Elena Prokopets
Claire Briggs Webber, CPRW
Landing an interview is hard. If you’re a recent graduate or entering the workforce for the first time, you face even more obstacles. How can you convince employers to take a chance on you when you don’t have tons of experience? The key to success is communicating that you are hardworking, enthusiastic, and ready to learn — and that’s what a cover letter is for.
Never treat cover letters as optional (they aren’t). Instead, view it as another medium you can leverage to your advantage — that is present extra information to complement your resume, showcase your personality, and explain your rationale for applying for this role.
In this post, you’ll find a set of cover letter examples for entry-level jobs you can easily swipe and customize to your profile, plus some extra writing tips.
Entry Level Cover Letter Sample (Word)
Entry Level Cover Letter Example (Text Version)
Dear Marilyn Voss,
My name is Katelyn Williams, and I am applying for the position of Pharmacy Technician Trainee. We met last week at the Madison job fair. You told me that my experience as a retail clerk would help me qualify for the on-the-job training program offered at Russell Drugs. After our conversation, I was very excited about this opportunity. So I’m sending this letter to express my intent to apply.
As you know, I worked at Mike’s grocery store while I attended high school. There, I bagged groceries, helped customers find needed items, stocked shelves, and assisted in the floral department. I also learned to use the POS 2000 which is the same system used at Russell Drugs. I have received praise from my manager on my attention to detail, and customer service skills.
I plan to attend Rogers University in the spring to study nursing. I believe that my interest in inpatient care will help me to understand the needs of customers filling their prescriptions. In addition to that, I’m a regular volunteer at the local senior center where I help plan recreational activities.
Once again, I am very excited about this opportunity. I’ve included my resume, and hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Katelyn Williams
Entry Level Engineering Cover Letter Example
Dear Rocallo Engineering team,
The subject of my bachelor’s dissertation at Irwin & Joan Jacobs School of Engineering was “Novel approaches to energy and water conservation for agricultural irrigation systems”. That is why when I saw an open position of Junior Electrical Engineer in your company, I was quick to apply.
My academic background and past internships have equipped me with a solid knowledge of best practices for control system logic and computer LAN design. During a summer internship in 2022 with Waterworks LLCs, I got to apply my theoretical knowledge to real-world problems by assisting with the design of a new wastewater system for a farming cooperative in Ohio. Specifically, I took part in creating new control schematics for a brine treatment water system.
Apart from understanding the key principles of engineering system design, I’m also well aware of the “business” aspects of new systems design. When working on possible solutions, I try to always balance the practicality and feasibility of design implementation against parameters like budget, timelines, and use cases.
I am particularly drawn to this position as Rocallo Engineering is well-known for its mentorship-oriented culture and professional development opportunities. In addition, I’m excited about the opportunity to work on critical water reuse projects for the regional Agro producers.
As a recent graduate, I am eager to learn from experienced electrical engineering professionals at Rocallo and make my contribution to the wider adoption of sustainable farming practices.
Please find my resume attached and don’t hesitate to contact me for more information. Thank you for your consideration.
Best,
Livy Kitton
Entry-Level Customer Service Cover Letter Example
Hi Pedro Gonsalez,
As a proactive problem-solver, bilingual in Spanish and English, with a passion for digital banking products, I couldn’t pass by your job offer.
My high energy levels and extroverted personality naturally drive me towards customer-facing roles. In the past, I have worked as a receptionist at Colorado Springs State Bank, host at Riverside Restaurant, and Spanish customer support rep for a local staffing agency. I’m comfortable with offering in-person, over-the-phone, and chat-based support, ensuring a fast and pleasant issue resolution.
One of my key strengths is my fast typing speed (200 CPM), which allows me to quickly respond to customer inquiries. I’m also familiar with Zendesk software as it was used in the previous company I worked for, plus can expertly handle PBX phone systems.
My ability to work both independently and as a part of the team should also make me well-positioned to excel in this role (as it’s mostly remote). Since I am still a full-time undergraduate student at Colorado College, flexible shift scheduling is a major advantage for me. I’m open to covering late evening hours, as well as early morning ones.
Finally, I shouldn’t deny that I am really excited about this opportunity because I am a MoneyWallet user. In fact, I was even selected for a Beta Test during the launch year of 2018. I already know the product well enough and thus would be able to quickly get up to speed in this role and deliver exceptional customer care.
Look forward to hearing back from you,
Jose Rodriguez
Cover Letter Examples Administrative Assistant Entry-Level
Dear Faculty Members,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Administrative Assistant position at San Janito College, which was shared with me by your Head of Staff, Marry Collins during an on-campus event. With two years of experience in clerical and administrative support roles, good public relations skills, and a keen eye for details, I believe I could be a valuable addition to your staff bench.
