cover letter for sales person with no experience

Sample Cover Letter With No Experience in Field (And How to Write Yours)

By Biron Clark

Published: November 10, 2023

Cover Letters | Recent Grads

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

Writing an articulate cover letter is challenging for all job seekers. But if you have little or no work experience in a field, the stakes are higher. It’s more challenging to prove your value when you don’t have a series of professional accomplishments to back up your assertions. On the bright side, you probably have more to offer an employer than you realize. You just have to package your strengths the right way.

In this article, you’re going to learn how to write a cover letter for a job with no experience in that field. And we’ll look at a full sample after going through the steps.

Let’s get started…

How to Write a Cover Letter With No Experience

1. the main purpose of your cover letter with no experience.

The purpose of a cover letter is to complement your resume and convince more employers to interview you. You may refer to your resume when writing a cover letter for a job application, but you must expand upon points made in the resume when writing the cover letter.

The cover letter should breathe life into the points made in the resume, and create a compelling—or even emotional—narrative around your career hopes and aspirations . It’s your chance to tell your story and show that you have the passion and the drive to come into a job and make a difference.

And at the end, it should ASK for the interview. We’ll talk about that coming up. Let’s get started by going through how to write a cover letter with no experience, step-by-step…

2. Cover Letter Contact Information

When beginning a cover letter for a job application, start with your contact details in the top left-hand corner of the page. Include your name, city of residence, phone number, and email address. (To preserve your privacy, do not include your physical address). You should also include your LinkedIn URL. Next, write the name of the company you’re applying to, and its city of residence.

3. Your Salutation

Ideally, you address your reader by name in your salutation. Internet sleuthing may reveal the name of the hiring manager. If you can’t find a name, you have two options: call the organization and ask to learn more about the position, or write “Dear ” or “Dear Hiring Manager.”

This isn’t ideal, though. You should really only be sending a cover letter if you know the hiring manager’s name and have some specific information about the position. So if you know nothing specific about the hiring manager or job, and the company hasn’t asked for a cover letter specifically, then you probably don’t need to send it .

4. Cover Letter Introduction

Use this section of your cover letter to introduce yourself and share your enthusiasm and why you applied for the position .

Start with your name and provide some background on your strengths. Always identify the position you’re seeking and how you learned about it. If someone at the company told you about the job, then mention that person’s name (only after asking their permission, though). Aim for one to two sentences in your Introduction—keep it short, sweet, and precise.

Example Cover Letter Introduction with No Experience in the Field:

“Hello, my name is Grace Addington, and I’m a goal- and detail-oriented civil engineering graduate from Petaluma College. I was excited to learn about the Junior Engineer internship at Bay Area Rapid Transportation through my former classmate Katie Heinz.”

5. Body Paragraphs

Here comes the most critical part of writing a cover letter with no experience. The purpose of your body paragraphs (one to two brief paragraphs, tops) is to prove that you’re the best candidate for the position. Seeing as how you have little or no previous professional work experience to fall back on, you’ll want to place emphasis on soft skills —attributes of a personal nature that say a lot about your work ethic and ability to work in sync with others. Or, if you have job-related skills (AKA hard skills) from another type of role, point out how those skills will help you transition into this next job and succeed quickly.

That’s what hiring managers are looking for! So while it’s great to write about soft skills and put together a cover letter talking about how you’re willing to learn their job… it’s much better to point out any hands-on experience that you have. So if you’re able, always highlight that first and foremost.

For example, if you had an internship, worked in an unrelated field, did a few academic projects while studying, gave a presentation, etc., those are still valuable pieces to put on your resume AND in your cover letter.

Your resume likely already consists of part-time jobs or school activities or memberships in school associations that maybe aren’t 100% related to the job you’re going after.

Look closer, though—you’ve probably garnered skills in these experiences that can carry over to the job you’re applying for. Below are two examples of cover letter body paragraphs that hone in on two key phrases noted in a job advertisement as requirements: “strong interpersonal skills” and “positive work ethic.” You should be able to figure out pretty quickly which example hits the mark.

