entry level career change cover letter

Write An Entry-Level Cover Letter (Examples, Tips & Template)

So, you’re applying to an entry-level job and wondering where a cover letter fits in the application package.

Is an entry-level cover letter a requirement? If so, what should you write in your entry-level cover letter to really improve your employment chances?

Should it be the same as a normal cover letter, or should it include some specific information that can serve an entry-level job? Yeah, there are quite a few questions on the topic—and for good reason. After all, who doesn’t want their application to be as perfect as possible?

In this article, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about entry-level cover letters. 

• What’s an Entry-level Cover Letter and Why It Matters
• Entry-level Cover Letter Format
• Tips & Examples on Writing an Entry-Level Cover Letter

Entry-level Cover Letter Template

...and more! 

Ready? Let’s dive in!

What Is An Entry-Level Cover Letter?

An entry-level cover letter is a cover letter that you write when you’re applying for an entry-level job. 

As such, you will need to write an entry-level cover letter on these occasions: 

• As a college senior on a job hunt.
• As a recent college graduate looking to land his first job.
• As a professional who has changed industries/career paths.

In any of these cases, an entry-level cover letter is an essential part of the application.

One could even argue that entry-level cover letters are even more beneficial to your resume than your average cover letter.

Here’s why:

As a college senior/graduate or someone changing careers, chances are, your resume might not be that rich in terms of practical work experience.

So, in addition to your resume, your cover letter is your second-best chance to explain why you’re the perfect fit for the job!  

What Should an Entry-Level Cover Letter Include

Before we get into the specifics of writing an entry-level cover letter, let’s go over the basics.

Namely, the format . 

If you don’t know how to properly “set up” your letter, it will end up being disorganized and confusing .

Entry-Level Cover Letter Format

So, what should your entry-level cover letter contain? Here are all the details.

• Header with contact information. In addition to your name, your contact information should contain your email (a professional email, that is), your phone number, and (optionally) LinkedIn profile. Underneath your contact info comes the date and then the receiver’s information: manager’s name and title, company name, and the company’s street address.
• Addressing the hiring manager. How you address the cover letter is important. Preferably, you want to include the hiring manager’s name/professional title or the name of the department head doing the hiring.
• Opening statement. Your opening paragraph should be professional, but at the same time personal and attention-grabbing. The best way to achieve that is by tailoring your introduction to the job application.
• The body. The body of your entry-level cover letter should consist of 2-3 paragraphs highlighting your skills, accomplishments, and education.
• Closing paragraph. To end your cover letter, you need a professional closing paragraph. You can mention that you will be following up the cover letter, wrap up anything you couldn’t in the previous paragraphs, or just simply thank the recruiter for their time.
• Formal salutation. Formal closings include salutations such as “best regards,” “kind regards,” “sincerely,” and “thank you.”

How to Write an Entry-Level Cover Letter With No Experience (Tips & Examples)

Ready to get into the knits and grits of writing an entry-level cover letter? 

Great! Let’s get to it.

#1. Write a Strong (But Professional) Opening

The first thing you want to do is write an attention-grabbing opening paragraph. 

Recruiters receive hundreds of applications daily, so you can probably imagine how limited their time is. This leaves you with one goal—to make your cover letter worth reading, right from the get-go. 

One thing is for sure, you’ll never achieve this by writing a generic, one-fits-all kind of introduction, like the one below: 

My name is Samantha and I’d like to apply for the Sales Representative entry-level position at your company. I am a recent Marketing graduate, so I believe I would be a great fit for the role.

See, you could use this kind of introduction to apply for any entry-level position in sales. And though it’s not bad, per se, it’s not memorable either. 

Instead, you want your opening paragraph to be custom-made for the entry-level job you’re applying for. Bonus points if you can mention an achievement or two in the opening paragraph to show the recruiter how you stand out from the rest of the candidates.

Here’s what a well-written entry-level cover letter would look like:

My name is Samantha and I’d like to become part of XYZ Inc. by applying my newly acquired marketing knowledge to your Sales Representative position. I am confident that my excellent university results and the practical knowledge gained during my academic internship at Company X, where I was trained in sales, make me the right candidate for the job.

#2. Include Relevant Employee Skills

After you prepare the ground with an attention-grabbing introduction, you should use the body of your cover letter to show exactly how your skills, achievements , and education make you the right fit for the job. 

In light of your limited work experience, your skills are your second-best chance to prove your worth and showcase your strengths. 

Start by listing skills that are relevant to the job by doing the following:  

• Scan the job description to find what the required skills are for the position. 
• Explain how your skills can benefit the company. 
• Optionally, you can mention that you are eager to learn required skills that you may not have to get better at the job. 

For example, an entry-level journalism position may require that you:

• Know how to apply the AP Stylebook rules
• Are up to date with media law and ethics
• Are an effective communicator
• Can meet deadlines. 

Here’s how you could highlight those skills:

As a recent Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from X University, I am up to date with the 55th Edition of the Associated Press Stylebook and all media law and ethical reporting standards. Being Editor-in-Chief of the university’s newspaper taught me how to be an effective communicator while being in charge of publishing the newspaper each week improved my attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines. 

#3. Do Some Research

Research is one of your best friends when it comes to cover letters, as it can give you valuable information on what the recruiters are looking for in a candidate. 

After thoroughly researching the company’s history, products/services, goals, and even challenges, you can mention exactly how:

• You fit in the position
• You stand out from your competition 
• You can be of use to the company

Say, for example, that you’ve previously worked as a proofreader and you’re now going into magazine editing. After some research, you find out the magazine you’re applying to puts great attention to producing quality content. 

Here’s how you can work that to your advantage: 

I have read the content your magazine produces and I think it’s extremely well-researched, reader-friendly and grammatically correct.

During my 5-year experience as a proofreader, I have mastered editing and writing and I am confident that this experience can further improve your magazine quality. 

#4. Quantify Your Achievements (When Possible)

The best practice, whenever achievements are involved, is to quantify them and back them up with concrete examples. 

Imagine you’re a recruiter and you’re on the fence about two candidates for an entry-level customer service position. They have almost-identical resumes in terms of education and they claim to have customer support experience from past internships.

