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High School Student Cover Letter Example
July 4, 2022 | By the Resume Genius Team | Reviewed by Conrad Benz
Check out our high school cover letter sample and writing tips below to learn how to write a strong cover letter as a student.
Don’t like the look of this cover letter? Find a new design in our collection of free cover letter templates .
Samples Similar to a High School Student Cover Letter
- High School Resume
- College Student Cover Letter
- Cover Letter for Internship
Camp Counselor Cover Letter
High school student cover letter template (text format).
Pay attention to the formatting used on your cover letter to guarantee it’s both readable and professional.
28 February 2023
Jamie Hart 929 Commerce St Stockton, CA 95202 (209) 984-3632 [email protected]
Dear Mr. Hart,
My name is Daria, and I am a graduating senior at Heritage High School. I saw your posting for the position of Business Development Intern on Indeed, and was immediately compelled to apply. My academic and career goals align with the internship’s stated objectives, and I am confident that I have the right skills for the job.
In addition to taking business-related coursework like Intro to Business and Entrepreneurship, I served as president of my school chapter’s Model United Nations and as secretary of the Student Council. Beyond these extracurricular activities, I also actively volunteer at MUSC Children’s Hospital and the local homeless shelter. Taking on these roles has led to some of my proudest accomplishments, including:
- Greeting and helping new patients and visitors as volunteer information desk assistant at MUSC Children’s Hospital
- Regularly delivering formal and impromptu speeches at Model UN meetings and conferences
- Planning a school-wide canned food drive that collected over 400 cans in one month for the local homeless shelter
CodeStack is an emerging leader in the educational software industry, making your internship the perfect opportunity to grow my understanding of business development. I have no doubt that my unmatched enthusiasm and eagerness to learn can take the internship to new heights.
I’ve attached my resume, which further details my skills and involvement in the community. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about my background. I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you further; thank you for your time and consideration.
Daria Jamali
High School Student Cover Letter Writing Tips
Learning how to put together a cover letter for the specific job(s) you want will help you land more interviews.
If you’re a teen with little or no work experience , finding a job might seem challenging. However, a well-written cover letter is the perfect way to convince employers that you’re worth hiring and land some of the best jobs for teenagers .
A great cover letter for a part time job highlights your work ethic, passion, and the valuable skills you acquired from other real-life experiences, such as school courses, extracurricular activities, or volunteer work.
Here are a few tips for crafting the perfect high school student cover letter:
1. Highlight skills you gained as a high school student
Use your cover letter to showcase any relevant skills that show employers you’re a great fit for the job.
Despite limited work experience, there are a variety of skills that many high school students have that are still valuable to employers.
Here are some hard and soft skills you’ve likely picked up as a high school student that you can talk about in your cover letter:
Be sure to provide real-life examples of your accomplishments to demonstrate your skills, like this applicant did in their cover letter:
2. Open with a strong introduction
Understanding how to write an attention-grabbing cover letter introduction is especially important if you’re writing a cover letter with no experience .
Because you don’t have much work experience to highlight, crafting a strong introduction is the best way to give employers a better sense of your passion, and how you can contribute to their organization.
Here are tips on how to write an impactful intro paragraph:
- Show your enthusiasm for the company or role.
- Lead with an impressive achievement that highlights skills that are essential to the job.
- Research the company to show initiative, but be strategic with how you incorporate this information in your cover letter. You can position your talents in alignment with their long-term goals, or bring up any recent news and connect it back to why you’re interested in working for the company.
Here’s a good example:
This student draws attention to her experience as a high school newspaper editor to illustrate why she’s a good candidate for the position.
3. Show your passion for the industry
Employers want to hire someone who’s going to be genuinely excited to be there. People who are passionate about their jobs are more likely to have a positive attitude, stronger work ethic, and enhanced productivity.
Here are some ways that you can show your passion on a cover letter:
- Show your enthusiasm for the role with a professional but personable tone.
- Don’t just say you’re interested in the job, explain why you’re interested.
- Connect a personal passion to the job to prove you’re committed to making an impact.
Here’s an example written by a candidate applying for a tutoring position:
This applicant comes across as enthusiastic about the job and the opportunity to support students’ academic growth.
Extra High School Student Cover Letters, Resumes, & CVs:
Cover letters:.
