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Sample Cover Letter for a Recent College Graduate

What to Include in Your Cover Letter

• Tips for Writing a Cover Letter
• Recent Graduate Cover Letter Example

How to Send an Email Cover Letter

Emilie Dunphy © The Balance 

Writing a cover letter as a recent college graduate can seem complicated because you have limited work experience. However, there are ways to show the employer that you are an ideal candidate for the job.

Read below for advice on writing a cover letter for an entry-level position as a college graduate, as well as an example letter.

Introductory Paragraph: In the first paragraph of your cover letter, express your interest in both the job and the employer, mentioning the company by name. Cite the source where you discovered the job announcement. If you have a connection at the company who you know would support your candidacy, mention their name here .

Do not use a generic cover letter for all of your job applications. Each one should be reworked to speak directly to the identity and needs of the employer to whom it is sent.

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 the name of your college and your major (especially if this is directly related to the job), your cover letter shouldn’t be a simple biography of your academic history.

Instead, try to persuasively demonstrate how your college studies, internships, temporary / seasonal work experiences, and / or extracurricular experiences have given you the primary qualifications listed on the employer’s job posting.

Closing Paragraph: In your closing paragraph, reiterate your enthusiasm for the job opportunity and thank the employer for their consideration. This is the best place to request a personal interview and to explain how you intend to follow up on your application .

Tips for Writing a Recent College Graduate Cover Letter

Use keywords.  Take a careful look at the job description, noting any skills or experiences that the description indicates. 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 GPA or grades, or other metrics related to college. Instead, focus on activities you did, and the responsibilities you held. Maybe you had an internship or were a leader in a school organization. These examples go beyond showing that you were a good student. They show 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 out the company. Emphasize ways that you can add value at the company, and why you are a good fit for them.

Show your knowledge of the company.   Research the company  before writing the cover letter. If possible, explain what you know about the company (or the department the job is in). Perhaps you’ve read an article about the company’s recent successes, or you’ve read and believed in the company’s mission statement.

Knowledge of the company will put you a step above the competition.

Edit, edit, edit.  Make sure you thoroughly read through your letter, editing any typos or grammar errors. Keep your message short and to-the-point, using language that is easy to understand. Ask a friend or career coach to read it for you as well.

Recent College Graduate Cover Letter Example

You can use this cover letter sample as a model. Download the template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or read the text version below.

Recent College Graduate Cover Letter Example (Text Version)

Your Name Address City, State Zip Code Phone Number Email

Name Title Company Address City, State Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. LastName,

I am writing to apply for the position of Media Relations Assistant Manager, which I saw advertised on MediaJobs.com. ABCD is a fast-moving global institution and an outstanding communications pioneer, now poised to guide the direction of print journalism. I believe that my extensive experience in media makes me an ideal candidate for this position at your company.

As a recent graduate of the State University, I have a significant background in media. As a media major, I held multiple internships, including Media Relations Coordinator Intern at XYZ Company. I also served as president of the Media and Marketing Club at school. We successfully developed and pitched an advertisement campaign for a local nonprofit, which helped increase donations to the nonprofit by 22 percent.

You state in your job listing that you are looking for someone with strong writing skills and an attention to detail. Throughout all four years of college, I worked part-time as a copy editor for an online journal. This job required great attention to detail in writing and editing. I would love to bring my editing skills to a position with your company.

These strengths, combined with deep and varied academic, internship, and employment experience, have prepared me to make a strong and immediate impact at ABCD.

I am excited about the opportunity to join the ABCD team as it moves to the center of the print media conversation. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Your Signature  (hard copy letter)

Your Typed Name

If you're sending your cover  letter via email , list your name and the job title in the subject line of the email message. Include your contact information in your email signature, and don't list the employer contact information. Start your email message with the salutation.

Key Takeaways

YOUR COVER LETTER IS YOUR “SALES PITCH”: Your cover letter is far more than an expression of your interest in a job opening. Ideally, it should be a powerful marketing document that summarizes the unique qualifications that you could bring to the employer.

FOCUS ON THE EMPLOYER: Every statement you make in your cover letter should serve to respond to the needs of the employer (as these are expressed in their job announcement). Don’t write extensive biography here. Instead, highlight the skills you offer.

MAKE YOUR COVER LETTER LETTER-PERFECT: Most hiring managers view carelessly written, generic cover letters as a red flag. Carefully edit your letter to eliminate all grammatical, spelling, and formatting errors. Ask a grammar-savvy friend to proofread it for you as well.

Cover Letter Examples for Students and Recent Graduates

The Balance / Luyi Wang

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What to Include in Your Cover Letter

College graduate cover letter example, student / recent graduate cover letter templates, student and recent graduate cover letter samples, how to write a cover letter, cover letter format and presentation tips.

If you're a student or a new grad, you may not have much experience in the workforce. This can make building a resume and writing a cover letter challenging. After all, if you haven't worked previously, what information can you include in these two documents?

Fortunately, on-the-job experience is not the only thing that shows your abilities. Here's guidance on what to include in your resume and cover letter, along with cover letter examples and cover letter templates are designed especially for high school students, as well as for college students and recent graduates seeking employment.

Academic Achievements and Extracurricular Activities

You can mention volunteer work, academic achievements, participation in clubs or activities (particularly those in which you held leadership roles), and internships. Your academic background is also an asset. Include details that are relevant to the position you want (use the job description as your guide to the qualities and training the employer seeks).

GPA and Honors

If you are an honors student with a GPA higher than 3.5, it is a good idea to mention this on a cover letter as well, along with any honors societies you have been inducted into.

Skills and Abilities

Other things you can mention are soft skills—interpersonal “people” skills like creative thinking, communication, teamwork, or time management that will help you to adapt easily to the people and clients or customers you will be working with.

Your goal in this cover letter is to show how you would be an asset to the company, describing the skills you bring that would allow you to perform well in the position.

Below, you'll find a list of student cover letters, listed by position and level of experience, to help you develop your own cover letter. 

Watch Now: 7 Tips for Finding Your First Job

You can use this sample as a model to write a college graduate cover letter. Download the template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or read the text version below.

College Graduate Cover Letter Example (Text Version)

Lucy Applicant 123 Main Street Anytown, CA 12345

555-555-5555 lucy.applicant@email.com

October 18, 2021

Eric Lee Media Director Kansai Collaborative Arts 123 Business Rd. Business City, NY 54321

Dear Mr. Lee:

I am writing to you to express interest in the graphic design position as advertised on Indeed.com. As a recent graduate with experience in 3-D animation software and the Adobe suite of software, I believe I am a strong candidate for a position at Kansai Collaborative Arts.

 During my time at the University of Northern State, I was awarded the top prize in the student design competition for my version of an app that would allow students to learn Japanese characters on their own time.

In addition to graduating with a 3.75 GPA, I spent a semester at a university in Japan, and I have strong conversational skills in the Japanese language. I believe this would be an asset, as I know your studio does a lot of collaborations with major design studios in Japan.

 Although I am a recent college graduate, my maturity, artistic skills, ability to work with others, and knowledge of the Japanese language and culture will make me an asset to your studio.

 I have enclosed my resume and will email you within the next week to see if we can arrange a time to speak further. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Signature  (hard copy letter)

Before you can begin writing your cover letter, it's important to know the guidelines governing these letters. Unlike a casual email to a friend, there are set standards for how to greet recipients, organize the letter's content, and much more. That's where templates can help: they allow you to know what information to put where, and they help you format your letter correctly. Review the templates below: 

• Cover Letter Format
• Cover Letter Template
• Email Cover Letter Template
• Email Cover Letter Sample
• Cover Letter Sample: General
• Cover Letter Sample: Block Format
• Microsoft Word Cover Letter Templates

These lists of cover letters include both general examples that will help you format your letter, as well as sample cover letters used to apply for specific positions, such as roles as a nanny or a marketing assistant.

Do not copy these sample letters—instead, use them as a guide to help you know what kind of information to include, and how to format your letter. 

Entry-Level Cover Letters

Have a look at these samples to see how best to present your experience when applying for an entry-level job.

• Entry Level Inquiry Letter
• Cover Letter Sample: Entry-Level

Student Cover Letters

As a student, the information you should emphasize in your cover letter will vary depending upon your level of education. Here are examples of effective cover letters created for students at the high school, college, and graduate levels.

• Recent College Graduate Sample #1
• Recent College Graduate Sample #2
• Response to Job Posting
• College Senior
• Graduate Student
• Networking Letter

Job-Specific Cover Letters

These cover letter samples target specific career fields. They demonstrate how to incorporate industry-specific keywords into your narrative.

• Email Cover Letter - Psychology Job
• Internship Cover Letter
• Finance Internship Program
• Entry Level Marketing

Cover Letters for Summer and Part-Time Jobs

Being able to write an enthusiastic and informative cover letter will set you apart from your competition when you apply for summer or part-time jobs while you’re still in school.

