how to sell yourself in a cover letter with no experience

Writing an articulate cover letter is challenging for all job seekers. But if you have little or no work experience in a field, the stakes are higher. It’s more challenging to prove your value when you don’t have a series of professional accomplishments to back up your assertions. On the bright side, you probably have more to offer an employer than you realize. You just have to package your strengths the right way.

In this article, you’re going to learn how to write a cover letter for a job with no experience in that field. And we’ll look at a full sample after going through the steps.

Let’s get started…

How to Write a Cover Letter With No Experience

1. the main purpose of your cover letter with no experience.

The purpose of a cover letter is to complement your resume and convince more employers to interview you. You may refer to your resume when writing a cover letter for a job application, but you must expand upon points made in the resume when writing the cover letter.

The cover letter should breathe life into the points made in the resume, and create a compelling—or even emotional—narrative around your career hopes and aspirations . It’s your chance to tell your story and show that you have the passion and the drive to come into a job and make a difference.

And at the end, it should ASK for the interview. We’ll talk about that coming up. Let’s get started by going through how to write a cover letter with no experience, step-by-step…

2. Cover Letter Contact Information

When beginning a cover letter for a job application, start with your contact details in the top left-hand corner of the page. Include your name, city of residence, phone number, and email address. (To preserve your privacy, do not include your physical address). You should also include your LinkedIn URL. Next, write the name of the company you’re applying to, and its city of residence.

3. Your Salutation

Ideally, you address your reader by name in your salutation. Internet sleuthing may reveal the name of the hiring manager. If you can’t find a name, you have two options: call the organization and ask to learn more about the position, or write “Dear ” or “Dear Hiring Manager.”

This isn’t ideal, though. You should really only be sending a cover letter if you know the hiring manager’s name and have some specific information about the position. So if you know nothing specific about the hiring manager or job, and the company hasn’t asked for a cover letter specifically, then you probably don’t need to send it .

4. Cover Letter Introduction

Use this section of your cover letter to introduce yourself and share your enthusiasm and why you applied for the position .

Start with your name and provide some background on your strengths. Always identify the position you’re seeking and how you learned about it. If someone at the company told you about the job, then mention that person’s name (only after asking their permission, though). Aim for one to two sentences in your Introduction—keep it short, sweet, and precise.

Example Cover Letter Introduction with No Experience in the Field:

“Hello, my name is Grace Addington, and I’m a goal- and detail-oriented civil engineering graduate from Petaluma College. I was excited to learn about the Junior Engineer internship at Bay Area Rapid Transportation through my former classmate Katie Heinz.”

5. Body Paragraphs

Here comes the most critical part of writing a cover letter with no experience. The purpose of your body paragraphs (one to two brief paragraphs, tops) is to prove that you’re the best candidate for the position. Seeing as how you have little or no previous professional work experience to fall back on, you’ll want to place emphasis on soft skills —attributes of a personal nature that say a lot about your work ethic and ability to work in sync with others. Or, if you have job-related skills (AKA hard skills) from another type of role, point out how those skills will help you transition into this next job and succeed quickly.

That’s what hiring managers are looking for! So while it’s great to write about soft skills and put together a cover letter talking about how you’re willing to learn their job… it’s much better to point out any hands-on experience that you have. So if you’re able, always highlight that first and foremost.

For example, if you had an internship, worked in an unrelated field, did a few academic projects while studying, gave a presentation, etc., those are still valuable pieces to put on your resume AND in your cover letter.

Your resume likely already consists of part-time jobs or school activities or memberships in school associations that maybe aren’t 100% related to the job you’re going after.

Look closer, though—you’ve probably garnered skills in these experiences that can carry over to the job you’re applying for. Below are two examples of cover letter body paragraphs that hone in on two key phrases noted in a job advertisement as requirements: “strong interpersonal skills” and “positive work ethic.” You should be able to figure out pretty quickly which example hits the mark.

Let’s look at two sample paragraphs now from cover letters with no experience in a field:

“I am Twig & Twine’s ideal office manager. As my resume states, I served as an RA at my dorm. I know how to manage an array of things.”

“You’re looking for a candidate with strong interpersonal skills and a positive work ethic. While serving as an RA at Porter College’s main dormitory, I planned monthly social events for over 200 students, settled two to five student disputes per week, and mentored a select group of students in Composition. The experience taught me, rather quickly, how to efficiently multi-task, and how to effectively settle conflicts of all types in a calm, level-headed manner. I feel confident stating that I can bring these talents to Twig & Twine’s office manager position.”

The second example takes the duties that likely appeared in the RA position on the resume and then digs deep, illustrating how the tackling of those duties turned into accomplishments, and led the applicant to grow the crucial skills needed for the office manager position.

One last thing about body paragraphs—remember to frame your message around the employer’s needs, and not yours. Focus on what you can bring to the job, and how your talents will translate into success for the company. That’s important in any cover letter, and becomes even more crucial in a cover letter with no previous work experience.

6. Concluding Your Cover Letter

End your cover letter by reiterating why you’re the best candidate and express your interest once again in the position. And ask them for the interview! It’s surprising but most job seekers don’t do this, and it’s been shown to improve your chances of getting a call to come in for an interview!

So conclude your cover letter by thanking the reader for the time they took to review your application, and tell them you’d like to find a time to meet for an interview to see if it might be a good fit to work together. To close, sign off formally. Try “Respectfully yours” or “Sincerely.”

7. Proofread Everything

Before sending out your new cover letter, read it out loud to catch errors quickly. Ask a trustworthy person to read it as well. Nothing stops you from getting interviews faster than an obvious typo or error in your cover letter or resume, and you only have to check once, but make sure you’re checking it thoroughly!

8. Save it as a PDF

Once the content is finalized, save it as a PDF and title it “ Cover Letter” to prevent confusion. Voila! You’re done. If you follow the tips above, you’ll have a great cover letter with no experience so you can get interviews and job offers in this new field!