- Recent Graduate Cover Letter
- Accounting Intern Resume
- College Student Resume
- Graduate Assistant Resume
- Internship Resume
- Law School Resume
- Medical School Resume
- Resident Assistant Resume
- Medical Student CV
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- Cover Letter Examples
- High School Cover Letter: Samples, Proper Format, & Guide
High School Cover Letter: Samples, Proper Format, & Guide
Need to land your first job while in high school? Read our high school cover letter guide to get your foot in the professional world.
As seen in:
Three months till you’re free. No more Mathletes or AP Spanish courses. But—freedom comes with responsibility. High school graduates don’t get allowances anymore, do they? That most likely means you’re looking for a part-time job.
The first step to landing it? A great high school cover letter that elevates your high school resume and covers up your limited professional experience.
This guide will show you:
- A great high school student cover letter example you can make yours.
- The best tips on how to write a high school cover letter step-by-step.
- Steps for using every paragraph of your high school cover letter efficiently.
- How to make up for lack of experience on your cover letter for high school students.
Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from 20+ professional cover letter templates that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.
Create your cover letter now
Sample cover letter for a resume— See more cover letter samples and create your cover letter here .
Even if you have a great cover letter, it’s nothing without a pitch-perfect resume: High School Student Resume Template.
Maybe this isn't exactly the guide you're looking for? Check out our other cover letter samples geared towards high school students:
- Entry-Level Cover Letter with No Experience Example
- Cover Letter for Scholarship Application Sample
- Cover Letter for Internship Sample
- Formal Cover Letter Sample
- How to Write a Letter of Interest for a Job
Want to explore your options further? See our full selection of cover letter examples for every career: Best Cover Letter Examples.
Now, let’s get started!
High School Student Cover Letter Sample
High School Senior 1040 Pooh Bear Lane Greenville, South Carolina, 29607 864-620-6518 [email protected] Greenville, 5/10/2019 Mr. Paul Bartz Head of Human Resources Greenville City Council 206 S Main St
Greenville, SC 29601
Dear Mr. Bartz, My name is Jean West, a junior at Greenville High Academy interested in becoming a public administrator in local government. I was thrilled to come across an opening for a Front Desk Clerk with the Greenville City Council. As the High School President and Model UN participant, I am a highly driven high school student who would help Greenville City Council’s administrative challenges.
I know the main duties for this position will be to maintain a professional relationship with visitors and answering multi-line phones and transferring calls to staff members. As the Student Body President, I’ve had to maintain a professional relationship with both students and staff, while being a representative for certain student body issues. We were able to introduce several new amendments to the student handbook and showed care and compassion to all students attending Greenville High Academy.
I am applying to the Greenville City Council specifically as a way to become more involved in local politics and further my professional growth in the field. This is why I’m so excited about this opening. I’d love the opportunity to be involved in local politics in a more fundamental way.
Can we schedule a call next week to discuss this position further?
Sincerely, Jean West
864-620-6518 [email protected]
Wow! Now that’s a great sample cover letter for a high school student, right? Let’s see how to breakdown this cover letter to make yours just as jaw-dropping.
High School Cover Letter Template
Here’s how to ace your high school cover letter for that part-time gig:
1. Choose the right high school cover letter format
- Make all margins set to one-inch.
- Go with single or 1.15 line spacing.
- Stay professional with an elegant font in 11pt to 12pt size.
Read more: The Only Proper Cover Letter Format
2. Create a professional cover letter header
- Put your name and contact information in the top-left corner.
- List your phone number, email, and LinkedIn (if you have one, or other social media handles like Twitter).
- Specify city and date right below.
- Next, include the addressee’s details.
It’s difficult to find the name of the hiring manager sometimes. Check the company’s website or do some research on LinkedIn . Want to score extra brownie points? Call the reception and ask.
It’ll show you’re a serious candidate.
Read more: How to Address a Cover Letter
3. Open with a personal greeting and a compelling first paragraph
- Address the potential employer by name but start with “Dear”.
- Say what position you’re applying for.
- Highlight your most relevant professional achievement.
Read more: How to Start a Cover Letter the Right Way
4. Show that you’re the perfect candidate
- Look to the job description to show how your relevant experience can help solve their problems.
- Boast about a few additional wins you’re proud of.
- Use numbers to show your achievements whenever possible.
Also, make sure you’re not making your cover letter too long: The Perfect Cover Letter Length .
5. Explain why you want in
- Dab them with a compliment or two.
