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Student CV: Template + 20 Examples [Also With No Experience]
Think getting a job as a student with no experience is impossible? Think again. You just need a great CV. Follow our expert advice & you'll be hired in a flash.
Don’t let writing a cover letter drive you to distraction. Learn exactly what you need to include in a cover letter to make yourself the star candidate for the job.
When writing a cover letter, you have to include specific information. You’ll always need contact details, a professional salutation, an introduction, information on why you are qualified for the job, an interview-winning closing, and a complimentary close. The way you list this information depends on how you’re sending your letter.
After all, applying for a job is still a formal process, with set expectations. Fail to structure your cover letter properly and you may as well not send one at all. Luckily, you’re about to learn exactly what you need to include in a cover letter to turn it into an interview-generating machine. Let’s take a look.
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Once you’ve learned what to include in your cover letter, learn about everything you need to include in your CV. Read more:
When considering what to include in a cover letter always bear its purpose in mind. A cover letter should:
This is how a cover letter looks like:
Now let’s see everything you need to put in your cover letter.
Put the following elements in your job-winning cover letter:
Every cover letter needs to include contact information. This is how it should look in a standalone cover letter that you print out or upload/attach to a job application. Two important points to remember:
[Your First & Last Names]
[Your Postal Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Date of Writing]
[Manager’s Name]
[Manager’s Job Title]
[Company’s Name]
[Company’s Postal Address]
The rules are different if you’re sending the cover letter as the body of the email itself. There’s no need to include contact details or the date in the header section. Instead, list your contact information in your email signature. For example.
Jenny Reed
Secondary School Teacher
jen_reedzety@gmail.com
0777 777 7777
www.linkedin.com/in/jenreedzety/
Forget adding your postal address—it’s an email, your reply won’t come in an envelope. And in both cases, make sure you include your email address and LinkedIn profile as a hyperlink so it’s easy for the hiring manager to click on and get in touch.
Learn more about cover letter formatting: How to Format a Cover Letter [Step-By-Step Guide]
Your salutation is simply the greeting that begins that body of your cover letter. It’s very simple and the rules apply to both email and standalone cover letters. Keep it formal, try to use the hiring manager’s name and don’t be too generic. Let’s start off with what you shouldn’t use.
Never include these salutations:
Painfully old-fashioned and far too generic. Always try to find the hiring manager’s name and use it. It’s scientifically proven that this has a powerful effect on the brain. Try these tips to discover it.
If you really can’t find a name? A good fallback is ‘Dear Hiring Manager’. In fact, a survey revealed it’s an employer favourite as a salutation when you don’t know who to send your letter to.
Now for the main course, the body of the cover letter. We start with your introductory paragraph, and this is where the magic happens. You’ve got to hook the hiring manager with compelling info about your skills and professional achievements. Make sure you grab their attention and make them hungry for more.
A good introductory paragraph should include:
Here’s a great example from an experienced candidate. They’re using an impressive professional achievement, expressed as an accomplishment statement, to hook the recruiter.
I was delighted to hear of the opportunity to join the award-winning team at Saffron & Co in the role of office manager. In my current role at Schuster & May, I’ve been able to cut office supply costs by £10,000 per annum. This success comes from my ability to conduct robust supplier contract management and negotiation. I’d love to deliver the same successful approach to the team at Saffron.
And here’s an equally effective example from a fresh graduate. Even without career experience you can still leverage passion and relevant achievements to show your worth.
I am writing to apply for the position of Junior UI Developer with Nascent Systems. While pursuing my BSc (Hons) in Computer Science at Kingston University I wrote an Android app for 4g signal strength detection. It won plaudits from my lecturers and experienced professionals on Github and has just surpassed 10,000 downloads on Google Play Store. It would be incredible to kick off my career with Nascent and hone my programming skills with your amazing team.
Next up, what to put in a cover letter middle paragraph.
The last thing you want to do here is just rephrase your CV. The middle paragraphs of your cover letter have to provide evidence of why you’re the best candidate. You’ve got to show, not just tell. The best way to do this is to use numbered achievements. For example:
I’ve been working in administration and office management for more than 10 years, but at Schuster & May I’ve had some standout achievements that I’m very proud of:
Now for an example from a less experienced candidate.
Whilst completing my degree, I obtained experience and achievements that would serve me well in this entry-level role at Nascent. I’m proud to have completed numerous projects for community organisations through my local volunteer centre. My proudest accomplishments included:
Two very different candidates, but both examples work brilliantly to show how qualified they are for the job.
When making a CV in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your CV here.
When you’re done, Zety’s CV builder will score your CV and tell you exactly how to make it better.
Your final paragraph has the potential to seal the deal on an interview. Here’s what our experienced candidate has included to end their cover letter.
I would be delighted to show you how I was able to make a saving of £3,000 by a simple change to a key office supply item. Please give me a call on the number above, so we can discuss further and I can tell you more about what I can contribute to Saffron. Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to speaking to you.
This is why it works:
And here’s what our less experienced candidate has included.
I am certain my programming skills will reach new heights in this role due to the industry-leading training and development opportunities offered by Nascent. I am available at your convenience to discuss how I can help Nascent continue to thrive. Many thanks for considering my application.
Instead of a money-saving promise they’ve demonstrated dedication to growth. That shows clearly defined goals and a commitment to develop within the role. Surefire wins for an entry-level graduate job.
Always include a complimentary close in your cover letter. The classic approach is as follows:
Then include your signature. For a standalone cover letter a digital copy of your handwritten signature adds a nice touch. For an email cover letter, include your contact details in your signature. Take a look back at the first section of this guide for an example.
Read more: How to Format a Cover Letter
Your cover letter is likely to be read by an algorithm before a person. 90% of major companies use ATS software to scan job applications. These are automated systems that scan for keywords and reject any applications that don’t meet requirements.
The keywords are words or phrases that describe desired experience, skills or traits and the job title. You’ll find the keywords you need to include in the job description, so read it well. Here’s an example.
A fantastic investment company based in Central London requires an Office Manager with 2+ years experience to join their team. Role requires proficiency in managing office assistants and accomplished supply management skills.
Everything in bold is a keyword. Do include them in your cover letter, but keep it grammatical and easy to read.
What you leave out can be just as important as what you include. Don’t include the following in your cover letter.
You’ve just learned what should a cover letter include, but for an even more detailed guide read more here: How to Write a Cover Letter [Complete Guide]
Getting your cover letter right is still an important part of the recruitment process and you’ve got to follow the standard structure. Here’s what to include in a cover letter to maximise your chances of securing a job interview.
Would you like to know anything else about what to put in a cover letter? Still not sure about which parts are essential or how to format your cover letter correctly? Any questions at all, please use the comments section and I’ll be happy to help.
Think getting a job as a student with no experience is impossible? Think again. You just need a great CV. Follow our expert advice & you'll be hired in a flash.
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