Learn how to write a cover letter with no experience, a first job cover letter, or an entry-level cover letter that makes the best impression. It's easier than you think!
Career Expert
Seeing a targeted cover letter is what recruiters crave. More than 50% of them want applicants to attach one to the resume. So get your entry-level cover letter right the first time around and give your resume an extra boost.
Good news. You’re just a few steps away from writing a perfect piece.
In this cover letter guide, you’ll see:
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You've written a great entry-level resume. Now take a look at a sample entry-level cover letter:
23-18 31st St
Astoria, NY 11105
(718) 555-4321
jess.parrish@gmail.com
Ms. Roberta Houston
Head of Human Resources
Mad Women Advertising
20 W 34th St.
New York, NY 10001
Dear Ms. Houston,
As a years-long SWA client, I was elated to see the opening you’ve advertised for a cloud engineer/technician. I have several accomplishments under my belt in the cloud area, such as my 33% decrease in onboarding time, and I’d love to continue these wins with SWA.
During my IT studies at university, I had several proud achievements which would translate well to the open position, and I’d love the opportunity to bring similar results to SWA. Some of those achievements include:
Securing the cloud engineer position at SWA would really be the highlight of my twenties. I’ve long been a fan of your company and its culture, and I’d be honored to bring my skill set and know-how over as a new employee.
I would be delighted for the chance to prove that my successes throughout university can be replicated and built upon for a career at SWA.
P.S.—I would love the opportunity to sit down with you and show you how my 33% decrease in onboarding time could be replicated and improved upon at SWA.
Remember that first impression thing? Better not blow it with bad a cover letter format. Know how to write a cover letter that reads like poetry. Create a neat and elegant entry-level cover letter outline by following a few simple rules.
An has to be tailored to the specific entry-level position you are applying for. It should concisely describe your relevant experience, skills, education on a resume, and experience that make you the best fit for the job.
Now let’s see how to write a cover letter for entry-level positions.
Expert Hint: A cover letter adds a human touch to your job application, but don’t be too relaxed. It is still a formal letter, so make sure you treat it like one!
A professional cover letter heading comprises three parts: your details, the date, and then their info.
At the very top goes your contact info:
Astoria, NY 11105
Next is the cover letter date:
Finally, add the manager’s contact info below the date:
Ms. Roberta Houston
Head of Human Resources
Mad Women Advertising
New York, NY 10001
Add the addressee’s name, followed by their professional title, followed by the company name and address for the best cover letter header. That’s how to address a cover letter.
But how do you address a cover letter without contact details? Just skip the specific hiring manager or employer name (and their title, of course).
Expert Hint: Leave off any extra details which you may have included in your first-time resume, such as social profile links, personal website URLs, your LinkedIn profile, etc. Cover letters don’t require these, and the hiring manager can get them from your resume anyway.
First, one more easy item—the cover letter greeting: Dear Ms. Houston,
What if you don’t know the manager’s name? Forget that “To whom it may concern” phrase. Go for “Dear Hiring Manager”. It makes a better impression and sounds less generic. The right salutation won’t get their attention, though. What will?
Ever watched Shark Tank? Contestants compete for business investment by trying to woo them with initial proposals and promises of guaranteed ROI. Your entry-level cover letter introduction is similar, but you have just a sentence or two to catch their fancy.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Any healthy relationship needs to be balanced, and a working relationship is no different. So, in this body section of your cover letter with no experience, you’ve got to show them both why you’re the ideal hire for them and how they are the company of your dreams.
This body could be one lengthy paragraph, but I’d suggest two paragraphs. Since you’re courting them, put their interests first:
During my IT studies at university, I had several proud achievements which would translate well to the open position, and I’d love the opportunity to bring similar results to SWA. Some of those achievements include:
This cover letter sample shows them you know your stuff with numbers, quantifying it to prove what you’re saying is true. Plus it shows your enthusiasm, too.
Now, let them know why they’re your ideal workplace:
Securing the cloud engineer position at SWA would really be the highlight of my twenties. I’ve long been a fan of your company and its culture, and I’d be honored to bring my skill set and know-how over as a new employee.
How about that example cover letter paragraph? It’s about you, yeah, but it’s still really about them. You compliment them fully, and they can feel that they’d be getting a dedicated team member were they to hire you.
Expert Hint: Use active voice on your first-time cover letter. Don’t say “the team was trained by me” (that’s passive voice). Instead, say “I trained the team.” It’s clear and concise.
Like our beginning, the closing of a cover letter consists of three parts: a closing sentence or two, the complimentary close, and your signature.
Here’s an example cover letter closing statement:
I would be delighted for the chance to prove that my successes throughout university can be replicated and built upon for a career at SWA.
It’s a simple call-to-action which sums it all up nicely by insisting that you deserve that entry-level interview. Then, just the complimentary close: Sincerely,
And then your name, and done! “Regards” will also work, but if you want even more good cover letter alternatives, head on over to our guide on ending a cover letter properly.
Expert Hint: To really catch their attention, speak in the company’s “voice.” Check their website’s about page. For example, if they're upbeat and enthusiastic, use that style in your cover letter. Likewise, if they are formal and professional, be more reserved on your no-experience cover letter.
Whether it’s a first cover letter or an executive cover letter with decades of experience, here’s one trick which works:
Add a postscript (that “P.S.”) after your signature. A postscript is meant to be used as an afterthought, but we’ll use this clever cover letter hack instead to show forethought.
Here’s an example of a cover letter postscript:
P.S.—I would love the opportunity to sit down with you and show you how my 33% decrease in onboarding time could be replicated and improved upon at SWA.
A postscript on an entry-level cover letter makes a great hack. It always draws the HR manager’s eyes, even if they hadn’t read the rest of your cover letter. Not only is this letter of interest sample postscript personalized to them, but they’ll be all but powerless not to go back to the beginning and give your cover letter a thorough read!
Expert Hint: How long should a cover letter be? Your cover letter should fill between half and three-quarters of a single page. Keep it three to four body paragraphs in length, which is about 200 - 300 words. Got more to say? Address it during the interview!
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To sum up how to write an entry-level cover letter for a job application, keep these key points in mind:
Have any questions on how to write a great entry-level cover letter? Let’s discuss it here below in the comments, and, as always, thanks for reading!
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Written by Christian EilersCareer expert who has been sharing his expert knowledge since 2017. His advice will guide you smoothly through all recruitment processes: from job hunting to getting a promotion. Christian offers comprehensive advice on career development and each step of the job search, from start to finish and beyond. His guides cover looking for new jobs, sending application documents such as resumes and cover letters, acing interview questions, and settling into the new position. Since 2017, he has written over 200 in-depth, meticulously-researched career advice articles in collaboration with the most renowned career experts in the world. Hundreds of thousands of readers visit Christian’s articles each month.
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Maciej Duszynski, CPRW
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert
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