Student cover letter example

As a student, you are still forming the skills that will make you the best professional you can be. That being said, you can still be a valuable asset to the workforce. The best way to make hiring managers agree is to present them with a well-crafted student cover letter.

Unlike a CV, writing a top student cover letter lets you elaborate further on the experiences that make you the right candidate for the job. It’s all about framing your skills in the right way. No previous employment? No problem. After all, everyone has to start somewhere!

If you’re overwhelmed by the prospect of selling your skills in a cover letter, this step-by-step guide should set you on the right path to writing a cover letter as a student. 

Student full text-only cover letter example 

Sections of a student cover letter

The best way to approach your cover letter for a student job is to work out what format and structure you intend to use before you get started with the content. 

Here are the key sections you need to cover:

1. Cover letter header. Select a professional and attractive design for your cover letter header and include your name, contact details, and main job title.
2. Greeting. Personalise your greeting by addressing the hiring manager by their name, rather than using a generic ‘Dear Sir or Madam.’
3. Introduction. Arguably the most important section on your student cover letter. If you lose interest here, it’s game over. Spark some interest with an engaging intro and express your strong interest in the job opportunity.
4. Body. Conduct a deep dive into your relevant skills, experience, and accomplishments. Don’t worry about a lack of work experience. Academic studies, projects, part-time jobs, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities all count.
5. Conclusion. Remind the hiring manager why you should be offered an interview and reinforce your strong interest in the job opening.
6. Signature. End with a professional closing, including your full name.

Remember, every component of your cover letter works together to provide the narrative of your career story and explain your motivations and job aspirations.

Keep your student cover letter short and sweet. Stick to a one-page cover letter that is concise, informative, and engaging to avoid the hiring manager zoning out.

If you’re looking for more general information and details that cover each section of a cover letter, read our article on how to write a cover letter.

Moving forward, it’s time to focus on the core message you want to send about your skills and abilities in your student cover letter introduction.

Introduction of a student cover letter

As you have little or no experience as a student, it’s critical to set yourself apart from other candidates with a great introduction. 

Similar to an academic paper, the introduction will set up the argument of why you’re the best fit for the position. This opening paragraph should tease into the most important aspects of the story you will tell. The story, of course, being a researched case on why your expertise matches the needs of the employer. 

Generic introductions can be viewed as a little lazy. This approach isn’t likely to persuade the hiring manager to invest more time in reading the rest of your student cover letter and subsequently your CV or application form.

Highlighting an excellent grade in your degree, attendance at a reputable university, and referencing a standout project relevant to the job posting boosts your credibility. You're giving the hiring manager multiple reasons why they should read on and learn more about you.  

Student cover letter body

Adopt a clear structure when creating your student cover letter body to project your professionalism. Here’s the winning formula: 

• Highlight your most impressive qualifications
• Show how you align with company values and culture
• Wrap up your key points in a strong conclusion
• Include a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to contact you

First body paragraph

Illustrate why you are the best fit for the position and company as well as the value you will bring. Here’s how you can weave your qualifications into a convincing narrative:

1. Spotlight your education. ​​Dig deeper into your university studies, including any research activities or project work relevant to the student job opportunity.
2. Highlight transferable experience. If you have any relatable work experience via an internship, part-time job, volunteer work, or university, you should include this in the body of your student cover letter.
3. Emphasise critical thinking and communication skills. Recall times when you’ve applied these in-demand soft skills. Perhaps you came up with fresh ideas to tackle a complex research project and achieved top grades in your final report and presentation.
4. Technology and trend awareness. If it fits, dive into your knowledge of current and emerging technologies and trends in your chosen field. This demonstrates your commitment to staying at the cutting edge of your industry.
5. Leadership and teamwork. Provide examples of great leadership and teamwork in action. The ability to lead and collaborate toward a shared goal are critical components of professional success.

Second body paragraph

Play up your interest in the job opening by doing some research on the company and explaining why this position is attractive to you. 

Hiring managers understand that junior-level positions will be filled by fresh students, but they want to know that you have the desire and the basic skills to add value to the organisation.

Primark is one of the best-known high street shops and employs over 700K members across four continents, with part-time retail jobs offering an ideal option for many students. Some key points that can be taken from their core values include:

• Provides comprehensive induction to new recruits and supports talent development via internal promotions.
• Since 2013, the company doubled warehouse capacity across eight distribution centres.
• Ranked as ‘leader’ by the Ethical Trading Intiative since 2011 and praised by the UK Government’s Environmental Audit Committee on sustainability.
• Promotes a family atmosphere among staff, derived from the early days of the company being a one store, family business.

Including details from your background research in your cover letter will show your investment in the role and company. Perhaps you’re impressed by the company's efforts in ethical trading and sustainability or their passion for supporting and developing employees. If so, let them know.

Call to action & conclusion

The sign-off paragraph brings your student cover letter to a neat close. While it should be short, take the time to make sure this paragraph addresses anything that was left open-ended. It should feel concise and coherent with the rest of your writing.

A great way to keep this to a few sentences is to briefly remind the hiring manager why you’re the person for the job. 

You could tease them with the idea that there’s more to your profile you’d be ready to discuss in an interview. A call to action, such as asking to learn more about the role and or telling them more about your profile can be a great way to close and show off your enthusiasm. 

Look at the cover letter sample paragraph below to see how it can be done without seeming overly pushy.

Key takeaways

A well-crafted cover letter is an essential component when applying for jobs as a student since it can help you stand out from other candidates.

Don’t let a lack of work experience negatively impact your confidence. Showcase relevant skills, experiences, and achievements in your student cover letter, from your introduction through to your conclusion.

Check out our cover letter builder and CV maker to get your job search underway. This includes access to 18 career-boosting tools, you can use to search for jobs, track your progress, prepare for interviews and negotiate salaries with confidence.