Entry Level Cover Letters Are Not A Waste of Words!

Entry level cover letters are often not given enough attention by first time job seekers. A poorly written cover letter can impact your chances of being asked for an interview significantly. Many recent college graduates think cover letters are merely a formality or waste of words employers will only skim before looking at their resume for the real information. Wrong! Learn how to create a well written cover letter now and you will never run the risk of losing out on an opportunity due to a misconception!
An entry level cover letter or any cover letter for that matter should be three things: short, company specific, and concisely descriptive. A good format to follow is the 3-4 short paragraph model containing 6-7 lines each:
The 1st paragraph should introduce yourself, indicate what position you are applying for, and why you are interested in that specific position and company. Include company specific information. For example, the employer wants to know why you want to be an entry level mechanical engineer AND why you want to be one at Boeing. What makes Boeing appealing to you as opposed to all the other like companies out there where you could apply to be a mechanical engineer? Be honest, but remember the objective is to sell yourself to the company not sell the company on itself!
The 2nd paragraph (and 3rd if needed) should be a summary of any related work experience or skills from unrelated work experience that you feel apply to the position. For example, if you are applying for an entry level management job and have never had a management position before, highlight skills from other positions you had. If you worked in an ice cream shop and counted cash and trained new employees, guess what? These are both relevant skills for a management position! Sometimes it helps to mirror the language used in the job description. If they are asking for someone with “experience in a high volume setting,” you may want to use those words exactly when describing your skills. Remember not to run on or include irrelevant information; you want to be concisely descriptive. Recent college grads can also include selected relevant class or lab experience when writing entry level cover letters.
The 3rd or 4th paragraph is the closing paragraph in which you briefly restate your interest in the position and company. You can state that the employer may feel free to contact you for an interview or for more information. It makes it convenient for the employer if you include your phone number and email here even though it is already on your resume.
Remember when writing your first entry level cover letter, you can reuse some of the same language and thoughts for cover letters to other companies. However, it is crucial to make sure each letter appears to be crafted for each company you apply to!