How to Write a Cover Letter With No Experience Examples
It’s possible to write a cover letter with no job experience that helps you win a role! Here, we’ll provide examples of how you do it and a template you can copy/paste to make it easier!
Can you write a cover letter with no experience?
If you have no work experience, writing a cover letter is vital! Even if you don’t have unpaid or volunteer experience, it will help you win over employers by showcasing your motivation, passion or transferable skills.
That’s because your cover letter is the space to talk directly with the employer and explain where you’re at in your career. It’s acceptable and even expected to lack paid experience if you’re looking for entry-level roles!
You don’t need job experience to write a great cover letter. You can prove that you have skills and abilities you’ve developed in your personal life, school, internship or volunteer work. Just like you do when writing a resume with no experience!
Next, we’ll show you fitting cover letter examples and the step-by-step process of how to write a cover letter with no job experience in the field.
But if you have yet to write a cover letter, you may want extra help! Check out our Cover Letter Builder. It’s a tool that makes creating your cover letter quick and easy!
That’s because it’s fully automated and guides you step-by-step through the cover letter writing process. It factors your experience level and provides expert-written text that you can select and add to your cover letter.
Best of all, it makes writing your document faster so that your cover letter can be ready in under 15 minutes!
Three cover letter examples with no experience
Example #1: Restaurant server cover letter with no job experience in the field
Although this candidate lacks restaurant experience, she mentions the transferable skills she carries over from her retail work. She also tries to connect with the employer by sharing her enthusiasm and love for the food and drinks there. Hiring managers are more likely to hire you if it seems like you care about the work that they’re doing and upholding their reputation.
Willow Fishbourne
Lincoln, NE 68336
W.Fishbourne402@–––––––––.com
(402) 555-5555
March 23rd, 2024
Chiyo Tucker
Kaizan Sushi
534 Council Bluffs Ave
Lincoln, NE 68430
Dear Chiyo,
I am excited to apply for the restaurant server position at Kaizan Sushi, as advertised on Craigslist. Although I am new to serving, I believe the customer service skills I’ve developed working in retail, plus my ability to work well in teams, dedicated work ethic and friendly attitude, would contribute to the vibrant atmosphere of your restaurant.
Working at Kaizan appeals to me because of your excellent food and outstanding service; it’s my favorite place to eat in Lincoln. Furthermore, Japanese cuisine is very close to my heart, and I have a solid foundation in knowing the dishes, their ingredients, and their preparation, and I want to learn more. In addition, I am passionate about providing the same level of exceptional experiences that I’ve enjoyed as a patron many times. I am confident that my hospitable nature and willingness to go above and beyond for guests will make me a valuable addition to your team.
Thank you for considering my application. I am joyful about the possibility of joining your team and contributing to the continued success of Kaizan. I am available to meet at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Willow Fishbourne
See more: Server cover letter examples
See also: Entry-level server resume
Example #2: Administrative assistant cover letter with no experience
Here’s an example of how to sell your extracurricular activities as proof of your hiring potential. Menina mentions her leadership experience as a volleyball captain and Student Council treasurer to prove that others see her as a valuable asset and capable person.
Menina Surabaya
Wilmington, DE 19884
M.Surabaya2@———–.com
(302) 555-5555
April 8th 2024
Tamara Powell
Bronson Medical Supplies
1117 Madrone Street
Wilmington, DE 19806
Dear Tamara,
I am writing to express my interest in the administrative assistant position at Bronson Medical Supplies, as advertised in the News Journal. With a solid educational background, experience as a team leader, and a strong desire to learn and grow, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team.
My skills align well with this role’s requirements. I have demonstrated proficiency in organizational tasks, time management, and communication throughout my academic career. My sense of responsibility and organization led me to become the volleyball team captain for three consecutive years, and I was also the Student Council treasurer. My teachers and peers have consistently praised my ability to adapt quickly to new environments and technologies. I hope to bring these skills to support your team and fulfill your mission of providing high-quality medical supplies.
Thank you for considering my application. I am enthusiastic about joining your team and contributing to the continued success of Bronson Medical Supplies. I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience and look forward to discussing how my skills and abilities align with your organization’s needs.