Make sure you send your cover letter and resume as soon as possible after a job is announced—these opportunities are snatched up quickly.

These samples can be modified to both summer and part-time work.

• Part-Time Job
• Summer Assistant Job
• Email Summer Job
• Summer Job #1
• Summer Job #2
• Summer Job Email Message
• Camp Counselor
• Email Editorial Assistant
• Sales Associate
• Summer Camp

This guide to writing a cover letter will walk you through everything you need to know to write a cover letter, including what to include in the letter, how to write it, and the proper cover letter format. Plus, find out about how to write a targeted cover letter and browse through additional cover letter samples and examples.

Here are cover letter tips and techniques for writing top-notch cover letters to send with your resume, including information about cover letter format and presentation, choosing a type of cover letter, writing custom cover letters, and cover letter examples and templates.

• Student Resume Examples, Templates, and Writing Tips
• Marketing Cover Letter Example and Writing Tips
• Recommendation Letter Examples, Templates, and Tips
• Sample Professional Letter Formats
• Reference Letter Examples
• Goodbye Letter Examples and Writing Tips
• Professional Letter and Email Examples
• Types of Professional Business Letters
• Sample Cover Letters for a Career Office Job Posting
• Business Letter Format With Examples
• Retail Cover Letter Examples and Writing Tips
• Teaching Assistant Cover Letter Samples
• Resume and Cover Letter Examples Listed By Job
• Speech Pathologist Resume and Cover Letter Examples
• Consulting Cover Letter Samples and Writing Tips
• Admissions Counselor Cover Letter and Resume Examples

Graduate Scheme cover letter examples

Graduate schemes allow you to continue developing your skills on the job, which is why these positions are so competitive.

As a result, you need to do all you can to stand out from the crowd of recent graduates.

To help give you a competitive edge, check out all our top tips below, along with our graduate scheme cover letter examples to guide you.

CV templates 

Graduate Scheme cover letter example 1

Graduate Scheme cover letter example 2

Graduate Scheme cover letter example 3

These Graduate Scheme cover letter examples provide you with some guidance and inspiration for writing a cover letter that gets noticed and ensures your CV will get opened.

But if you really want to master the art of writing a winning cover letter , then follow our step-by-step cove letter writing guide below.

How to write a Graduate Scheme cover letter

Here’s a simple process to write your own interview-winning cover letter.

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

You should write your cover letter in the body of the email (or messaging system if sending via a job board) and never attach it as a document.

The reason for this?

You want your cover letter to start connecting with the recruiter from the moment they open your application.

If they have to open a document to read it, it will slow things down and they may not even bother to open it.

Start with a friendly greeting

Start you cover letter with a greeting that is professional but friendly.

This will build rapport with the recruiter whilst showing your professionalism.

• Hi, hope you’re well
• Hi [insert recruiter name]
• Hi [insert department/team name]

Avoid overly formal greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very traditional companies.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try these methods to find it.

• Check out the company website and look at their  About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
• Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

Now that you have warmed the recruiter up with a friendly greeting, firstly you need to let them know which role you are applying for.

Sometimes a recruitment consultant will be juggling 10 or 10 vacancies, so it’s important to specify which one you are applying to.

Give us much detail as possible (team/department, role title etc.) and paste in the reference number if you have one.

Here are some examples you can use.

• I am interested in applying for the Graduate Scheme with your company.
• I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 40f57393)
• I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
• I saw your advert for an IT project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The bulk of your cover letter should be focused around highlighting your suitability for the job you are applying to.

Doing this will show the recruiter that you are suitable candidate and encourage them to open your CV.

The best way to do this, is by studying the job advert you are applying to, and find out what the most important skills and knowledge are.

Once you know the most important requirements, you then need to highlight your matching skills to the recruiter. In a few sentences, tell them exactly why you are a good fit for the job and what you can offer the company.

Keep it short and sharp

A good cover letter is short and sharp, getting to the point quickly with just enough information to grab the attention of recruiters.

Ideally your cover letter should be around 4-8 sentences long – anything longer will risk losing the attention of time-strapped recruiters and hiring managers .

Essentially you need to include just enough information to persuade the reader to open up your CV, where the in-depth details will sit.

Sign off professionally

To finish off your cover note, add a professional signature to the bottom, stating your important contact details and information.

This not only provides recruiters with multiple means of contacting you, but it also adds a nice professional appearance to the cover letter, which shows that you know how to conduct yourself in the workplace.

