University students in their final year face numerous challenges when writing a cover letter for the job they are applying for. The letter should highlight academic experiences and any previous work experience, if available.
Challenges of Writing a Cover Letter for Final Year University Students
How can you build a compelling cover letter when you have little or no work experience? The trick is to first list the qualifications and/or specific requirements mentioned in the job description you are applying for. As you read the job description, underline the most important skills. You will need to directly respond to these skills in your cover letter.
Example Job Description
“We are looking for a Level One Gallery/Marketing Assistant to provide world-class service to our customers at our dynamic art store on Peekman Street in Saratoga Springs. You must also be willing to perform basic administrative tasks.”
Analyzing and Responding to the Job Description
After analyzing the description, it’s time to provide examples of how you meet these qualifications and requirements. From the text in this description, it is clear that this will be a customer-facing role, so you will need to demonstrate in your cover letter that you are a “people person” and a “team player” who has experience communicating face-to-face with strangers.
How to Organize Your Cover Letter
1. Opening paragraph: Introduce yourself, specify the position you are applying for, mention how you found out about it, and state if there was a personal connection that referred you.
2. Second paragraph: Create an instant connection between you and the employer by proving that you have researched their organization thoroughly. Read their blog posts, explore their social media presence, and check their press releases. Then use this information to include a statement or two that shows you have done your homework and express your enthusiasm for working with the organization.
3. Third paragraph: Mention how your personal qualities and experiences meet the specific job requirements, using short anecdotes and examples to illustrate the experiences that will set you apart from the competition.
4. Fourth paragraph: Thank the hiring manager for considering your application, reassert your enthusiasm for the position, and request a response to your application.
Sample Cover Letter for a Final Year University Student
This is an example of a cover letter for a final year university student. You can download the final year university student cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see more examples below.
Applicant Name: Harper
Address: 123 Main St, Any City, California 12345
Phone Number: 555-555-5555
Email: harper.applicant@email.com
Date of Writing: September 1, 2018
Mr. Paul Lee
Human Resources Manager
New Age Gallery
123 Business St
Business City, New York 54321
Dear Mr. Lee,
As a final year student in the Museum Studies program at ABC University (with a minor in marketing), I was excited to discover your advertisement on jobs.com on May 25 for the position of Gallery/Marketing Assistant at New Age Gallery.
The art scene on Peekman Street in Saratoga Springs is one of the most exciting places in New York – featuring many of our resident artists from ABC University, and Amy Renoir particularly talks about her experience curating her successful exhibit “Black Memories” at New Age Gallery in 20xx. My goal in pursuing a degree in Museum Studies has always been to enhance the modern art scene, and I can’t think of a better place to start my career than at New Age Gallery.
Academically, the extensive courses I took as an honor student in Museum Studies have equipped me with an understanding of how to curate and market exhibitions. As part of the final arts management course, I served as an intern at ABC University Museum. My responsibilities in this role included conducting exhibit tours, working at the reception desk and answering phones, creating effective promotions (under tight deadlines) for an upcoming exhibition, and updating the art descriptions on their website. I also coordinated a “Meet and Greet” party with local artists Mike Angelo, R.M. Brandt, and Hal Bean which raised over $8,000 for the “Friends of the Museum” fund.
I look forward to
I am eager to learn more about your exhibition operations, and I welcome the opportunity for a personal interview. Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide to support my application for the Exhibition/Marketing Assistant position. I hope to hear from you soon.
Best regards,
Harper
Example of a Resume and Tips: College Senior Resume Template
More Cover Letter Examples
Here you will find examples of cover letters for a variety of job fields and levels of employment, including a cover letter template for internships, targeted cover letters, and email cover letters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to write a cover letter for a college student?
Writing a cover letter from scratch should take about 20 to 30 minutes, according to career coaches. If you are applying for similar jobs, you may be able to reuse a cover letter you used previously to save time, but each letter should be distinct.
How do you end a cover letter for a college student?
The final paragraph of your cover letter should thank the hiring manager for considering your application and reaffirm your enthusiasm for the position. Any appropriate business closure can be used to end the letter.
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Sources:
North Central College. “Writing a Recent Graduate Cover Letter.”
Harvard. “CVs and Cover Letters,” Page 22.
Ask A Manager. “How Long Should You Spend Writing a Cover Letter?”
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/sample-cover-letter-college-senior-2060260
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