 So, you jump to their cover letter. This is how each candidate has described their achievements:

Candidate 1

As a Client Services intern, I was required to contact and ask clients for feedback daily, I supported the management team in improving customer services based on clients’ comments and I provided suggestions to teams from other departments to improve overall client satisfaction.

This is not horrible. However, compared with the second candidate’s much more detailed description, it lacks substance. Take a look for yourself. 

Candidate 2 As a Customer Services intern at Company X, I helped raise customer satisfaction by speaking to and collecting our clients’ feedback and working with teams from different departments to address their dissatisfaction and implement relevant suggestions. After one year, we ran a survey that showed customer experience had improved by 50%. This result was backed by a 30% increase in profit within that same year. 

Sure, the first candidate “improved customer services,” but this opens up a lot of questions:

• How well did they improve the customer services?
• Over what timeframe?
• What kind of impact did this have on the company’s bottom line?

The 2nd candidate, though, mentions all this information, and as such, their cover letter is a lot more impactful. 

#5. Highlight Your Education

Your education can very well replace what you lack in work experience when it comes to entry-level jobs. It can convincingly back up your skills and achievements, as well as help you demonstrate some of your strengths. 

Now, when we tell you to highlight your education, we don’t mean mentioning the title of your diploma and calling it a day. 

Instead, what you need to do to reinforce your skills and strengths is to mention relevant group projects and classwork, extracurricular activities and school clubs, published work, or independent research. 

Highlighting your education can be just as effective if you’re changing career paths. 

Did you take classes on your newly-found passion when you were in college? Or maybe you got to practice it as part of a club. No matter the case, make sure to highlight it, as this is exactly the part of your education that will make a difference in your cover letter. 

Now, let’s say you’re a college senior thinking ahead and looking for a graphic design job for when you graduate. To improve your chances of getting that entry-level job, here’s how you can highlight your education: 

My passion for visually communicating a message began alongside my work at InFocus Magazine, our university’s photography and graphic design magazine, where I am Head of Design. I mainly work with Adobe InDesign and Illustrator, but I am now also learning to use Canva and Crello in my Design & Illustration class. 

#6. Don’t Forget a Call to Action 

Finally, it’s time to wrap up your entry-level cover letter with a conclusion. 

For your entry-level cover letter’s final paragraph, you want to do the following: 

• Mention anything you couldn't during the previous paragraphs. If you think you left something important out (something that could help you get hired), this is your chance to say it. 
• Thank the recruiter. You can use the closing paragraph to thank them for their time. This is a chance to be formal, but make sure you don’t sound like you’re trying to get to the recruiters’ good side. 
• Include a call to action. As a call to action, you can mention to the recruiter that you will be following up (if they haven’t specified the interviewing procedure) to inquire about the application or ask them to take some action. 

And here’s what this would look like on a cover letter:

To conclude, let me first thank you for considering my application. I believe I can help your company improve its customer satisfaction by putting to use all the experience I’ve gained from my past jobs in customer service. I’d love to discuss in length how I can help you improve one-on-one customer service at your stores.

#7. Conclude with a Professional Closing

Once you’ve written your closing paragraph, all you have to do is sign off your cover letter.

Your “goodbye” should be formal and include only your name and signature. 

Any of the following is an acceptable way to sign off your cover letter:

• Best Regards,
• Kind Regards,
• Sincerely, 
• Thank you, 

Want to know other ways to conclude your cover letter memorably? Head over to our guide on how to end a cover letter for additional info! 

#8. Proofread Your Letter

And you’re finally done! 

Make sure to proofread your cover letter before attaching it to your job application. Any effort you might have put into it will lose value if your cover letter has mistakes. 

You can either give it to a friend to proofread it or use editing software like Grammarly and Hemingway .  

Want to Make Things Easy? Use a Cover Letter Builder

The way you design your cover letter matters!

Sure, you can go for a generic text in a Word Document, but having a well-designed cover letter that matches your resume in style will help you stand out much more in a sea of applicants. 

Well, Novoresume makes that easy for you! Just pick any of our matching cover letters and resume templates and leave a lasting impression!

[First Name and Last Name]

[Email Address]

[Phone Number]

[LinkedIn/Website]

[Date of Writing]

[Manager’s Name]

[Manager’s Job Title]

[Company Name]

[Company’s Street Address]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

[Addressing the hiring manager]

[Write your attention-grabbing opening paragraph]

[Write 2-3 paragraphs where you include skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for, where you quantify your achievements (when possible), and where you highlight your education.]

[Conclude by saying thank you and by making a call to action.]

[Sign off your letter professionally]

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! We hope that you feel more confident about your entry-level cover letter knowledge and writing after reading this article. 

Now let’s go over the main points we covered:

• An entry-level cover letter is a cover letter that you write for an entry-level job. You may need to use it as a college senior or recent college graduate or as a professional changing career path. 
• Your entry-level cover letter should follow the following format: header, addressing the recruiter/company, opening paragraph, body, closing paragraph, formal salutation. 
• To write a good entry-level cover letter you should write an attention-grabbing opening, include some relevant skills, highlight your education, and make a call to action.
• Use a cover letter builder to make sure your cover letter meets recruiters’ standards and to save your time.

Related Readings

• How to Write a Cover Letter
• How to Start a Cover Letter  
• Cover Letter for Internship  

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Career Change Cover Letters: A Comprehensive Guide

In the eyes of some hiring managers, embarking on a new career path is difficult to justify. Here's how to present your professional change in the best light.

While the usefulness of a cover letter is debatable, it’s an indispensable selling point if you’re entering a new field.

Career changers may have a hard time making it past the initial application.

For example, some hiring managers won't understand how your work history fits their needs, so you must connect the dots for them. Others might perceive a candidate with a linear career trajectory as a “ safer ” bet -- even for an entry-level position. 

Overcome their qualms with a well-written cover letter that touts your transferable skills and explains the “why” behind your career change.

