wuddie said:
don't spend too much time on the wrapping, it is the good that matters. so try not to stress about the cover letter, rather spend your effort on the resume itself.
and for god sakes, it is a cadetship, they won't be too judgemental about it.
no no no WRONG! i've worked in HR/recruitment and the cover letter is the first thing they look at. it absolutely has to be done right if it's a competitive job. how much detail you have to go into is really dependent on what the job is, i tend to keep them short and to the point. however, if it's something with required experiences etc of course you'd go into them.
this is one that i recently got complemented on and am about to do my 3rd interview for, like i said, short and to the point - but also clear and articulate:
26-June-2007
Dear Ms M_____
I am writing to apply for the position of Offices Service Assistant as advertised on
http://www.seek.com.au on 26-06-2007.
I feel that I possess many of the qualities which you are looking for, and if given the opportunity could truly succeed in this position. I am articulate, motivated, reliable and able to adapt to a number of situations to perform at a high standard. I have just completed the third semester of my L.L.B/B Communications, and am now on an 18 month leave of absence. I am passionate about the law and would love the opportunity to work in a legal environment during my absence from tertiary studies.
Thank you for reviewing my application, and I hope you will consider me for this exciting opportunity. I look forward to discussing this position further, and can be contacted on ____ if you feel that I am an appropriate candidate.
Sincerely,
Erin C____
however that was for a general position with little to no selection criteria. ALWAYS ADDRESS THE CRITERIA, if there's not much you could do it in a cover letter (although, like I said, I recommend keeping those short, a page at most), otherwise do it on top of your resume
anyway - I temp at the moment and I've done most of it in HR and recruitment so if you have any questions about the actual process, ask me.