- Show why you want this job more than any other one.
6. Make an offer and include a call to action
- Initiate a meeting by suggesting a time for a call.
- Reiterate your passion—make an offer to help in any way you can.
Read more: The Best Cover Letter Ending Examples
7. Close with a professional sign-off
- Use your full name when signing off.
- Show your digital savvy side by including a digital copy of your handwritten signature below your sign-off (optional).
- Add your basic contact details in the footer.
And that’s it!
Don’t forget that once you’ve sent out your cover letter, you should follow up on your job application. Need some tips? Check out this guide: Job Application Follow-Up: Examples, Dos, & Don’ts
This will be a game-changer—the cover letter for high school student’s first job is at your fingertips.
You’ve seen the sample cover letter for high school students, and you have some homework ahead of you!
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check . Start building a professional resume template here for free .
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.
Thanks for reading! Now I’d love to hear from you. What did you think of our high school cover letter examples? Do you have any tips for writing a sample cover letter for high school students with no work experience? What about a high school internship cover letter? Drop me a line in the comments. Let’s chat !
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High School Student Cover Letter Example
Show that you're serious about your job search with this professional High School Student cover letter sample. You can use this example for free or revise it in our powerful cover letter builder.
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High School Student Cover Letter Example (Full Text Version)
Liesbeth reenkes.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have read your advertisement on LinkedIn.com regarding the Summer Camp Counselor position and I believe that my skills and qualities make me a great fit for this role and that it would be a great opportunity for me to learn new things, meet new people, and grow not only personally but also professionally.
To shortly introduce myself, I'm a hard-working and dedicated high school student with a proven track record of exceptional academic results, including a perfect GPA of 3.97 and the representation of school at various competitions and contests where I won multiple awards, such as the 1st prize in the National Economics Competition, 2nd prize in the Human Rights Competition, and 3rd prize in the International Aerobics Contest. I am a pro-active individual who likes to participate in various societies and at school, I'm part of the Aerobics Society, Fitness Society, and Tennis Club.
However, my life is not focused only on education and I deeply enjoy getting a "real-world" experience. My work experience includes a job at FieldCore, Inc. where I worked as an Administrative Assistant. There, I was in charge of various tasks, for example, producing professional presentations, improving the existing office procedures, organizing documents, and arranging meetings but my main duty was to provide professional support to managers and supervisors with any tasks as required.
I am a self-driven person with the ability to work and perform well in team environments and to remain calm in stressful situations. Offering excellent time management skills, a highly professional attitude, and determination to achieve great results, I also have the experience of working as a Class Treasurer and Street Fundraiser. I'm passionate about working with other people and am able to use various software programs like MS Office, ProofHub, Netsuite, Trello, and Slack.
Thank you for your attention.
Liesbeth Reenkes
High School Student
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 23.2 percent of high school students participated in the labor force in October 2021. Besides gaining work experience for your further career growth, having a job can certainly teach you valuable skills, such as teamwork, leadership or cooperation. That said, it is only natural that many high school students are eager job seekers. And there is no better way to land a job than to advertise yourself with a professionally written cover letter.
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Similar job positions
Professions And Applied Sciences Student Humanities Student Intern Formal Sciences Student University Student Social Sciences Student Natural Sciences Student High School Student
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Student Cover Letter Example
So it’s time to tackle what might just be your very first cover letter, eh? You might have been under the impression that resumes and cover letters were only for getting jobs in the adult world. As it turns out, students need cover letters for a variety of reasons as well. Whether it’s for a program, leadership position, internship, scholarship or your first job, a great cover letter can help you stand out from the competition and tell your story in a passionate and convincing way. In both high school and college, competition among talented students can be fierce. And test scores and report cards can only tell so much. A great cover letter can be your secret weapon to excel past students who have perfect grades but lack the charisma and character that differentiates one candidate from another.
A highly-polished cover letter is usually only one part of a complete application. If you haven’t created an exceptional resume yet, that’s a great place to start. Check out resume.io’s guides specifically for high school and college students. You can also browse our resume examples for hundreds of professions – great for in-depth information when applying to jobs and internships. Our templates and general resume writing guide can help you make sure your formatting and visual presentation is spot-on. Now it’s time to dive into the inner workings of a cover letter that portrays your passion, motivation and eagerness to learn. You may not have a lot of professional experience, but that doesn’t mean your cover letter can’t shine with all the qualities that make you unique. This guide, along with an effective cover-letter example will:
- Review the basics of cover letter writing and why this document is so important
- Break down cover letter writing into easy-to-follow steps
- Explore one of the biggest mistakes made by students on their first cover letters
- Help you stand out from the competition no matter the type of application.