Switching careers demands a high risk tolerance and exceptional work ethic (perhaps you studied nights and weekends while holding down a full-time job), so don’t underplay it. Forging a new path is unique-- most people simply drift into careers according to their college major or because of a referral from a friend or family member. Use your unique career transition story to emphasize your commitment, organizational skills and passion for your chosen field. 

Even if your resume lacks the work experience a hiring manager is looking for, a strong portfolio of related projects and demonstrable soft skills can help you rise above candidates who have years of experience in the industry. 

In this article, we’ll go over a few general tips for how to write a career change cover letter, followed by templates for specific scenarios, such as switching industries or pursuing a job that diverges from your college major.

Tips for Writing a Career Change Cover Letter

Emphasize your transferable skills

Analyze the job description and understand what skill set the position calls for. Use specific anecdotes from your work or academic history to illustrate some of those strengths in action. Make sure to finalize each anecdote with a summary of how you can use those skills in the role you’re applying for.

Soft Skills

The most obvious transferable skills include soft skills like teamwork, verbal and written communication skills, work ethic/initiative, organization and time management. However, consider how your technical background might make you a stronger candidate for the role, even if it’s seemingly unrelated. For example...

• A digital marketer applying for a data analytics role is already accustomed to using statistical analysis to evaluate and report on key marketing metrics.
• If you’re a software engineer seeking a product management role at a SaaS company, you know how to collaborate effectively with developers.

Technical Skills

Aside from transferable skills, consider whether you have the core technical skills required for the role. If the position requires certain credentials or certifications or has a steep learning curve -- like data science or software engineering -- mention your credentials first. Perhaps you graduated from a data science boot camp, completed a Master’s degree or obtained an IT certification. Hiring managers need to know you have the core competencies to fulfill the basic responsibilities of your role. 

For Recent Graduates...

If you’re a fresh university or boot camp grad with no full-time work history in the field, mention passion projects, volunteer work or internships you’ve completed. On-the-job experience is exceedingly important for career switchers, especially in disciplines like UX design, software engineering and copywriting, where a strong portfolio matters more than your education background.

👉 Read next: Tie Your Strengths and Weaknesses to the Job Description

Highlight your top achievements in previous positions

This will also require a close look at the job posting to determine the skill set and work history they're looking for. In the cover letter, explain how you succeeded in previous roles and connect that to how you would add value in this position. Highlight tangible achievements like 

• Performance metrics or KPIs you met or exceeded
• Times you assumed an increase in responsibility or complexity of responsibilities (whether or not a formal promotion was involved)
• Examples of ambiguous or high-pressure situations you assuaged
• New projects you initiated
• People you mentored
• Memorable things your coworkers or superiors said about you (make sure your references can back this up).

👉 Read Next: How to build your list of "career wins"

Express passion for the company

The higher-skilled an employee, the more expensive it is to lose them. This is why tech companies are adamant about hiring for mutual fit. They want the right person, someone who is passionate about the organization’s mission and the job opportunity, rather than someone who simply wants a job. Be deliberate in your job search, and spend time researching companies that matter to you. In your cover letter, explain why you chose them as a prospective employer, and how your goals jive with the company’s goals.

Introduce yourself and your personal brand

Make the opening sentence of your cover letter an elevator pitch, rather than the standard opener “I’m writing to you to apply for the position of X at Company Y.” Summarize who you are as a professional, what you’re passionate about, and what you can offer in 1-2 sentences. For inspiration, skim through the LinkedIn summaries  of people you admire. The best LinkedIn profiles start with an attention-grabbing summary and leave a lasting impression of who the person is.

Perhaps you’re a psychology major looking for a UX design role where you can apply psychological principles to human-centered design. Or maybe you’re an administrative assistant who’s spent years managing appointments for a busy executive, and you’re seeking an account management role where you can apply your outstanding organization and time management skills.

Think of your elevator pitch as inventing a character. For example:

No matter what, don’t apologize for the experience you don’t have. Rather than saying “I know I don’t have any experience in recruiting,” say “Having worked as a career counselor helping high school students decide their future career path, I’m excited about the opportunity to help your company build an effective team.”

👉 Need help writing your career change resume? Check out this article

Templates for Specific Career Change Scenarios

There are countless reasons a candidate would leave their current role and enter a new industry. Make sure your job application thoroughly and accurately reflects your motivations. Here are three potential career change scenarios and cover letter templates to match. 

You’re switching to a totally different role

This might be you if you're vying for a new career path altogether. This is likely a new industry and a new job, for which you may have transferrable skills, but little to no direct experience.

Points to emphasize

• What you have to offer in terms of technical skills and transferable skills
• Why you made the career switch
• How you can add value, given your prior work history

Example Cover Letter Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. [Hiring manager’s surname], I’m excited to apply for the role of UX designer at Company X. After several years spent working as a counselor for children with special needs, I discovered a fascination for human-centered design. Putting the user first has always been at the heart of my work; I developed custom learning plans for children ages 14-17, communicated their progress with teachers and parents, and set up team-oriented activities for the children to develop their interpersonal skills. During my five-year tenure at Forest North High School, I helped 80 percent of special needs children graduate on time, well above the 65 percent average. Although I was able to make a major impact through my career in counseling, I would be thrilled to be considered for the UX design role at Company X. After completing a UX design boot camp from XYZ, I participated in an industry design project where I redesigned the user interface for a popular gaming mobile app to cater to a younger audience. By introducing gamification features like rewards points and weekly prizes, I was able to help the company increase in-app purchases by 75%. I’m very interested in sharing how I can deliver UX design excellence at Company X. Can we schedule a call? Best regards, [Your Name]

You’re moving from one industry to another

This might be you if  you're pursuing job openings in a role you'd naturally be considered for. However, your potential employer belongs to an industry you have little to no experience in.