Sample Cover Letter With No Experience in Field:

Next, let’s look at a full sample of a cover letter that explains why you’d fit well in a role ( and why you chose to apply for this type of role ):

Dear Name, I’m writing to you regarding the Sales Associate job posting, which I believe reports to you. I can offer 5+ years of experience working directly with customers over the phone and in person, primarily in customer support. Although I haven’t worked directly in sales, my customer support experience has helped me build skills in communication, persuasion, and problem-solving, which I believe will translate well into selling software subscriptions for your firm. I’m motivated to transition into sales to continue challenging myself and growing in my career, and I’ve always enjoyed a challenge, which I think working in sales will provide me. I’ve attached my resume for your review. If any of the above sounds interesting, I’d welcome the chance to talk on the phone this week. Thanks for considering my note today. Best regards, Your Name

This cover letter is upfront and clear that you have no experience in the field of sales, but shows that you’re willing to learn and excited to learn this new job. That’s essential!

You don’t JUST want to say you’re willing to learn, though. You want to PROVE that you’ll be able to learn. That’s why this letter also mentions the experience you have that is most similar. In the case of the example above, it’s the customer service experience and communication skills.

While this person may not have sold anything to customers, they still interacted with customers directly, which will be seen as a plus.

One other thing you should always point out if possible: Experience working in the same industry. So if you’ve never done sales, but you did customer support in the exact same industry as the employer, that’s a huge plus… because it means you’ll have less learning needed on the job!

Other Articles That May Help You:

• 3 more tips for writing a cover letter that stands out.
• General tips for how to get a job with no experience.
• How to write the perfect resume “Summary” section with no experience.

About the Author

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This really helped me

Thanks for this! Really helpful for me as a new graduate and non native English speaker. I’ve started using the steps here and am planning on sending a lot of applications this week to see how it works.

Thank you for the examples. I hav ea little bit of experience so I’m not writing the cover letter with absolutely no work experience but this still is helpful and seems to work for me.

One hiring manager told me that the reason they chose to call me was my cover letter.

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How To Write a Cover Letter With No Experience in 9 Steps [2024]

• December 11, 2023
• In Resumes & Cover Letters

Writing the perfect cover letter is a challenge even for seasoned professionals. But when you are writing a cover letter with no experience, the stakes are even higher. Demonstrating your value without any professional experience is more challenging. To ensure you stand out from the sea of applicants, you should focus on the value you can provide and the skills that make you the ideal candidate.

How to write a cover letter with no experience

1.  Read the job description and research the company 2. Use a professional cover letter template 3. Share your contact information at the top of your letter 4. Greet the hiring manager and introduce yourself 5. List your relevant achievements and skills 6. Explain what makes you the ideal candidate 7. Ask for an interview 8. Proofread for grammar and spelling issues 9. Save your cover letter as a PDF and submit it

When writing a cover letter with no experience, you should focus mainly on the relevant soft skills you possess. Regardless of whether you obtained them through education, training, or volunteering, they are your most valuable assets in the job hunt. Additionally, hiring managers appreciate a strong set of soft skills because they are hard to teach. Apart from featuring your soft skills, show your ability to learn and adapt. This is crucial if you are entering the job market with minimal experience.

How to write a cover letter with no experience in 9 steps

Step 1: read the job description and research the company.

Before writing your cover letter, ensure that you are focusing on skills relevant to the company and position you are applying to. Carefully read through the job listing and the company’s website to assess which skills you have. Then, use these key skills as keywords throughout your resume and explain how they may help you succeed on the job. Remember to also review the company’s values and culture. You can integrate these into your cover letter by explaining how they align with your personal values.

Step 2: Use a professional cover letter template

A cover letter template is a great way to get started when writing a cover letter with no experience. Essentially, a template will help you with the layout and overall design of your cover letter. First, find a template that looks professional, polished, and easy to read. Then, copy and paste it into a word processing software and start filling in your information and text. Stick to the general layout of the template for the body of your cover letter as well as your details. This will make your cover letter more professional and easier to scan.

Step 3:  Address the recipient by name

To make sure the hiring manager knows how to get in touch with you, list your name, email address, and telephone number in the top left corner. Also, you can add a date and the company or employer’s name and address. If you have professional social media profiles, link to them and your online portfolio at the top of your cover letter as well.

Step 4:  Show enthusiasm in the opening paragraph

When writing a cover letter it’s important to convey your genuine interest in the position and the company. Here are a few examples of opening sentences that showcase enthusiasm for a cover letter when you have no work experience:

Step 5: List your relevant achievements and skills

In this section, explain your greatest strengths and why they are valuable for the position. When writing a cover letter with no experience, you can highlight the skills you gained through education or casual jobs. For example, if you led a school club, explain how this allowed you to develop leadership and communication skills. Most importantly, explain how these skills and experiences would be beneficial to the company.

Step 6: Explain what makes you the ideal candidate

In the body of your cover letter, you should convince the hiring manager that you are the best fit for the position. To do this, go the extra mile and show that you did your research. Mention the values or goals you share with the company or bring up a recent project you liked. This will show your dedication and interest in the position. To reiterate your passion for the role, you can also outline some of the key responsibilities and why you are excited to take on them. Very often, passion for the job and commitment to learning can outweigh professional experience in the hiring manager’s eyes. Hence, express your honest interest and passion for the job, as this can make you stand out.

Step 7: Ask for an interview

In the last paragraph, you should summarize your main points and reiterate your interest in the role. Be enthusiastic about the opportunity and ask for an interview straight away. This can often increase your chances of getting a callback, so don’t skip this step. Finally, thank the hiring manager for the opportunity as well as their time. To sign off, use “Sincerely,” followed by your full name at the end of your cover letter.

Step 8: Proofread for grammar and spelling issues

Once you have finished these steps, it is time to polish your cover letter up. Read through the document a few times to ensure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. Also, check if the writing is continuous, simple to understand, and clear. It can be helpful to get a second opinion, so try sending your cover letter to a friend or a family member for proofreading.

Step 9: Save your cover letter as a PDF and submit it

Once your cover letter is ready to be sent, check if the formatting is consistent and edit it if necessary. Then, save it as a PDF, unless the job posting requires another specific format. Some employers prefer the cover letters to be emailed to HR, while others may let you attach it to your application file. So, always check whether the job posting specifies this.

Read more:  “9 Cover Letter Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Sample cover letter with no experience

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I am reaching out to convey my sincere enthusiasm for the [Job Title] opportunity at [Company Name]. As a recent graduate with a passion for [relevant field or industry], I am eager to contribute to the innovative work being done at [Company Name].

During my academic pursuits, I have developed a solid foundation in [relevant skills or coursework], which I believe will be valuable in the [Job Title] role. Additionally, my dedication to [specific quality or skill] has been recognized by my instructors, and I am confident in my ability to apply these skills to support the goals of [Company Name].

