4 Expert Tips For Writing A Cover Letter When You Have No Work Experience

When it comes to submitting a job application, it’s all about putting your best foot forward. Spend some time polishing that resume, researching the company, and preparing some interview questions and responses. Oh, and you can’t forget about your cover letter. You have to make sure it’s specific, memorable, and concise. After all, a great cover letter can make all the difference.

“A cover letter is an opportunity to stand out, amongst hundreds (or thousands) of other applicants,” Matt Massucci, CEO and founder of Hirewell, tells Her Campus. “It is important to do just that. Give the employer a reason to put your resume in the yes pile.  Write something interesting that shows why they should interview you,” 

However, if you’re applying for a job or internship as a college student, it’s possible that, at this early point in your career, you may feel like have very little experience to write about in your cover letter — or possibly even none whatsoever. While you might initially feel like you’re at a bit of a disadvantage, that doesn’t have to be the case! In fact, this is an opportunity to get creative and problem solve — just like you’ll probably have to do once you’re working your dream job.

If you’re stuck on what to write in your cover letter when you have no work experience, here’s what career experts recommend:

Focus On Your College Accomplishments

If you’re a current college student or a recent grad just now entering the workforce, there are still plenty of ways to demonstrate your abilities. “Even if they don’t have any general professional work experience, typically students are still able to build skills in time management, project management, and more. Especially if they’re savvy with social media; that’s important to highlight, too,” Vicki Salemi, career expert for Monster, tells Her Campus. “Plus, they may have relevant experience from volunteering roles, leadership positions on campus, study abroad participation — all of this counts. They can succinctly highlight it in their cover letter.”

Salemi adds other college experiences you can highlight in your cover letter, such as group projects, working as an RA or TA, assisting a professor with research, completing a thesis, studying abroad, and any on-campus clubs or leadership roles. “These show time and project management, the ability to work with others, commit to something and see it through to fruition, and building the foundation for a strong work ethic,” Salemi says.

Anchor Your Transferrable & Soft Skills

If you previously worked a job nowhere close to the field you are trying to enter, you can still emphasize the knowledge you gained. Salemi states applicants should “highlight their transferrable skills even when they don’t have direct experience in the job they’re pursuing.” She cites a role that requires customer service as an example: “They can lean into their customer service skills from previous work experience and highlight these skills in their cover letter that directly correlate to the job they’re pursuing.”

Beyond transferable skills, soft skills (like communication, organization, time management, and more) are very desirable by employers. “When I worked in corporate recruiting hiring managers repeatedly said if a candidate has strong soft skills and they’re a cultural fit with the group during interviews, they’re more likely to get an offer than a candidate who had the direct experience, but lacked soft skills and the cultural fit,” Salemi says. “So, just because you don’t have a direct experience doesn’t mean it’s game over.”

Connect to the Company’s Values

Before writing your cover letter, be sure to take the time to research the company you’re applying to work out. Find its mission and core values and use your cover letter to prove why you’re a right fit for the job. “For example, if a company’s ethos emphasizes ‘hardworking, integrity, relentless determination,’ tie your story to achievements that reflect those same values,” Dana Padilla, a people and culture manager and former technical recruiter, says. “This is also where a cover letter differs from a resume. Think of your resume as the record of what you have done; the cover letter connects that history to the role you are applying for: What you would be doing day-to-day, why you are the right fit for it, and what value you would bring to the team.”

Find A Way To Stand Out

When all else fails, be yourself — just, you know, the best version of yourself. Be straightforward and professional, while still demonstrating your personality and character. “Recruiters filter through a copious number of resumes, so you need to stand out, and stand out fast,” says Padilla. “Aim for mid-length and high impact. A cover letter that reads like a personal novel will likely get passed over. Research. Intention. Impact. That is the formula for a cover letter that gets noticed.”

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