• How your prior industry knowledge applies to this industry
• What soft skills and technical skills from your prior role make you a superior candidate 

Example Cover Letter Dear Mr./Mrs/Ms. [Hiring manager’s surname], Throughout my career as a software engineer at Facebook, I have impacted business outcomes by treating each software development project as a business problem to be solved. Gathering user requirements is the single most important step in the software development life cycle, which many developers underestimate. At the start of each project, I made a point to sit in on meetings with the product manager to understand the project scope and business goals. As a result, I was entrusted with developing a customizable search feature, which reduced website bounce rate by 75%. I also mentored three junior developers who went on to become senior software engineers. During this time, I was promoted from senior software engineer to tech lead in a span of five years. While I recognize that Facebook and Company X offer vastly different products, your company’s commitment to putting the user first and mission of improving access to healthcare is something I would be proud to be a part of. As an engineer who has always put the user first, collaborated closely with product and design teams and knows the ins and outs of software development, I feel confident that I can make an impact as a product manager. Kind regards, [Your Name]

You're pursuing a role outside your major (entry level)

This might be you if you're a recent or soon-to-be graduate, especially from a less specialized, undergraduate program. You're in luck-- making a case for a "career change" at this stage of the game is nearly expected. Sometimes, you'll even gain special consideration for being a unique candidate.

Points to emphasize:

• Your reason for choosing a field different from your major
• Why you’re passionate about this field and what efforts you’ve made to learn more about it (eg: taking courses or internships, doing informational interviews with professionals in the field).
• Specific projects you’ve done that apply to the role

Example Cover Letter Dear Mr./Mrs/Ms. [Hiring manager’s surname], As a communications professional with two years of work experience helping startups grow their online presence using growth marketing tactics, I am delighted to apply for the role of brand associate at Company X.  While much of my work experience and academic history is focused on digital marketing, I developed a recent interest in branding and visual design. Earlier this year, I earned a certificate in Digital Design from The New School, with a focus on graphic and digital design. During my studies, I worked on a number of passion projects, which you will find on my portfolio site [insert URL].  Since acquiring my first Product X at the age of 10, I’ve always wanted to work at Company X, so I decided to create a mock campaign ahead of the November launch of Product Y to help the company appeal to an international audience. The redesigned logo, marketing slogans and brand guidelines represent Company X’s commitment to youth culture and freedom of expression. Kind regards, [Your Name]

The information provided herein is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to provide tax, legal, or investment advice and should not be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security by Candor, its employees and affiliates, or any third-party. Any expressions of opinion or assumptions are for illustrative purposes only and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results and the opinions presented herein should not be viewed as an indicator of future performance. Investing in securities involves risk. Loss of principal is possible.

Third-party data has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable; however, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Candor does not receive compensation to promote or discuss any particular Company; however, Candor, its employees and affiliates, and/or its clients may hold positions in securities of the Companies discussed.

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How To Write A Career Change Cover Letter (With Examples)

• Cover Letter Examples
• Best Cover Letters
• Cover Letter For Internship
• General Cover Letter Templates
• Career Change Cover Letter
• Promotion Cover Letter
• College Student Cover Letter
• Entry Level Cover Letter
• Legal Cover Letter
• Creative Cover Letter
• Cover Letter For Government Job
• Cover Letter With No Experience
• Short Cover Letter Examples
• How To Send An Email Cover Letter
• How To Write A Cover Letter For A Job With No Experience In That Field

Find a Job You Really Want In

Summary. To write a career change cover letter you should first start with a professional header with your information as well as the hiring managers information. Be sure to find the hiring managers name to address the letter but if you are unable to, use their position title. Your opening line should be captivating and catch the readers attention.

Even though changing your career may feel dramatic or drastic, the reality is that it isn’t an unusual step to take. The key, however, is to explain your reasons for the change to the hiring managers in your industry of choice, and your cover letter is one of the best places to do this.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to write a cover letter for this situation and show you some examples you can use as a reference.

Key Takeaways

Your cover letter should be concise (200-400 words), so you’ll need to grab the reader’s attention and get to the point quickly.

Explain both why you decided to leave your old career and why you chose this particular new one in your cover letter.

Show that you understand the position and company you’re applying to and explain why you’d be a good fit in your cover letter.

How to Write a Career Change Cover Letter

Career change cover letter example, email cover letter example, tips for writing a career change cover letter, career change cover letter faq, ask the experts.

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Chances are you have researched several different cover letter examples and are still trying to settle on the perfect one. The good news is that all great cover letter templates will have a relatively similar structure. It should formatted in the normal business letter layout .

Remember that cover letters should be short; about half a page long, with 200-400 words (shorter is usually better), and 3-4 paragraphs.

Include the following sections in your cover letter:

Header (only for physical copies of your cover letter)

Opening paragraph

Body paragraph(s)

Closing lines

Sign-off and signature

You should think of a cover letter as a way to sell yourself to potential employers. That means expressing your qualifications, showing that you’ve been researching the company , and detailing why you would be perfect for the new job.

You never want to have just another generic cover letter, so here’s more on the specifics to craft your perfect cover letter :

Cover Letter Header

If you’re sending a physical copy of your cover letter, you should start with a professional header. Include the following information, formatted in the same way:

[Your name] [Your address] [Phone number] [Email] [Current date] [Hiring Manager name] [Title] [Company address]

Tom Timmins 34 Apple St., New York, NY (555)-555-5555 [email protected] 4/28/2021 Sara Bilson Director of Sales New Company 55 New Road, New York, NY

Cover Letter Greeting

Always do your best to find the name of the hiring manager . Check the job posting, the company’s website, and their LinkedIn page. If you strike out online, try calling the company and ask who the cover letter for your desired position should be sent to.

If you’re unable to find the hiring manager’s name, you can use “Dear Hiring Manager” or one of its better alternatives .

Dear Ms. Tanner, Dear Alix Sims, Dear Software Engineer Hiring Team,

Cover Letter Opening Lines

When writing a stellar cover letter, one of the “don’ts” is to open with a mundane sentence. Simply stating “I am reaching out to apply for [role] at [Company name]” will not set you apart from other job applicants or make a memorable first impression.

You want the opening line to be captivating while also remaining relevant to the position. Easy ways to do this are by sharing an experience that relates to the new job or expressing genuine enthusiasm for the role right away and why.

