Working while you’re in high school can teach you invaluable life skills. You must manage your own time, balance school work and your job, and be responsible for yourself.
But how can you get your foot in the door? The answer is writing a high school student cover letter that would impress any hiring manager.
High school student full text-only cover letter example
Dear Alexandra Bennett,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the part-time sales associate position at your clothing store, Fashion Forward. As a highly motivated and customer-oriented high school student, I believe I would be a valuable addition to your team.
Currently, I am a junior at Stuyvesant High School, where I maintain a 3.8 GPA while actively participating in various extracurricular activities. These experiences have helped me develop strong communication, time management, and leadership skills, which I believe will translate well to a retail environment.
As a member of the Stuyvesant High debate team, I have honed my ability to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively, a skill that will be invaluable when interacting with customers and assisting them in making informed purchasing decisions. Additionally, my role as a volunteer at the local animal shelter has taught me the importance of compassion, patience, and providing excellent service to all individuals.
Furthermore, I have gained practical experience in customer service through my part-time job as a server at Luigi's Italian Restaurant. In this role, I have demonstrated my ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and collaborate effectively with team members. I have consistently received positive feedback from both customers and management for my friendly demeanor and proactive approach to problem-solving.
I am confident that my combination of academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and work experience has prepared me to excel as a sales associate at Fashion Forward. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your store's success while further developing my skills in a professional setting.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications in more detail during an interview.
Sincerely,
Luna Midden
Sections of a high school student cover letter
Your high school student cover letter needs to show off your value to a prospective employer. To make sure that you get off on the right footing, you need to cover the following sections.
- Cover letter header. Before you do anything else, you need to make sure that the cover letter includes your contact information.
- Greeting. Your cover letter is a formal document. When you address the reader, you need to make sure that your greeting is professional.
- Introduction. Next up, you need a strong introduction that hooks the reader’s attention. Make sure that you start with a solid message that piques their interest.
- Body. Your body is the center of your story. It’s where you can share further details of your experience and skills with the reader. Consider what golden nuggets of information you want to convey to the hiring manager here.
- Conclusion. You need to end on a high. Towards the end of your high school cover letter, include a positive statement or a call to action for the reader.
- Signature. And finally, it’s time to sign off. You need to use a formal signature that suits the nature of your high school cover letter.
Keep in mind that each section of your cover letter plays an important role in building the narrative here. You want to show the hiring manager how you fit into their business.
Aim for a one-page cover letter of around 300-400 words. In it, you should cover the basics of your skills and any experience you have.
Looking for some extra inspiration? Take a look at our related cover letter examples for students and young people:
If this is the first time that you have applied for jobs, you need to start with the basics. Read our full guide on how to write a cover letter now.
Once you have created a simple header and addressed the hiring manager, it’s time to move onto writing an enticing introduction.
Introduction of a high school student cover letter
The start of your cover letter must be strong if you want to capture the reader’s attention. You only get one chance to make the right first impression.
You should spend the most time figuring out what to say here. If you fail to capture the reader’s imagination at this point, they may not continue reading your cover letter.
Dear Mr. Bates,
As a customer-orientated worker with a professional attitude, I would make a perfect sales associate at Fashion World. I have previous experience working in a busy store, serving up to 100 customers per day.
Hello, my name is Sue and I am looking for part-time work alongside my studies. I would prefer shift work in the evenings and at the weekends as this will fit in with my schedule.
Above all else, you should avoid using generic statements. The aim is to show your value. You can do this with specific details. For example, you could state how many customers you are used to serving rather than just saying that you have experience. The more specific you are about your experience and skills, the more likely you are to land an interview.
This approach is all about aligning your experience with the business. Reflect on the job advert and the criteria the employer lists. If you can tailor your high school cover letter to meet the company's needs, you will have a better chance of ultimate success.
Dear Alexandra Bennett,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the part-time sales associate position at your clothing store, Fashion Forward. As a highly motivated and customer-oriented high school student, I believe I would be a valuable addition to your team.
