How to Write an Entry-Level Cover Letter in 2023

Updated 05/11/2023

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An entry level cover letter is a document you can include along with your resume and application when applying for your first job. The purpose of this letter is to showcase your skills, knowledge, and make a good impression on the hiring manager even if you have no experience.

Keep your chin up as you scroll on down, and we’ll walk through this together, step by step. You’ll soon have a perfect cover letter for entry-level jobs that will soon get you your first paycheck.

This entry-level cover letter guide will show you:

Great entry-level cover letter examples better than 9 out of 10 other cover letters.
How to write an entry-level cover letter to land more interviews.
Tips and examples of how to grab the recruiter’s attention on an entry-level cover letter.
How to sell your candidacy on an entry-level cover letter to get any job you want.

Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from 20+ professional cover letter templates that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.

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Use this cover letter template

Sample entry-level cover letter made with our builder—See more cover letter examples here.

One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:

[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.

We’ve got dedicated cover letter guides for several positions. Follow our advice here, and move on to:

For more example check these Sample Cover Letters for 200+ Jobs.

What’s the Best Structure for Entry-Level Cover Letters?

Cover letters allow you to write with flexibility, creativity and style. This can be quite refreshing, especially if you’re coming straight from writing a robotic-sounding resume with no experience.

However, your cover letter for entry-level positions is still a formal letter, so there is a layout we recommend you follow.

But what’s that structure look like, and what should you include on a first-time cover letter?

Here’s what you should include in an entry-level cover letter:

your name, professional title, and contact details,
the address of the company,
a salutation using the hiring manager's name
an intro paragraph,
why you’re perfect for this particular company,
why this particular entry-level position is perfectly suited for you,
a closing statement that seals the deal,
a closing sentiment and your name.

For more on the various cover letter parts, as well as other possible additions to your entry-level cover letter, check out this guide: What to Include in a Cover Letter

Pro Tip: Though you should follow our formal cover letter structure, you’ll have some leeway in your writing style. On the resume, you’d use fragmented sentences and clipped phrases, but here you can flex a bit.

Didn’t get an opportunity to use our guide for making a resume without work experience to ensure that’s done right? Now’s your chance: Resume with No Work Experience

How to Address Your Cover Letter for First Jobs

When putting together a cover letter for entry-level jobs, you’ll first put your personal information and theirs in the header area. Its look and design varies depending on the template you use.

Your Contact Details

Your contact information (name, job title, address) goes at the top of the entyr-level cover letter. It may be aligned to the left, center, or right, but stick to the same layout as you chose for your resume.

Pro Tip: Don’t add other social media links, website URLs, and portfolio information here as you did on your resume, unless the entry-level cover letter template you choose includes an area for them.

The Date

Because an application letter is a formal document, always include the date of writing.

The Company’s Details

Next, add the addressee, which is the company or agency you’re applying at. Try to find the specific name of the HR director to insert at the top of the company address. This will make it feel more personalized and will be much more compelling.

Put the specific person’s name (if you found it) then the organization’s name and address.

Here’s what the finished cover letter address area could look like:

Not addressing your entry-level cover letter correctly is just as bad as not including one at all! Make sure you get it right: How to Address a Cover Letter

Pro Tip: Just how important is a cover letter? Super important! Nearly half of HR managers say they’ll reject your application if you don’t include one!

Starting Off on the Right Foot

It’s crucial to get the opening area of a cover letter for any entry-level position just right. The top location gets the most eye time, after all!

Succeed, and you’ll get actual eye time at the interview.

Greeting / Salutation

Finding the name of the hiring manager or recruiter is important. It makes the difference between your first cover letter feeling personalized and it seeming like it was spammed out to everyone.

Something like “Dear Mr. Steinhoff,” works perfectly. You can also skip the formal tone by calling them by their first name: “Dear Marcel,”.

Now, about that “Dear” part—Dear is one of the best salutations, but if you can’t find a name or want to change it up, we’ve got other options: How to Start a Cover Letter

Introductory Statement

You know that elusive, perfect pickup line you’d want to use when you see The One across the bar? Well, the opening paragraph should grab the employer’s attention the same way. Make them want to talk to you.

Let’s look at an example of a great entry-level cover letter opening:

As a longtime user and fan of SmogTech’s peerless cloud services, I was thrilled to see the opening for an entry-level IT researcher. With my IT university background as well as a dedicated consumer of your cloud offerings, I know I can use my skill set and knowledge to quickly become a valuable member of the SmogTech team.

How ‘bout that? This intro is written specifically about the company, and it gives them an enticing taste of how you would be a perfect addition to their team. This makes a great cover letter opening paragraph, and it will make them want to read on.

