Ultimate Guide—How To Write a Cover Letter for Your First Job

Do you have a dream job? A role where you’ll be politely ignored and supplied with unlimited Wi-Fi and coffee? It’s #goals, but not what’s gonna happen. You’ll stalk the bathroom with the best W-iFi signal. You’ll buy coffee for the entire office. No one will leave you alone—you are a rookie. But still, #goals. You’ll need a top-notch cover letter to get there.

It’ll be challenging and stress-inducing, and—yes—you might even wish to retire before you’ve worked a day in your life, but don’t give up. Having a well-written cover letter for your first job will set you apart from the competition and help you land your stepping-stone job.

Is writing a cover letter worth it if you have limited experience? What’s the best approach to writing a first job cover letter? What should you focus on? Let’s get some answers to these and other questions you might have!

Why Do You Need a Cover Letter for a First-Time Job?

Getting a job with limited or non-existent experience can be tough, but it isn’t impossible. No matter how much you may lack in certain areas, your life experience and all the projects you’ve worked on in college will have to suffice for the time being.

Even though many job seekers skip the cover letter, its importance is unarguable. It’ll help recruiters see you as more than just a bunch of dry facts. Note that 56% of hiring managers expect to see cover letters with a job application.

Since you’re new to the working scene and lack experience, your resume alone might not do the trick. A cover letter helps you stand out—if you write it correctly, you’ll:

1. Pass the applicant tracking system (ATS)
2. Impress the recruiter

Mentioning valuable character traits, willingness to learn, and soft skills that are relevant for the job ad you’re applying to is a great way to show your worth. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, make your existing skills stand out—and a cover letter is a perfect way to do that.

Source: Glenn Carstens-Peters

How Do You Write Your First Cover Letter?

Writing an entry-level cover letter is not hugely different from writing a regular one. The biggest difference is the amount of relevant info that you have to put in it. Look at the bright side—at least you won’t have to worry about it being too long. Coming off as professional and serious about the position you’re aiming for is even more important when you’re a rookie. A good way to show that you’ve prepared is to have a cover letter outline with a cohesive flow.

Here are the necessary parts of your letter:

1. Heading 
2. Opening paragraph
3. Body of the letter
4. Closing paragraph

Heading—Share the Necessary Info

In the top left corner of your first job cover letter, you should write:

• Your name
• Your cell phone number
• Your email address
• The date
• The company’s information

Right after this, address your recruiter or employer with a proper greeting. Failing to do this will set the wrong tone for the entire cover letter. Make sure to add a comma after the greeting.

Source: pressmaster

Here’s how to do a good job:

Opening Paragraph—Show That You’re Interested

Merely writing a cover letter and sending it doesn’t guarantee your potential employer that you truly want to work in their company. For all they know, you might have sent the same letter to a hundred different companies at the same time. Show that you’ve researched what they’re about thoroughly. Tell them why this is your dream job and why you’re their dream candidate. Make sure to mention the company’s name and the role you’re applying for.

Body of the Article—Show Them What You’ve Got

If writing your first cover letter is anything like football, the body of the article would be the quarterback—front and center. You should show off your skills and pitch your potential to the recruiter by going into detail about your experiences.

Name your skills and qualities and give examples of specific scenarios where they have come in handy. For example, if you’ve got great time management skills—tell them how you’ve acquired those (group projects or volunteer work).

All the skills mentioned in the body of your first job cover letter can be divided into two categories:

Make sure to present strong points for each of these two groups. Avoid using broad terms. Be specific and explain your abilities in detail, especially when it comes to hard skills. Note that your whole cover letter should be well-formatted—but this is the part that’ll get the most attention. Using the bold option and bulleted lists to point out the important bits is a great way to keep the letter organized and the recruiter interested. Choose a font that’s professional, common, and easy to read—when in Word, do as the Times New Romans do.

The Closing Paragraph—End the Letter on a High Note

You’ve done your best to impress the recruiter and show off your skills. Wrap things up by summarizing why you’re interested and showing you’re well-versed in what the company does. Adding a CTA (call to action) at the very end will leave an impression of a determined person—your goal is to get an interview, and you’re asking for one.

Following the closing paragraph, be sure to say goodbye in a formal and friendly way. Some great examples of the right way to close a cover letter are: Sincerely, Best regards, and Thank you for your consideration. Never use casual farewells such as Cheers, As ever, or Tnx.

How Do You Pass the ATS Screening With Your First Cover Letter?

If you want to increase your chances of getting a job, writing a cover letter is crucial. Unfortunately, merely writing it isn’t always enough. Your letter might need to pass the ATS screening before it reaches the recruiters of your desired company. Achieving this with limited experience is somewhat tougher than when you have a heaping list of skills to choose from.

An applicant tracking software (ATS) is a tool that many companies use to eliminate candidates that aren’t worth their time. It sifts through resumes and cover letters and targets certain keywords that are mentioned in job ads. Knowing this and using it to your advantage can become a game-changer for you.

If you don’t have the particular skills they’re asking for, say you are a quick learner. Are you capable of picking up new skills fast and learning on the go? Are there any examples in your experience that are in any way connected to the skills they mention? Explain the connection and use the keywords while doing so. Mentioning these words will help you pass the ATS screening. Remember that your goal is for the letter to reach a human recruiter. Your letter still needs to make sense and be interesting and optimized for the human eye.

What Should Be the Focus of Your Cover Letter for a First Job?

When you lack working experience, coming up with cover-letter-friendly skills can be overwhelming. The goal is to convince the recruiter that you’re just what they’re looking for.

Source: Green Chameleon

Mention these for the best results:

• General people skills that give you the upper hand—common skills like excellent time management or communication. These are a great way to present yourself as a responsible and organized person
• Particular soft skills that they’re looking for—skills that your recruiter values. Naming these skills will pique your future employer’s interest, and they’ll likely want to mentor you
• Skills that show your interest in the industry or field—particular skills you’ve acquired while exploring this industry. Showing that you’re interested in a specific industry will give you bonus points

The Struggle of Finding a Job Is Real—Is There Another Way?

You’ve done it. Your first job cover letter is written and ready to be sent. Getting an interview is just around the corner. If only it were that easy, right? In the world of job-hunting, where 30% of global workers are actively looking for a job, the competition is fierce. If that wasn’t depressing enough, the chances of getting a callback for an interview are only 2%.

The job market is saturated with applicants, and people that are on this neverending hunt have begun accepting lower salaries and settling for positions they aren’t interested in. On top of all that, statistics show that the payroll employment rose by 481,000 in January 2022.