Warm regards,
Menina Surabaya
See more: Administrative assistant cover letter examples
See also: Entry-level administrative assistant resume
Example #3: Paralegal cover letter sample with no experience
In this example, Tyrone brings his educational background to the forefront of his letter. He can sell his research and analytical skills to the hiring manager, which makes a convincing case for giving him a chance.
Tyrone Diggs
Chalmette, LA
T.Diggs504@––––––––––.com
(504) 555-5555
March 14, 2024
Glenis Boudreaux
Boudreaux Law Group
1413 Calliope Street
New Orleans, LA 70116
Dear Glenis,
I am writing to express my keen interest in the paralegal position at Boudreaux Law Group that I discovered on LinkedIn. With a Bachelor’s degree in History, I bring strong research, critical thinking and analytical skills essential for the role. While I lack direct experience in the legal field, I am eager to leverage my academic background and to learn, grow and excel as a paralegal.
My coursework has honed my attention to detail and ability to digest complex information, preparing me to navigate bankruptcy law’s intricacies. I am a quick learner with a proactive approach to challenges, and I am confident in my ability to adapt to the fast-paced environment of your law firm. Additionally, I possess excellent communication skills and am highly organized and reliable.
Boudreaux Law Group appeals to me because of its reputation for excellence and helping people overcome debt. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your firm’s mission of providing top-notch legal services to clients facing financial challenges. Moreover, I am eager to work alongside seasoned professionals and further develop my skills in a dynamic environment.
Thank you for considering my application. I hope to discuss in person soon how my academic background and skills can contribute to the success of your law firm.
Kind regards,
Tyrone Diggs
See more: Paralegal cover letter examples
See also: Entry-level paralegal resume example
How to write a cover letter with no job experience
Here, we’ve broken the process of how to write a cover letter with no experience into eight simple steps:
- Pay attention to the job description and research the company.
Before you write your cover letter, understanding what the employer wants to hear is the best place to start. You should read the job post or description carefully because it describes the ideal candidate’s skills, qualities and requirements.
Targeting these points will make your cover letter more effective because you can discuss what makes you a good fit!
Reviewing the company’s website and social media to understand its values and brand tone better is also helpful. Then, you can better match these values and align with their tone when writing your letter.Doing so will help your letter resonate with the hiring manager!
- List your contact information and address your letter.
All cover letters follow the same formal organization, also called a format.
Every cover letter follows this structure:
- Your name and contact
- The hiring manager’s name and business address
- A greeting
- Three-to-four body paragraphs
- A sign-off and signature
You start writing your letter by listing your contact information in the header and then addressing it to the company’s hiring manager for which you want to work.
This is straightforward, and it’s essential to ensure the company can reach you and that your letter reaches the right person.
Follow this template to nail it:
[Phone]
[Email]
[City/State] [Date] [Hiring Manager’s Name]
[Hiring Manager’s Title]
[Company Name]
[Street Address]
[City/State, ZIP code]
- Greet the hiring manager by name.
Starting your letter with something generic like “Dear Sir or Madam” may hurt your chances. Using the hiring manager’s name will help your letter be more personalized and convincing!
Do some research to determine the person’s name making the hiring decision. You could check the company website or LinkedIn. You could also be direct and call or email to ask.
Then, apply the standard formula for greeting your reader in a cover letter:
- Dear [First Name] [Last Name],
If you must address a cover letter with no name, here are some good options:
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Department Name] Manager,
- Dear [Company Name] Hiring Team,
- Dear Recruiting Manager,
All of these suffice, but doing the legwork to find out a person’s name shows motivation and effort, two traits that hiring managers seek!
- Craft a clear, convincing first paragraph.
Your cover letter’s opening paragraph should mention the role you are applying for and the top reasons you’re a great fit.
Here’s a template for opening your cover letter with no experience:
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I am excited to apply for the [job title] position at [Company Name] that I learned about [Mention where you gained knowledge of role]. I am motivated to bring my [Cite key skills that match ad], learn, grow and contribute to your team’s mission and success.
Your cover letter’s first sentence begins by mentioning the role you want by name and where you learned about this opportunity.
Then, once you’ve explained what role you’re interested in, you need to make a convincing case for why you deserve the role. In a cover letter with no experience, you should capture an employer’s attention with your passion, skills and ambition to succeed.
