Writing an Entry Level Cover Letter (Free Templates & Examples)

Knowing where, when, and how to take your first step into your career can at times be challenging, especially when you’ve just graduated and are fresh in the market. Nonetheless, we all have to start somewhere. Getting one of the best entry-level jobs in your chosen field can go a long way in helping you gain great work experience and start a long-lasting professional journey. And the higher-paying ones can start you off on a lunar salary trajectory. On the other hand, the wrong ones can lead you down blind alleys and slow your career path.

Landing a good entry-level job that pays well is not always easy- one has to show commitment, show great effort and determination, and prove to their potential employer that they are fit for the role. How will you do all these without actually having a job? How will you show your potential employer that you are enthusiastic about a particular job without physically meeting them? To do this, you will have to learn how to craft a great entry-level cover letter- one that will help you convince them that you are right for the job and set you apart from other job-seekers as a strong candidate.

Before you start crafting your entry-level cover letter, you must first familiarize yourself with what a cover letter is, what it is used for and why it is important to craft one in the first place.

A cover letter is a document written by a job applicant and sent with their resume to provide additional information on their skills and experiences.

The cover letter simply introduces who the applicant is, their skills, experiences, and unique qualifications that set them apart from other applicants.

So,

A cover letter for an entry-level job is meant to introduce the applicant to the potential employer.

It helps creates a rapport with them. By introducing yourself in the cover letter, the potential employer can be able to tell if you are the best fit for their company or not. The cover letter also helps them screen all applicants with ease. By simply perusing through your cover letter and reviewing your skills and qualifications, they can be able to filter those that they believe have what it takes to do the job from those that don’t.

It is important to note that your cover letter should only complement and not duplicate your resume. Its sole purpose is to simply interpret the data-oriented, factual resume that you will attach and add a personal touch to your job entry-level job application.

When writing the cover letter, start by introducing yourself in the first paragraph, i.e., who you are, why you are applying for the entry-level job and where you saw the job advert. It is important that you craft a strong introduction- one that will capture the hiring manager’s attention from the go and set you apart as a strong candidate.

Your second paragraph should highlight your skills, achievements, certificates, and any unique qualification to help you come off as a strong candidate for the role. Ensure that the skills and achievements you highlight are relevant to the job you are applying for.

Your third paragraph should state why you are the best candidate for the role and emphasize your organization’s value. It is important that when writing the cover letter, you not only focus on yourself but also on what you are bringing to the table. What value will you add to the organization? Highlighting and emphasizing your value to the organization will help convince the hiring manager that you are a strong candidate and consider you for the job.

Lastly, in your final paragraph, conclude the cover letter with a call to action. Here invite the hiring manager to review your attached resume and contact you to set up an interview should they find that you fit what they are looking for. You may also state that you will contact them to follow up on your application and get more information about the job.

It is recommended that whenever you are sending in your application for an entry-level job position, you attach your resume to your cover letter. Most people usually fail to do this and assume that their resume will be enough to land them the job; although it may, it is still important that you set yourself apart by crafting a great cover letter for any application that you submit. Here are some of the entry-level jobs to consider sending your cover letter when applying for:

Working as a medical assistant is a prevalent career choice for most people looking to start working in the healthcare sector. As such, it is important that among stiff competition, your cover letter stands out. A medical assistant’s duties and responsibilities usually vary with the type of medical facility hired and the split of clinical and administrative duties and responsibilities.

When writing an entry-level medical assistant cover letter, here are some of the skills and qualifications that you may want to include:

• Phlebotomy certificate
• Administering injections
• Appointment scheduling
• Patient care
• Administrative skills
• Knowledge of basic medical procedures
• Attention to detail
• Communication skills
• Time management
• Cleanliness and organization skills

Here is a sample letter for your assistance :

When you are looking to venture into the hospitality industry and don’t have any experience in hand, becoming a waiter or waitress might just be the right path to take. However, with most people venturing into the hospitality industry today, you have to make sure that you craft a great cover letter to help you stand out from the competition.

You also have to ensure that you include all the key details as well as the skills they are looking for. When writing, include skills such as food safety, problem-solving, active listening, patience, effective communication, etc. Consequently, you also want to emphasize your dedication to creating a positive customer experience, proactiveness in identifying customer needs, and your tact in responding to difficult clients.