Student cover letter sample and general info
The purpose of a student cover letter.
A cover letter can sometimes be called a letter of motivation, application letter or letter of interest. Whatever form it takes, the objective is simple: introduce you, your goals and your experiences to a potential employer, scholarship committee or any other type of decision-maker. Whereas a resume’s potential for creativity is limited to just a few lines of profile summary, a cover letter offers much more room for freedom of expression. A resume’s format is geared towards dates and job titles, which can be daunting for students who are just entering the professional sphere. A cover letter allows you to focus on just one or two positions or even your top personality traits and expand on the skills you already have to convince the reader that you’re worth a shot.
Hard vs. soft skills
A student may have not yet accumulated all the hard skills needed to succeed in his or her industry, but these types of concrete abilities aren’t the only ones that count. A study of recent business graduates conducted across four European countries found that students need more professional development when it comes to soft skills. Employers were impressed with the business students’ analytical abilities but found them lacking when it came to communication and presentation.
So what does that mean for your cover letter? Even if you haven’t amassed much technical knowledge, showing off your professionalism, drive and ability to make a personal connection can go a long way – no matter which industry you work in.
As a student, you should keep your cover letter between 200-400 words, or the length of one page including your heading and closing items (more on that soon). Students often try to make up for lack of experience by creating long, rambling cover letters that address every topic imaginable. In fact, a concise and pointed letter that focuses on just a handful of great qualities is much more effective. Styling is also an important part of a strong cover letter. In general, it’s best to stick to an 11-point font size in one of the more common sans serif fonts like Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, Calibri or Open Sans. For more information on precise formatting, check out this overall guide on cover letters .
Making your own opportunity
Whether from parents, peers or teachers, students face a lot of pressure to excel and win opportunities. Sometimes it can feel impossible to compete. The great thing about a cover letter is that it helps to level the playing field. Anyone can learn the secrets to writing an effective letter that gives them a leg up on the competition – yes, even when your opponent is that one kid who hasn’t missed a day of school since the 2nd grade.
You may face a situation where the position or scholarship you’re applying for doesn’t specify whether or not you need a cover letter. This is your moment to get it right where a lot of other candidates may not. Unless an application specifically asks you NOT to submit a cover letter, you should always write and send one even if it’s not mentioned in the materials list. A cover letter is an opportunity to convince an employer or committee that you’re reliable, hard-working and destined for success. Why would you throw that opportunity away? Each material you prepare increases your odds of getting the thing your after, so make sure to give your cover letter all you’ve got.
The importance of tailoring your cover letter
If you’re writing your first cover letter in advance just to be prepared – way to be proactive! When it comes time to submit it, though, you’ll want to be sure you make a few changes. Each cover letter should serve a unique purpose that aligns with the mission of the company or organization that will be reading it. Hiring managers and scholarship committees can tell if you’ve created a generic letter – or worse, copy and pasted one – and topped it off with their name. This type of letter shows that you didn’t take the time to research the company and didn’t care to put in the effort to meet their needs.
Luckily, you can easily avoid this mistake with a little planning. Read the job description or call for applicants a few times to pick out the most important attributes the organization is looking for in their candidates. Use your cover letter to highlight your successes in these areas or expand on coursework and relevant experience that match the specific job and type of employee the company is looking for. That’s the best way to maximize your chances.
Best format for a student cover letter
As a student, you’ll probably be using your cover letter for a variety of purposes – after tailoring it to each one, of course! Luckily, a professional cover letter structure is much the same regardless of industry or job position. This framework also works for scholarships, programs and any other type of application you may need to complete. Here are the key components:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting
- The introduction
- The letter body
- The conclusion
- The signature.
The student cover letter sample below can be used for inspiration or adapted for your own needs.
Dear Ms. Tanako,
I moved to Seattle from Japan at age 13 and have long held a passion for everything related to my homeland. Having recently graduated with a 3.75 GPA in Japanese and Chinese studies, I am seeking to pursue my dual passions: transcreation and gaming.
