The first paragraph of a cover letter should include information about who you are, where you saw or heard about the job you are applying for, and why you are a strong candidate.

Begin your cover letter introduction by mentioning the position you’re applying for, the company name, and where you found the listing, like so:

I was excited to see the advertisement for the role of Customer Service Officer at LabTech on Seek last week.

If you have connections at the company or if someone recommended you for the position, this is when you should mention them. For example:

My former classmate at the University of NSW, Kylie Smith did work experience with LabTech in 2019 and speaks enthusiastically about the culture of the organisation. She recommended I apply.

Introduce your experience and qualifications and explain why you are excited about the role and why you believe you are a strong candidate.

As a passionate, award winning customer experience professional, with over 10 years’ experience in similar positions within the industry, I am confident that I would add value to the team at LabTech.

When you pull it all together, the first paragraph of your cover letter should read something like this:

I was excited to see the advertisement for the role of Customer Service Officer at LabTech on Seek last week. My former classmate at the University of NSW, Kylie Smith did work experience with LabTech in 2019 and speaks enthusiastically about the culture of the organisation. She recommended I apply. As a passionate, award winning customer experience professional, with over 10 years’ experience in similar positions within the industry, I am confident that I would add value to the team at LabTech.