What Is a Cover Letter? What Makes a Good One (And Why It Matters)

Learn what to include, why it matters, and how a strong cover letter can help your job applications stand out.

A cover letter is one of the most misunderstood parts of a job application.

Some people see it as optional. Others, as outdated. Many aren’t quite sure what a cover letter is supposed to do or what makes a good cover letter in the first place.

In simple terms, a cover letter is a short document that introduces you to an employer. It explains why you’re applying, and highlights why you’d be a good fit for the role.

When it’s done well, a good cover letter doesn’t repeat your resume it adds context, personality, and intent.

Tip: One perspective you might consider is viewing your cover letter as an extra advertising channel. When you send your cover letter with a resume, you have two opportunities to be noticed. 

While the principles in this guide apply to how to write a cover letter for any job application, we regularly see how much a strong cover letter matters in industries like mining, where hiring decisions are often made quickly, but first impressions still count.

Here’s what a cover letter is, what makes a good cover letter, and why it still matters.

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a brief written introduction that accompanies your resume as part of a job application. It’s usually the first thing a recruiter or hiring manager reads.

Unlike a resume listing your experience, accomplishments, qualifications and dates, a cover letter explains:

• Why you’re applying for the role
• Why you’re interested in the company
• What makes you suitable for the position

In other words, if your resume shows what you’ve done, your cover letter explains why it matters. 

What makes a good cover letter?

A good cover letter isn’t long. It's not complicated. And it definitely isn’t generic.

A good cover letter:

• Feels written for somebody's benefit
• Is tailored to the role and company
• Makes it clear why you’re applying
• Highlights your most relevant experience (and an achievement that gets read)
• Sounds like you, not a template or a robot. (Just in case you were thinking of asking AI to write it for you)

Recruiters read hundreds of applications. Great cover letters help yours feel considered, deliberate, and worth reading properly.

Why cover letters still matter

Including a cover letter with your job application might feel old-fashioned, especially in industries where demand for skills is high.

But a cover letter still matters because it shows effort and intent. It tells the recruiter or the employer that you didn’t just click “apply” and hope for the best.

Unbeknown to you, not including a cover letter can quietly raise questions about:

• How seriously you want the role
• Whether you understand the company
• The effort you’re willing to put into your application

A strong cover letter shows professionalism and respect

At its most basic level, a cover letter is a professional courtesy. It’s a short note that says: “Here’s why I’m applying, and here’s why you should consider me.”

That simple act signals respect for an employer's time and respect for the process.

A well-written cover letter suggests you’re thoughtful, prepared, and aware that applying for a job is more than just submitting a resume.

A cover letter that shows your personality gets you noticed

Your resume is factual by design. It lists roles, responsibilities and achievements, but it doesn’t say much about who you are.

A cover letter fills that gap. It gives an employer a sense of:

• How you communicate
• What motivates you
• How you might fit into a team

For employers, that human context matters just as much as skills and experience.

A thoughtful cover letter shows interest in the company

One of the clearest signs of a good cover letter is specificity.

When you mention the company, its work, or the role itself, you show that:

• You’ve done your research
• You’re not applying blindly
• You’re interested in this role,  not just any 

This matters even more in industries like mining, where employers want to know you understand their operations, sites, and way of working not just the job title. It’s still important in competitive job markets, where small details help applications stand out.

A great cover letter explains why you’re a strong candidate

Your cover letter is the best place to guide the recruiter’s attention.

Rather than listing everything you’ve done, you should highlight:

• The experience most relevant to the role
• Key skills that match the job description
• Achievements you want the recruiter to notice

Because the cover letter is usually read first, it shapes the way your resume is interpreted.

What should a cover letter include?

If you’re wondering how to write a cover letter, start with the basics.

A solid cover letter typically includes:

• A brief introduction
• Why you’re applying
• Why you’re suited to the role (try and list an achievement if you have one)
• A short, professional closing

One final tip before you hit “submit”

Before you send your application, read your cover letter out loud.

It sounds simple, but it’s one of the fastest ways to spot problems. You’ll notice:

• Sentences that feel stiff or over-formal
• Phrases that don’t sound like something you’d actually say
• Repetition between your cover letter and your resume
• Any missed words or spelling errors (it happens)

An effective cover letter should sound like a professional version of you. Clear, confident, and considered. If it reads well out loud, chances are it reads well to your reader, too.

Thinking about your next mining role?

If you’re applying for mining jobs or just keeping an eye on what’s coming up, why not register with us today. We're always happy to share what's happening across the market, including the latest job opportunities. 

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