Presently, I am working in a similar role at the Tomson & Tiles Legal office. My duties include proactive support with care recordkeeping, schedule coordination, and meeting planning with the firm’s clients. The new card indexing system I have implemented in the firm has received great praise from paralegals and junior attorneys, who are tasked with extensive file research.
Before that, I worked as an Event Planning Assistant with Condy Event Agency, specializing in corporate event planning. In this part-time role, I have demonstrated strong proficiency in supplier management, travel plan coordination, and proactive on-the-ground support with miscellaneous tasks (from fixing projectors to finding a photographer at the last moment).
I am well-accustomed to working in a fast-paced environment and can remain highly accurate even when juggling multiple tasks. By nature, I am calm, adaptable, and slightly pedantic, which helps me effectively perform duties like invoice processing, receipt management, supply ordering, and budget planning.
Currently, I am also pursuing an online degree in Business Management at Hudson County Community College as I would like to develop further business acumen and develop new project management skills. My classes at the evening or pre-recorded, so these shouldn’t affect my duties during the day.
Look forward to learning more about the position during an interview.
Best,
Emilia Ngue
How to Write an Entry-Level Cover Letter (with More Examples!)
You’ve got some general ideas of how a persuasive entry-level cover letter should sound. Now it’s time to work on your own version!
Go to our free cover letter generator and follow the prompts to create the first draft. Then polish things up by applying the following tips.
1. Make an Inventory of Your Experience
It’s easy to get stuck, staring at a blank page when you’re an entry-level candidate. “What can I bring to the table? Not much” — you may be thinking.
But entry-level doesn’t always mean a complete lack of experience. If you think hard enough, you’ll surely find some work that can communicate your skill sets such as:
- Research work
- Internships
- Community and volunteer work
- Coursework and at-school events
All of these have helped you obtain some valuable soft and hard skills. Your goal is to communicate these to a potential employer.
Imagine you were applying for an entry-level position as a sales clerk at a bookstore. Here’s how you’d frame your “pitch”:
“At Madison High School, I was the captain of the Reading Club for 4 years and was responsible for selecting the best titles for monthly reading, curating a newsletter of interesting literature reviews, and moderating the meetings. Also, I volunteered at the local library and my duties included stocking shelves, and assisting students looking for school textbooks and leisure reading.”
2. Highlight Valuable Soft Skills
Since you don’t have much experience, you’ll need to sell your personality. So forget about vague platitudes. It’s a waste of time to state that you’re a “people person”, or that you’re a hard worker. Instead, focus on traits that are specific, and relevant to the job.
For example, if you’re going for a customer service role, put the spotlight on interpersonal skills:
“I am very good at dealing with angry or frustrated customers diplomatically. As an annual volunteer at Crafts Fair, I know exactly how to moderate customer’s expectations and provide quick and effective resolution to any issues they may have”.
3. Bring Up A Connection If You Have One
Use the opening paragraph of a cover letter to introduce yourself, and indicate the job you’re interested in. This is also the perfect place to mention any connection to the place of business or hiring manager.
For example:
- Were you referred to the job by a current employee?
- Have you interned at the company previously?
- Did you meet a company representative at a job fair?
- Do you have an alumni connection with someone at the company?
- Have you participated in any company-sponsored programs or volunteer events?
Here’s an example of a sample entry-level cover letter for an interior designer:
“My name is Beth, and I am a recent graduate from The Art Institute with a BFA in Interior Design. I recently volunteered at the Applied Arts Expo and worked with your Head of Residential Design And Aesthetics. They informed me that you had an opening for an interior designer trainee, and encouraged me to apply. I would be a great fit, and I’m excited to share my qualifications.”
4. Don’t Be Too Formal
Inexperienced job seekers often make the mistake of writing in an overly formal, stilted style. That’s seldom necessary and can work against you. If you’re seeking a job in an environment that’s fun and laid-back, words like ‘whom’ and ‘therefore’ can be off-putting.
Just like your interview attire, keep your letter business casual. That is more formal than when you speak to your friends, but not like you are holding court with royalty.
For example, use a slightly less formal email greeting like “hi” or “hello”, which most HRs prefer these days. Also, keep your language professional, but simple. Avoid overly complex jargon or superfluous buzzwords. Instead of saying that you’re “excited to work with an esteemed organizations, offering cutting-edge capabilities for the FIs”, state that you “interested in applying your data analytics skills in FinTech”.
Final Tip: Be Sincere
The entry-level job you land will probably not be the job of your dreams. You know that. The hiring manager knows this as well. There’s no need to carry on as if this is the ideal job, and that you plan to stay with the employer for years. For example, “I look forward to learning about web design, and working with the team at Harris Digital” is much better than, “It is my dream to work as a help desk technician. I look forward to a long career at Big Box Computers.”