Let’s look at two sample paragraphs now from cover letters with no experience in a field:

“I am Twig & Twine’s ideal office manager. As my resume states, I served as an RA at my dorm. I know how to manage an array of things.”

“You’re looking for a candidate with strong interpersonal skills and a positive work ethic. While serving as an RA at Porter College’s main dormitory, I planned monthly social events for over 200 students, settled two to five student disputes per week, and mentored a select group of students in Composition. The experience taught me, rather quickly, how to efficiently multi-task, and how to effectively settle conflicts of all types in a calm, level-headed manner. I feel confident stating that I can bring these talents to Twig & Twine’s office manager position.”

The second example takes the duties that likely appeared in the RA position on the resume and then digs deep, illustrating how the tackling of those duties turned into accomplishments, and led the applicant to grow the crucial skills needed for the office manager position.

One last thing about body paragraphs—remember to frame your message around the employer’s needs, and not yours. Focus on what you can bring to the job, and how your talents will translate into success for the company. That’s important in any cover letter, and becomes even more crucial in a cover letter with no previous work experience.

6. Concluding Your Cover Letter

End your cover letter by reiterating why you’re the best candidate and express your interest once again in the position. And ask them for the interview! It’s surprising but most job seekers don’t do this, and it’s been shown to improve your chances of getting a call to come in for an interview!

So conclude your cover letter by thanking the reader for the time they took to review your application, and tell them you’d like to find a time to meet for an interview to see if it might be a good fit to work together. To close, sign off formally. Try “Respectfully yours” or “Sincerely.”

7. Proofread Everything

Before sending out your new cover letter, read it out loud to catch errors quickly. Ask a trustworthy person to read it as well. Nothing stops you from getting interviews faster than an obvious typo or error in your cover letter or resume, and you only have to check once, but make sure you’re checking it thoroughly!

8. Save it as a PDF

Once the content is finalized, save it as a PDF and title it “ Cover Letter” to prevent confusion. Voila! You’re done. If you follow the tips above, you’ll have a great cover letter with no experience so you can get interviews and job offers in this new field!

Sample Cover Letter With No Experience in Field:

Next, let’s look at a full sample of a cover letter that explains why you’d fit well in a role ( and why you chose to apply for this type of role ):

Dear Name, I’m writing to you regarding the Sales Associate job posting, which I believe reports to you. I can offer 5+ years of experience working directly with customers over the phone and in person, primarily in customer support. Although I haven’t worked directly in sales, my customer support experience has helped me build skills in communication, persuasion, and problem-solving, which I believe will translate well into selling software subscriptions for your firm. I’m motivated to transition into sales to continue challenging myself and growing in my career, and I’ve always enjoyed a challenge, which I think working in sales will provide me. I’ve attached my resume for your review. If any of the above sounds interesting, I’d welcome the chance to talk on the phone this week. Thanks for considering my note today. Best regards, Your Name

This cover letter is upfront and clear that you have no experience in the field of sales, but shows that you’re willing to learn and excited to learn this new job. That’s essential!

You don’t JUST want to say you’re willing to learn, though. You want to PROVE that you’ll be able to learn. That’s why this letter also mentions the experience you have that is most similar. In the case of the example above, it’s the customer service experience and communication skills.

While this person may not have sold anything to customers, they still interacted with customers directly, which will be seen as a plus.

One other thing you should always point out if possible: Experience working in the same industry. So if you’ve never done sales, but you did customer support in the exact same industry as the employer, that’s a huge plus… because it means you’ll have less learning needed on the job!

Other Articles That May Help You:

• 3 more tips for writing a cover letter that stands out.
• General tips for how to get a job with no experience.
• How to write the perfect resume “Summary” section with no experience.

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This really helped me

Thanks for this! Really helpful for me as a new graduate and non native English speaker. I’ve started using the steps here and am planning on sending a lot of applications this week to see how it works.

