Plan: what is a cover letter How to write a cover letter

Academic (and other) achievements: Do you have a degree (bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D.)? Is your GPA above 3.5, and did you receive awards like cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude? Did you land a scholarship? Did you complete a thesis?

Extracurricular activities: Have you done any part-time work, or been involved in volunteering, student government, clubs, athletics, theater, or other activities? Do you have hobbies and interests related to the job?

Self-motivation and goal setting: What are your short- and long-term goals, and how does the job you’re applying for fit in with them?

Just remember that any of the information you include should be relevant to the role. For instance, your theater club experience shouldn’t be brought up in your cover letter for an accounting job, unless you were the treasurer.

The employer may also be evaluating your application based on the quality of your writing, so it’s even more important to take your time when writing an entry-level cover letter.

We’ve color-coded the following examples to demonstrate how you can write your cover letter in a way that best emphasizes your relevant educational and personal details: