If an employer asks you to submit a CV for a vacancy, you should normally include a tailored graduate cover letter unless the application instructions tell you otherwise. This is your chance to introduce yourself, explain why you want the role and show how your experience meets the employer’s needs. Be sure to use the cover letter examples provided to give you the best chance of grabbing your dream job!
A cover letter works best alongside a strong CV and tailored application. Explore our Graduate CVs and Cover Letters guide.
A cover letter works best alongside a strong CV and tailored application. Explore our Graduate CVs and Cover Letters guide.
Writing a graduate cover letter
A cover letter is a document that accompanies your graduate CV or application form. It might provide an informal and friendly view of your personal experience, or formal documents that provide information to someone you have never met (It’s usually the latter). This is your opportunity to explain what skills you have, why you want the position and why you are interested in that organisation. Unlike a CV, which presents a structured record of your education and experience, a cover letter allows you to make direct connections between your background and the role.
A strong graduate cover letter should:
- Introduce your personality and commitment
- Provide convincing examples of your suitability
- Refer to the employer’s main requirements.
- Suggest that there is more to learn about you
- Demonstrate that you can communicate clearly in writing
Ultimately, the purpose of the letter is to make the employer want to speak to you.
Research before you write
Begin by reading the vacancy carefully. Identify the qualifications, skills, experience and personal qualities the employer appears to value most, then decide which examples from your background provide the strongest evidence. Research the organisation as well as the role. Look at its work, services, clients, values, training, culture and recent developments. This should help you explain why you are applying to that employer rather than sending a letter that could be used for any graduate vacancy.
Try to answer two questions before you begin:
- Why do you want this type of work?
- Why do you want to do it for this organisation?
Avoid relying on broad compliments such as saying that the organisation is prestigious, successful or innovative. Explain what specifically interests you and connect it to your experience, values or career aims.
Some golden rules
Never put anything in your cover letter that cannot be supported by your CV or application form. Recruiters may compare the documents and look for differences in dates, qualifications, job titles or responsibilities. Anything you write could be raised during an interview, so make sure you can provide a clear example or further explanation. Always be honest about your experience and skills. You can describe your contribution confidently, but you should not exaggerate what you know or the level of responsibility you held.
There are also several established conventions for letters sent with CVs and graduate job applications:
- Address the letter to a named person where possible.
- State why you are writing, which role you are applying for and what you are currently doing.
- Bring forward the most important or relevant thing you want the employer to know about you.
- Use important words from the job description where they accurately describe your experience.
- Refer the reader to your CV or application form for further detail.
- Connect your skills and abilities with the employer’s needs.
- Identify the type of career or role you are seeking.
Remember, if your cover letter is poor, the employer may decide not to read your CV closely. The same principle applies to supporting statements on application forms. Your letter helps to keep you in consideration, so do not weaken a strong application at the first stage. Cover-letter examples and templates can help you understand the expected structure, but they should only be used as a guide. Your own letter should be original and adapted to the company. You are telling the employer that you want to work for them specifically, so generic wording is likely to reduce your chances. You may have to justify both what you wrote and why you chose to include it during an interview.
Format of a graduate cover letter
The original cover-letter format may refer to a personal statement, personal profile or skills profile. These can help you plan what to include, although most applicants will weave the information into the main letter rather than use all three as separate headings.
Personal statement
A personal statement is sometimes used at the start of a CV or as an additional statement on an application form. In a cover letter, the same type of content can explain what you hope to achieve, how you would fit into the organisation and which transferable skills you could contribute.
It should not simply tell the employer that you are a great person. It should show that you have researched the organisation, explain why you want to work there and make clear why you could be an asset to the team.
For example:
“My career objective is to enter research in the ” industry. I have demonstrated strong research skills during university project work and much of my experience has been within a team environment. I am able to take responsibility for my own work as well as being able to demonstrate leadership when required. Meeting deadlines has been a consistent part of my academic and working life and I have learned how to communicate with people in situations which require tact. My academic skills have given me the ability to communicate effectively on paper as well as through presentations.”
Personal profile
A personal profile gives the employer a sense of your character, goals and working style. It may cover qualities such as listening, responsibility, teamwork, reflection and attention to detail, but these should be presented in a way that relates to the role.
