How to write a graduate cover letter

Many employers request a cover letter along with your CV. This is your opportunity to really show off your skills and enthusiasm for the role. Graduate recruiters often spend more time looking at a graduate’s cover letter than their CV, as they know their work experience will be limited.

For graduate positions, recruiters and hiring managers are looking for people with great soft skills – like communication skills, flexibility and problem-solving ability – paired with a great attitude, readiness to work and a desire to succeed.

It can be harder to communicate this through a resume if you only have some internships and part-time jobs on it, so your cover letter is your opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

RELATED: What makes the perfect graduate resume?

You can afford to show a bit of personality in your cover letter. Let the employer know why you want to work for them, specifically, and why you think you would make a great candidate for the role that’s on offer. The chances for this are limited on your resume so make the most of this opening dialogue so that you can gain the interest of whoever’s reading your letter.

Your cover letter is also a great chance to demonstrate that you’ve researched the organisation and that your values and interests are aligned with – being personal is one of the keys to success in a cover letter. A mistake that many graduates is writing cover letters that prove they want a job anywhere, rather than demonstrating a specific desire to work at the organisation they’re applying to.

Here are a few pointers on how to write a graduate cover letter.

Format

• Always write in formal letter format – you’re not just dropping them a note. This means including a date, a salutation and a sign-off. Don’t forget to break the text up with spaces between the paragraphs.
• Address the person handling the job – it’s fine to use their first name. If the job ad doesn’t state a contact then use ‘Dear sir/madam’, but only as a last resort – and never use ‘To whom it may concern’ – it’s outdated.
• Make sure you proof read carefully for spelling errors, punctuation and grammar – this is your chance to show written communication skills and attention to detail.

Content

• Don’t be afraid to repeat some of what’s in your CV – if your skills are relevant then reiterate them. You can also elaborate a little if you have good evidence to demonstrate your aptitude for the role.
• The content should flow logically. There’s no set order for what needs to be included in the cover letter – it just needs to make sense and have some kind of structure.

Personalisation

• Always tailor your cover letter to the role and company you’re applying for. Recruiters and hiring managers read hundreds of applications and can tell when they’ve been sent a generic cover letter.
• Talk about the company to show you’ve done your research.

Length

• Keep it brief – highlight relevant skills and state your career objective – if it aligns with the type of role you’re applying for. One page should be the absolute maximum for a graduate cover letter.

How to end it

• End by politely expressing your interest in further dialogue with the hiring manager.

Don’t forget, the letter should be well written and clear. Get someone to proofread it for you; a second pair of eyes is always useful. Your letter is a reflection of you and if a hiring manager can’t understand your message, they’re unlikely to be impressed.

It’s important to keep in mind the goal of a cover letter, and that’s to get you an interview – so if you present yourself as switched on and enthusiastic, you’ll give yourself the best chance at securing one.

If you’re looking for a graduate position, contact a Page Personnel recruiter today