Legendary Sitendo titles such as Manual Crossing have accompanied me through my teenage years into adulthood, and I have always been fascinated by the way in which the original language and culture is translated from the source. The language that they use should retain its cultural undercurrents and that is why translation of any dialogue plays such a crucial role in its international success.
During my studies, I worked part-time doing Japanese-English localization for various app developers and estimate that 80,000 of my words have found their way onto people’s smartphones. In the richer universe of video games, the potential for making an impact with language is far higher. A year living in Japan again reconnected me with the roots of your gaming community and I now feel ready to take my first professional step in translation.
I have been building towards this opportunity for the past four years of study:
- 18-months (remote) work experience with Japanese app developer Luevho.
- Lived in Guangdong for six months – strong additional Mandarin and Cantonese.
- Translated five 60,000-word fiction books from Japanese into English.
- Localized comics from English to Japanese. I am a student of Tokyo pop culture.
On a technical note, my thesis was written around the future of artificial intelligence in our industry. Finding a balance between art and science has never been more important.
I am a conscientious, energetic and creative member of any team and hope to have the opportunity of understanding how I might find become your newest translation “villager.”
Herman Walton
Cover letter header
Once upon a time, people sent applications (and cover letters) in the mail. Now, the majority of your applications will be online. A cover letter heading once meant formal letter heading, which you should still use on the off chance you have to send something the old-fashioned way. Otherwise, a cover letter heading serves one primary purpose: identify the document as belonging to you. Beyond that, it also keeps your phone number, email, LinkedIn and other contact information at a recruiter’s fingertips in case the letter floats around a large office. It’s a smart idea to keep your header concise to leave you more room for convincing an employer that you’re the one.
The goal of this section: Make sure everyone who comes in contact with your letter knows who it belongs to and has your information to get in touch.
Your cover letter header also plays a role in the formatting of your letter. Here is the one place where you may be able to add a splash of color or a stronger text element depending on the industry and organization you’re applying to. One thing you can do to appear even more polished is to align your document styles. That means using the same header across your student resume, cover letter and any other application materials. A template can make things much easier by helping you find the right balance of professionalism and creativity.
Cover letter greeting
Your greeting is one of the shortest sections of your cover letter but it serves a big purpose in making sure you make a great first impression. Your greeting sets the tone for the rest of the letter and should convey respect and professionalism. In most cases, there’s no need to go overboard with the formality, though. “Dear” followed by the proper salutation and a last name can work well in a variety of situations.
The goal of this section: Create a polite opening that properly and professionally addresses the reader.
It’s been scientifically proven that people love to hear their own names. You can use this golden tidbit to your advantage by making sure to address your cover letter to the person who will be reading it. In many cases, employers and organizations who work with students will leave the contact person’s name on the call for applications. Sometimes, this can also serve as a test to see which students are paying enough attention to incorporate it into their letter.
In the instance where any number of people in a large organization could be reading your letter, there’s no need to go to extreme lengths to find a specific name. In that case, it’s best to avoid the cold and outdated “To Whom It May Concern.” Instead, try to include the company name in your greeting followed by a collective noun like “Team” or “Committee.”
Cover letter introduction
The introduction is the hook of your letter. The opening paragraph is your chance to grab the reader’s attention with an interesting anecdote, bold statement or energetic opening line. Companies and organizations often enjoy working with students for their creative approaches and fresh ideas. Don’t put your reader to sleep with a halfhearted opening like “I am writing to inquire about your vacancy for…” Instead, encourage them to keep reading into the body of your letter by offering a taste of your best qualities in the introduction.
The goal of this section: Create a bold and attention-grabbing first paragraph that makes a reader want to continue.
Cover letter middle part (body)
Your body paragraphs make up the bulk of your student cover letter. Here is where you can dive deep into your successes, milestones and perspectives. If the body section feels too free-form, you may opt to divide it into two subsections. In the first, you can use the STAR method to explain a Situation, Task, your Action and the positive Result it had. Remember to limit each anecdote to just a few lines in order to keep your reader’s attention throughout the whole document. In the second section, you can dive into your relevant skills, extracurricular activities and work experience. Make sure to relate each of these things to the position at hand to show why you’d be a great fit within the organization.
The goal of this section: Offer details on your unique qualities and previous experiences and give specific examples of your problem-solving and collaborative capabilities.
