New & Recent Graduate Cover Letter Samples & Proper Format

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

Still haven’t written your recent grad resume? Learn all you need to know from this guide: Sample Resumes for Recent Graduates.

Haven’t graduated yet? Exploring other options? Have a look at our guides that can help:

• Recent College Graduate Resume
• College Student Cover Letter Sample
• Cover Letter for Graduate School Sample
• Cover Letter for Scholarship Application Sample
• Cover Letter for Internship Sample
• Entry-Level Cover Letter with No Experience Sample
• Cover Letter for an Architecture Internship Sample
• Editorial Assistant Cover Letter Sample
• Research Associate Cover Letter Sample
• Postdoc Cover Letter Sample
• Formal Cover Letter Sample
• How to Write a Letter of Interest

Or simply browse our list of 100+ sample cover letters for any job: Sample Cover Letters.

Let’s get rolling.

Recent Graduate Cover Letter Sample

I’ll tell you one thing, Sally is going places! Let me show you how to write an equally good college graduate cover letter yourself.

Recent Graduate Cover Letter Template

Here’s how to write a cover letter when you’ve recently graduated:

1. Use the proper college grad cover letter format

• Margins: one inch on all four sides.
• Spacing: single or 1.15. Double-spaces after the salutation, between paragraphs, and before the formal closing. Three blank lines between the “Sincerely” synonym and your sign-off.
• Font: one of the classics such as Helvetica, Tahoma, Calibri, Georgia, Verdana, but not Times New Roman. 11pt to 12pt size.

Read more: Cover Letter Formatting

2. Create a good recent grad cover letter header

• Create a cover letter heading with your name and contact information identical to the one on your resume.
• Include your basic contact details: phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile. Your home address is optional, put it there only if applying for stiff corporate jobs.
• Put city and date below your contact info.
• Finally, include the address of the recipient. It’s best to address the cover letter directly to the hiring manager of your target department.

Not sure how to find the right person to send a graduate cover letter to? Learn all you need to know here: Address on a Cover Letter: How to Find It & How to Include It

3. Begin with a personal greeting and a strong first paragraph

• Open with “Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name]:”—unless your target company is a relaxed startup, go with the last name.
• Introduce yourself and identify the position for which you’re applying.
• Make the reader hooked: mention an achievement relevant to the job.

Don’t have any glowing accomplishments? At least say what degree you’ve completed.

Read more: Start a Cover Letter so the Hiring Manager Wants More

4. Show that you’re *the* perfect candidate

• Refer to the job listing and show how your skills and knowledge can help them achieve their business goals.
• Mention a few additional wins you’re proud of or highlight relevant coursework you’ve completed or your favorite fields of study.
• Make sure to convey your passion for the job. Show you’ll be willing to work hard and smart.

Not sure what skills you should highlight? Consider this—

A recent survey of US employers revealed that only 40% of employers think recent grads display professionalism and work ethic. Only 17% consider new graduates proficient in career management.

If your college grad cover letter shows that you’ve got a sense of purpose in pursuing this particular career and that you know what good work ethic means, you’re already in pole position.

Also, make sure your cover letter follows the fundamental business letter writing rules: What Should a Professional Cover Letter Look Like?

5. Explain why you want in

• It’s more than welcome to drop a compliment in your new college grad cover letter.
• This way, they’ll know you actually want to join them and aren’t desperate for any job.
• Plus, you’ll come across as someone worth investing in—they’ll believe you’re likely to stay with the company for longer.

Pressed for time? Can’t think of any specific reasons to join the company? At least don’t make your cover letter overly generic. Learn what it means: Quick, General Cover Letters That Aren’t Generic: Templates

But don’t even entertain the idea of skipping the cover letter altogether. According to this study, 45% of employers think not including a cover letter in your job application is a total deal-breaker.

6. Make an offer and include a call to action

• Say you’d love to meet in person to discuss how you can help.
• Reiterate what’s in it for them: say that your main goal is to help them achieve theirs.

Read more: How to End a Cover Letter to Seal the Deal

7. Close your recent graduate cover letter with a professional sign-off

• Write your full name.
• Follow it with a digital copy of your handwritten signature.
• Include phone number and email in the footer.

Think all’s done?

Almost. 

Once you write your new graduate cover letter, check, double-check, and triple-check. Look for typos, grammar errors and unclear sentences. If you can, have a friend or a college mentor proofread your graduate cover letter for you.

Finally, remember to follow up on your job application. Here’s how: How to Write a Follow-Up Email on a Resume and Cover Letter

Now, for the last word—

As you’ve learned, a great recent grad cover letter can truly be a game-changer, but to have a shot at that dream job, you still need to write a perfect resume.

Creating a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Choose a resume template and follow our step-by-step guidance to have a professional resume ready in minutes.

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