I am particularly drawn to [specific aspect of the company or role], and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to [specific project or goal]. I am confident that my strong work ethic, coupled with my enthusiasm for learning, will make me a valuable addition to the [Company Name] team.

Thank you for considering my application. I am looking forward to the possibility of discussing how my background, skills, and enthusiasm can contribute to the continued success of [Company Name]. Please find my resume attached for your review.

[Your Name]

Cover letter with no experience for internship example

By following these steps, you will be able to create the perfect cover letter. Remember that the key to writing an impactful cover letter with no experience is to focus on the valuable skills and experience you have. Follow these 9 easy steps, and you will end up with a cover letter that will get your application noticed and help you land your dream job.

FAQ – Cover Letter With No Experience

How do i format a cover letter with no experience.

To format a cover letter with no experience, follow these steps:

• Use a professional format : Format your cover letter like a formal business letter. Include your contact information at the top, followed by the date and the employer’s contact information.
• Include a proper salutation : If possible, address the cover letter to a specific person, such as the hiring manager or recruiter. If you don’t have a name, you can use a generic salutation like “Dear Hiring Manager.”
• Write a compelling introduction : Start your cover letter with a strong and attention-grabbing opening sentence. Introduce yourself and mention the position you’re applying for.
• Highlight your skills and strengths : In the body of the cover letter, focus on your transferable skills, relevant coursework, internships, volunteer work, or other experiences that demonstrate your qualifications for the position. Explain how these experiences have prepared you for the role.
• Show enthusiasm and motivation : Express your genuine interest in the company and the position. Explain why you are passionate about the field or industry and how you are eager to learn and grow in the role.
• Tailor the letter to the job : Customize your cover letter for each job application. Research the company and the job requirements to identify specific skills or qualities they are seeking. Highlight those skills and explain how you can contribute to their organization.
• Close the letter professionally : Thank the employer for considering your application and express your interest in further discussing your qualifications. End the letter with a professional closing, such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards,” followed by your name and contact information.

What tone should I use in a cover letter with no experience?

When writing a cover letter with no experience, it’s important to strike the right tone to make a positive impression on the employer. Here are some tips on the tone you should use:

• Professional tone : Maintain a professional tone throughout your cover letter. Use clear and concise language, and avoid using overly casual or informal language.
• Enthusiastic tone : Show your enthusiasm and eagerness to learn and contribute to the company. Highlight your passion for the industry or field and your motivation to succeed.
• Professional and polite language : Use polite and respectful language in your cover letter. Avoid using slang or jargon that may not be familiar to the employer.

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• 10 Common Cover Letter Questions Answered

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How To Write A Cover Letter With No Experience

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Find a Job You Really Want In

Writing a cover letter can be intimidating, especially if you don’t have any experience. Not knowing which skills to put down and what the company is looking for can deter anyone. But don’t worry, it can be pretty easy to write and sell yourself as the best candidate for the position.

Luckily for you, we’ve collected all the information you need to write a stellar cover letter for a job you have no experience in so that you can improve your chances of getting that coveted interview.

Key Takeaways:

Brainstorm and highlight transferable skills from previous experiences and jobs.

Showcase deliverables from school and work projects and how those successes can be transferred to the new job.

Detail how the company fits you well as a person.

What Is a Cover Letter?

Why cover letters are important, what to include in a cover letter if you have no experience, how to structure a cover letter, cover letter tips, final thoughts.

• Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs

Cover letters are often required parts of the application process. They may seem tedious and boring, but hiring managers take them seriously. Cover letters are important because they give voice to you as a worker and as a person.

Essentially, cover letters exist to prove that you are not a robot. You have a personality, and you did your homework about the company/job profile and this gives you the chance to show hiring managers what you think is the most important takeaway to remember about you.

You might be feeling concerned about this process because you don’t have any experience in the field of the job you are applying for. But remember, cover letters are not the same thing as resumes .

Cover letters are where the personality comes in on paper. When writing a cover letter for a job with no experience, you will be selling yourself as the perfect person for the job versus the ideal worker.

What do we mean by that, exactly? Remember that every worker started in your position. At some point, everyone has applied for a job with no experience . So how did they land the gig?

For many entry-level positions , hiring managers are not so worried about the experience as much about the person they are hiring and their ability to adapt and learn to fit the position.

That’s why it’s called entry-level. You have some kind of background or transferable skills, but more than anything else, you are a worker ready to be molded into the perfect employee for that specific company — hiring managers would love that.

So your job when writing this cover letter is to explain how you, as a person, fit well into the company and how you have a track record to show you can adapt well to new challenges and use transferable skills in this new role.

That’s why before you start writing this cover letter , think about why you, as a person, should be hired and how that will make you into a great worker for the company.

When planning to write this cover letter, you should brainstorm two major ideas: what skills you have from other industries and experiences that are transferable to this job and why you would fit in well with the company.

For example, if you are applying for a position as a sales representative and have worked in a clinic check-in desk position, there are a ton of transferable skills you can use. You can talk about customer service skills, communication skills , and organization skills .

You can talk about how learning new coding and insurance rules each year has made you comfortable with adapting to new work environments .

No matter where you have worked in the past (or collaborated in group projects at school), you probably have had to use organization and communication skills, both of which are crucial for many jobs.

Once you’ve brainstormed how your old jobs and experiences can relate to the new job you are applying for and have decided how you best could fit into the company, it’s time to sit down and write the cover letter.

Header. This is where you list your contact information and for the person you’re reaching out to. This should inlucde:

Phone number

LinkedIn URL

Address of the company

Name of hiring manager

Company phone number

Hiring managers email

[Your name] [Your email address] [Your phone number] [Your mailing address] [Date] [Hiring Manager’s name] [Company address] [Company phone number] [Hiring Manager’s email address]

Greeting. You should greet the person who you are sending the letter to if known. Do some research to find the name of who the letter is going to. If not known, you can use generic greetings. Try to keep the greetings as gender neutral as possible if you do not know the gender of who you are sending it to. You never want to assume you know just because a name is typically used by one gender.

To Whom It May Concern is pretty typical, and it’s not the best approach. It can come as stuffy and awkward.

Dear [Company Name] Recruiter Dear [Department] Team Dear Hiring Manager Dear Human Resources Manager

First paragraph. This is where you should introduce yourself. You can talk about your educational history , your overarching interests related to the job, and your interest in the position itself.

