I’m not sure on the covering letter, but I passed the required benchmark and didn’t get any further a couple of times a few yrs back so I did a bit more on the answers to the 70 questions , I then got to the hiring manager but didn’t get selected. Then next time I really went to town on the 70 questions, not rambling but gave a lot of thought to how things were worded especially on the questions of anything to do with safe working practices, did them on a word doc due to the time and then pasted them in. Give well worded short sharp examples, it paid off in the end. Also , I know it’s been pointed out before but don’t make anything up for the questions about the railway related ones if you have no experience, just put N/A , not only will the LOM spot it a mile off I’ve had it on good authority that the application won’t get considered. some still do and I was told that Basically it’s lying to get a job where honesty is one of there key requirements. They know you’ve no experience, it’s just it’s the same form for internal as external jobs. Good luck everyone applying. It’s a great job, you still get tough days and can be called on in a second to make critical safety decisions , and not for some who don’t like being on their own for 12 hrs , but if it’s for you it’s worth the extra time an effort on the application.