With little to no work experience, it can be challenging to write a graduate cover letter. How can you show a hiring manager that you have the right skills and experience when you’ve only just finished your education?
Think of your graduate cover letter as your career story. It’s an opportunity to reveal what inspired you to follow your chosen career path and why you’re so enthusiastic about the advertised role.
So, how can you ensure your graduate cover letter gets you a foot in the door? By showcasing your strengths and potential with a twist of personality.
Graduate full text-only cover letter example
Dear Ms. Long,
Having achieved a 2:1 Distinction BA Hons Accounting and Finance, with practical experience of working in a small accounts department, I am now seeking an opportunity to put my skills and passion for finance into practice.
I believe that financial reporting is an excellent way to begin my career because it will give me the opportunity to learn the business and to hone my presentation and forecasting skills.
The benefit of working in a small accounts department is that I got to do a little of everything, giving me practical experience to go along with my academic coursework. For my final project, I worked with a team to develop a five-year plan for an IT consultancy similar to yours. This experience taught me not only how to forecast, but how to problem solve and listen carefully to others' ideas.
In addition, I have worked in customer services roles for 3 years and in this time, I have developed my skills in working with a range of people. I have strong communication skills, as well as the ability to work well in a team. Although accounting and finance are not often thought of as people-based, it is my belief that interpersonal skills are important in any position in the work world.
I am extremely interested in IT IQ in part because I love the challenge of forecasting sales models and predicting how many worker hours will be necessary. Coupled with my strong academic achievements and excellent interpersonal skills, I feel I would be a great asset to your organisation.
I would welcome the chance to discuss this role in more detail.
Sincerely,
Simon Trenton
Sections of a graduate cover letter
The best way to approach your cover letter for a graduate 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:
- Cover letter header. Select a professional and attractive design for your cover letter header and include your name, contact details, and main job title.
- Greeting. Personalise your greeting by addressing the hiring manager by their name, rather than using a generic ‘Dear Sir or Madam.’
- Introduction. Arguably the most important section on your graduate 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 graduate opportunity.
- 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.
- Conclusion. Remind the hiring manager why you should be offered an interview and reinforce your strong interest in the job opening.
- 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.
While your university dissertation needs to be a long piece of writing, your graduate cover letter should be the complete opposite. Stick to a one-page cover letter that is concise, informative, and engaging to avoid the hiring manager zoning out.
Looking for some inspiration? Check out our library of UK graduate cover letter examples to find job-specific advice for your desired job or industry. Here’s a selection for review:
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 graduate cover letter introduction.
Introduction of a graduate cover letter
As you have little or no experience as a graduate, it’s critical to set yourself apart from other candidates with a great introduction. Why should the hiring manager take notice of my application? If you have zero work experience, you’ll need to focus on your qualifications and any relevant projects you have undertaken.
Dear Mr Long,
Holding a 2:1 honours degree in marketing from the University of Bristol and a passion for UX design, I’m excited to apply for the graduate role with Studio 53 Marketing. My final year project was focused on using AI-driven accessibility solutions to tailor user experiences. I would love to bring this expertise and more to contribute to Studio 53’s future success.
To Whom It May Concern
I would like to apply for the graduate marketing opportunity with Studio 53 Marketing. I enclose my CV for review.
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 graduate 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.
Dear Ms. Long,
Having achieved a 2:1 Distinction BA Hons Accounting and Finance, with practical experience of working in a small accounts department, I am now seeking an opportunity to put my skills and passion for finance into practice.
Graduate cover letter body
Adopt a clear structure when creating your graduate cover letter body to project your professionalism. Here’s the formula to follow:
- Showcase your most impressive qualifications
- Demonstrate how you align with company values and culture
- Summarise key points in a compelling conclusion
- Include a call to action to encourage the recruiter to progress your application
First body paragraph
Give the hiring manager a clear vision of what you can achieve for them and what they should expect from you. Here’s how you can weave your qualifications into a compelling narrative:
- Spotlight your education. Dig deeper into your university studies, including any research activities or project work relevant to the graduate job opportunity.
- 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 graduate cover letter.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Always be truthful in your cover letter and CV
Creating a cover letter and CV for a graduate job can seem like a challenge, but don’t be tempted to lie to get ahead. Trustworthiness is the foundation of positive working relationships. Making false claims can lead (at best) to embarrassment and a damaged reputation. Worst case scenario, you could lose your job and even face legal consequences (if the lie directly harms the company or its clients).
Second body paragraph
Play up your interest in the graduate role 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 graduates, but they want to know that you have the desire and the basic skills to add value to the organisation.
ALDI offers award-winning graduate schemes and management training programs. Some key points that can be taken from their vision and values include:
- Voted the fifth best graduate employer in the UK by The Times Top 100
- Core values of consistency, simplicity, and responsibility
- Committed to people, customers, partners and the environment as outlined in their National Sustainability Principles
- Focused on providing high-quality products, at guaranteed low prices
Incorporate details from your research findings in your cover letter to show that you speak the company’s language. Perhaps you’re impressed by awards the company has won or specific values resonate with your personal and professional outlook. If so, let the employer know.
I believe that financial reporting is an excellent way to begin my career because it will give me the opportunity to learn the business and to hone my presentation and forecasting skills.
The benefit of working in a small accounts department is that I got to do a little of everything, giving me practical experience to go along with my academic coursework. For my final project, I worked with a team to develop a five-year plan for an IT consultancy similar to yours. This experience taught me not only how to forecast, but how to problem solve and listen carefully to others' ideas.
In addition, I have worked in customer services roles for 3 years and in this time, I have developed my skills in working with a range of people. I have strong communication skills, as well as the ability to work well in a team. Although accounting and finance are not often thought of as people-based, it is my belief that interpersonal skills are important in any position in the work world.
I am extremely interested in IT IQ in part because I love the challenge of forecasting sales models and predicting how many worker hours will be necessary. Coupled with my strong academic achievements and excellent interpersonal skills, I feel I would be a great asset to your organisation.
Call to action & conclusion
You’ve made your point, and now you need to remind the hiring manager why you should be offered an interview.
Since you don’t have a lot of direct work experience, you should consider adding a personal sentence that explains why you chose your field or why you’re excited about the opportunity.
Then you can wrap up your graduate cover letter by leaving the reader with a taste for who you are and why they should take you forward to an interview.
I would welcome the chance to discuss this role in more detail.
Sincerely,
Simon Trenton
Make sure you clearly request an interview, without sounding presumptuous of course. Then sign off with a professional closing, such as ‘Sincerely,’ and your name.
Key takeaways
A well-crafted cover letter is an essential component of a graduate’s application since it can help you stand out from other candidates with similar educational backgrounds.
Don’t let a lack of work experience negatively impact your confidence. Showcase relevant skills, experiences, and achievements in your graduate cover letter, from your introduction through to your conclusion.
Kickstart your job search with our cover letter builder and CV maker. 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.
