Writing a UK Work Experience Cover Letter that Stands Out

Work experience in the UK is typically a short, temporary placement with an employer that helps you gain useful experience and develop skills that you can put to good use in full-time employment. Work placements sometimes form part of a degree course, giving students an insight into what it’s like to work in the industry they’re studying. Other types of work experience can be similar to an internship, though they tend to be for shorter periods, less formally organised and without pay.

Understanding the Basics of a Cover Letter for a Work Placement

Your cover letter for work experience should introduce you and confirm your interest in taking part in a placement. It should direct the reader to your CV and also provide information about your qualifications, your career ambitions and why you want to complete work experience with the organisation. This could include reference to the reputation of the company or its alignment with your qualifications, background and interests.

A cover letter is a formal document, so it’s important to strike a professional tone with your letter. Remain polite and follow standard letter-writing conventions throughout. You can find more tips on how to structure and tone your letter below.

Structuring Your Work Experience Cover Letter: A Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these cover letter tips to create a work experience cover letter that makes a strong positive impression with employers:

1. Create a header

Start by creating a header with your name and contact details. These include your email address, your phone number and your address or location. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you could also include this in your letter header.

2. Include the name of the recipient and the address of the company

Under your header, add the name and address of the letter recipient. It’s always best to address the letter to a named contact at the organisation, so try to find out who to send it to before you apply for work experience.

3. Use a professional greeting

Under the recipient’s address, add the date, followed by a professional greeting. If you know the name of the person you’re writing to, use their name in your greeting (for example, ‘Dear Annabelle Riley’). If you don’t know the name of the person, try to address your letter to a head of department, such as ‘Dear Head of HR’. If you’re applying for an advertised work experience opening, but you don’t have the name of the contact, you could use ‘Dear hiring manager’.

4. Explain your reasons for writing

In your opening paragraph, explain that you’re writing to enquire about the possibility of completing some experience with the company. If you’re responding to an advertised opening, mention where you saw it advertised. Briefly mention why you feel your work experience would benefit the organisation, and how it might help you in your career.

5. Provide some information about your experience, skills and ambitions

In the next paragraph, provide some background information for the reader to show your skills and experience, and why they make you a good fit for the organisation. This could include details of your studies or qualifications, any relevant previous work experience or simply some information about your key skills and interests. You may also wish to mention your ambitions, and how important the work experience would be in helping you onto the career ladder. If you’re unsure of the skills to mention in your cover letter, review some job descriptions and CV examples for roles in your industry.

6. Add a call to action

The final paragraph of your work placement cover letter should summarise the contents of the letter and express your enthusiasm for taking part in work experience with the organisation. Leave a call to action that encourages the reader to get back to you.

7. Use a polite, formal sign-off

Close your letter with a formal letter sign-off. If you’ve addressed the letter to a named contact, close with ‘Yours sincerely’. A letter to a non-named contact typically closes with ‘Yours faithfully’.

Writing an Engaging Introduction to Your Placement Cover Letter

The opening paragraph of your work placement cover letter is critical. It sets the tone with the reader and helps them to form their first impressions of you. Make sure you state your reasons for contacting them, and if you’re applying for an advertised work experience opportunity, reference the role clearly.

You can also use your introductory paragraph to share your reasons for wanting to take part in work experience, your reasons for applying to work with the organisation and your ambitions for your career. Explain your personal relevance to the role, and how your work experience will help you at the start of your career.

"If you’re unsure of the skills to mention in your cover letter, review some job descriptions and CV examples for roles in your industry."

Your Skills and Experiences in a Cover Letter for Work Experience

In the second paragraph, take some time to outline your relevant skills and experience, so the employer can assess whether you’ll be a good fit for the organisation. If you studied a degree that’s relevant to the industry, or you have a professional certification or licence, you could mention that alongside any achievements or relevant skills you developed through your studies.

You can mention any relevant previous work experience in this paragraph. If you have any specialist knowledge of the UK industry or sector for the organisation you’re applying to, this is also a great place to showcase it. Any prior knowledge or experience of the industry will help employers to understand how you’ll fit in during your work experience.

Strong Closing Statements in Work Placement Cover Letters

Close your letter by expressing your enthusiasm for a work placement and thanking the employer for their time and consideration. You might also wish to add a call to action that encourages the employer to progress your application and contact you to discuss the opportunity further. Remember to be polite and professional throughout your letter, and especially in your closing paragraph, so you leave a strong impression with the reader.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in UK Placement Cover Letters

Avoid these common cover letter mistakes to make sure you create a strong first impression with employers:

• Making your cover letter too long: the ideal cover letter length is a single side of A4 or standard letter paper, printed with a font size between 10 and 12. This should allow for three brief, concise paragraphs and all the relevant headers and footers.
• Using informal language: a cover letter is a formal document, so make sure you use professional language throughout. Informal, over-familiar language will undermine your professionalism. Avoid Americanised slang and make sure you use UK spellings, to help your letter to resonate with UK employers.
• Failing to tailor your cover letter for each application: you’ll need to produce a bespoke, tailored cover letter and CV for each work experience application you send. A generic, standardised letter will always be less impactful than a personalised, tailored letter that specifically references the organisation and why you want to complete work experience there.
• Using a generic letter template: generic letter design might make your cover letter less engaging. Use professional cover letter templates that include subtle design elements to catch the eye of the reader. You can also use matching CV templates to create a consistent look and feel throughout your application.

UK Work Experience Cover Letter Examples

Use this example work experience cover letter as a guide when writing your own:

Key Takeaways for a UK Work Experience Cover Letter

A well-crafted work experience cover letter can go a long way to making a positive impression with employers. Be professional and explain your reasons for wanting to complete a work placement, while highlighting your key skills and experience. Review CV examples and cover letter articles like those offered by Jobseeker to learn how to create a winning work experience application. Sign up today to find CV articles and a wealth of tools and resources to make your applications as professional as possible.