Remember, as a career changer, you want to highlight transferable skills and experiences. So, let’s say you’re trying to move from customer service to sales. A cover letter opening might look something like this:

Helping customers have positive experiences is a passion I’ve developed in over 4 years of customer service. With a proven track record of high customer engagement and retention, I’m ready to take my career to the next level by generating leads and sharing exciting opportunities with new and existing clients as a Sales Representative for XYZ Corp.

Cover Letter Body Paragraph(s)

In your cover letter’s body paragraph(s), you want to show recruiters that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to your skills.

There are your easily measurable hard skills , such as certifications, computer programs that you are proficient in, etc.

Then come your soft skills , which are character-based traits such as being detail-oriented, having superior time management skills, or being able to work in high-pressure environments. Speak to these soft skills that may not be as apparent within your resume and emphasize how they would be valuable in the new position.

A pro tip for choosing which transferable skills to focus on within your cover letter is to take a look at the job description. There you will find certain keywords that should definitely be featured within your letter.

ABC Inc. needs a Sales Representative who understands clients’ needs and can demonstrate unique value propositions to build trust and credibility. In my time as Customer Service Representative with XYZ Corp., I provided a high level of client service that earned me 99.7% positive customer reviews. I also worked closely with a team, mentoring and training new members to help achieve corporate goals and quotas. XYZ Corp. recognized my contributions by naming me “Customer Success Employee of the Month” in June 2020. I achieved this by maintaining spotless organizational skills to schedule calls, meetings, and client appointments most efficiently. When raised to a supervisory position, I quickly adapted to the demands of the new role by meeting with management to make sure our goals were aligned. This ensured that my team stayed on high-priority tasks, leading to a 17% reduction in customer wait time.

Notice how the candidate outlines her performance in previous jobs while focusing on transferable skills and experiences. Candidates that are already within the industry that you are applying for will likely have concrete examples of how they previously excelled in a similar role.

Even though you are just entering into this new career pathway , you still want to tell recruiters about your previous accomplishments.

If you increased sales, secured client acquisitions, received certain awards for reaching benchmarks, these are all concrete performance indicators. Being able to show how you excelled in other roles can translate to potential successes you may have within the new company. The job title might be different, but a win is a win.

Cover Letter Closing Lines

Your closing statement is as important as your opening lines, since it’s what the reader will walk away remembering most clearly.

A good way to end your cover letter is with a positive statement expressing your enthusiasm for the job and thanking the hiring manager for their time. A brief overview of your work background and a call to action are also appropriate to include.

Here’s an example of what this could look like:

I believe I’d be a great fit for this role and that my background in customer service would serve me well as a Sales Representative. I’d love to further discuss this opportunity with you and share how my experience could serve ABC Inc. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Cover Letter Sign-off and Signature

After you wrap up your letter, close with a professional “Sincerely,” followed by your signature. Here’s what this would look like for a hard copy letter:

Sincerely, [Your handwritten signature] [Your typed name]

And for an email or digital copy:

Sincerely, [Your typed name] [Your address] [Your phone number] [Your email address]

Now that you have all the basics of writing cover letters, it is time to craft your own. Take a look at the professional cover letter examples below, but keep in mind that they should be altered to your liking. Every cover letter should be tailored to the actual position, so also make sure to change the template as needed for each and every potential employer.

[Your name] [Your address] [Phone number] [Email] [Current date] [Hiring Manager name] [Title] [Company address] Dear Mr. Smith, Over the course of the last few months, I have had the wonderful opportunity to begin organizing events within my community for those experiencing financial hardship during COVID. Being able to assist those in need has awakened a passion within me for being able to empower communities, which is why I found City of Lake County’s job requisition for Community Engagement Specialist very exciting. Although my previous experience is primarily within the sales industry, I believe that my professional experience still translates well into this new industry. While at Telco Sales Corp, I was able to achieve the following: Acquired 50 new partnerships in Q1 2020 Increased sales overall by 102% year-over-year Maintained a 98% customer retention rate As a Community Engagement Specialist, the goal is to cultivate relationships and secure funding for community programs. My sales background has proven that I am able to build and maintain relationships while driving revenue. I also won several awards during my tenure, including back-to-back Employee of the Year acknowledgment and Lead Customer Care Advocate. I am ready to make this career transition as I have found my calling when it comes to bettering my community. The analytical and customer service skills from my previous industry paired with my planning and management capabilities would make me the ideal Community Engagement Specialist with Lake County. I appreciate you taking the time to learn more about my qualifications and experiences, and I look forward to learning more about the opportunity. Sincerely, (Signature for hard copy letter) [Your name]

Email cover letters will be exactly the same as a standard career change cover letter. However, there are additional considerations to be made with the actual execution.

You will want to include your full name and the role you are applying for within the subject line. Some job postings will specifically state whether the cover letter should be sent as an email attachment or within the body of the email, so pay close attention to requisition details.

If there is no specification, you can simply put the salutation (skip the preceding contact information that is in a standard cover letter ) and paste your letter into the email. Here is a simple, email career change cover letter sample:

Subject line: Sports Content Writer — [Your name]

Dear [Hiring manager name], Nothing is better than being able to create content that readers love to consume. Last year, I launched my sports blog and quickly realized that what started out as a hobby was my true passion. That is why though I have been working as a Regulatory Specialist the last five years, the Sports Content Writer role at Sports Co. would offer the perfect career transition. With my website, I was able to average over 7,000 unique visitors a month without any paid search campaigns. I also launched a community of over 10,000 sports fans on Facebook where readers are able to engage and ask questions related to the industry. My YouTube channel also currently has over 2,000 subscribers and counting, with new videos produced on a weekly cadence. As a Regulatory Specialist, I had to review a large volume of applications on a daily basis and ensure accuracy. I also had to update applications and send out correspondence for any missing information. This has helped me become a skilled proofreader , meaning that my content is publication-ready and requires little time to edit. Additional achievements while in this role have included: Maintaining an 100% accuracy rate on approved applications Receiving multiple Processor of the Month awards for completing the most applications over a 30-day period Being named Quality Assurance Lead for consistently proofing and sending over 100+ pieces of correspondence within a 7-day period Sports Co. is a company built on providing fun and engaging sports information to fans. Being that your site averages 100,000 views per day and is considered an authority in the sports industry, I feel like my skill set would only help add to the overall readership. Unlike other companies, Sports Co. also caters to less popular sports such as darts and pool. I have experience writing about these sports and numerous others on my own blog, with a knowledge of just about every sport imaginable. I believe that being able to work in a fast-paced environment, familiarity producing high volumes of content, and having a wide breadth of sports knowledge make me an ideal candidate for the Sports Content Writer position. I appreciate your time in reviewing my qualifications and I look forward to learning more about the opportunity. Best, [Your name] [Address] [Phone number] [Email] [LinkedIn Profile URL (optional)]

Explain why you’re seeking a career change. This is a question that just about any applicant seeking a new career would likely receive in a job interview , so it’s great to disclose it in your cover letter.