Second paragraph. This is where you should discuss your skills and related experience . Mention include skills and accomplishments . You can include the related skills and experience that can be transferable to the current job position you brainstormed earlier. Make sure to showcase any deliverables you’ve accomplished from previous experience.

Third paragraph. This is where you should discuss your qualities and why you’d be a good fit for the company. Make sure to highlight why you are the perfect fit for the job and company and explain other assets you have to bring to the position. Again, your brainstorm comes in handy.

Closing paragraph. This completes your cover letter, and it’s commonly known as the call to action. That is where you will talk about the next steps. The purpose of this paragraph is to remind the reader why you’re interested in the position, that you will follow up (unless it says you cannot on the application), and thank the reader.

“Based on my track record to adapt to new work environments and my transferable skills outlined above, I believe I’d make an excellent addition to (Name) company. Thank you for your time in reading my application, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.” OR “Thank you for taking the time to read my application. I believe my keen interest in (subject), as demonstrated by my commitment to (experience) would make me a strong addition to your team. Please let me know if I can provide you with any further details, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.”

Sign off. Then sign off with a polite and professional close and follow it by your name. You can put your email and phone number under your name so they can get in touch with you immediately.

Respectfully Yours Sincerely Best Regards Thank You

Research the company before. Before writing your cover letter, do a little research. Try to figure out who you are writing the letter to, and try to figure out what kind of company they are. This will help you make a list of the skills that you have that the company is looking for.

Proofread. Before sending your letter make sure you read over your letter multiple times. This will help you look for any spelling errors or grammar mistakes. Make sure you have the name of who you are sending the letter to correct.

You can even ask a trustworthy friend to look over it before sending it in to see if they catch anything you missed. Nothing kills an interview faster than having mistakes on your cover letter and resume .

Save it as a PDF. Double check to see how employers want it saved, but most of the time they want it saved as a PDF. Make sure you save it “[Your Name] Cover letter” to prevent any confusion.

Send a test message. Before sending your cover letter over email, make sure you send a test message to yourself. This will help you determine if your attachments are working and if the format looks right.

You can even send it to a friend who has a different email system than you to make sure it looks right that way. Once you know everything is fine, send the message to the hiring manager. You can always Bcc yourself on the email to make sure it was delivered error free.

Writing a cover letter can seem daunting if you don’t know how to market yourself — experience or with no experience. With the guide outlined above, we hope you’ll be well on your way to your next job.

Some final tips to keep in mind as you polish off your cover letter is to make each of your cover letters specific for each job — you don’t want employers to think that you are sending the same cover letter out for every job application.

You can consider adding a P.S. to the end of the cover letter to create an even stronger finish. You can add a deliverable from previous experience that you’d like to transfer to the new job.

And with that, we wish you good luck. If you’re stumped on how to write a resume for a job with no experience, you can check out this article .

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Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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Writing a Cover Letter Without Job Experience: Examples & Templates

Last Updated: July 3, 2023 Fact Checked

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This article was reviewed by Seth Hall and by wikiHow staff writer, Johnathan Fuentes . Seth T. Hall (ICF ACC, CLC, and MNLP) is a Certified Life Coach and Founder of Transformational Solutions, a Los Angeles-based life-coaching company that helps people achieve their toughest goals, find their own voice, and think outside the box. He has been a life coach for over 10 years, specializing in personal development, relationships, career and finance, and wellness. He has helped his clients break the negative cycles in their lives and replace them with a positive, proactive mindset. Seth believes that everyone has the potential to live a fulfilling and rewarding life, and works passionately to help them reach their full potential. With a deep understanding of how our minds work and the power of positive thinking, he encourages his clients to find their unique paths in life and find success on their own terms. He is a certified master practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a featured co-author for WikiHow, and co-author of "The Mountain Method”, “The Happy Tiger”, and “The V.I.S.I.O.N.S. Program”. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 3,233 times.

When applying for a job, a cover letter gives you a chance to impress a potential employer and convince them to interview you for the role. But what if you don’t have experience in the job you’re applying to? If you want it, go for it—but you’ll need to write your cover letter a bit differently. This guide explains how to write a cover letter when you lack relevant experience. We’ve even included an example letter and template for you to use on your own job hunt. Keep reading to persuade a recruiter to take a chance on you, all thanks to a great cover letter.

Things You Should Know

• Carefully read the job posting and research the organization thoroughly. Note any specific skills and qualifications required for the role.
• Explain why you are interested in the role. Discuss your skills and background, and describe how they are transferable to the job you’re applying to.
• Emphasize your talents, personality, work ethic, and other attributes that make you qualified for the job. Explain why the company aligns with your career goals.

Writing Your Cover Letter

• Make a list of your own skills, qualifications, and previous work experience that could be applicable to the job.
• For instance, if you’re applying for a teller position with a local bank, you can list previous customer service work, experience handling money, and your overall trustworthiness and work ethic.
• Visit the organization’s website to learn about their work. For a bank teller position, for example, you could learn about the specific financial products and services offered by the bank.

• You can also include your phone number and email beneath your mailing address, above the date.
• For a fancier look, center your contact information at the top of the letter, just as you would on a resume. If you do this, place the date on the left, two lines beneath your contact information.

• For example, if the recipient was a professor and department chair at a university, you could write “Prof. Emily Smith” followed by “Chair, Department of Physics” on the next line.
• Align this information to the left, two lines below the date.
• If you don’t know who will read the letter, exclude the recipient’s name and title. Be sure to put the organization’s name and address.

• Use a comma after a “Dear” greeting, such as “Dear Mr. Brown.” Use the recipient's name whenever possible since this makes your cover letter more personal.

• You could say “I’m writing to apply for the position of Instructor at Lotus Yoga Studio. I came across this opportunity on your website.”
• You could then add “I have practiced yoga for several years and would be excited for the opportunity to teach it to students.”
• If you learned about the position from a specific person, you can reference that person in your opening paragraph: “I was made aware of this opportunity by my close friend, Abby Smith, who was previously an instructor at your studio.”
• You don’t need to introduce yourself by name, as in “My name is Sofia Romero.” The recruiter will see your name at the top of the letter.