Pro Tip: As we did above, mention the firm’s name in the beginning paragraph, as well. It feels more personalized, and it assures the hiring manager that they’re reading a dedicated cover letter.

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You + Company = A Picture-Perfect Partnership

Now we get down to the fundamentals—it’s time to sell them on why you’re the best candidate out of that stack of 200+ others.

While this shocking HR statistic might seem like the odds are against you—

—but they won't be if you get this core section right.

Though opposites, these next two cover letter of interest sections have a symbiotic relationship. We suggest a paragraph for each, which will allot you plenty of room to make your case.

Why You’re Perfect for Them

You’ve hooked them with that great introduction statement—way to go!

Now, start reeling them in by showing how you’re the perfect fit for their company.

Here’s what a fresh graduate or first-time applicant might say on a sample entry-level cover letter for a job application:

In my former role in my university’s IT laboratory, I had numerous responsibilities and achievements which would serve me well in this entry-level role at SmogTech. I’m proud to have been on a team which pioneered some innovative new IT best practices. On top of that, my diverse set of projects there have often maintained an enviable position as public-sector winners, and I’m sure that I could garner similar results at SmogTech, such as:

New method for documenting bugs which reduced operational downtime by 52%
Initiated system for merging data streams into single output which led to a 26% increase in productivity.

See that? With that paragraph, you show that your acquired skills and experience would make you the ideal new hire for the job offered. You also add specific numbers so they get a taste as to what you could bring to their table, rather than just vague words.

Even though you have no on-the-job experience, you look supremely competent, nonetheless.

Why They’re Perfect for You

A healthy relationship should be a two-way street, and that holds true for entry-level positions, as well.

You’ve told them why you’re the best possible future employee. Now, show them that this company and the entry-level position on offer is the finest choice for you:

Obtaining the IT research position at SmogTech would be a digital dream come true. You see, SmogTech’s user-friendly cloud development platform is what inspired my fondness for tech. As such, there is no other firm that would make me as happy to work for. I know that, should I be granted the researcher position, I’d be the envy of my circle of friends!

How about that? You praised the company and explained how no other company could make you as happy to work for. Who can resist that?

Pro Tip: Remember using keywords on your resume to ensure that it’s tailored? Add them to your entry-level cover letter, as well. Oh, and make sure you use the best cover letter fonts so they can read it!

We’ve got a wealth of tips on writing a cover letter that will let you stand out above the rest: 35+ Successful Cover Letter Tips, Advice & Guidelines

A Compelling & Strong Finish

You started off strong, and you’ve kept that momentum going this far.

Now, don’t give up just yet!

Use a powerful closing statement, a concluding sentence or paragraph, to briefly sum up:

I would welcome the chance to discuss your current tech and research objectives and show you how my successes at university can translate into growth for SmogTech.

See that? You bring it to a satisfying end by summarizing your entry-level cover letter and then leaving the decision in their hands.

Complimentary Close

Add a closing sentiment and your name, and then you can let out a sigh of relief at your impressive application letter accomplishment.

Here’s how painless that is:

Sincerely,

Siobhan Keenan

That closing sentiment is called a complimentary close (or complimentary closing). That’s followed by your name to end the cover letter.

Pro Tip: Just as with the formal header area where you addressed the company, keep the complimentary close formal, as well.

Having a solid closing on a cover letter is just as critical as an attention-grabbing beginning. Read this for more examples: How to End a Cover Letter

A Postscript to Seal the Deal

Before you berate me for saying you’re done and then giving you one more, hear me out just a sec, if you will.

Adding a P.S. (postscript) is a great cover letter writing hack. All the best cover letters include one.

Let me show you what I mean:

P.S. - I’d love the opportunity to sit down with you and go over how I can bring similar results (26% productivity increase) to your office, as well.

What do you think? A P.S. at the bottom of your entry-level cover letter always draws the attention of the reader, even if they didn’t care to read the rest of it. It’s a clever way to get one final word in before they finish reading.

Key Takeaway

As you can see, writing your first-time cover letter is certainly not as complicated as you thought—and definitely nowhere near as tough as the wizardry you’ll perform once you get that job.

Remember to follow these key points to write a successful cover letter for entry-level jobs:

Start with a bang. Your opening statement on your cover letter is important because it’ll determine if the hiring manager reads on.
Show you belong together. Use the majority of the entry-level cover letter’s body area to show that you’re a perfect fit for the company and they’re the ideal workplace for you.
Finish strong. You held their attention till the end, now use a powerful ending so they’ll be sure to move on to your enclosed resume and an interview.

Do you have any questions on how to write an entry-level cover letter? Not sure how to show you’re the right candidate? Get at us in the comments below, and we’ll answer your questions. Thanks for reading!

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How to Write an Entry-Level Cover Letter in 2023

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