{"id":2041,"date":"2022-12-09T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T16:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/?p=2041"},"modified":"2024-04-18T10:13:39","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T14:13:39","slug":"entry-level-cover-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/basics\/entry-level-cover-letter","title":{"rendered":"How to Write an Entry-Level Cover Letter (Example)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Writing an entry-level cover letter<\/a> \u2014 when you have little to no work experience \u2014 can be confusing and stressful. What do you write when you feel like you don\u2019t have work to talk about? How do you show a company you want to work there when you haven\u2019t worked much before? Here’s your step-by-step guide for writing an impressive, successful entry-level cover letter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entry-level Cover Letter Example<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Harriet Spacemen
Brooklyn, NY
123-456-7890
harriet@example.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n

February 7th, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kate Norman
Engineering Lead
Example Company
New York, NY<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Kate,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m writing to express my interest in the junior software engineer<\/a> position at Company X. I\u2019ve recently graduated with a computer science degree, and my technical skills and demonstrated passion for equity in health care make me an ideal candidate for this role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During my time at Sample University, I deepened my understanding of software development through coursework in front-end engineering, programming, and quality assurance<\/a>. In my senior year, I combined my advocacy for health care<\/a> access and engineering skills by creating a web application \u2014 using Python and SQL<\/a> \u2014 that helps patients find available doctor\u2019s appointments near them that accept their insurance. Outside of my coursework, I volunteered at the local hospital and job shadowed<\/a> a nurse, giving me insight into hospital administration and patient pain points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My experience working directly with health care<\/a> patients and my passion for improving this sector give me an empathetic, patient-first focus in my engineering work. This focus aligns with your company\u2019s mission, and I believe my engineering approach would be an asset to your team. I look forward to meeting with you and further discussing my qualifications. Thank you for your consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best,
Harriet Spacemen<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Career Readiness<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Learn how to communicate your skills and experience to secure your dream job.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAvg. Time:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t5.5-7 hours\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPitching, writing, researching, communication\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

Breaking It Down: What Goes Into a Good Cover Letter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Header<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The header of your cover letter contains all your crucial contact information: your name, number, and email. It should also include the date you\u2019re sending in your application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, the header should contain information about the company. You want to include the company name and the hiring manager\u2019s name (if you have it \u2014 more on how to find that in the next section). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many cover letter examples also include addresses for both the applicant and employer. However, including a full address is optional, especially if you\u2019re applying for a remote role. You can include it in the header if you\u2019re applying for a position that requires you to be in a particular city or state. (There\u2019s no need to include your full street address \u2014 just your city and state should do.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greeting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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For the greeting, you\u2019ll want to use a professional salutation like \u201cDear,\u201d and address the hiring manager<\/a> by name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the job description states the title of the person you\u2019d be reporting to, you can try to find their name from the company\u2019s LinkedIn<\/a> page,\u201d Daniel Catalan, professional resume and cover letter builder, says. \u201cYou can click on a list of all of the employees and put the manager\u2019s title into the filters.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Building Your Personal Brand<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Your brand matters \u2014 especially when you're looking for jobs online. Learn how to develop and promote your personal brand on LinkedIn with this program from Ashurst.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAvg. Time:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t4.5-6 hours\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tImage, online presence management, LinkedIn, personal brand toolkit\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve done your due diligence and still can\u2019t find the hiring manager\u2019s name, Catalan recommends not<\/em> using the traditional \u201cto whom it may concern.\u201d Instead, he suggests addressing the letter to \u201cTeam X at Company Y.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You want to show the hiring team you\u2019ve done your research right from the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Paragraph: Share Your Enthusiasm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Use the opening paragraph of a cover letter to express your excitement about this role. However, this is not just about flattering the employer. You also want to show them why you\u2019re specifically excited about the opportunity and how it aligns with your experience and interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCandidates need to explain why they want the job and what experience, volunteer work, or education they have that is relevant,\u201d says Wendy Reimann, owner and writer at Lighthouse Writing, a writing and editing services company. \u201cIt confuses managers and recruiters when someone with a major in biology applies for a job in marketing<\/a>. Tell them why.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second (and Third) Paragraph: Show Your Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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In this next section, expand on the experience and interests you mentioned in the first section. Don\u2019t worry if you don\u2019t have years of experience behind you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRecruiters don\u2019t expect entry-level applicants to have a wealth of professional experience,\u201d Tim Toterhi, CHRO and ICF certified career coach<\/a>, says. \u201cWe do, however, expect you to be adaptable<\/a>, teachable, and able to solve problems<\/a>. Volunteer work, school projects, even hobbies can help you demonstrate your skill set.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider how all your experiences, whether professional or not, have prepared you for this role and what hard and soft skills<\/a> you\u2019ve learned. Remember, this cover letter complements your resume, so you don\u2019t need to worry about stuffing every experience and skill into a paragraph or two. Instead, focus on what\u2019s most relevant to the company and its goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Build skills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gain career skills employers are looking for on your cover letter with Forage job simulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Get started<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRead up on what the company is actively working on and show you can bring unconventional solutions,\u201d Catalan says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing Paragraph: Call to Action<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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The last paragraph of an entry-level cover letter is meant to restate your qualifications for this role, discuss the next steps, and thank them for their time. In the first sentence or two, summarize why you\u2019re excited about the role and what makes you specifically right for the position. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, mention next steps with a call to action. For example, you might say that you look forward to meeting with them in an interview<\/a> or remind them how they can best reach you to discuss your application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, thank the reader for their time reviewing your application. It\u2019s essential to end on a high note, so make sure you share some gratitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signature<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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You\u2019ve made it to the last (and perhaps easiest!) part of the cover letter! Your signature should include a professional sign-off and your full name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>MORE: <\/strong>Learn eight professional email sign-offs to use and six to avoid with How to End an Email Professionally (With Examples)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Entry-Level Cover Letter Writing Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n