Cover letters are more or less a necessity for every job application these days. Their purpose can often be confusing, especially when it feels that your CV achieves the same thing. As a new graduate, it can be even more confusing to write a cover letter without much experience in doing so. However, there are some key points you should mention in any entry-level job cover letter. In this blog, we’ve prepared our top cover letter writing tips for a graduate cover letter.

1. Open Strong

The reality is that Hiring Managers will be presented with dozens, if not hundreds, of cover letters for every position they advertise. To give yourself the best chance of securing the job, you need to stand out in the opening lines and make yourself memorable.

Although you want to remain professional, a cover letter is a good chance to inject some of your personality and try to connect with the reader. You could begin by talking about your interests and what drives you: a personal mission statement of sorts.

For example: “I am a recent computer science graduate with a passion for deep learning and data-driven AI solutions.” This is an engaging opening line that immediately establishes your professional interests and will stick with the person reading it.

You also want to talk about the personal qualities and what you will bring to their organisation. Hiring Managers look for people that will be a good fit with their team and this is your opportunity to emphasise why you will be the perfect addition.

2. Express Your Enthusiasm

Once you’ve introduced yourself and made an impression, you want to express your enthusiasm for the role. Employers look at more than the skills you have on paper, and especially for a graduate position, they want to hire someone who is passionate and will bring their best to the job.

Again, you want to avoid being cliché or forgettable here. Don’t just say something like “I am really interested in and excited about this role.” Instead, be specific about what aspects of the job you are excited about. It could be the company itself – it might be a goal of yours to work there – the industry you will be working in or the day-to-day tasks of the job.

Whatever it is that interests you, be sure to expand on it and discuss how you hope to benefit from the role. There will be skills and experiences you gain from every job and this is your opportunity to go into detail about them. If you are looking forward to working with a specific technology, client or project, then say so. It will help you stand out from other candidates and show the Hiring Manager how serious you are about the job.

3. Highlight Qualifying Skills

Of course, to get a job you have to prove that you are able to do the job. Your CV serves as a good overview of your education and skills but the cover letter is your chance to dive into these experiences. As a new graduate, your skills are mostly going to be drawn from your studies – and that’s okay! Too many graduates worry that their lack of on-the-job skills will hurt them but remember that you’re applying for an entry-level role.

When discussing your education, it’s a good idea to mention what made you choose to study your particular field. Employers look for enthusiasm and knowing a candidate is passionate about their chosen area makes them an appealing hire. You may be tempted to mention everything you learned in your studies but it’s better to keep it short and sweet. Focus on specific skills or knowledge you have gained in your education and explain how they will be used in the job you are applying for.

You may possess other skills that you did not gain in your education. You can mention these too if you think they will be relevant to your performance in the role but make sure to draw a clear connection between your skills and the job. Your letter is intended to convince whoever reads it that you are the best person for the job, so it is crucial that you make it clear why that is so.

4. Mention Relevant Accomplishments

In addition to your skills, a cover letter is a good time to bring up any of your personal or professional accomplishments that are relevant to the job. As this is a graduate cover letter, your list of professional accomplishments may be short and will likely focus on your education. Academic awards are excellent to mention as it shows that you stood out amongst your peers (who are probably applying for the same job).

It is also worth mentioning any clubs, societies or extracurricular activities you were involved with, especially if you were involved in a leadership role, as employers value this experience highly. As with your skills and interests however, you want to keep these accomplishments relevant to the job at hand.

Again, make sure to draw a clear connection between anything you mention and the role you are applying for. Try something like, “my role as chairperson of this club gave me valuable experience in teamwork and working towards large organisational goals.” Doing this keeps you from appearing boastful of your achievements and will solidify why you are the perfect person for the job.

Summary

Writing an entry-level job cover letter can certainly seem daunting but by following these cover letter writing tips you will be able to put your best foot forward. Remember that a cover letter serves as a way of digging deeper into your CV and what makes you the right choice for this job.

Make an impact by opening strong about your interests and the qualities that you will bring to the role, then go beyond this and express your enthusiasm about the potential opportunity. To this point, be specific about what exactly excites you about the role – whether it’s skills you hope to gain or areas you will work in.

Finally, highlight your relevant skills and accomplishments and make sure you are specific about how they will apply to the job. Remember, you want to create the impression that you are the perfect candidate, so be clear about what you bring to the role. If you keep these steps in mind, you will create a memorable and engaging graduate cover letter and put yourself in the best position to land your first job.

If you’re a graduate looking to start your career, or just wanting a few more helpful tips, get in touch with our team at First People Recruitment Solutions. As one of the leading Indigenous recruitment providers in Australia, we specialise in connecting Indigenous talent with leading businesses and government entities throughout Australia and can help find the perfect role for you.