How to close a student cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
Congratulations on making it to the conclusion of your cover letter! All you’ve got to do now is write a closing paragraph that’s polite and encourages the reader to get in touch to learn more about what a fabulous candidate you are. The best way to do this is via a Call to Action. This line shows that you’re eager to take the conversation further and invites the reader to contact you. You’ll want to sound confident and determined without coming across as cocky or presumptive. Then, sign off your letter with a standard greeting like “Sincerely,” “Best,” or “Best regards.”
The goal of this section: End the letter on a strong and positive note and create an effective call to action that politely and professionally encourages the reader to get in touch.
Customer service representatives handle client requests, product issues and represent companies at the most basic level. Today’s job market is more technological and competitive than ever. Use our Customer Service resume example & guide to boost your chances of getting a great position!
Writing psychology – cover letter tools and strategies
As a student, there are some general qualities that you can convey in your cover letter regardless of the type of application: Professionalism and maturity: Many students assume that they don’t need to have a *perfect* cover letter given that they are just starting out. While it’s true that your reader may be used to dealing with students, it’s not an excuse to write whatever comes to mind. An HR rep or scholarship committee will be impressed by a student who can show discipline and focus despite their young age.
Motivation: Demonstrating that you have goals and have taken concrete steps to achieve them is one of the best ways to show that you’re a student worth investing in. The STAR method listed in the body section of this guide can help you succinctly explain the ways you take action.
Willingness to learn: No matter how much you think you’ve learned, a student who comes across as arrogant or entitled will be an automatic “no, thank you” in the eyes of many internship coordinators, program leaders and scholarship committees.
Passion: Many of your other positive traits are likely to spring from the passion you have for your subject matter, for school or for the path you are pursuing. Explaining the source of your passion can help you develop a personal connection with your reader.
Bringing value, even as a student
As a student, your focus is on learning, gaining new skills and growing your understanding of a field or industry. All of these goals will help lead you to a successful future. While these ambitions are a natural and normal part of being a student, they often lead to one common cover letter mistake: talking too much about how an opportunity will benefit you. “Of course I’m applying to this job/scholarship/internship/program because it will benefit me!” you might be saying to yourself. That’s true, but so is every other candidate actively preparing their application at this moment. In the professional world – and it holds true for students – companies want to know what you can offer them. Your employment or selection is generally not an act of goodwill on behalf of the company. You will be performing a job or service for them, even as a student.
It may be hard to think of how you can bring value to a company where dozens of other people have years of career experience. While it’s true that your hard skills may not be as fully formed as professional employees, don’t think that you have nothing to offer. Seasoned workers get tired. They lose the motivation to innovate. They don’t embrace new technologies. They’re so focused on getting home at the end of the day that they don’t bring the passion that drives success. You might not have all of the hard skills needed to do their jobs, but your youth is a huge advantage to a company. Without insulting the company or its employees, focus on the ways that you can bring your motivation and passion to this workplace or program. In a respectful tone, convey that you’re a bright young mind with the soft skills needed for that particular job and industry. Instead of coming across like a desperate student begging for a shot, you’ll appear confident and poised to do great things. You’ll be in demand.
The fact is, there’s going to be a lot of other people with your same resume applying for the exact positions that you want. It’s an unfortunate and inevitable part of being a student.
Your cover letter is how you stand out.
Unfortunately, many students incorporate this knowledge into their cover letter by taking a presumptive and over confident tone. Finding the balance between asserting your best qualities and appearing humble can be difficult, but it’s essential to not put off your reader. As a student, you will be working in a junior position. You’re still learning, even if you have great traits that can benefit the company. Just remember – nothing is ever guaranteed until you sign the contract.
Student cover letter common mistakes
Here are some cover letter tips to help you avoid common pitfalls:
- Unrelated information: As a student, there are actually times when your hobbies and interests might be useful information in a cover letter (this is particularly true for high school students). However, if the application is of a professional nature, it’s best to leave off family life, clubs and friends and focus on your connection to the role at hand.
- Formatting and visual style: As a general rule, your formatting should be appropriate for the industry and position you’re applying for. Bright colors and heavy fonts don’t work with more formal employers, so make sure to get the tone just right. A professional template can help.
- Typos and grammatical errors: You’ve got one hour before the application is due and you just want to get it over with! Next time, make sure to leave enough time to proofread and spell checking your document. Better yet, have a friend look over it and give you feedback.
