Making a cover letter with no experience

Making a cover letter with no experience

Whether you just graduated or are switching careers, searching for jobs without experience can be challenging. If you don’t have prior experience in the field, how will employers know what you’re capable of?

In these situations, it’s crucial to be able to explain your skill set and why you’re equipped for the role. Learn how to write a cover letter with no experience and land the job you want.

Understand the company and the position

Before you start writing your cover letter, research both the company and the role. You should have a thorough understanding of the kind of candidate they’re looking for and what skills are required to do the job well.

If you know you aren’t a good fit or don’t possess the skills the company needs, be honest with yourself and the employer and avoid embellishing your resume examples or cover letters.

However, if you do possess those skills, make sure your cover letter reflects that. Your cover letter is the place to align your skills and values with those of the company to which you’re submitting your application. Here are a few ways to do that.

Review the job description

When learning how to write a cover letter with no experience, your first step should be to look over the job description to determine what skills are needed for the role. When you write your letter, focus on how you developed those skills to show the hiring manager you’re just what they’re looking for.

Visit the company website

If you’re not sure what the company values, many cover letter articles suggest visiting their website before you start writing your cover letter. What situations can you highlight in your letter that demonstrate your commitment to and alignment with those values?

Reach out to your contacts

If you have any contacts working at the company, ask them what the current company culture emphasizes in terms of skill needs and cultural values. Questions like this show your excitement about working for that particular company.

Start out strong

Learning how to write a cover letter with no experience starts with crafting a compelling introduction that grabs the hiring manager’s attention and makes them want to know more about you. If you’re at a loss about how to do that, here are three ways you can write an amazing introduction that makes you stand out as a candidate.

Highlight personal connections

If you have a personal connection to the company, mention it in your opening paragraph. Maybe it’s one of your favorite brands, or your family used to love their products. However the brand has impacted you personally, it’s a good idea to talk about it in the introduction.

If you have a personal referral who recommended that you apply, mention them as well. The hiring manager may value your application more highly if one of their own puts in a good word for you.

Show enthusiasm

Tell the hiring manager why you’re excited about the position and what you hope to contribute to the company. Hiring managers know that eager employees are loyal and may be willing to invest more in training someone who doesn’t have as much experience but truly wants to work for the company.

Address gaps, but highlight transferable skills

When learning how to write a cover letter with no experience, it’s best not to pretend your lack of experience doesn’t exist. Most resume articles will tell you that it will already be obvious to a hiring manager that you don’t have as much experience in the field as others.

Don’t make your cover letter all about what you don’t have. Turn what seems like a negative into a positive by highlighting your transferable skills using the following tips.

Focus on skills gained elsewhere

Traditional jobs aren’t the only place where you can develop professional skills.

If you’re a new grad, you likely picked up a great deal of knowledge throughout your college career. Even if you didn’t recently graduate, you could talk about the experience you gained through education, internships, extracurricular activities, and relevant volunteer work and how it’s prepared you for the role.

Highlight transferable skills

Just because you don’t have direct experience in the field doesn’t mean you don’t have skills that can help you do the job. Make the connection for the hiring manager by adapting your cover letter examples to highlight the relevant skills that transfer from one industry or position to another.

For example, if you learned the importance of teamwork while working at a fast-food restaurant, you might explain how that can aid you in collaborating on corporate projects as a marketing professional.

Discuss courses, certifications, and training

Hiring managers love it when employees demonstrate a commitment to professional development.

While you may not have much experience, you can show your dedication to learning by discussing courses and training you’ve participated in or additional field certifications you’ve gained. This lets the hiring manager know you’re serious about your work and willing to learn the skills you need to succeed.

“Don’t make your cover letter all about what you don’t have. Turn what seems like a negative into a positive by highlighting your transferable skills.”

Show your willingness to learn and adaptability

Believe it or not, it’s possible for employees with lots of experience to get into a particular role and fall behind due to their unwillingness to learn new skills and adapt to changing times.

That’s why, in some cases, hiring managers place great value on candidates who don’t have as much experience but are willing to take advantage of every available learning opportunity.

One way you can demonstrate to the hiring manager that you’re adaptable and willing to learn new things is to articulate your game plan for filling in any skills gaps you may have. What courses or training do you plan to take to increase your knowledge? Do you have or plan to find a mentor to learn from?

You should also consider discussing past situations where you’ve had to learn a new skill to complete a task. How did you learn that skill? What motivated you to keep going? When the hiring manager knows you can persevere through challenges, they may be more willing to take a chance on you.

Express your excitement, but be concrete

When learning how to write a cover letter for a job with no experience in that field, it’s important to convey enthusiasm through specific examples that illustrate your passion. 

The hiring manager will know that you’ll be able to contribute to their workforce by seeing how you’ve done so in the past. Genuinely express your interest in the role, and make sure to emphasize how you can promote the company’s success.

Call to action and conclusion

The end of your letter is where you’ll underscore your enthusiasm and reinforce your willingness to take action. You can do this by offering to discuss the details of your background, resume, and cover letter in an interview. Don’t forget to provide your contact information and tell the hiring manager when and how they can best reach you.

Landing a job without experience is possible with the right cover letter

Landing a job without experience comes down to one thing: how you portray yourself in your cover letter.

Start strong by making a personal connection and displaying your enthusiasm, and don’t forget to highlight additional training and transferable skills you’ve gained through your education or in other fields. Additionally, show your willingness to learn, and always provide concrete examples.

If you need help learning how to write a cover letter with no job experience, consider using cover letter templates.

Not only will a well-designed cover letter and resume template tell you what sections to include, but they’ll also help you figure out how to maintain a professional image throughout your application package so you can land the job of your dreams.