When you’re new to the professional world, or applying for a career where you have limited experience, it can be hard to shout too much about past work experience. In a junior or an entry-level cover letter, it’s best to highlight your enthusiasm, as well as personal skills which might make you a good fit.
What to include in a junior and entry-level cover letter:
Be clear about why you want the job.
Highlight your passion for the role, including any personal reasons why it appeals to you. Make this as tailored to the position as possible, as it will really emphasise your sincerity.
Promote your skills.
Talk about your relevant hard skills (those which make you a good worker) and soft skills (the personal traits which would make you a strong team member).
Target your letter to the company.
Do as much research on the position as you can. Getting to grips with the company and highlighting your enthusiasm for helping them in their overall goals adds a personal touch they will really appreciate.
Relevant work experience.
Part-time jobs or any kind of internship are also clever to include. This shows a proactive nature, as well as highlighting any examples of skills you’ve already demonstrated in a professional sense.
Relevant leisure time activities.
If you’re going to mention hobbies, include skills and experiences which tie into the job itself – for example, a past-time like fishing highlights you are patient, while something like painting shows a creative flair and an eye for detail.
The best kind of template:
An entry-level template should be clear, concise and to the point. Employers aren’t expecting something extravagant from an inexperienced applicant, but they do want to see that they’re able to structure and format a document efficiently.
Here’s a good example of what a simple entry-level letter should look like:
Hello [hiring manager name],
I’m reaching out to apply for the position of [position] with [name of company]. This role stood out to me in particular because of [reason 1], [reason 2], and [reason 3]. These are all [values/skills] I am highly passionate about. Having the chance to work with you would serve as the perfect way to break into an industry I am passionate about.
Some of the best reasons why I feel I’d be a good fit for [name of company] include:
- [skill/experience 1]
- [skill/experience 2]
- [skill/experience 3]
- [skill/experience 4]
I was particularly impressed by [something you researched about their company], which appealed to me because [the reason it appealed to you]. In the past, I undertook relevant work experience doing [the work experience you did], which I feel would set me up perfectly for a job with you.
Away from work, my passions and hobbies include [hobby 1], [hobby 2], and [hobby 3]. These interests have helped me develop as a person in a number of ways, such as [list of self-promotional skills acquired]. Ever to look to the future, I see both my professional and personal life as a way to become a more rounded individual.
Thank you for taking the time to look over my application. I am happy to discuss anything further if required. I hope to speak with you soon.
All the best,
[Your name]
Remember that this is just a template. If there are specific elements which you need to add to tailor a cover letter to the job you’re applying for, don’t be afraid to chop and change it as you see fit.
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