EY is recognised as a prestigious employer, with professionals on their books spanning many profiles working on multidisciplinary teams. At the heart of these positions is the shared aim of optimisation: problem-solving, analytical skills and strategic thinking. But is your EY cover letter optimised for your professional goals?
In this cover letter guide, along with the corresponding EY cover letter example, we’ll cover the following topics to help you write the best cover letter possible:
- How to choose the best cover letter format and what paragraphs the cover letter should include
- How to maximise the effect of each cover letter paragraph (header, greeting, intro, body and conclusion)
- What approach to take when writing your cover letter
- What mistakes to avoid when writing your EY cover letter.
If at the end of this guide you’re still hungry for more information on excelling in your job seeking journey, check out our library of cover letter examples for more inspiration.
It could be a great time to cement your place in EY. This Big Four accounting firm recently announced the creation of over 1,000 new jobs.
Best format for an EY cover letter
To be in with a real shot of becoming an EY employee, take the same care to optimise your cover letter as you would on any other work task for the company. For instance, the format of an EY cover letter should contain the following elements:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
By following this tried-and-true format, you will make sure that your EY cover letter is written with the busy hiring manager in mind. Let’s be honest, if your cover letter even makes it past the ATS, then it will be skimmed by the hiring manager. Their first goal will be to simply determine whether your cover letter belongs in the pile of successful hopefuls or in the “no” pile.
Dear Ms Thames,
I am writing to express my keen interest in the cyber security manager position at the cyber security team at EY Northern Ireland. With my background consulting FTSE 100 companies on their tech security solutions, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my expertise to your esteemed organisation.
In my previous role at Accenture, I played a pivotal role in assisting important accounts to understand the value of their information and data assets. I worked closely with technical experts to develop and implement robust security solutions. I also actively supported business development efforts by crafting proposals for future client engagements, showcasing my ability to combine technical knowledge with strategic thinking.
One of the key skills required for your advertised role at Ernst & Young is the ability to deliver cyber identity and access management services (IAM). This is a skill I have consistently demonstrated throughout my time at Accenture. Working proactively with numerous clients, each with unique needs, I have helped to tailor IAM engagements across sectors including finance, tech, media, and more.
One of my most significant achievements was leading a team project tasked with reducing security vulnerabilities for an SaaS client. Through coordinated efforts with a variety of experts, we identified IAM pitfalls and integrated SailPoint's identity governance platform into a complex healthcare environment, safeguarding critical systems and data from unauthorised access. As a result, the client’s team passed their annual audit from their parent company and were found to be 100% in line with national and EU regulation.
I am eager to bring my wealth of experience, technical proficiency, and ability to excel in high-pressure situations to EY. I am confident that my dedication to cyber security and my commitment to delivering exceptional results align well with the expectations of this role. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to EY’s mission of delivering exceptional professional services across the organisation.
Sincerely,
Tanya Biggs
Optimise for the ATS
The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is an algorithmic software that businesses use to filter job applications. Only the top ranked CVs and cover letters will make it in front of the eyes of the human hiring manager.
To make sure your EY cover letter is among the most successful ones, make sure that you are using the same language and keywords present in the job description. This is the best way to ensure that you beat that pesky ATS and are in with a chance of an interview.
Cover letter header
The cover letter header is where you should make it abundantly clear how the hiring manager can contact you. EY doesn’t want to work with poor communicators. The most important thing to communicate in your cover letter is why you should be invited to interview. So make it easy for the hiring manager to do just that! Include your name and contact details at the top of your cover letter where it’s clear to see.
If you’re looking for additional inspiration for cover letter writing, you can check out our related cover letter samples:
Cover letter greeting
The very first thing that the reader should see in the letter section of your cover letter is “Dear [Mr/Mrs/Ms Last name]”. This keeps things feeling formal and professional while adding the personable touch. If you want to stay a step ahead of the competition, take the time to find out who is leading the team you’re applying to on LinkedIn. Including their name shows you show attention to detail and that you actually care about this role.
To whom it may concern — just don’t!
The age old “to whom it may concern” just doesn’t cut it. If it doesn’t result in your cover letter being added to the “no” pile, then it will certainly come off as generic and impersonal. Neither are traits of a top EY employee!
