How to Write a Cover Letter With No Job Experience Cover Letter Template

I'm Chloe, and today I'll show you how to write a cover letter that will sell you as the best choice to hiring managers, even if you have no experience. Stick around till the end of the video and I'll show you how to get a free cover letter template you can download and fill in instantly. In the header of your cover letter, list your name, phone number, and email address. If you have a website, portfolio, or LinkedIn profile, be sure to include this information as well, especially if it's relevant to the job that you want. Information in your header is the only way that hiring managers can reach you, so make sure that it's correct when you're done. Now, when you start your cover letter, address the hiring manager by name. This will make your cover letter seem a lot more personal and show that you've taken a bit of time to learn about the company before applying. But if you can't find the name of the hiring manager in the job description or on their website, be sure to check the company's LinkedIn page or just go with Dear Hiring Manager instead. The opening paragraph is where you introduce yourself and express your interest in the role. State which position you're applying for, where you came across the job opening, and if you were referred by anyone. Oh, and feel free to pause and read the examples if you need to. Continue your opening paragraph with two to three sentences highlighting why you're interested in working for this particular company, what excites you about the opportunity, or how the role aligns with your current interests and career goals. Prove you're a top applicant by providing specific examples and achievements in your body paragraphs to show that you know what the company is looking for. Because you're new to the job world, choose one to two experiences from school, such as relevant coursework, academic achievements, volunteering, internships, or extracurricular activities. If you can't narrow down your list, choose examples that relate the most to the job description and requirements. Once you've chosen which examples to write about, expand on them by writing a few lines outlining your contributions and how the skills you learned will benefit the company. If you notice any recurring words or phrases in the job description, add them to your cover letter, if they make sense, to reinforce that you're capable of handling exactly what they're asking for from applicants. Next, look at the skills in the job description and choose the ones that apply to you. Though you might not have any professional experience, you may have developed some hard and soft skills in school, as a college student, or in your personal time. Hard skills are generally learned through training or education, and include skills like coding, Spanish, and Microsoft Office. Soft skills, on the other hand, are skills that show how you work and interact with others in a professional setting. After that, include one to two relevant achievements that you're proud of, along with what you learn from them. Achievements further convey your interest and skill, and also show hiring managers how much work you can handle. Your final paragraph should summarize the points you made in the body of your cover letter, and restate why you're interested in the role. You should also thank the hiring manager for their time, and include a call to action by providing your phone number and email address, so the hiring manager knows how to reach you. Finally, close your cover letter by using an appropriate sign-off, such as sincerely, best regards, or kind regards. Don't ruin all your hard work by being overly formal, or too friendly. Now, to make sure that you get it right when it comes to writing a cover letter with no experience, make sure you download your copy of the cover letter template below. It's really easy to use, and you can tailor it for any position that you apply for. If you need more help with your job application, here's a video covering writing a resume with no experience. Best of luck from the Resume Genius team!