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Employee Relations Manager Cover Letter Template

Professional template and example for Australian job applications

Employee Relations Manager Cover Letter Example

Dear Hiring Manager, I’ve spent the last eight years shaping workplace relations at scale, and I’ve helped [Previous Company] stabilise a volatile industrial relations climate by implementing a clear, practical performance framework that mates up with real business needs. In one year, I cut grievances by a third and trimmed HR overhead by streamlining case handling with a standardised intake process. I’m drawn to [Company Name] because I see a similar emphasis on balanced, compliant people outcomes that support productivity. In this role I’ll bring strong skills in performance management, recruitment and selection, and union negotiations. I understand the need to design policies that are fair and compliant with employment laws, while still being practical for line managers to apply. I’ve helped teams develop training and development plans, and I’ve advised managers on how to run effective performance reviews that actually drive improvements without creating distance between staff and leadership. One example from my time at [Previous Company] involved a large section of frontline staff with inconsistent performance metrics. I worked with union reps to renegotiate a new pay-for-performance scheme, aligned with formal appraisal timelines, and rolled out targeted coaching for supervisors. The result was a noticeable uptick in productivity and fewer escalation cases over the following six months, along with clearer redundancy policies and better cost monitoring. I’d welcome the chance to discuss how my hands-on, no-nonsense approach could fit with your team. I’m available for a chat when convenient and can provide specific references and a more detailed plan for [Company Name]. Kind regards, [Your Name]

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Matches your experience to job requirements

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What happens next: Our AI will match your skills to the job requirements, highlight relevant achievements, and create a compelling narrative that positions you as the ideal candidate.

Why This Employee Relations Manager Cover Letter Works

Opening Paragraph

Hook with specific achievement + role alignment

Skills Match

Maps experience to job needs + company research

STAR Example

Situation-Task-Action-Result with numbers

Professional Close

Forward momentum + availability

Key Requirements for Employee Relations Manager Roles

Essential Skills to Highlight

Make sure your cover letter demonstrates these key skills:

human resource managementperformance management systemsrecruitment and selection practicesnegotiations with unionscompliance with employment lawsemployee training and developmentworkplace relationscost monitoring and productivity analysis

Tip: Include specific examples of how you've used these skills in your STAR example paragraph.

Core Responsibilities to Address

Align your experience with these typical responsibilities:

  • Plans
  • organises
  • directs
  • controls and coordinates the human resource and workplace relations activities within an organisation.
  • Determines
  • ...and more

Tip: Reference 2-3 of these responsibilities when describing your relevant experience.

Employee Relations Manager Cover Letter Best Practices

Structure (4 Paragraphs)

Opening (40-60 words): State the role and company, plus one compelling hook
Match (100-130 words): Map 2-3 achievements to their top requirements
Proof (80-100 words): One detailed STAR example with quantified results
Close (30-40 words): Confirm fit and invite discussion

Essential Requirements

  • • Length: 250-350 words (one A4 page)
  • • Australian English spelling and dates (DD/MM/YYYY)
  • • Address to specific person when possible
  • • No photos or personal details (DOB, etc.)

What Makes It Strong

  • • Specific achievements with numbers
  • • Company research in second paragraph
  • • Keywords from the job description
  • • Professional but personable tone

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • • Generic opening lines
  • • Repeating your CV chronologically
  • • Including salary unless asked
  • • Exceeding one page