Now that you have completed your resume, you are ready to apply for jobs. You have noticed from the advertisements you have been looking at that you are going to have to include a cover letter for some of the jobs you are applying for. While you are relieved that your resume is done, you are now not sure where to start when writing a cover letter.

Fortunately, there is help available.  This blog post will cover the following:

• How to write a cover letter when you are a student
• Important things to look for when proofreading your cover letter
• Where to find a cover letter examples for students

How to Write a Cover Letter When You are a Student

While writing a cover letter may sound scary at first, you will soon see that it is not that difficult. This blog post will walk you through the process and provide you with examples of cover letters that will help you create one of your own.

To start, choose a job that you are interested in applying for. Review the ad or job posting closely so that you can get a good idea of what the employer is looking for.  For some jobs, this will be easy to figure out as the ad or job posting will offer plenty of detail. It will be a bit more challenging when applying for a job where the ad or posting is very general and you might have to do some additional research.

Aside from having a good understanding of the job you are applying for, you will also want to get some background information on the employer you are looking to be hired by. You will want to do your best to learn what is important to the employer in those that they hire, so that you can consider how you would fit in.

Once you have an idea of the need the employer is looking to fill, think about the experience you have, whether it is formal or informal. Consider how your experience meets the employer’s need. The cover letter provides you the chance to sell yourself to the employer by showing that what you can offer meets the need that they have.

While you may not have had a paid job before it does not mean that you don’t have the skills and experience that would make you a good employee for the job. For example, you may have gained customer service experience from volunteering at the food bank and distributing food to those in need.

Now that you have a good idea of what the employer has a need for along with how you can meet that need, you have the information necessary to write an effective cover letter.

Keep proper format in mind when writing your cover letter. For more information on format, click here.

You should start your cover letter with a header that includes the contact information for yourself and the employer. Then, you can follow with “Dear Hiring Manager (if you don’t know the name of the contact person. If you do know the name of the person to direct the cover letter to, you will want to use their name).

Next, introduce yourself, state what job you are applying for and how you heard about it. For example:

Per you advertisement on Craigslist for a Customer Service Specialist, I am attaching my resume for your review. I take pride in the customer service skills I have developed from volunteer opportunities over the last few years and welcome the opportunity to work directly with people.

Did you hear about the job from someone that the employer may know? You will want to mention that in your cover letter. A personal referral will often get your resume looked at.

The next paragraph or two will be where you will make the case that you can meet the needs of the employer. Think of the skills and experience that you have and how they relate to the job you are applying for.  This is where you will let the employer know why you are the right fit for the job and would make a great employee.

In the cover letter you can offer information that may not be on your resume.  Did you provide customer service while participating in the annual car wash that is held as a fundraiser for your basketball team? You can include that in your cover letter.  For example:

As a member of our school’s basketball team, I have participated in our annual car wash fundraiser over the last three years. My experience includes interacting with car wash customers, collecting their donations, ensuring their satisfaction and resolving any issues that arise. The car wash is typically very busy and requires that I work well in a fast-paced environment, as well as handle customer complaints efficiently and with confidence.

I also have been volunteering with the ABC Food Bank, assisting with distributing food boxes to recipients. While I spend some time making the food boxes, the majority of this experience involves working with recipients and ensuring that they have a positive experience with the food bank.

Your final paragraph is your closing paragraph, where you will briefly restate what you have written and why you should be considered for the open position. You will then sign the cover letter. For example:

My experiences working with the basketball team fundraiser and the ABC Food Bank have helped me to develop my customer service and problem solving skills. Both roles involve working in a fast paced environment, similar to what you describe in your advertisement. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person to further discuss my qualifications.

Please contact me with any questions.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Job

For additional information regarding what to include in your cover letter, click here.

Important Things to Look for When Proofreading your Cover Letter

It is important that you proofread your cover letter once it is written. The cover letter is the first impression a potential employer will have of you and you want to be sure that the first impression is a good one.

When proofreading your cover letter, here are some things to look out for:

• Spelling or grammar errors
• Confirm that you have followed the proper format
• Ensure that your verb tenses are correct. If you are still doing something at the time you are writing the cover letter, use the present tense. If you are no longer doing the activity, use past tense.
• Confirm that you demonstrate in your cover letter that you understand what the employer is looking for as well as how you and your experience can meet their need.
• Make sure that the cover letter is job-specific.
• Employers are often put off by generic cover letters that are used for every application you submit.

For more on proofreading your cover letter, click here.

Where to Find Cover Letter Examples for Students

Most things are easier to do when you have examples to review to provide guidance. As you work on creating your cover letter, it is okay to refer to cover letter that you find online or from a friend or relative.

Click here for an example of a student cover letter. For another example, click here.

A template may be helpful as well and we have included one below:

Your Name

Your Address

Your Phone Number

Your email address

Name of Contact Person

Title of Contact Person (if you have)

Business Name

Business Address

Date

Dear Mr. A or Ms. A (if you don’t know the name of the person hiring you can say “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To whom it May Concern,”

Paragraph 1: state the job you are applying for and where you heard about it. Note in this paragraph if anyone in particular referred you for the job. Provide a quick overview of your experience. We can use some of what we wrote above:

Per you advertisement on Craigslist for a Customer Service Specialist, I am attaching my resume for your review. I take pride in the customer service skills I have developed from volunteer opportunities over the last few years and welcome the opportunity to work directly with people.

Paragraph 2-3:

As a member of our school’s business club, I have volunteered to work at our school store for the last two years. My experience includes serving teachers and students, ensuring their satisfaction and resolving any issues that arise. As the store has limited hours, the environment is fast-paced and I have learned to handle customer complaints efficiently and with confidence.

I also have been volunteering with the Human Society, assisting with pet adoptions. While I spend some time with the animals, the majority of this experience involves working with customers and ensuring that they have a positive experience with the agency.

Closing Paragraph:

My experience working with the school store and the Humane Society have helped me to develop my customer service and problem solving skills. Both roles involved working in a fast paced environment, similar to what you describe in your advertisement. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person to further discuss my qualifications.

I look forward to speaking with you. Please contact me with any questions.

You will then sign your cover letter with your full name.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Job

For more examples of cover letters for students with no work experience, click here and here.

For more information on jobs for teenagers, click here.

Make sure that you submit both your cover letter and resume on best day/time to apply for the job.  This will increase your chances of getting the job and standing out from other applicants.  The cover letter is an opportunity to set yourself apart from other applicants. Even without formal work experience, you can put together a cover letter that will help you to stand out.

So, what do you think about cover letter examples for students? Do you agree with what was said above?  Comment below to let us know!