Thank you for the examples. I hav ea little bit of experience so I’m not writing the cover letter with absolutely no work experience but this still is helpful and seems to work for me.

One hiring manager told me that the reason they chose to call me was my cover letter.

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7 Entry Level Sales Rep Cover Letter Examples

Entry Level Sales Reps excel at making persuasive pitches, building relationships, and closing deals, all while navigating the dynamic world of sales. Similarly, your cover letter is your initial pitch to potential employers, where you build a connection by showcasing your skills, passion, and potential. In this guide, we'll delve into the best cover letter examples for Entry Level Sales Reps, ensuring your application stands out and seals the deal.

Cover Letter Examples

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The best way to start an Entry Level Sales Rep cover letter is by grabbing the reader's attention with a strong opening line. This could be a brief statement about your passion for sales, a notable achievement, or a unique skill you possess that's relevant to the role. For example, "As a recent graduate with a passion for sales and a proven track record in customer service, I am excited to apply for the Entry Level Sales Rep position." This not only shows your enthusiasm for the role but also highlights your relevant skills or experiences right at the beginning.

Entry Level Sales Reps should end a cover letter by summarizing their interest in the position and the company, and expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to the team. They should also reiterate their key skills and qualifications that make them a strong fit for the role. It's important to thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration, and express a desire to continue the conversation in an interview. For example: "I am excited about the opportunity to bring my unique skills to your sales team and am confident that I can contribute to achieving your sales goals. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing my application with you further." This ending is professional, courteous, and shows eagerness for the next steps.

An Entry Level Sales Rep's cover letter should ideally be about one page long. This length is sufficient to introduce yourself, express your interest in the position, highlight your relevant skills and experiences, and conclude with a call to action. Remember, hiring managers often have to go through hundreds of applications, so it's important to keep your cover letter concise and to the point. Too long and it may not be read, too short and it may not provide enough information about your qualifications. One page is generally the sweet spot, allowing you to effectively communicate your interest and qualifications without overwhelming the reader.

Writing a cover letter with no experience as an Entry Level Sales Rep can seem challenging, but it's important to remember that everyone starts somewhere. Here are some steps you can follow: 1. Start with a Professional Greeting: Address the hiring manager by name if possible. If you can't find their name, use a professional greeting like "Dear Hiring Manager". 2. Open Strong: Your opening paragraph should grab the reader's attention. Mention the job you're applying for and express your enthusiasm for the opportunity. 3. Highlight Relevant Skills: Even if you don't have direct sales experience, you likely have skills that are relevant to the job. For example, if you've worked in customer service, you've likely developed strong communication skills and a customer-focused mindset. If you've worked in a fast-paced environment, you've likely developed the ability to work under pressure. Highlight these skills in your cover letter. 4. Show Enthusiasm for Sales: Show that you're passionate about sales and eager to learn. You can do this by talking about any sales-related books you've read, podcasts you listen to, or courses you've taken. 5. Use Examples: Provide examples of when you've used your skills in the past. For example, if you're highlighting your communication skills, you could talk about a time when you resolved a difficult customer issue in a previous job. 6. Show You've Done Your Homework: Show that you've researched the company and understand their products, mission, and values. Explain why you're interested in working for them specifically. 7. Close with a Strong Conclusion: In your closing paragraph, reiterate your interest in the job and your eagerness to contribute to the company. Thank the hiring manager for considering your application. 8. Professional Sign-off: End your letter with a professional sign-off like "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your full name. Remember, the goal of your cover letter is to show the hiring manager why you'd be a great fit for the job, even if you don't have direct experience. Highlight your transferable skills, show your passion for sales, and demonstrate your knowledge of the company.

Related Cover Letters for Entry Level Sales Reps

Inside sales cover letter.

Sales Associate Cover Letter

Sales Engineer Cover Letter

Outside Sales Cover Letter

Account Executive Cover Letter

Sales Manager Cover Letter

Entry Level Sales Rep Cover Letter

Entry Level Retail Sales Cover Letter

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