Cover letter introduction
Your EY cover letter introduction is your opportunity to stand out. While the rest of the letter allows you to go into more detail, nobody will get that far in reading if you don’t hook their attention first. So, communicate the most important points of why you’re a worthy candidate in this initial paragraph.
The cover letter sample content below will show you how to do just that.
Dear Ms Thames,
I am writing to express my keen interest in the cyber security manager position at the cyber security team at EY Northern Ireland. With my background consulting FTSE 100 companies on their tech security solutions, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my expertise to your esteemed organisation.
Cover letter middle part (body)
It’s in the middle paragraphs of cover letters where you can add some nuance and explain your suitability further. Choose two strong anecdotes that correspond to the top requirements of the job that you’re applying to. Make sure these anecdotes or achievements are explained as concisely as possible.
Remember, your overall objective is to land an interview at EY, not to tell your life story. Check out how the cover letter sample content below builds a story around the specific job that the candidate is applying to.
In my previous role at Accenture, I played a pivotal role in assisting important accounts to understand the value of their information and data assets. I worked closely with technical experts to develop and implement robust security solutions. I also actively supported business development efforts by crafting proposals for future client engagements, showcasing my ability to combine technical knowledge with strategic thinking.
One of the key skills required for your advertised role at Ernst & Young is the ability to deliver cyber identity and access management services (IAM). This is a skill I have consistently demonstrated throughout my time at Accenture. Working proactively with numerous clients, each with unique needs, I have helped to tailor IAM engagements across sectors including finance, tech, media, and more.
One of my most significant achievements was leading a team project tasked with reducing security vulnerabilities for an SaaS client. Through coordinated efforts with a variety of experts, we identified IAM pitfalls and integrated SailPoint's identity governance platform into a complex healthcare environment, safeguarding critical systems and data from unauthorised access. As a result, the client’s team passed their annual audit from their parent company and were found to be 100% in line with national and EU regulation.
How to close an EY cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
Wrap up your cover letter for Ernst & Young with a confident and enthusiastic tone that showcases your eagerness for the role. In your closing paragraph, reiterate your qualifications and express your excitement to discuss them further in an interview. End with a strong and memorable sign-off, such as in the cover letter sample content below.
The final touch? A simple “Sincerely”, followed by your full name. Hopefully you’ll have made such a strong impression that the hiring manager will be looking straight back to your cover letter header to give you a call on the spot!
I am eager to bring my wealth of experience, technical proficiency, and ability to excel in high-pressure situations to EY. I am confident that my dedication to cyber security and my commitment to delivering exceptional results align well with the expectations of this role. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to EY’s mission of delivering exceptional professional services across the organisation.
Sincerely,
Tanya Biggs
EY cover letter with no experience
If you’re hoping to start your career at EY, the good news is that there are thousands of junior members who started their careers there. Don’t be discouraged by your lack of experience. Make sure that the job you’re applying to suits your experience level and what you can offer to the team. Next, follow some of these tips to make your cover letter stand out:
- If you lack previous professional experience, lean into examples from your education or extracurricular activities.
- Show that you’re a self-starter by mentioning any personal projects that garnered impressive results.
- Quantify your achievements where possible through impressive-sounding stats or sums of money.
- Show that you’ve done your research and explain why you want to start your career on this EY team in particular.
By following some of these tips, you may well find that you stand out even more seasoned candidates. Many teams are willing to risk hiring a less experienced candidate who shows a capacity and willingness to grow. Especially if they have gone the extra mile and demonstrated their enthusiasm to work in their particular sector or team!
No experience? No problem!
If you’re brand-spanking new to the workforce, check out some more of our tips on writing a cover letter with no experience.
Key takeaways
- A career at EY could take you in many directions, so remember to craft your cover letter to the particular job you’re applying for.
- Write for the ATS as well as the hiring manager that could be reading your EY cover letter.
- Quantify your achievements where possible to make your results sound all the more impressive.
As you put the finishing touches on your document, remember that our library of cover letter templates could help you to optimise your EY cover letter to the eye of a hiring manager!