For example:
“I am an outgoing person who can talk to people at all levels and have been complimented on my ability to listen to other people. I can take responsibility for my own work and my own goals, but I also enjoy working with other people to reach a common goal. Reflection is an important part of my personality and this has led me to develop a strong feeling for detail without losing sight of the whole picture. ” holds strong fascination for me and my objective is to work in research within this field.”
Another version might place more emphasis on communication and interests:
“My academic and work experience has taught me to work well with other people and to take responsibility for my own work. I have an outgoing personality and am keenly interested in good health through exercise and diet. One of my most important assets is my ability to listen to people.”
The profile should still explain why the role is right for you rather than becoming a general description of your personality.
Skills profile
A skills profile identifies abilities that relate directly to the job specification. These might include problem-solving, time management, communication, teamwork, research or technical skills. You could mention them briefly, but a supported example is usually more convincing than a list.
For example, for time management:
”My university project required me to investigate a specific issue, analyse the information and present practical recommendations. Alongside this work, I balanced full-time study, part-time employment and regular basketball training by planning my time around fixed deadlines.”
The most persuasive skills are those that helped you achieve something positive, meet a target or improve a situation. Keep the evidence concise and related to the employer’s needs. Whatever style you choose, remember that anything in your profile may be questioned during an interview.
How to address and sign off your letter
Address the letter to a named person where possible. The advert, company website or LinkedIn may identify the recruiter or hiring manager, or you may be able to contact the organisation and ask. When writing to a named person, use “Yours sincerely”. If you begin with “Dear Sir or Madam”, the traditional closing is “Yours faithfully”. “Dear Hiring Manager” is also commonly used when no name is available. Finally, always include your typed name at the end of an online application. A handwritten signature is not normally necessary unless the employer asks for one.
Tailor every cover letter
A generic cover letter tells the employer that you want a job. A tailored letter explains why you want their job. You do not need to begin every application from a blank page. You can keep a record of useful examples from your experience and reuse the basic structure. However, the reasons for applying, evidence you select and requirements you discuss should change for each vacancy. Tailoring involves more than replacing the company name and job title. Review the whole letter to make sure that it reflects the employer’s priorities and contains no references left over from another application. Try to use language from the job description where it is accurate and natural, but do not copy large sections of the advert. The employer needs to understand your experience, not read their own wording back to them.
Cover-letter presentation
The layout is important because your letter is a formal business document and an example of your written communication. Use a clear professional font and keep it consistent with your CV where possible. Include your contact details, the date and the employer’s address when submitting a traditional letter. If the employer provides a template or different instructions, follow them. Use connected paragraphs rather than turning the whole letter into bullet points. Keep the spacing and alignment consistent, and check that the document fits onto one side of A4 without using an uncomfortably small font.
Save the file in the requested format and use a clear name, such as:
“Jane-Doe-Cover-Letter-Graduate-Consultant.pdf”
Email cover letters
When applying by email, check whether the employer wants the cover letter attached as a document or written in the body of the message. If you attach it, keep the email itself brief. State the position you are applying for, mention that your CV and cover letter are attached and thank the employer for considering your application. Before sending, check that both documents are attached. Review the recipient’s address, the file names and the formatting of the email. Keep the font consistent across the email, CV and cover letter where practical, as this creates a more professional application.
Read the job specification again before sending. The employer may ask you to include a vacancy reference, location or other information in the email subject line.
For example:
Subject: Application for Graduate Data Analyst – Jane Doe
”Dear Hiring Manager,
Please find attached my CV and cover letter for the Graduate Data Analyst position. Thank you for considering my application.
Kind regards,
Jane Doe”
Maybe try a creative approach?
It can be difficult to make an application stand out, and some examples that we have come across have used creative methods such as Spotify playlists, personalised videos or even songs. This may suit certain creative, media, design or marketing roles where the approach demonstrates a relevant skill. However, it will not be appropriate for every employer or recruitment process.
Research the organisation carefully and consider whether the idea strengthens your evidence or merely draws attention to the format. Creativity should not make it harder for the employer to understand your suitability. Where a conventional cover letter is requested, provide one unless the employer clearly welcomes an alternative approach.
Graduate cover letter templates
GRB’s Classic Cover Letter template can help you understand the standard structure and presentation.
Make sure that any template you use is a starting point, rather than copying the wording. Your final letter should reflect your own experience and make clear why you want to work for that employer.
