How to write a cover letter for university application

[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[47 Company Address]
[Company City, State xxxxx]
[(xxx) xxx-xxxx]
[]

Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms.] [Manager’s Name],

My name is [Name] and I’m pleased to be applying for the position of [Position] at [Company Name]. I was ecstatic to find this opening at [Website/Job Board] and feel that my skills and studies make me a perfect fit for the role.

As a senior at UCLA in the English department, I have a wealth of experience in conducting research and compiling written reports and analyses of my findings. My time studying abroad in the UK allowed me to hone my interview, research, and writing skills, culminating in the approval of a 6,500-word thesis. Furthermore, my work as a tutor required extensive time management and collaboration efforts, preparing me for the deadlines and team demands of [Position] at [Company].

Some highlights from my relevant experiences include:

•      Conducting research spanning 3 cities in the UK, interviewing over 10 individuals
•      Improving tutoring-subject writing scores by 40%
•      Receiving an average score of 9/10 on tutor review surveys

What draws me most to [Company] is your work in the international publishing field. Having studied the effects of literature overseas, I believe I can lend some expertise to your efforts to research and development new techniques for breaking into international markets.

I’ve enclosed my resume, which further details my education and experience. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my skills and qualifications in person at your earliest convenience. Please reach me by email at [Email Address] or by phone at [Phone Number]. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Whether you’re writing a resume as a college freshman or have a couple of years as an undergraduate, having limited work experience is an obstacle as you search for jobs.

But even if you don’t have much experience to highlight, you likely possess valuable hard and soft skills that employers are looking for.

Showcase these skills — and your passion to succeed — in a well-written cover letter.

Our in-house expert, Chloe, provides some tips on how to write a college student cover letter (also known as a resume cover page) that’ll secure you an internship or your first job offer out of college:

And here are some more in-depth tips about writing a college cover letter with no experience:

1. Highlight the skills you gained in college

Even if you have little or no work experience, you still probably have skills for your resume that employers are looking for.

Whether it’s from a part-time job, volunteer work, relevant coursework, or college clubs, you’ve picked up a variety of transferable skills as a student (whether you realize it or not).

Here are some of the skills you might’ve gained throughout your academic career that you can include on your college student cover letter:

Skills to highlight on a college student cover letter

Provide examples of when you used these skills in your cover letter, but only include accomplishments that illustrate why you’re a good candidate for your target role.

For example, if you’re writing an entry-level hair stylist cover letter, talk about how you loved giving your friends and family makeovers when you were growing up, like this candidate did:

When you lack experience, emphasizing your passion about the industry and relevant skills you’ve picked up elsewhere improves your chances of landing a job.

2. Use a proper cover letter format

Formatting your cover letter properly ensures you make the best first impression for what may be your first job.

A disorganized or unprofessional cover letter won’t impress hiring managers, especially if they have dozens of other applications to choose from instead.

A well-written cover letter indicates you know how to be professional despite lacking work experience. It also shows employers you’re serious about the job since you’ve taken the time to make your application look as professional as possible.

Here are tips on how to format your cover letter properly:

• Include an introduction, two to three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
• Keep the font size between 10.5 and 12 points (be sure to choose a professional cover letter font).
• Make sure the margins are ½”–1” on all sides side.

3. Open with a strong introduction

Knowing how to write a compelling cover letter introduction is especially important for entry-level cover letters. Because you have less industry-specific experience to highlight, summarize your skills and explain why they’ll help you adapt to your first job out of college.

Here are some tips for how to write a cover letter introduction:

• Convey enthusiasm for the company and the role. Explain why you’re interested in the job so employers know you have the drive to succeed.
• Identify the skills that are most essential to the role and include relevant accomplishments that highlight them.
• Research the company so you can market your talents effectively. Knowing what its long-term goals are will help you write an impactful introduction because you can emphasize how your talents will help deliver these long-term goals in your cover letter.

The following is a good example of how to combine these elements to create a strong cover letter introduction:

In this example, the candidate demonstrates their excitement at the opportunity of working for the company and highlights the qualities that make them a good fit.