Employers generally want to know why you left your last employer and making a complete career change naturally leaves questions. Your reason could be as wanting to try something new in a post-COVID job market . You may have a friend that is in the industry and you feel that your skill set more closely aligns with a role more similar to theirs.

There really is no right or wrong as far as your reasoning; just make sure to give the hiring manager an idea of why you want the position even though your experience is elsewhere.

Although I excel at customer service, I find that I’m most engaged and performing at my highest level when I’m helping a customer find a new solution rather than fix a problem with their current product. When my supervisor commented on how no customer service rep she had managed had higher conversion rates than me, it stuck with me.

Show passion for your new direction. This is where you can truly shine and completely differentiate yourself from other applicants. Why are you passionate about the industry, and more specifically, this particular role?

You want to explain why you are excited to be on this journey and how you would be an excellent fit for the team. Discuss where this passion comes from to add a personal touch, then explain why having this drive will help you succeed in the role.

Being able to help customers find quality solutions while maintaining brand loyalty is a real passion of mine. I hope to bring your company’s product and services to a wider audience because I truly believe that there’s no better POS service around than what you offer.

Prove you understand the company. Hiring managers want to hire people that have a genuine, vested interest in their organization. Do you have personal reasons as to why you want to join the company? Do they have a social impact team whose efforts and initiatives you admire?

Scrape beneath the surface and do research. Show the recruiter how your core values align with those of the company.

You can start with looking at the company’s website , but you should dig deeper by also visiting LinkedIn. Take a look at the different profiles of employees, paying close attention to those that might have a similar role to the one you are applying for. You can learn more about a company from the people that work there versus website boilerplate.

I notice that you have a corporate motto of “Listen First,” which really resonates with me. Sales, like customer service, is all about accurately identifying pain points and offering solutions that may not be apparent to the customer at first. I make it a point to allow clients free reign at the start of a discussion, so as to better inform my strategy for helping them.

How long should a career change cover letter be?

A career change cover letter should be about half a page or three and four paragraphs. Your letter should only be between 200 and 400 words so it’s important to be concise and to the point.

How do you state that you are changing a career in a cover letter?

You should explain to the reader why you are seeking a career change and show passion for your new direction when stating a career change in a cover letter.

A potential employer will want to know why you left your previous employer and they will wonder why you left the field completely. Explaining your reasons will help give them a better understanding.

What should be avoided when writing a cover letter?

You should avoid any spelling or grammar mistakes in your cover letter. It can be seen as unprofessional if you misspelled anything in your letter. You should also avoid making your letter generic because your recipient will be able to tell. Be sure to tailor it to each company that you are applying to and try to find the name of your recipient as well.

How To Write A Career Change Cover Letter

Nicole Ozburn Human Resources Director

Some things are industry specific but can be quickly learned due to your similar experience in another industry. For instance, if I were looking to change my career from Human Resources to Marketing, I would talk about my recruitment skills and how I have marketed jobs in the past. I would also advise to describe the reason for the change in career. If it is due to COVID-19, the economy, or recently acquiring additional skills through education, the employer may be compelled to give my resume some consideration.

Kevin Daniels Owner and Lead Copywriter

The idea of capturing the reader’s attention at the outset is an excellent one–that has proven to be effective.

You could even start with a quote from a known expert in the field of interest (or simply a famous person)–and use this as a jumping-off place for the content of your letter. Also, using a bulleted format for the body of the letter can be eye-catching (because it’s different)–and will provide structure for seamlessly popping tailored content in/out of your letter as needed.

Translatable skills are extremely important with transition cover letters (and resumes too). First, try Googling “Work Skills” and then “Work Traits.” You will get many, many examples of each (which will help you discern the difference)–and will help you choose ones that ring true for you; ones that are aligned with your professional brand.

Also, remember to avoid too much content (or any) content unique to the industry you’re leaving.

In my 14-year career with Boeing Commercial Airplanes, I became a noted expert in DfX and APQP methodologies…

In the recent decade-plus of my experience, I have achieved noteworthy SME status in Lean/Six Sigma and related compliance directives delivering millions of dollars of recurring savings to the business…

This uses the far more universal “Lean” and Six Sigma” references that will have meaning in any business or manufacturing environment, as opposed to pigeonholing yourself as Aerospace-centric.”

Harvard Extension School – Resume and Cover Letters

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Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

Matt Warzel a President of a resume writing firm (MJW Careers, LLC) with 15+ years of recruitment, outplacement, career coaching and resume writing experience. Matt is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Focus) from John Carroll University.

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How To Write the Best Career Change Cover Letter (+ Examples) 

So, you want to try something completely new? When you’re thinking about a career change, your cover letter is an essential tool. Your resume will tell the hiring manager about your experience, but you’ll use the cover letter to fill in the blanks.

Frankly, when you're changing careers, you have to work just a bit harder than any other applicants with a more intuitive work history. That means showing that the experience you have is an asset and that it can be transferred to this new role. Luckily, you can do all of this (and more!) by writing a well-thought-out career change cover letter. 

A career change cover letter is an opportunity to start a conversation to explain exactly why you're applying for a job outside of your current field. Get this right, and you will convince any hiring manager that you’re the best candidate for the job. But how do you get started?

Here at ZipJob, we give you the resources you need to supercharge your job search. In the following guide, we’ll share seven tips from our professional resume writers on how to write the best career change cover letter. We've also got a career change cover letter example for you to check out.

