What to Include in Your Cover Letter
In the first paragraph of your cover letter, express your interest in the job and the employer, mentioning the company’s name. State the source from which you discovered the job advertisement. If you have a connection at the company that you believe will support your application, mention their name here.
Body Paragraphs:
Use two or three short paragraphs in the body of your cover letter to “sell” your candidacy to the employer. While you should definitely mention your college name and major (especially if it is directly related to the job), your cover letter should not be just a simple resume of your academic history.
Instead, try to convincingly demonstrate how your university studies, internships, temporary/seasonal work experiences, and/or extracurricular experiences provided you with the essential qualifications listed in the job advertisement by the employer.
Closing Paragraph:
In the closing paragraph, reiterate your enthusiasm for the job opportunity and thank the employer for considering your application. This is the best place to request an interview and explain how you intend to follow up on your application.
Tips for Writing a Cover Letter for a Recent College Graduate
Use keywords. Carefully look at the job description, noting any skills or experiences mentioned. Try to include some of those keywords in your cover letter. This will show the employer a connection between your experiences and the job.
Focus on activities and responsibilities. In the body of your cover letter, emphasize the skills and experiences that make you a good candidate. Avoid focusing on your academic success rate or grades, or other university-related metrics. Instead, focus on the activities you’ve engaged in and the responsibilities you’ve taken on. Perhaps you had an internship or were a leader in a school organization. These examples go beyond showing you as a good student. They show that you have what it takes to be a good employee.
Sell yourself. Avoid talking about how much you want the job; instead, focus on how you will help the company. Highlight the ways you can add value to the company and why you are a good fit for them.
Show your knowledge of the company. Do research on the company before writing your cover letter. If possible, explain what you know about the company (or department where the job is located). Perhaps you read an article about the company’s recent successes, or read and believed in the company’s mission statement.
Edit, edit, edit. Make sure to read your letter carefully and edit any spelling or grammatical errors. Ensure that your letter is concise and to the point, using easy-to-understand language. Ask a friend or a career coach to read it as well.
Example of a Cover Letter for a Recent College Graduate
You can use this example as a template for your own cover letter. Download the template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or read the text version below.
How to Send a Cover Letter via Email
If you are sending the cover letter via email, include your name and the job title in the subject line of the email. Place your contact information in your email signature and do not mention the employer’s contact information. Start your email message with the greeting.
Key Takeaways
Your cover letter is your “sales pitch”: Your cover letter is more than just an expression of your interest in a job opening. In fact, it should be a strong marketing document that summarizes the unique qualifications you can bring to the employer.
Focus on the employer: Every statement you write in the cover letter should respond to the needs of the employer (as expressed in the job advertisement). Do not write a detailed resume here. Instead, highlight the skills you offer.
Make your cover letter perfect: Most hiring managers consider generic, indifferent cover letters a red flag. Carefully edit your letter to eliminate all grammatical and spelling errors and to ensure proper formatting. Ask a friend who is skilled in grammar to read it for you as well.
Source:
https://www.thebalancemoney.com/recent-college-graduate-cover-letter-example-2060239
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