I know how it’s for anyone writing a cover letter with a resume showing no experience, the amount of rejection can easily make people addicted to coffee, because in real-i-tea it’s like sending out so many submissions for a book proposal until someone finally comes through with a legit offer. It’s a world for no faint-hearted, those are the ones who usually stick to real-i-ty. I mean, I’m sure an astronaut doesn’t need to worry about writing a cover letter, all he/she has to say is that they need some space, I guess!
Oh! Boy, before I land myself in some hot water only to become an impasta let’s head straight to this topic for anyone writing a cover letter with a resume, with or without experience. I will also cover the points for anyone writing a cover letter with a resume for internships in this article.
A cover letter is a one-page letter that an applicant submits with their cv/resume. Most companies will state that they will require a cover letter with the resume in the application rules. If the company does not want a cover letter with a resume it’s best to respect the application rules. If this is optional on the application requirements, I encourage you to submit a cover letter following these points so that you can stand out, be called for an interview and of course by learning about how to stand out in all the stages right to the interview, will impact greatly on you getting the position. I will provide the first two parts, so look out for my next article, it is up to you to research and learn about the last and main parts, i.e., the interview process.
1. Reframe from being generic
We’re living in the year 2022, go back to this article writing an effective, compelling and professional email. Times have changed and with time so do generations, and with that comes newer modern ways, yes, no more expired ways that give out the vibrations of, “I’m just looking for a job, just take me, I’m not really keen.” Yes, the words, “to whom it may concern,” “Dear sir/madam,” this sort of beginning, “My name is Zendaya Heinz, I worked at company X as a software sales manager developing business.” Go the extra mile, how many repetitions of this will the person receiving the application read? Stand out from the pile.
- Personalise the cover letter. Search for the person to who the cover letter will be sent, call up the company or use LinkedIn.
- Use their last name as in “To Mr Jobs”.
- Turn the cover letter to the introduction around, i.e., the one you read just now, “My name is Zendaya Heinz…” and while introducing yourself add the focus on how this role brings out the best of you from the previous experience you had with company X.
- Avoid using “I” too much and try and rephrase those sentences even better if they can relate to how you can serve the company from the role you are applying for along with previous experience.
- Avoid cliché and cliché buzz words.
2. For anyone writing a cover letter with a resume with no experience
Point number 1 still applies to you, instead of the hard experience which might concern you, try adding soft skills, that which is learnt through part-time jobs, volunteering, extra-curricular activities or educational courses. Here you can highlight the educational parts that resonate with the role that interests you and why you’re applying for it. Education training and skills obtained through education is the strength of the applicant for anyone writing a cover letter with a resume with no experience thus far, but rest assured write confidently demonstrating that you are willing to learn. The company generally offers onboard training for starters so gaining experience and learning the ropes is what every new starter goes through. The company in the case of anyone writing a cover letter with a resume with no experience would be looking for someone who is dedicated, committed, i.e., long-term and willing to learn.
3. For anyone writing a cover letter with a resume for an internship
Point number 1 still applies to you. Here write about how this internship will help you and the company highlighting the relevant skills and education obtained thus far for the role that you are applying for.
- Stick to being relevant
For anyone writing a cover letter with a resume with, without experience or for an internship remain as relevant as possible with regards to soft skills, experience and education. Try as hard as possible to stick to the point, that is the role that you are applying for and what is in the job description of that role that you see yourself as a great fit for the role. Using the requirements in the role that has been posted look at all the relevant experience, soft skills, education or anything relevant that links to the requirements of the role that the applicant should have for the role. Don’t force every single requirement to fit especially if it doesn’t sit well with you, just take what is relevant, and that which you see links you to the role and belief that this is the role for you.
- Make your cover letter professional using a format to stand out
Now, what if I told you that not many professionals with experience pay attention to this point? Why? Maybe because they’re still in the dinosaur ages using generic formats. For anyone writing a cover letter with a resume in 2022 and beyond take a look at this article How to write a cover letter guide and scroll down to the example cover letters, have a read too, it’s a great article to take into account apart from the points I put down here. When flipping through the cover letters, can you imagine how boring most of them are, generic, and generic formats. In the format, you don’t have to put your physical address, but it can look a bit nicer and more professional if an email address, phone number and link to the LinkedIn profile are added with your name and a professional title to show relevancy to the application. Writing the name of the person and the address of the company gives a great first impression and a breath of fresh air to the several cover letters and resumes that the recruiter already has been through. The email you use to submit your application or that’s on the resume and cover letter should be professional or have your name in it, not something like thegodfather1@gmail.com if you get me.
Here there are 7 parts to a cover letter that you can put down on your checklist
Header
The example in the link above shows the format of the layout of the contact information for the applicant and the company to whom the cover letter will be sent.
Salutation
This is the personalised greeting for the attention of the hiring manager. Having the contact person’s name is recommended so that the salutation doesn’t sound generic.
Introduction
Aim the introduction in a way where not only you present your skills but shift it towards mirroring the job description using different words showing the benefit of having you in their company.
Body 1
Here, use the research that you have done on the company and the knowledge you have learnt about them, this is quite impressive, as this shows not only interest in the company, but that you have been doing your research and then amalgamating this information with how you can serve the brand or the company.
Body 2
Mention qualifications and skillset, also relevant experience to the role and don’t fail to mention what could be a mutual benefit to you working there such as what you could gain in terms of knowledge, advancements and experience.
Call to action and close
Thank the hiring manager for their time and with a passive call to action, not an aggressive one. Such as looking forward to an interview and speaking more about the role.
Signature
Sign off with perhaps sincerely, best regards, best or a professional sign-off that doesn’t sound generic or cliché.
With a little more detail to these 7 parts, you can even dive deeper here 7 Components of an effective cover letter.
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Proofread the cover letter
After spending so much time researching the company, and making the letter relevant to the company’s requirements, your qualifications, soft skills, experience, education along with structure take this extra mile. This one is the most important as first impressions count, there’s nothing worse than reading a letter that looks nice, yet it’s plagued with grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors. Even when hitting the send button read the letter one more time, there’s nothing worse than copying and pasting just to land “a job,” and by that time 10 applications have been sent to various companies, with errors. Take the time to ensure that the cover letter is tailored to the role that truly is of interest to you and matches your skill set and experience, along with the research carried out on the company. Ensure that before the send button is hit the letter reads well, flows well, there are no errors, and it’s going to the correct company for the correct role with the correct research made, with the correct hiring manager’s name.
For some more resources for anyone writing a cover letter with a resume with, without experience or for an internship click below.
How to write a cover letter with no experience
Writing an internship cover letter with examples
What is a cover letter and how to write one
Hey, maybe one day this article will become famous, just do me a favour, when I need you to have my back, especially when the pressure pot is about to pop, please be my fans… forever, that way I can continuously serve quality, genuine, generous, great piece of me into and to this world. Now that would be delicious.
You can also have a look at the for anyone writing a cover letter with a resume short video.
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In the next article, I will be going into writing a resume or cv that lands the call for an interview.
Yours sincerely,
T. Dench Patel