You can discuss skills you’ve developed in hobbies, extracurriculars or volunteer activities. Recent graduates can talk about how their education has prepared them to succeed in the role.
Here are some opening paragraph examples:
- “This letter is to inform you of my passionate interest in the internship opportunity at the 111 Ashland Gallery, as mentioned on your website. With a deep appreciation for the transformative power of art and a desire to gain hands-on experience in the gallery setting, I am eager to contribute my enthusiasm and skills to your esteemed institution.”
- “I am writing to share my motivation for joining the Crocker Supply Company as a sales associate after seeing your LinkedIn post about this opportunity. I am eager to embark on a career in this field and believe that my enthusiasm, strong work ethic, and dedication to learning make me a valuable asset to your team. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the success of Crocker Supply and am confident in my ability to quickly adapt and excel at selling your products.”
- “I was excited to learn about the teaching position at Gilmore Charter School after recently meeting one of your reps at a jobs fair. I am deeply passionate about education and committed to positively impacting students’ lives, and I believe your school is the perfect fit for my first teaching role. With a strong foundation in language arts and dedication to fostering a supportive classroom environment, I hope to improve test scores and bring success to the Gillmore School community.”
- Prove your relevant skills and achievements in the middle body paragraph(s).
After your introduction, your cover letter with no experience should feature one to two paragraphs where you make your most persuasive argument for why you deserve the role.
Ideally, you want to mention an achievement and the skill that helped you reach it — showing your skills’ impact, which makes a stronger case than just saying that you have them.
Here’s a template of how the middle body paragraphs of a cover letter with no experience should look:
While I may have yet to gain professional experience in [mention specific field], I have developed valuable skills through [mention relevant activities, coursework, or extracurricular involvement]. In particular, I am proud of [list top achievement], which was made possible through my work ethic, strong communication skills, and ability to [insert skill that led to achievement]. These qualities, combined with my enthusiasm and dedication, will enable me to quickly adapt and excel in the role.
I am particularly drawn to [specific aspect of the company or role] and excited about the opportunity to contribute to [Company Name] and learn from experienced professionals in the field. I am highly motivated to pursue a career in [mention industry or field] and am committed to continuous learning and professional development.
Here are some examples of middle body paragraphs for cover letters with no experience:
- “Throughout my academic journey, I have developed a deep appreciation for art and a keen eye for detail, which makes me well-suited for an internship role at 111 Ashland Gallery. As a Dean’s List honoree, my dedicated study of art history has developed my comprehensive understanding of artistic movements, styles and economic trends. I’m excited to apply my academic knowledge in a real-world setting and further expand my skills and expertise by serving your gallery leaders.”
- “While I may have little experience in sales, I am confident in my ability to excel in this role. Voted football team captain, I possess leadership skills, a positive attitude and a natural ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. I am highly motivated, adaptable, and willing to go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction. My enthusiasm and willingness to learn will make me a valuable asset to your team.”
- “Graduating college with a 3.9 GPA, I’ve developed valuable teaching skills and attributes through my academic coursework, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. My language arts background, enthusiasm for learning, and dedication to fostering a supportive learning environment make me well-suited for a teaching role at Gillmore School.”
- Close your letter by reaffirming interest, thanking the reader and expressing interest in a meeting.
The closing paragraph of a cover letter follows a general formula. You want to mention how excited or interested in the role you are. Then, you thank the reader for your time or consideration. Finally, express interest in a meeting or discussion.
Here’s a template for the closing paragraph of a cover letter with no experience:
The opportunity to work for [Company Name] and contribute to your continued success would be a dream come true. Thank you for considering my application. Please find my resume attached for your review. I am available to meet at your earliest convenience.
Here are some examples of closing paragraphs for cover letters with no experience:
- “I am thrilled at the prospect of contributing to the 111 Ashland Gallery and am eager to discuss in more detail how my skills and experiences align with your needs. Thank you for considering my application, and I hope to discuss further how I can contribute to your team’s success.”
- “Thank you for considering my application. I am grateful for the opportunity to apply for the sales associate position at Crocker Supply Company. I am available at your earliest convenience for an interview and am eager to discuss further how my background and enthusiasm can benefit your team.”
- “I greatly appreciate your time and consideration and am excited about joining the faculty at Gillmore School. Please find my resume attached for your review. I am available to meet at your earliest convenience to discuss how my skills and experiences align with the needs of your charter.”