• Use keywords from the job posting that refer to specific skills. For example, “customer service,” “teaching experience,” or specific programming languages like “Javascript” could be keywords.
• If you’re a student, emphasize extracurriculars, leadership positions, and academic achievements. [6] X Research source
• If you’re applying for a math tutoring position for grades K-3, you could mention your academic performance in math classes. You could also discuss previous experience working with children, like babysitting or camp counselor roles.
• Discuss your temperament and work ethic too. For instance, you could say “I am patient, kind, and very comfortable working with groups of children in a learning environment.”

• For a sales job, you could say “I am very extroverted and thrive in fast-paced environments. I also enjoy the challenge of exceeding quotas. For these reasons, I believe I’m naturally suited for a career in sales.”
• You could also reference the company’s mission and values: “I am impressed by the quality of ABC, Inc.’s products and their commitment to their customers.”

• You could write: “I would welcome the chance to interview for this position. I believe my background and skill set make me an excellent fit for this role, and I see a future myself at ABC, Inc. Thank you for your time and consideration.”
• If you know the recruiter or their managers by name, you could thank them personally: “Please send my warmest regards to Ms. Rhodes and the rest of the team.”

• If you sign the letter, sign it in the space above your printed name.
• Make sure your letter fits on one page. If it’s too long, consider cutting down some of the paragraphs, but avoid altering the margins or making the font too small.

• Set the letter aside for a few hours or overnight, then read it again with “fresh” eyes. This makes it easier to catch mistakes.
• Have a friend or family member read the letter and offer feedback. Ask them if any sections were unclear or confusing.
• Check the job posting again to make sure you’ve covered everything. If you forgot to include something important, add it to the letter now, then proofread it again.

• Check the PDF after saving it to make sure the formatting is right. Check the spacing and font, and make sure the letter fits on one page.
• If you send the letter by email, include a subject line like “Re: Cover letter for Marketing Position with ABC, Inc.” Write a 2-3 sentence email introducing yourself. State the position you're applying for, mention the attached cover letter, and include your contact information.

Example Cover Letter

• Dana Robinson 12 5th Avenue Seattle, WA 98109 (555) 277-1771 [email protected] October 5, 2023 ABC Inc. 4500 West 57th Street New York, NY 10019 Dear Hiring Committee, I am writing to apply for the role of Sales Representative for ABC, Inc. I learned of this opportunity from the listing on your company’s website. I believe my strong communication skills, friendly personality, and experience in customer service make me a strong fit for this role. I am a recent graduate of South Seattle Community College, where I obtained an Associate’s Degree in Marketing. While completing my studies, I worked full-time as a Customer Service Associate for XYZ Pharmacy. In this role, I helped customers obtain medication and healthcare products that fit their needs. I also developed an understanding of our company’s financial goals, and learned that happy customers could boost our store’s profits. I feel this knowledge and experience would be directly transferable to the Sales Representative role with your company. I believe ABC, Inc.’s values and mission are strongly aligned with my professional goals. ABC values its customers, and your top-quality products and brand recognition and second to none. As someone who loves working with people, I would be honored to sell your products to customers and build ongoing relationships with suppliers and retailers. My outgoing personality and strong work ethic make me a natural fit for this kind of work. Most importantly, I see many opportunities to grow with ABC, Inc. as it expands its customer base nationwide. I would welcome the chance to interview for this position. I believe my skills, previous experience, and ambitions for the future make me an excellent fit. I also see a future for myself at ABC, Inc. and would be honored to join your team. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Dana Robinson.

Blank Cover Letter Template

• [Your Name] [Your Street Address] [Your City, State & Zip Code] [Your Phone Number] [Your Email] [Today’s Date] [Recipient’s Name - leave out if unknown] [Recipient’s Title - leave out if the recipient is unknown] [Company Name] [Company Street Address] [Company’s City, State & Zip Code] Dear [Recipient’s Name - use if recipient is known] , Dear Hiring Manager, [Use if recipient’s name is not known] I am writing to apply for the role of [Job Title] with [Company Name] . I learned of this opportunity from [Job Posting or Name of Person who referred you] . [1 sentence listing skills and experience that are applicable to the job] . [1 sentence stating your current job, school you recently graduated from, or school you’re currently attending] . [4-5 sentences explaining your skills and previous work experience. Explain how these skills and experiences are transferable to the job you’re applying for] . I believe [Company Name] ’s values and mission are strongly aligned with my professional goals. [4-5 sentences explaining what you like about the company, why you want to work there, and how working there will help you achieve your goals] . I would welcome the chance to interview for this position. I believe my skills, previous experience, and ambitions for the future make me an excellent fit. I also see a future for myself at [Company Name] and would be honored to join your team. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, [Your Name]

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

• ↑ https://socialwork.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/cover-letters.pdf
• ↑ https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/allcoverlettersweb2011.pdf
• ↑ https://icc.ucdavis.edu/materials/cover-letters
• ↑ https://vp4.wne.edu/career-development-center/doc/The-Cover-Letter-2021.pdf
• ↑ https://careers.bloch.umkc.edu/blog/2021/10/20/7-tips-for-writing-a-cover-letter-with-no-experience/
• ↑ https://law.ubalt.edu/career/students/currentstudents/Cover%20Letter%20Guide.pdf
• ↑ https://career.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/QT_WriteACoverLetterCE.pdf
• ↑ https://law.seattleu.edu/media/school-of-law/documents/careers/additional-documents/Preparing-a-Cover-Letter.pdf

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Applying for jobs without experience? Here's how to build and sell your skills

Know the relevance of your skillset, show you can learn quickly and sell yourself in an interview

• Sell yourself: a cover letter guide for beginners
• Three excellent cover letter examples
• Looking for a job? Explore the range of vacancies on Guardian Jobs and find the perfect role for you

Looking for work – whether fresh from school, straight from university or as part of a career change – is fraught with difficulties. This is particularly true for people who have gained qualifications or experience that appears to have no relevance to the job they are applying for and passionately want.

So how do you demonstrate to an employer that your skills, education and experience are relevant to the job in hand?

If you are in this frustrating situation it is essential to highlight the skills and abilities you already possess that are directly transferable across to the position you are applying for. You need to demonstrate that you have the ability and desire to constantly learn new skills, as well as have a strong commitment to self-leadership and, in turn, self-improvement.

Knowing the relevance of your skill set

Some educational qualifications, such as law, engineering and medicine, shine clear career paths. In contrast, geography, sport science and criminology are ranked lowest for helping graduates attain employment within six months of graduation .