Here is a sample that you can use to help you craft a great cover letter:

If you are a high student, finding a job might seem challenging as you have little or no work experience. However, a well-crafted cover letter can help you convince the hiring managers that you are worth giving a chance.

Your cover letter should highlight your work ethic, valuable skills that you acquired from other real-life experiences, and your passion and determination for the position that you are applying for. Despite your limited work experience, there are a variety of skills that you may have that may be valuable to an organization.

Some of the skills to mention in your cover letter include:

• People skills
• Customer service
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Flexibility
• Presentation skills
• Teamwork
• Research skills
• Initiative
• Attention to detail etc.

Here is a sample cover letter :

Writing an entry-level job cover letter as a recent graduate can seem like a complicated process because you have limited work experience. However, you can still convince the hiring manager that you are an ideal candidate for the position advertised by making sure your cover letter is perfectly crafted. Even though, as a recent graduate, you may still have little to no skills at all, it is important that you mention your soft skills in the cover letter and emphasize your ability to learn new things much faster. Do not repeat what’s already included in your resume; rather, use the cover letter to highlight some of your most endearing skills and qualifications that set you apart as a strong candidate.

Below is a sample that you can use to help you come up with a great cover letter:

Writing an articulate cover letter when looking for a job is hard. It is even harder if you have little or no work experience in a very competitive field, and the stakes are high. It is not easy to prove your value when you don’t have a series of professional accomplishments to help back your assertions. On the bright side, whether you have experience or not, you probably have more to offer the potential employer that you may know. You simply have to package all your strengths the right way. To do this effectively and come off as a strong candidate, you will have to craft a great cover letter highlighting the unique skills that make you fit for the role.

Some of the skills that you may want to mention in your cover letter include:

• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Collaboration skills
• Time management
• Adaptability
• Critical thinking
• Initiative
• Research skills
• Etc.

Below is the sample cover letter for internship without experience:

Crafting a cover letter is not an easy task; you have to use the right words, ensure that your grammar is on point and ensure that you don’t leave out any crucial detail that could cost you an opportunity to land your dream job. It is even harder if you are doing it for the first time. To make your work much easier, other than providing you with a guide and samples to use, we are also providing you with free easy to use, downloadable entry-level cover letter templates that you can download and use when writing for your convenience. Simply download, go through the template while adding the required information, proofread, and you are good to go!

When writing your cover letter, you want to make sure that you capture the hiring manager’s attention on the go. You want to use all the tips and tricks that come your way to make sure that you nail it. Here are essential tips and tricks that you should consider when writing an entry-level cover letter:

Do your research

Before writing the cover letter, do your research. Research about the company, i.e., what they do, the qualities they look for in a candidate, their drive, passion, objectives, mission, vision, etc. Your research should provide you with all the key information to include in the cover letter. It will also help understand the company culture and how you fit in.

Emphasize your education

The second thing that you want to do when writing your cover letter is to emphasize your education. It is expected that when applying for an entry-level position, you may not have the experience for that position. As such, you have to still convince the hiring manager that you have the educational qualifications to back you up. Focus on the units that are relevant to the position and mention one or two things that you learned that are relevant to the job.

Proofread for errors

Next, proofread the letter. After writing the letter, it is important that you go through it several times to ensure that it is free of any syntax and grammatical errors. If possible, after writing the letter, review it the following day or have a friend go through it to make sure that it doesn’t have any mistakes.

Signature

Lastly, make sure to include a signature line. Signature lines are important; they help create a rapport with the hiring manager and help the hiring manager remember you much easier. Always make sure to include on in your writing.

Whether you have just graduated with a degree or have just wrapped up your first internship, it is imperative that you start thinking about what your career path will look like after college. Either way, you are likely to have questions as you begin your job search journey. For example, you may be asking yourself that since you don’t have any skills, what should you include in the cover letter, how will you convince the employer that you are the best candidate for the job, and how can you properly format your cover letter. By going through our guide, we believe that all your questions have been answered, and you can now craft a great cover letter. Don’t forget to download our free entry-level cover letter samples to help you out. Good luck!