7. Use a professional sign-off phrase and mention any enclosures, like a portfolio.
Good sign-off phrases for a no-experience cover letter include:
- Kind regards,
- With gratitude,
- Sincerely,
- Thanks again,
- Respectfully,
Optional: If you are applying for a job in a creative field like the arts, graphic design, video or social media, a portfolio of your work might be expected.
If so, mention it at the bottom of your cover letter. Including it is helpful because your lack of experience matters less if your creative work is impressive!
You can add portfolio enclosures like this:
- Enclosures: My portfolio can be viewed on my website, www.gerrytrichterson.com/portfolio
- PS Please check examples of my work on my Instagram account, G.T._Wedding_Photography
- Ensure your formatting is correct and cover letter is error-free.
Most word processing programs are programmed to have standard cover letter formatting:
- One-inch margins
- Left-aligned paragraphs
- A line spacing of between 1-1.5
- A font size between 11-13
- Use a font that is easy to read, like Arial, Helvetica, Cambria, Roboto, or Times New Roman.
Length-wise, it should follow these guidelines:
- The whole letter fits onto a single page.
- Have three-to-four paragraphs and less than 400 words.
Double-check your document to ensure it aligns with these standard cover letter formatting settings! Doing so will help to ensure that it will pass a scan of an applicant tracking system (ATS).
Many companies use ATS software to filter out candidates. ATS will discard your application if it cannot read your documents!
In addition, you must ensure that your document contains zero spelling errors, typos or grammatical mistakes. Submitting a document with errors will reflect poorly upon you and may cost you the role.
One easy way to avoid that pitfall is to use our Cover Letter Builder.
It features a comprehensive grammar and spelling check to ensure you send an error-free document!
- Send your document as a PDF.
The standard format to send both your resume and cover letter is as a PDF. This is the preferred file format because it prevents unexpected changes to the formatting or appearance of your document.
Other file formats may cause problems. For example, employers might not have the same version of Microsoft Word as you, and when they download and open your letter, there’s a chance it might display formatting issues and errors.
So, only submit a file in a different format if the employer has specifically requested it! PDF is your safest bet.
Cover letter with no experience template
Here is a copy/paste cover letter template you can personalize with your details!
When you lack experience, it’s essential that it feels like your cover letter comes from the heart and shows genuine interest. So, try to make this letter as detailed and specific as possible based on your background and the requirements for the role.
Copy/paste cover letter with no experience template:
[City, State]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number] [Date] [Hiring Manager’s Name]
[Company Name]
[Company Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I am writing to express my interest in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name], as mentioned [where you found the job listing]. I am eager to learn, motivated and committed to making a meaningful contribution to your team.
I have developed valuable skills through [mention relevant activities, coursework or extracurricular involvement]. These include strong communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively in team settings, and a strong work ethic. These qualities, combined with my enthusiasm and dedication, will enable me to quickly adapt and excel in the role. I am highly motivated to pursue a career in [mention industry or field] and am committed to continuous learning and professional development.
Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to discuss further how my skills and enthusiasm can benefit [Company Name]. Please find attached my resume for your review. I am available at your earliest convenience for an interview.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Key takeaways
To recap, here are the main points about how to make a cover letter with no experience:
- Crafting a tailored cover letter without job experience can significantly enhance your chances of securing your first role.
- Personalizing the cover letter by addressing the hiring manager by name and specifying the desired role and source of the job listing is crucial.
- Emphasizing transferable skills developed through education, volunteer work or extracurricular activities is essential.
- The opening paragraph should be clear, concise and compelling to capture the reader’s attention.
- Tailoring the cover letter to the company and role by researching their values and goals demonstrates alignment and interest.
- Ensuring proper formatting, including contact information, and correctly addressing the letter is essential.
Crafting a cover letter with no experience can be unnerving, and you need to figure out what to say. For help preparing your message, use the best tool for the job, LiveCareer’s Cover Letter Builder.
It comes loaded with expert-written text you can select and add to your cover letter with a single click. That way, you’re not struggling for the words to say! It’s like having an expert look over your shoulder to guide you.
Best of all, that automation can help you produce a cover letter within 15 minutes!