This isn't because these courses have no inherent value or use (quite the opposite), it is just that the skills and knowledge obtained are so specific many employees fail to appreciate how they would be of use in a non-specialist field.

That is why it is vital you communicate the relevance of your skillset. For example, take a student who had previously studied, for example, performance studies at university. Wanting to work outside of acting and performing after university, potential employees might see no relevance in your qualifications.

However, the auditioning skills you have learned from acting could give you the confidence to pitch new business to clients. Your ability to project your voice to an audience makes you ideal for giving a company presentation. Knowing how to organise a theatre production gives you excellent event management skills, and having to read an audience and improvise in reaction to their mood makes you a huge asset in meetings.

Think hard, therefore, about what your education has given you the ability to do and how you can apply it to other areas. If studying sports science meant you had to study high volumes of data and process large amounts of information, that is what you need to sell on your CV, LinkedIn profile, or in an interview. Push your relevance to the specific job you want.

Show you can learn, relearn and learn again

The rapid advances in technology in recent years have produced the greatest shift in working culture since the industrial age. The ability to constantly learn new skills is vital for the workforce of the future.

Knowing how to code in a specific language, for instance, may be irrelevant in a few years as new forms of coding make it obsolete. So the key thing for developers to demonstrate to employers is that they have the work ethic and ability to learn any coding language.

Likewise, it's important to realise new tools and technology do not make your current skills instantly outdated. For example, many older people are wary of social media and think employers will favour younger candidates in jobs involving these platforms. But many forms of social media are simple, easy to learn communication tools. The hard skill is the ability to write clearly and engage with people and, therefore, that's the skill that needs to be sold to an employer.

Make sure to view new tools and trends with this in mind, you may already have the core competencies in place to master them.

Lead yourself

One skill many people possess but fail to sell is self-leadership. It is the ability to not only be aware of your own feelings, thinking and behaviour, but to constantly look to improve and develop these aspects of your personality.

Whether through setting personal goals, seeking out alternative viewpoints or proactively seeking and responding to professional feedback, self-leadership is about taking personal responsibility for your own actions. The ability to drive your own professional and personal progression can have a transformative effect on an organisation. It is a hugely attractive trait for employers and is, of course, transferrable to all jobs.

In your CV, online profiles and interviews give clear examples of any training completed or qualifications achieved within previous jobs. Make it crystal clear how this has developed you professionally. Don't forget to highlight skills acquired in personal hobbies, while volunteering or studying independently. Shout loudly about your adaptability, curiosity and openness to ideas.

Show you value feedback and give examples of how you have adapted previously due to both positive and negative feedback.

The skill of self-leadership is eternal, no technology will erase it. So sell it.

Selling yourself is a skill in itself

Don't just regurgitate a list of your skills and qualifications when communicating with employers. Each time you apply for a role go over all your attributes and look at them from the precise perspective of that particular job. You will most likely need to present the same skill differently to one employer than to another.

This may make job hunting more time consuming than you are used to, but five jobs applied for with precision is better than 50 applications written generically.

If you have the skills, make sure you make the most of any opportunity to demonstrate them. Indeed, just showing you have an awareness of your transferable skills and their relevance to another role indicates that you are someone capable of seeing the bigger picture. That can only be a good thing.

David McCall is managing director of Hyper Island UK

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How to Sell Yourself in a Cover Letter

In This Guide:

Research, baby, get personal, your top 3 secret sauce ingredients, add substance, call your wolf-pack, go and get it, takeaways: how to sell yourself in a cover letter.

Have you ever gotten all excited about a job ad you saw, only to bump into the “writer's block” minutes later, while starting to write your Cover letter? Typically, most of us find it easier to “shower” others with superlatives, but feel more or less challenged when we have to showcase our own skills. So if you answered “yes” to the above question, you`re definitely not the only one. Not to worry, though – we`re here and got you covered with expert tips on How to sell yourself in a Cover letter!!

In this post, we will take you through the following Cover letter tips let you in on how to sell yourself in a Cover letter. This is what you are going to learn:

“RESEARCH, BABY !”: Turn into a Secret agent .

Get personal : Address the recruiter by their name, if you know it.

Your top 3 secret sauce ingredients : tell them why they need to choose YOU.

Add substance: Make the second paragraph a firework of your achievements.

No clashes : Be relatable to the role and the company.

Creativity – WHEN & HOW MUCH: to create the WOW effect.

Call your wolf-pack : Establish a connection.

Go and get it : Finish it off with a strong CTA (Call to action).

Take a look at this Cover letter that has all of the above components:

Dear Mrs Stavropolou,

I am delighted to share with you my motivation for the position of Architect at company a2o.

As a child I have always been mesmerized by looking at streets and buildings` sizes, colours and the emotions that they infused in me and other people as well.

At age 12 I already dreamt of becoming an Architect.

That explains why I am naturally drawn to a2o as an “agency of dreamers with a firm grip on reality”.

What better mission for a dreamer with sparkling vision and firmly planted in reality than being united for success with other dreamers? ☺

Hello! My name is Tanya! I`m an Architect with 4 years’ experience in Interior design (Hotel & Home furniture, Leisure and Innovative Montessori classroom designs) and Landscape design, paired with a strong motivation to span the effects of 3D art beyond merely just comfort and functionality to elegance and exquisite style.

Moreover, I constantly upgrade my professional skills in line with the latest industry trends. As you can see from my portfolio, in order to create certain ambience and transmit emotions with it, I combine a large number of software’s:

3ds Max 2019 | SketchUp | Zbrush 2019 | V-ray 5 | Marvellous Designer | Adobe Photoshop | Adobe Illustrator | AutoCAD 2019

However, I`m always inspired to get acquainted and certified in new professional software. I love to keep it fresh and lively, when it comes to creating my every next 3D art design.

What attracts me to a2o, apart from the diverse range of nationalities in the company, is the fact that via expert knowledge sharing you cross “borders” and “build” bridges (literally and metaphorically) between the academic world, the arts and society.

I am eager and excited to bring to the “table” my set of Creative Artist skills to a2o`s multidisciplinary team.

I am happy to further discuss with you a2o projects and our mutual collaboration.

By browsing our 500+ carefully designed Cover letter examples here , you'll kick to the curb any fear to present yourself in the best possible light and sell yourself with a memorable Cover letter, without selling yourself short.  Not only you'll find the right template, but the dreaded Cover letter will turn into a piece of cake.