More common than you might think

First, a word of encouragement: In our fast-paced and rapidly changing economy, people are changing careers at rates that would have been unthinkable just a few short generations ago. In fact, recent statistics show that people have an average of 12 jobs in their lifetime. 

That can create problems for many applicants, however, and you may not be sure how you can use your resume to properly convey the right experience needed for your new career. The good news is that you can take care of that concern by using that other vital application tool: the cover letter.

7 tips for your career change cover letter

Ready to put pen to paper? When you're writing a career change cover letter, it's important to stay on task. This isn't the place to write a heart-to-heart that reads more like a journal entry than a professional document. Instead, focus on what makes you a great applicant. 

To help you along the way, we have some expert-backed tips below:

1. Make sure you use the right words

Changing careers is a big deal. While your resume will have covered your skills and experience, you can use this letter to really sell yourself to the hiring manager. What you lack in experience, you may be able to make up for in the willingness to learn.

While you can use your cover letter to explain why you want a new career, it doesn’t start and end there. This is also an opportunity to share why you are ready to switch things up. With that in mind, use words that excite the hiring manager and show your desire to work in your chosen field. The more creative you are with the language you use, the better here.

2. Be honest about your career change

The biggest mistake you could make here is trying to sneak your way into a new sector. The hiring manager already has your resume, so they know that you don’t have experience in this field. You should never try to bamboozle them into interviewing you on the basis of faux experience. Even if you do make it to the interview level, you will soon get found out. 

Instead, you need to be 100% honest about your career change. Direct your cover letter to the hiring manager and be clear about why you are switching industries. For example, you may have reached the highest heights in your current sector and feel it’s time for a change. On the other hand, you may have a real passion for this new field and want to pursue it. 

Whatever your reason is, now is the time to talk about it. You don’t need to write a short memoir. The hiring manager will ask you more in-depth questions at the interview stage. However, it’s smart to outline your reasoning here so that you fill in the blanks. State that you are looking to move sectors and try to give a compelling reason to the reader now.

3. Emphasize your transferable skills

When you’re writing a career change cover letter, this is vital. Transferable skills are your current talents that would help you succeed in a different position. These skills are often soft skills but may also be technical or analytical skills from your previous profession. Identify what your strengths are. How might those help you in another industry?

You can also approach this from the other side by spending some time analyzing the company’s needs. Look at the job description, the company website, and recent media coverage to identify the core skills that this company requires. Once you’ve honed in on those needs, you can determine which of your skills can help to make you a great candidate for the job.

Of course, you should heavily feature your transferable skills on your resume. Once you've noted them, you can offer more of an explanation in your cover letter about how each skill will apply to this new job. 

Emphasize your relevant skills within the body of the career change cover letter too. That means including specific examples of how they have helped you to achieve certain results and goals in the past. Show the hiring manager what you have to bring to the table. You can do this by identifying the overlap between your two fields and highlighting it clearly. Be brief, but be sure to answer why you're applying and why you're worth interviewing.

Key Takeaway

The key to a career change cover letter is to identify and highlight related and transferable skills.

4. Focus on your results

Results matter more than you think. The number one thing that will push you ahead of your competition are fantastic accomplishments on your resume . Your accomplishments are still valid, even when changing careers: awards, honors, and other results that show you're a high-achieving employee will make you look like a winner. 

Your career change cover letter gives you a chance to explain why it's so impressive that you accomplished something. Try to figure out numbers or metrics – these really stand out on resumes and cover letters. Quantifying your results will show the hiring manager that your hard work achieves big things. This fact will surely grab their attention. 

To showcase those results, you need to emphasize the success that you’ve enjoyed in prior jobs, providing details that help to connect those successes to your transferable skills. From there, you only need to complete the picture by explaining how your prior achievements and transferable skills can offer tangible benefits to the new company.

Always use the STAR method

Showcasing your results and quantifying them doesn’t have to be hard. Make your statements stand out by using the STAR method throughout your cover letter. 

5. Demonstrate genuine passion

Let your passion for the company be on full display so that the hiring manager knows you care about getting the position. Mention something new or interesting the company has accomplished, or relate to the company's core values. You can add your personality to your cover letter – as long as it stays relevant!

Take the time to do your homework so that you have a firm understanding of what the company does and how it hopes to achieve its goal. It’s also worth trying to understand the company culture ahead of time. That will enable you to properly convey your passion for the position in the body of your cover letter. In short, figure out what the vibe is and match it.

6. Tailor your resume to reflect your career change goals

If this is your first time creating a career change cover letter, be sure to review your resume when you’re done so that everything is properly coordinated. It all needs to match up. You don’t want any inconsistencies between those two important documents: your cover letter should only talk about experiences that are also mentioned on your resume.

To keep your message clear, make any resume changes that are needed to keep it aligned with the message on your cover letter. Remember, it’s the little things that often make the difference between success and failure. 

If your resume isn't tailored for your career transition goals, check out this article next: How To Tailor Your Resume For Different Positions

7. End with a strong conclusion 

When you’ve done all of the above, it’s time to sign off. The end of your cover letter is a good chance to reaffirm why you want to take this step. You may also want to add that you will help the business in question meet its goals. One of the more critical things you can do with your career change cover letter is insert some type of call to action – encouraging the reader to reach out to you. 

Remember, the hiring manager will naturally slow their reading pace down as they reach the bottom of the page. For that reason, it is vital that you end on a strong and clear note.

Career change cover letter example

This example is to the point and easy to scan through. It has several examples of how the applicant has added value in the past, using numbers that are easy for the reader to translate to a different industry.

Notice also that this letter – like all good cover letters – includes a professional heading and uses a business letter format. It is highly specific, a quick but clear message that you've put some thought into tailoring your cover letter. 

The letter does not use a generic "to whom it may concern" greeting; ideally, you can find the name of the hiring manager. When in doubt, addressing your letter to a "hiring team" is a good alternative.

The heading with your own information was borrowed from the updated resume format we used to share 200+ resume examples written by our professional resume writers. Using the same format for your resume and cover letter is another instance of details that stand out.

