your qualities
Pick out the top 3 or 5 (max)
qualities the employer is
seeking in their advert or job
specification if there is one.
These should be qualities that
you have already covered in
your CV.
And they should be the 3 to 5
things that you refer to - not
explain - briefly in your
covering letter. Provide
concrete examples and solid
numbers wherever you can.
6. Job cover letter, application tips, interview questions – free pdf download Page 6 of 15
5.Don't repeat your résumé
While your cover letter should
reference material from your
résumé, it shouldn't simply be a
word-for-word repeat. Use the
cover letter to expand where
necessary and discuss your listed
experiences from a different angle.
Craft the letter to acknowledge the
requirements of the role and
culture of the organization, while
highlighting the skills and
experiences that align with the job
description.
7. Job cover letter, application tips, interview questions – free pdf download Page 7 of 15
6.Emphasize your personal value
Hiring managers are looking for people who
can help them solve problems. Drawing on the
research you did earlier, show that you know
what the company does and some of the
challenges it faces. These don’t need to be
specific but you might mention a trend that’s
affected the industry. For example, you might
write, ―A lot of healthcare companies are
grappling with how the changing laws will
affect their ability to provide high-quality
care.‖ Then talk about how your experience
has equipped you to meet those needs;
perhaps explain how you solved a similar
problem in the past or share a relevant
accomplishment.
8. Job cover letter, application tips, interview questions – free pdf download Page 8 of 15
7.Avoid spelling and grammar mistakes.
Nothing says loser like a cover
letter filled with spelling and/or
grammatical errors.
What do such mistakes convey
to a potential employer? They
suggest that you do sloppy
work, that you don’t pay much
attention to detail, that you
don’t care enough to do a good
job, that you’re uneducated, or
that you’re not very bright.
9. Job cover letter, application tips, interview questions – free pdf download Page 9 of 15
8.Relevant and brief
A well written letter
should draw the recruiter's
eye to relevant experience
on your CV. It is a,
admittedly brief, space in
which you draw a positive
pen-picture of you in the
mind of the employer.
Ensure it is never more
than a page long.
10. Job cover letter, application tips, interview questions – free pdf download Page 10 of 15
9.Be professional
Present yourself as a competent
pro — or at least an amateur on
the rise. Employers want to hire
competent professionals with
strong skills. It’s too risky to hire
people who position themselves
as emotionally immature and
unprofessional.
11. Job cover letter, application tips, interview questions – free pdf download Page 11 of 15
10.Contact details
Where ever possible send
your letter and CV to a
named individual,
particularly if it is more of
an enquiry than a specific
role application. Research
using websites, ask friends
and colleagues if they know
of anyone or ring through to
reception and get yourself a
name and job title. It will
look a lot better than sir/
madam.
12. Job cover letter, application tips, interview questions – free pdf download Page 12 of 15
11.Apply locally.
If you’re applying for work far from
where you live, you’d better explain
why in your cover letter. And your
explanation should sound plausible.
Otherwise the employer may wonder:
Why is this person looking for work so
far from home? Are they unable to find
work locally? They must not be very
good.
13. Job cover letter, application tips, interview questions – free pdf download Page 13 of 15
12.Don't sound generic
The hiring manager reads tons of
cover letters a day. Writing "I am
interested in this job because..." or "I
would be a great asset to the company
because..." doesn't stand out.
15. Job cover letter, application tips, interview questions – free pdf download Page 15 of 15
Other job application tips
1. Practice types of job interview such as screening interview, phone interview, second interview,
situational interview, behavioral interview (competency based), technical interview, group
interview…
2. Send interview thank you letter to employers after finishing the job interview: first interview,
follow-up interview, final interview.
3. If you want more interview questions for entry-level, internship, freshers, experienced
candidates, you can ref free ebook: 75 interview questions and answers.
4. Prepare list of questions in order to ask the employer during job interview.
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