Writing a graduate scheme or work placement cover letter
Highlight reel
Don’t say what you want - frankly, they don’t care, explain to them why you would be an asset to their team
Keep it concise, recruiters are likely to read your cover letter for around 30 secs - the aim is to get the recruiter to analyse your CV and invite you for an interview
Don’t send the same cover letter to multiple companies - make targeted applications only to companies you want to work at
Open with I’m writing to apply for the position of X then jump directly into why you’re a strong candidate for this role, there is no need for a lengthy intro. Your cover letter should answer the following questions in a few paragraphs.
Why you?
The recruiter wants to know - “What unique element do you bring to the table which persuades me to interview you and how have you displayed this in the past which is going to transfer well in this role?”
No one wants to hear how great you are or what you want, they want to know what you bring to the table. This should connect to the narrative you’ve outlined in your CV. For example, reiterate that you’re a social media marketeer with expertise in the sports sector which will be valuable to the organisation because you can help grow their Tiktok following and ultimately drive revenue of their subscription business.
If you’re applying for a work placement, outline your degree subject and relevant modules which make you a good fit for the company because of the knowledge you’ve developed and the transferable skills.
Why us?
The recruiter wants to know - “Are you sending this same cover letter to a long list of other companies or is there a great reason you want to work here?”
If that reason is a good one, you’re more likely to be motivated to deliver great results and stay for a long period of time. Its one thing to say this but the best candidates prove it. Research the companies brand values and how they want to be perceived today.
Perhaps you align particularly well with one of these values. Highlight this and mention examples in which both the company and you have displayed this value. Hopefully, you’ve been networking and here you can also tell the recruiter who you’ve been in touch and why they think you should apply to work at this company.
Why this role?
The recruiter wants to know - “Is this role correct for you and do you understand what it means?”
If not, you’re not likely to be productive and stay for a long period of time (or return after the year in the work placement example). Be as honest as possible, one reason is likely to be that you’re excited to help grow a certain division because your expertise aligns well and you’re passionate about this space. Here you can highlight examples where you have developed skills that transfer well to this role.
Do you wow me?
The recruiter wants to know - “Now that we have all of the key factors out of the way, do you make me tell the hiring manager that they have to interview you?”
Its very likely that the recruiter doesn’t get to the end of your cover letter, especially if you’ve done a great job of delivering the key messages in the beginning because they won’t have to. Regardless, close strong with a more outside the box example which highlights that you’re a great fit for this role. Have you setup a podcast, social media channel or website in this space? If so, try to catch the recruiters attention here and stand out from the crowd. If not, why not? In most cases it costs nothing but your time.
Don’t forget to add your contact details at the end and request to be considered for all other positions across the organisation which the recruiter thinks you may be suited for.
Finally, it goes without saying but there shouldn’t be any spelling errors, copy and paste your cover letter into Grammarly before firing it off. Good luck!