Include the following points;

• A friendly sign off – e.g. “Warm regards”
• Your full name
• Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
• Email address
• Profession title
• Professional social network – e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Aaron Smith Customer service professional 075557437373 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip : To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate document that you could copy in.

What to include in your Graduate Scheme cover letter

Your Graduate Scheme cover letter will be unique to your situation, but there are certain content guidelines you should stick to for best results.

To attract and entice recruiters, stick with the following key subjects in your cover letter – adapting them to fit your profession and target jobs.

• Your professional experience – Employers will be keen to know if your experience is suitable for the job you are applying to, so provide a good summary of it in your cover letter.
• Your qualifications and education – Highlight your most relevant and high-level of qualification, especially if they are essential to the job.
• The positive impact you have made – Employers love to hear about the benefits you can bring to them, so shout about anything impressive you have done, such as saving money or improving processes.
• Your reasons for leaving – Use a few words of your cover letter to explain why you are leaving your current job and ensure you avoid any negative reasons.
• Your availability – Let recruiters know when you can start a new job . Are you immediately available, or do you have a month notice period?

Graduate Scheme cover letter templates

Copy and paste these Graduate Scheme cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.

I hope you are well. I am writing to submit my application for the Digital Marketing Graduate Scheme at View Agency, as I am eager to leverage my marketing acumen and social media expertise to drive impactful digital strategies for commercial clients.

During my digital marketing internship at Lyne Ltd, I successfully orchestrated captivating social media campaigns that led to a substantial 40% increase in Instagram followers and a remarkable 25% boost in website traffic. Furthermore, my personal social media following of 35K individuals attests to my prowess in engaging audiences and creating compelling content. I achieved a 1st Class Honours in my BA Marketing and my dissertation on “Exploring the Impact of Digital Marketing Strategies on Consumer Behaviour” demonstrated my commitment to understanding and harnessing the power of digital channels. As a Student Engagement Officer at the Coventry University Student Union, I managed multi-channel advertising campaigns, achieving improved event attendance and heightened community engagement.

I am excited about the possibility of contributing my skills to your team and I am available for an interview at your convenience.

Kind regards,

James Napton ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

I am writing to apply for the Graduate Scheme at CM Consultancy, as I am excited by the prospect of utilising my management expertise and commitment to ethical business to drive innovation and deliver transformative solutions to diverse challenges.

As a resourceful and high-achieving Business Management graduate, my first-class degree from the University of Leeds reflects my academic excellence, and my internship at NPC, a charity sector specialist think tank, showcases my ability to devise and implement impactful strategies. During my internship at NPC, I successfully conducted primary research and crafted budget proposals for a £500k consultancy contract, which resulted in a remarkable 21% revenue increase in the first quarter after implementation. Moreover, my adoption of contemporary business strategist Katy Turner’s management approach significantly improved patron relations and revenue for our client. Additionally, I thrived in my internship at Bright Futures, contributing to their financial growth and securing a contract with a local recruitment agency as their exclusive provider of employment and CV workshops.

I am keen to discuss my potential contributions further in an interview and am available at your convenience. Thank you for considering my application.

Best wishes,

Amy Ford ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

Dear Dr Wells,

I hope you and the team are well. I am writing to apply for the Chemistry Graduate Scheme at Stanton Laboratories, where my passion for Organic Synthesis can make a measurable impact.

As recent Chemistry graduate proficient in HPLC and GC-MS analysis, I bring a track record of outstanding achievements that perfectly align with the requirements of this graduate scheme. During my MSc in Analytical Chemistry at Manchester University, I excelled in chemical analysis and quality control, culminating in my research on “Analysis of Drug Metabolites in Urine using GC-MS,” which garnered the esteemed Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence. Moreover, during a 3-month internship at Lab Solutions Ltd, I conducted rigorous quality control tests using advanced analytical techniques. My introduction of automated HPLC analysis led to a remarkable 12% reduction in turnaround time, significantly enhancing productivity. Additionally, my contribution to validating an in-house HPLC method resulted in substantial annual savings of £10K by eliminating outsourcing expenses.

I am eager to discuss how my proven abilities can add value to the Chemistry Graduate Scheme at Stanton Laboratories. I am available for an interview at your convenience, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to connect with you and your colleagues.

Hayden Porter ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

Writing a strong attention-grabbing cover letter is a vital step in landing a good Graduate Scheme.

Use the tips, strategies and examples above to get more responses from you job applications and start lining job interview up.

Good luck with your job search!

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In this presentation, students will understand the purpose, process, and value of a resume and cover letter. At the conclusion of this session, students will know the proper content, style and format for resume development and cover letter writing.

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