Cover Letter for Recent/Fresh Graduate

Jobsdb content team – updated on 02 May, 2019

If you have recently completed your graduation and are new to the job market, it is as important for you to craft an effective cover letter as it is to write a strong resume. Since you do not have any prior work experience, you may not be sure about what to write in your cover letter to make you stand out and build a strong case to set you apart from other applicants in the competitive job market. The key is to make sure that you research about the company you are applying to, and carefully read the job description.

Incorporate the key words from the job description, and use the similar language as the employer uses in their communication. Selectively pick the most relevant information from your resume and rephrase it in your cover letter. Do not copy paste the same information from your resume.

Instead of talking about what you want from the company, focus on how you are a good fit and can benefit the company. Persuade the recruiter to read your resume and ask them for an interview or a meeting.

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Here are some tips to write an effective cover letter for Recent College Graduates:

Keep your cover letter short and crisp. It should ideally be no longer than one page. Modify it to match the job you are applying for to show that you understand what the job entails. Be specific about your skills and show how they match the job specifications, and align with what the employer is looking for.

When writing a cover letter, you need to introduce yourself, mention the job or kind of job you are applying/looking for, show that you possess the skills and experience required for the job.

Put your name, email id, and phone number at the top of your cover letter. It would be appropriate to use an email address that include your first and last name to make it look professional. Create a new befitting email id, if you do not already have one.

Below your name and contact details, add the name of the person you're writing to; their position, name of the company and contact details. You may email or call the employer to find out the name of the person who will be reading your application, if it is not already mentioned in the job advertisement. Use their title (Mr./Ms.) and last name to address them instead of using first name. Avoid addressing your letter as ‘To whom it may concern’ unless you have to.

State which position you are applying for, give reference number(if any) and where the position was advertised, in the subject. For example- “Regarding: position of Data Entry Clerk as advertised on Jobsdb.com (Ref XYZ)”

Focus on the content of your cover letter. Highlight any summer jobs, internships, campus involvement and volunteer work experience you have, in addition to any co-curricular activities, competitive exams, training and certifications.

It would be advantageous to mention achievements in sports and extracurricular activities you participated in, at high school and university level.

In the end, to encourage the employer to get back to you, thank them for their time, mention that you have attached your resume for their perusal and that you are eager to hearing from them.

Always spellcheck your cover letter for any typos or spelling mistakes. Format your cover letter correctly irrespective of whether it’s a hard copy of the cover letter or an email one.

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Sample Cover Letter

Date:

Candidate’s Name

Phone Number

Email id

Hiring Manger’s Full name

Company Name

Company’s Address

Contact Number

Email id

RE: Position of Computer Programmer with ABC Services (Jobsdb Ref “XYZ100000234”)

Dear Mr./Ms. (Hiring Manager’s last name)

I am writing to express my interest in the Position of Computer Programmer with ABC Services, as advertised on Jobsdb.com.

As a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) with Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, I assisted and worked closely with IT staff to successfully develop, maintain, and test computer programs during my 6 months of internship with LMN IT Services.

I also gained hands-on experience in, writing codes using computer languages including C++ and Java, and creating instructions for computers to generate meaningful output, as an Intern. My collaborative mindset always helped me to be prompt in assisting the IT staff to fix software issues.

My key skills are analytical thinking, which helped me while doing my graduation and internship to understand, manipulate, and repair complex computer code; and strong Attention to Detail, that enabled me to pay attention to every line of code to avoid any wrong command and program malfunction. In addition, I am a good team player with strong communication and interpersonal skills.

I believe that my education and internship experience align with the job description and make me an ideal candidate for the position. A copy of my resume is attached for your perusal.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this opportunity.

Yours truly,

Candidate’s Full Name

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