Common graduate cover-letter mistakes
Sending a generic letter
A letter that could be sent to any organisation gives the employer little reason to progress your application. Refer directly to the role, company and requirements.
Repeating your CV
Do not retell your entire education and employment history. Select the evidence that best explains your suitability and direct the reader to your CV for further detail.
Making unsupported claims
Broad claims such as hardworking, motivated or excellent communicator have limited value without evidence. Show how you have demonstrated the quality.
Writing too much
A cover letter should be persuasive, not exhaustive. Keep it to one side of A4 unless the employer asks for something different.
Focusing only on what you want
Training, progression and salary may attract you, but the employer also needs to understand what you can contribute.
Failing to proofread
Errors can weaken an application, particularly when you claim to have strong attention to detail. Check the employer name, role title, spelling, grammar, attachments and contact details.
Using the wrong level of formality
Your letter should be professional without sounding stiff or full of corporate language. Use clear words that you would be comfortable explaining in person.
The final advice
Do:
- Make your graduate cover letter specific to the organisation and role.
- Keep it concise, persuasive and easy to read.
- Use a professional business format.
- Proofread it more than once.
- Read it carefully, leave it for a while and then check it again with fresh eyes.
- Where possible, ask someone else to review it for spelling, grammar and unclear wording.
Don’t:
- Do not send a generic letter.
- Include information that is not relevant to the company and position.
- Waffle or go over a A4 length.
- Leave simple mistakes that make it easy for the employer to reject your application.
- Not include the company address and other formal details where required.
- Forget to finish the letter with your name.
Key takeaways
A strong graduate cover letter should explain why you want the role, show how your experience meets the employer’s needs and add useful context to your CV. Research the organisation, use the job description to choose your strongest evidence and keep every claim accurate and easy to support at interview. Present the letter clearly, address the right person where possible and keep it to one side of A4. Finally, proofread it carefully, as a tailored and accurate letter can strengthen your application, while a careless one may stop the employer reading further.
Frequently asked questions
Should I address my cover letter to a named person?
You should use a named person when you can confirm who is handling the application. Check the advert, company website or LinkedIn before using a general greeting. If no name is available, “Dear Hiring Manager” is a clear option. “Dear Sir or Madam” is also acceptable in a formal letter, but it can feel less personal. Do not guess someone’s name or title. The greeting should be accurate, professional and consistent with the tone of the rest of your application.
What should I write if I have little work experience?
Focus on why the role and employer interest you, rather than repeating your whole CV. Choose one or two examples that show how your skills match the vacancy. Explain what you did, what you learned and why the experience is relevant. You can use examples from university work, part-time jobs, volunteering, societies or personal projects. Keep each example brief and specific. The aim is to add context to your CV and make the link between your background and the employer’s needs clear.
Can I reuse parts of a cover letter?
You can reuse the basic structure of a cover letter, but the content should change for each job. Update the reason you want the role, the employer details, the skills you highlight and the examples you use. Check the full letter before sending it so no old company names or role titles remain. A useful approach is to keep a bank of genuine examples, then select the ones that best fit each vacancy. Reusing a structure saves time, but copying the same letter weakens the application.
Should a cover letter be attached or placed in the email?
Use the employer’s instructions to decide whether the cover letter should be attached or placed in the email body. If you attach it, keep the email short and state which role you are applying for. Mention that your CV and cover letter are attached, then thank the employer for their time. Before sending, check the email address, subject line, file names and attachments. Open each document once more to make sure it is the correct version and that the layout still works.
Can I use AI to help write my cover letter?
AI can help you organise ideas, improve clarity or compare different ways to phrase a sentence. It should not invent experience, write vague claims or replace your own judgement. Check every line and make sure the final letter sounds like you. You should understand and be able to support each example in an interview. Remove language that feels generic or too polished for your normal style. The finished letter must remain accurate, personal and tailored to the employer and role.
Can I use a creative cover letter?
A creative cover letter can work when it suits the role and the employer. It may help in some media, design or marketing applications, where the format can show a useful skill. However, the idea should still make your experience easy to understand. Do not let the style hide why you suit the job. If the employer asks for a standard cover letter, send one unless they clearly invite another format. Research the company first and choose the approach that best supports your application.