Does it still sound a bit overwhelming?!  Let`s get down to business and craft your Cover letter to be proud of!

Upload & Check Your Resume

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

Turn into a Secret agent for a day with One mission –   of the company. Show that you know the organization inside out.

Have you ever been on a date where you could barely open your mouth, as the other person was talking on and On and ON about them and did not ask you a single question?

Well, I guess this is pretty much how Recruiters feel, when they read a Cover letter, full of fluff that says nothing about the company or how the candidate can meet the employer`s needs.

Of course, you don’t need to memorize the organization`s history by heart or cite it year by year as a boring history lesson, but investing the necessary time in a proper preliminary research will demonstrate to the Recruiter that you are serious, committed and don’t just apply blindly to any jobs, hopping from one to another.

Moreover, interpret the Mission, Vision and Goals of the organization through your own prism of aspirations and enchant your readers by stating exactly why you resonate with their mission. Imagine a day in your life as an employee of that company and transmit in your Cover letter the enthusiasm with which you will start your work every day! This is a powerful way to build rapport and end up on a shortlist for an interview for the darn job!

Address the recruiter by their name, if you know it.

Take a good look at the job ad for the names of the job poster. If you don’t find it there, double check as well on the company website for the correct HR representative for the role you are interested in.

Another creative way to get the right contact, that leaves a lasting impression, is to simply call the HR department, express interest in the job role and ask to which name you should address in your Cover letter.

Try it next time you are applying and let us know what the result was!

Take a look at this example:

“Dear Mrs Stavropolu,

I am delighted to share with you my motivation for the position of Account manager at company XYZ.”

And if you want to dive deeper, here is plenty more to read and learn on how to address your Cover letter, so it sells you how it should: What's The Best Way To Address A Cover Letter? .

tell them why they need to choose YOU.

To charm the HR at “Hello” is required a bit more than just copy/pasting some company facts in a generic Cover letter that drains the life out of anyone reading it. So to infuse your motivation with more selling power, in the very first, introductory paragraph you need to demonstrate flawlessly two simple, but crucial things:

• You know really well the company and resonate with its mission;
• You bring to the “table” the right skills combo that the managers die to have in-house.

Best way to go about it is to read carefully the job description and clearly highlight the TOP 3 skills you have that make you a catch that the company couldn’t afford to miss.

Once you have started on point with this hook statement, rest assured your Cover letter will be read from start to end.

Example of a more formal Opening of a Cover letter:

“I would like to express my interest in the job post Grant writer, currently open at the European Commission. The devotion to social innovation and inclusion of underrepresented groups that the EC demonstrates has always been an inspiration for me. Also experiencing the potential of EC ERASMUS+ program as an international student has been one of the lead factors that have inspired me to pursue a career as a Grant writer. In addition, my extensive 6+ years’ experience as a Lead EU Funds Project writer for various international companies and NGOs is asset for the European Commission, as well as for communities worldwide”

More on the proper structure of how to sell your skills in a Cover letter, you can find here: What Should Your Cover Letter Say .

Make the second paragraph a firework of your achievements.

As they say, talk the talk and walk the walk!

Stating your skills right at the start of your Motivation wouldn’t necessary guarantee you a seat for an interview, unless you back it all up with the relevant achievements and work experiences. Think of situation/s where you successfully solved a work issue and briefly note it, leaving your audience confident that you will rock it at the current role too.

This would definitely intrigue them to find out more about you! So don’t be timid to take the stage!

Bring numbers to your aid, especially if you`re after a Sales or another related position.

“Via the customized Branding strategy I have created at my past role as Lead Marketing manager, we have increased our Amazon eBook sales by 70% for 2021.”

One disclaimer, though : make sure you avoid exaggerating or untruthful statements, as they are quickly detected, especially by experienced HR managers. Plus, there`s nothing that wins others quite like authenticity.

Be relatable to the role and the company.

Now that we spoke so much about what you should write in a Cover letter, let`s touch on what you better avoid.

As you probably would not go to an interview for a Preschool teacher, groomed in Prom dress and on high heels, the same way you would not want to apply for an Accountant position at a very conservative company with a Cover letter that would better suit a Graphic Artist role by design and word choice. Right?

Rather than saying you are motivated, let your examples speak about your passion for the job. Hence, stay away from over-worn words that you can see in 90% of the Cover letters out there:

“Self-starter”, “Detail-oriented”

“I`m confident I would be the perfect person for the job”

And some more:

“To whom it may concern”

“I`m not sure you know”

“Please, feel free to”

To increase the capacity of your Cover letter to sell yourself as an expert, aim to use Power Adjectives and Action verbs to describe yourself.

For some fresh ideas, check out here: https://enhancv.com/blog/words-to-describe-yourself-on-resume-and-cover-letter/ .

WHEN & HOW MUCH to get the WOW effect.

Try to match the tone of the organization, while still keeping your unique voice.  Being relatable keeps you in the game! Of course, for more Artistic or Humanitarian roles you can let yourself experiment with bold graphic design of your Cover letter, emotions display and storytelling.

More tips on Cover letter design consistency for success, you can read in our post here: https://enhancv.com/blog/cover-letter-design/ .

However, always keep in mind that while you need to come across as approachable and let your personality shine, too much sharing may overkill your chances to be moved forward in the selection process.

So the best strategy here is striking a fine balance between personality appeal and professional tone.

Example of infused originality and demonstrated passion and personality, without using beaten up clichés :

Dear Mr. Wilson,

I’m writing this cover letter to you at 11 pm. Why? Because I just finished speaking with my former co-worker, Jane Smith, who tells me that you’re hiring for the position of editorial assistant, and I wanted to apply immediately.

If you are in the mood to play with creativity and bring some freestyle taste into your mission to sell your skills in a Cover letter, this post explains exactly how to do that by telling a story to the Recruiters: https://enhancv.com/blog/how-to-tell-a-story-in-a-cover-letter/ .

Establish a connection.

Just like Diversity and Inclusion, Organizational culture is a buzz word with growing popularity in recent years. And that is not to be changed any time soon.

Sure enough, company culture is far more than just ping-pong tables in the office and free healthy breakfast. However, if you liked a certain perk that they are offering, no matter how small or big – SAY IT! Maybe the organization has a fantastic Employee Wellness program or inspirational Volunteer or Corporate responsibility policy! You name it!