High school student cover letter body
Within the body of your cover letter, you should do the following:
- List your transferable skills and any relevant experience you have
- Reference any clubs, societies, or organizations you are a member of
- Align yourself with the business and explain why you’re the right fit
- Write a strong conclusion that leaves the reader wanting more
- Finish off with a positive statement or a call to action
First body paragraph: your suitability for the role (skills & experience)
Toward the start of your high school cover letter, you need to lay the groundwork. You already have the reader’s interest. Now, you can show them why you’re an ideal candidate.
Here are some of the things that you may choose to include:
- Your GPA. While your GPA won’t land you the job, if it’s exceptionally high, it’s worth mentioning. The fact that you are a good student could translate to you being a solid employee. If it’s 3.5 or higher, you might want to note that in your cover letter.
- Relevant experience you have. Have you previously had a part-time job in a similar setting? If the answer is yes, now is the time to shout about it. While you don’t want to regurgitate the details from your resume, you can add some context to it here.
- Your schedule and flexibility. Since you are studying full-time, the reader will want to know your availability. Be candid about this in your high school student cover letter.
- Club or team memberships. Few high school students have a wealth of work experience. However, you may well be a member of a team or club. You can detail this in your cover letter, explaining why this experience is relevant.
Do your research online
Don’t simply rely on the job advert. Take the time to Google the company you are applying to before writing your cover letter. You may find out some useful information.
Second body paragraph(s): alignment with the organization
When you’re writing a cover letter, it’s important to tailor it to the needs of the company. Make sure that you have a clear understanding of the role and the business before you get started.
For example, take a look at the employee values from Walmart:
“Associates who work at Walmart are expected to operate based on our high standards and values—respect, service, excellence, and integrity. Acting consistently with these values demands that a culture of integrity guides all our decisions.”
If you were applying for a role at Walmart, it would be smart to weave these values into your narrative. For instance, you might highlight your respect and integrity in your cover letter.
Currently, I am a junior at Stuyvesant High School, where I maintain a 3.8 GPA while actively participating in various extracurricular activities. These experiences have helped me develop strong communication, time management, and leadership skills, which I believe will translate well to a retail environment.
As a member of the Stuyvesant High debate team, I have honed my ability to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively, a skill that will be invaluable when interacting with customers and assisting them in making informed purchasing decisions. Additionally, my role as a volunteer at the local animal shelter has taught me the importance of compassion, patience, and providing excellent service to all individuals.
Furthermore, I have gained practical experience in customer service through my part-time job as a server at Luigi's Italian Restaurant. In this role, I have demonstrated my ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and collaborate effectively with team members. I have consistently received positive feedback from both customers and management for my friendly demeanor and proactive approach to problem-solving.
I am confident that my combination of academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and work experience has prepared me to excel as a sales associate at Fashion Forward. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your store's success while further developing my skills in a professional setting.
Call to action & conclusion: finish off strong
The end of your cover letter needs to make a big impression. Finish by expressing the enthusiasm you have for the position and why you believe you are the perfect fit for it.
You can also include a call to action here. This is a statement that encourages the reader to do something. This proactive approach could be the key to success.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications in more detail during an interview.
Sincerely,
Luna Midden
How to write a high school student cover letter with no experience
Applying for your first-ever job? There are plenty of ways to showcase your value to the employer. Here are some examples of what you may choose to include:
- Company knowledge. What do you already know about the business, and why do you want to work for it?
- Organization and dedication. Can you prove that you are a dedicated person? Reflect on your high school experience and look for examples.
- Transferable skills. What key skills do you have? What you lack in experience, you may be able to make up for in the talents you bring to the table.
Key takeaways
Writing an exceptional high school student cover letter is a quick way to boost your chances of job search success. Use the advice in this guide to get it right from the start.
Get started now by using our cover letter builder. The free tool does all of the hard work for you so you can focus on what matters—landing that job!