Focus on value; win the day 

As you can see, the cover letter for a career change is similar to many others. You still want to focus on the value you can add to the company. By emphasizing your transferable skills, focusing on past achievements, and demonstrating your interest in the new company, you should be able to leverage your existing skill set in a way that sets you apart from the crowd.

Ready to take the leap and start that new career? Use the ZipJob free resume review now to get the insights that you need to perfect your next application and get ahead of the competition. 

Recommended reading: 

9 Cover Letter Mistakes That Cost You Interviews - ZipJob

7 Signs It's Time To Quit Your Job

How to Ask for a Job Referral + 5 Examples

Charlotte Grainger, Editor & Content Writer, Charlotte Grainger, Editor & Content Writer

Charlotte Grainger is a freelance writer living and working in Sheffield, UK. She has a passion for career development and loves sharing tips and advice. Follow her on Twitter

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Sample Career Change Cover Letter and Writing Tips

• Writing a Career Change Cover Letter

Career Change Cover Letter Sample

How to send an email cover letter.

• Refocus Your Resume to Match

The Balance / Chelsea Damraksa

Are you considering a career change? If you are looking for a position in a different industry or career field, your cover letter or  letter of intent  is an important factor in the likelihood of your getting the job.

Since your resume may not contain the relevant experience that hiring managers are looking for, it's important to use your cover letter as an opportunity to demonstrate why you are a good fit despite lacking that specific employment history.

A well-written and strong cover letter will convince the reader that your work experience is a strength rather than a weakness.

Before you start writing, though, be sure you're clear on your goals for transitioning careers and that you're  positioned for a successful career change job search .

Tips for Writing a Career Change Cover Letter

Any good cover letter explains why you are qualified for the specific job. However, a cover letter written during a  career change  needs to go beyond that.

Be sure to thoroughly  research the company  before writing your cover letter so you can convince the employer that you understand the company and can demonstrate why you want to be a part of it.

You must touch on three important points. This will help you rise above candidates who have more direct experience in the industry. You don’t necessarily have to cover all of these topics in order or in distinct paragraphs. The aim is to make sure you communicate these points somewhere in your letter.

1. Emphasize Your Transferable Skills

Most importantly, focus on the  transferable skills  you have that you can use in the new position rather than on the skills you have that are only related to your current role. Analyze the job description for the position you’re applying to, and look at the skills that the position calls for.

Choose the  ones that best match your own skills or experience . Then, if possible, use specific anecdotes from your work or academic history to illustrate some of these strengths in action. 

2. Highlight Your Superior Performance in Previous Positions

Other applicants may have the relevant experience, but if their experience is mediocre and cannot be backed up by strong references or tangible achievements, you may actually be a more desirable candidate for the job than they are.

In your letter, do your best to explain how you succeeded in previous roles, and connect that to a summary of how you would also add value in this new position.

Make sure your references will corroborate your statements.

3. Express Your Passion for the Company

Mention your passion for the company. This is another way to stand out from qualified candidates. Employers may be more interested in someone who is especially excited about their organization and the job opportunity than they are in someone who just wants a job and doesn’t care about much beyond that. In your cover letter, make it clear that you’re familiar with the organization and enthusiastic about the opportunity to be a part of it.

Read the sample cover letter below, which you can use as a framework for writing your own career change cover letter. However, be sure to edit the sample to fit your personal experiences and the job for which you are applying.

Download the career change cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online).

Sample Career Change Cover Letter (Text Version)

William Applicant 123 Main Street Anytown, CA 12345 111-111-1111 william.applicant@email.com

July 21, 2020

Michael Lee Director XYZ Company 123 Business Rd. Business City, NY 54321 

Dear Ms. Lee:

This letter is to express my special interest in discussing the Senior Customer Service Manager position posted on the XYZ Company web site. The opportunity presented in this listing is very appealing, and I believe that my experience and education will make me a competitive candidate for this role.

Although I have been working primarily as an Operations Manager, in this capacity I have interfaced frequently with customers, in addition to vendors and staff. This has instilled multi-dimensional communication skills and an ability to recognize, act upon, and fulfill customer wishes and needs in order to ensure their continued, and positive, relationship with the business.

In fact, in my most recent job as Operations Manager for ABC Company, I received an ‘Excellence in Customer Service’ recognition due to my ability to coordinate complex logistics in order to keep customers happy even when issues arose that were beyond the control of the organization. Again, this involved not only managing operations but also communicating directly with customers. As a result, I believe my combined ability to successfully manage operations while also effectively interfacing with customers makes me a prime candidate for this role.

The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide exceptional contributions to customer service for all customers. 
• Strive for continued excellence.
• Strong communication skills.
• Eager to learn new things.

You will find me to be well-spoken, energetic, confident, and personable, the type of person on whom your customers will rely. I also have a wide breadth of experience of the type that will allow you the versatility to place me in a number of contexts with confidence that the level of excellence you expect will be met. Please see my resume for additional information on my experience.

I hope that you'll find my experience and interests intriguing enough to warrant a face-to-face meeting, as I am confident that I could provide value to you and your customers as a member of your team. I am very excited about this opportunity to work for XYZ Company. I connect with your mission to “deliver the ‘five star’ factor” to both your staff and your customers. This tenet is reflected in my own professional and personal values, and I believe this alignment strongly supports my candidacy for this role.

I can be reached anytime via my cell phone, 555-555-5555. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity.

William Applicant (signature hard copy letter)

William Applicant

If you're sending your  cover letter via email,  list your name and the job title in the subject line of the  email message . Include your contact information in your email signature, but don't list the employer's contact information. Simply start your email message with the salutation.

Refocus Your Resume to Reflect Your New Goals

When you're seeking a career change, it's important to refocus your resume to reflect your new goals. That way, your resume and cover letter will both show that you're well qualified for a change in roles. Here are six tips for  writing a powerful career change resume  that will help you get started.

Get Ready to Interview

Be prepared, as well, to discuss in job interviews why you're transitioning and what  skills you will bring to prospective employers . It's important to have a comprehensive and professional pitch that will impress the employer and convince them that you're a strong candidate for the job.