Anything that you fancy – again – Say it! It will not get unnoticed – as you will – first of all - reaffirm again that you did your research, and secondly – that you are a close match not only for the job role itself, but are an organizational fit too. And any recruiter knows, the more you fit organizationally, the shorter your adaptation is going to be. Ultimately, the happier you will feel!

Here is an example:

“The healthy “work-life” balance is important for me, hence I highly value that you provide your employees the opportunity for home office and have various policies to support (new) parents. Moreover, what a great team climate can be sensed from photos of happy employees on company`s socials!

Finish it off with a strong CTA (Call to action).

Finally, after so many aces you have just poured in your Cover letter, it`s time for one last power-move – the Call to Action. After all, you're selling the best product you've got to offer, right?!

A lot of people feel very weary to use this “card”, as asking for a meeting may seem a bit too pushy or even desperate in their eyes. But don’t let yourself get fooled. You didn’t put all these efforts in your Cover letter, to let it end on a low accord and not seal the deal.

Here are some examples of a great CTA:

√ I look forward to meeting you soon and further discussing this exciting role and the company`s projects.

√ I'm particularly excited about the opportunity to learn more about the company`s current projects and how I can contribute to that effort.

√ I'd love a chance to learn more about this position and demonstrate how I can help (company or team) reach its organizational goals.

For more closing phrases to ramp up selling your professional persona in your Cover letter, check out here: How To End A Cover Letter - Free Samples, Examples, Formats .

So now you`re geared up to steal the show and sell yourself like a PRO by following what you have just learned:

√ Bring your confidence on-board.

√ Let your personality shine.

√ Get personal.

√ Know the company and tell exactly what you've got to offer them.

√ Establish a connection between yours and company`s values.

√ Demonstrate passion.

√ Showcase your successes.

√ Be relevant.

√ Don’t be generic or cliché-parroting.

To guarantee you will captivate the recruiters with your brand-new Cover letter, refer to this checklist:

Cover Letter Checklist : Learn How To Impress Recruiters

Ready to roll up your sleeves and start writing? If you feel like you need some guiding points, rather than starting your Cover letter from a blank canvas, we`ve got you covered on that one too – check out our 500+ Cover letter examples here:   500+ Cover Letter Examples & Samples for 2023 .

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Selling Yourself in Your Cover Letter

Published: Jul 09, 2019

Ah, advertisers. They try to suck us in within a matter of seconds. Sound familiar? Hiring managers typically spend less than 30 seconds reviewing a cover letter or resume—unless it grabs their attention enough so that they read on. The average television commercial is 30 seconds long. What about print? How long do you spend looking at an ad in a magazine before flipping the page? Or reading a bulletin board along the freeway (assuming you are not stuck in rush-hour traffic)? Those who write ad copy have to get a message across quickly. That means sharp, succinct, to-the-point writing.

What Are You Really Selling?

Yes, you are selling yourself and all that you have to offer: your skills, your experience, your attitude, and your personality. But think about it for a moment. Is that what you are  really  selling? Take the example of a health club membership. What is it that members are buying when they join the club? Access to classes and a large variety of strength training and cardio equipment? Sure, at the outset it looks like this is what you buy when you sign that one-year contract. In reality, health clubs are selling a desire: a desire to be in shape, a desire to be muscular, or a desire to be healthier.

When you are selling yourself to an employer, think about what the employer is really buying. An employee who shows up to work, does the job, and leaves? Or a person who can come to work and identify and solve problems? Someone who can fill the need of the company to make money, serve customers, and be a positive asset. To do that, the company needs employees who can save or generate profits, save time, enhance service, represent the company … qualities that help propel the company forward. In your correspondence, identify a need and offer a solution. Who can find hidden costs and eliminate them? Who is great at sales? Does this company need someone efficient? When you identify a specific need and show how you can meet that need, you become someone who will be a benefit to the company, not just another employee.

Think about how you can sell technical skills, for example. You can list all the technical skills that you have, such as software, hardware, and computer networking. This is like listing the features of the cell phone mentioned earlier. Or you can convey that your knowledge of accounting software allowed you to introduce a better program at your summer position as an intern, thereby reducing the time creating reports by 40 percent. The first method is simply a list of features. The second method demonstrates the benefit gained from putting those features (your knowledge) to work.

What sets you apart? Refer to everything you learned about yourself from your assessments. Pull accomplishments from your resume, and show in your cover letter why you are a benefit to the company—because you can accomplish X, Y, and Z. Go beyond simply stating your features.

Select the most impressive quantifiable achievements, reword them—or better yet, present them differently, such as converting information to percentages—and highlight them in the cover letter. If some of your accomplishments are dated, this is a great place to emphasize that information without drawing attention to the timeframe.

Know Your Audience

Who will be reading your letter? Will it be someone in human resources or the head of the department? If you are writing to human resources, for example, be sure to write in "plain" English rather than using a lot of technical jargon. If you are writing to a senior scientist, demonstrate your knowledge of the terminology used in your field, or you may come off looking inept. Write a personalized letter every time, keeping your audience in mind.

What is the atmosphere in the company? Is it corporate or a small, family-owned business? How you would address a hiring manager of a Fortune 500 company is very different from how you would address the CEO of a mid-sized private company.

Support Your Claims

You say you are skilled at obtaining contracts. Great. Now prove it. When writing your letters, do not simply state what you are good at. Show it. Give examples. Mine your past and come up with every possible example you can think of where you used the skills you claim to have. Make a list, and then choose the best ones to include in your letter. If you have a lot to choose from, keep the list so you can use different examples with each subsequent letter you send to a company.

Write Professionally

Remember that your letters are much different from your resume. You will not use the telegraphic style that you did in your resume. Write complete sentences; even bullet lists are generally an extension of a lead-in phrase, with each line of the bullet list creating a complete sentence as “add on” information. Use words instead of abbreviations. Use the active voice and sprinkle your letters with action verbs. Keep your correspondence brief and to the point. Do not include irrelevant information. Use a tone that exudes professionalism, not amateurism. Avoid using clichés and slang, and avoid any references to political or religious beliefs, or other unnecessary, unrelated information.

This content is excerpted from The Vault Guide to Resumes and Job-Hunting Skills, Second Edition . See the full guide for more information about cover letters, interviewing, and other skills you’ll need to land that perfect job.