- Generic or overly formal wording: Your cover letter should sound professional but still natural, like you’re a real human being. A reader knows when you’ve copy and pasted someone else’s text or when the words are so large and complicated it’s clear you were just trying to show off. Writing in your own tone of voice is always the better choice.
Key takeaways
- The cover letter is the final “convincer” that lets you influence hiring decision-makers. It’s vitally important and extremely useful EVEN if the internship doesn’t require one.
- Know the cover letter structure and remember the goals of each section.
- Use emotion and psychology to drive home factual points for your internship.
- Convey the right tone of voice and remember what employers are looking for in an intern.
- Avoid generic text, formatting traps from text editors and use visual style (including design elements) to grab attention.
With resume.io, you can create a perfect cover letter in just a few minutes. No uncertainty, no hassle. Go out there and win!
You may also want to check out our related cover letter examples:
- Graduate cover letter sample
- University cover letter sample
- Scholarship cover letter example
- Internship cover letter example
- College Student cover letter sample
Free professionally designed templates
Cover Letters
Cover Letter Format & Samples
- Sample 1: Application Letter
- Sample 2: Prospecting Letter
Cover letters are a tool of introduction in the job search and are just as important as your resume. The best cover letters are addressed to a particular person, and are tailored to present your qualifications in relation to the specific job and company of interest. Check out our comprehensive Job Search Letters guide for more information on cover letters and other job search documents.
Cover Letter Tips
- All margins should be approximately one-inch. Typically, a cover letter consists of three to four paragraphs.
- The font size should be easy to read. Times, Palatino or Helvetica are good choices. A font size of 12 pt. is preferable, but in some cases you may need to use 10 or 11 pt. font.
- Don't be tempted to send "generic" letters. Each cover letter you write should be different, because each job and company you're writing to is different. Make it easy for the reader to see the relevance of your qualifications to the job in question.
- Be sure to proofread each new cover letter you create so that it is letter perfect.
- It is important to write to a specific person whenever possible.
The following example reflects the correct business format to use when writing a cover letter:
Your name Return address City, State, Zip
Name of the contact person Title Company Name Address City, State, Zip
Dear Mr. or Ms. Last Name:
The opening paragraph states your reason for writing the letter. Mention a specific job of interest, or a particular department in which you are seeking work. If possible, mention how and when you learned about the job opening or the company, i.e., through a classified advertisement, a contact person or a career services professional. Be sure to mention the name of the person who suggested this job to you, especially if that person is highly respected within the company.
The middle paragraph is an opportunity to expand on the skills you have developed as they relate to this position. This should not merely repeat your resume. You can discuss your education and particular courses or skills attained while in college. If you're an experienced person, you may wish to use this paragraph to describe your professional background and highlight any specific job experience that may be of particular interest to the organization and that will differentiate you from other applicants. You may need a second paragraph to fully describe your related abilities.
The next paragraph reflects the research you have done on that particular organization. Use company literature, a web site, or conversation with an employee of the organization as ways to gain knowledge about the organization. Explain why you are interested in the job, and convey your awareness of what the company does to show that you have done careful research.
In closing, ask for an interview. Either state a specific week you'll make a follow-up phone call or mention an interest in having the contacted person call to set up an interview date. Specify how you can be contacted. Remember to thank the person for considering your application.
(signed name)
- Request Information
- Check Application Status
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I've attached my resume, which further details my skills and involvement in the community. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any
Use a simple, standard font like Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman · Use a 10- or 12-point font size · Single-spaced with an additional space
Learn how to compose a college student cover letter to accompany your resume when you apply for a position, with a template and examples.
A great high school student cover letter example you can make yours. ... Stay professional with an elegant font in 11pt to 12pt size.
... school students and graduates, university/TAFE students and graduates, and also people who have left school without doing Year 12. A good cover letter
I have read your advertisement on LinkedIn.com regarding the Summer Camp Counselor position and I believe that my skills and qualities make me a great fit for
Not only the professionals but the students also need to have a well written cover letter which can help them in selling their candidature.
As a student, you should keep your cover letter between 200-400 words, or the length of one page including your heading and closing items (more on that soon).
It is with great enthusiasm that I submit my resume and cover letter for the Assistant Welder. Position as advertised on the Job Bank. Currently I am a grade 11
A font size of 12 pt. is preferable, but in some cases you may need to use 10 or 11 pt. font. Don't be tempted to send "generic" letters. Each cover letter