how to write a cover letter if you have no experience

Sample Cover Letter With No Experience in Field (And How to Write Yours)

By Biron Clark

Published: November 10, 2023

Cover Letters | Recent Grads

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

Writing an articulate cover letter is challenging for all job seekers. But if you have little or no work experience in a field, the stakes are higher. It’s more challenging to prove your value when you don’t have a series of professional accomplishments to back up your assertions. On the bright side, you probably have more to offer an employer than you realize. You just have to package your strengths the right way.

In this article, you’re going to learn how to write a cover letter for a job with no experience in that field. And we’ll look at a full sample after going through the steps.

Let’s get started…

How to Write a Cover Letter With No Experience

1. the main purpose of your cover letter with no experience.

The purpose of a cover letter is to complement your resume and convince more employers to interview you. You may refer to your resume when writing a cover letter for a job application, but you must expand upon points made in the resume when writing the cover letter.

The cover letter should breathe life into the points made in the resume, and create a compelling—or even emotional—narrative around your career hopes and aspirations . It’s your chance to tell your story and show that you have the passion and the drive to come into a job and make a difference.

And at the end, it should ASK for the interview. We’ll talk about that coming up. Let’s get started by going through how to write a cover letter with no experience, step-by-step…

2. Cover Letter Contact Information

When beginning a cover letter for a job application, start with your contact details in the top left-hand corner of the page. Include your name, city of residence, phone number, and email address. (To preserve your privacy, do not include your physical address). You should also include your LinkedIn URL. Next, write the name of the company you’re applying to, and its city of residence.

3. Your Salutation

Ideally, you address your reader by name in your salutation. Internet sleuthing may reveal the name of the hiring manager. If you can’t find a name, you have two options: call the organization and ask to learn more about the position, or write “Dear ” or “Dear Hiring Manager.”

This isn’t ideal, though. You should really only be sending a cover letter if you know the hiring manager’s name and have some specific information about the position. So if you know nothing specific about the hiring manager or job, and the company hasn’t asked for a cover letter specifically, then you probably don’t need to send it .

4. Cover Letter Introduction

Use this section of your cover letter to introduce yourself and share your enthusiasm and why you applied for the position .

Start with your name and provide some background on your strengths. Always identify the position you’re seeking and how you learned about it. If someone at the company told you about the job, then mention that person’s name (only after asking their permission, though). Aim for one to two sentences in your Introduction—keep it short, sweet, and precise.

Example Cover Letter Introduction with No Experience in the Field:

“Hello, my name is Grace Addington, and I’m a goal- and detail-oriented civil engineering graduate from Petaluma College. I was excited to learn about the Junior Engineer internship at Bay Area Rapid Transportation through my former classmate Katie Heinz.”

5. Body Paragraphs

Here comes the most critical part of writing a cover letter with no experience. The purpose of your body paragraphs (one to two brief paragraphs, tops) is to prove that you’re the best candidate for the position. Seeing as how you have little or no previous professional work experience to fall back on, you’ll want to place emphasis on soft skills —attributes of a personal nature that say a lot about your work ethic and ability to work in sync with others. Or, if you have job-related skills (AKA hard skills) from another type of role, point out how those skills will help you transition into this next job and succeed quickly.

That’s what hiring managers are looking for! So while it’s great to write about soft skills and put together a cover letter talking about how you’re willing to learn their job… it’s much better to point out any hands-on experience that you have. So if you’re able, always highlight that first and foremost.

For example, if you had an internship, worked in an unrelated field, did a few academic projects while studying, gave a presentation, etc., those are still valuable pieces to put on your resume AND in your cover letter.

Your resume likely already consists of part-time jobs or school activities or memberships in school associations that maybe aren’t 100% related to the job you’re going after.

Look closer, though—you’ve probably garnered skills in these experiences that can carry over to the job you’re applying for. Below are two examples of cover letter body paragraphs that hone in on two key phrases noted in a job advertisement as requirements: “strong interpersonal skills” and “positive work ethic.” You should be able to figure out pretty quickly which example hits the mark.

Let’s look at two sample paragraphs now from cover letters with no experience in a field:

“I am Twig & Twine’s ideal office manager. As my resume states, I served as an RA at my dorm. I know how to manage an array of things.”

“You’re looking for a candidate with strong interpersonal skills and a positive work ethic. While serving as an RA at Porter College’s main dormitory, I planned monthly social events for over 200 students, settled two to five student disputes per week, and mentored a select group of students in Composition. The experience taught me, rather quickly, how to efficiently multi-task, and how to effectively settle conflicts of all types in a calm, level-headed manner. I feel confident stating that I can bring these talents to Twig & Twine’s office manager position.”

The second example takes the duties that likely appeared in the RA position on the resume and then digs deep, illustrating how the tackling of those duties turned into accomplishments, and led the applicant to grow the crucial skills needed for the office manager position.

One last thing about body paragraphs—remember to frame your message around the employer’s needs, and not yours. Focus on what you can bring to the job, and how your talents will translate into success for the company. That’s important in any cover letter, and becomes even more crucial in a cover letter with no previous work experience.

6. Concluding Your Cover Letter

End your cover letter by reiterating why you’re the best candidate and express your interest once again in the position. And ask them for the interview! It’s surprising but most job seekers don’t do this, and it’s been shown to improve your chances of getting a call to come in for an interview!

So conclude your cover letter by thanking the reader for the time they took to review your application, and tell them you’d like to find a time to meet for an interview to see if it might be a good fit to work together. To close, sign off formally. Try “Respectfully yours” or “Sincerely.”

7. Proofread Everything

Before sending out your new cover letter, read it out loud to catch errors quickly. Ask a trustworthy person to read it as well. Nothing stops you from getting interviews faster than an obvious typo or error in your cover letter or resume, and you only have to check once, but make sure you’re checking it thoroughly!

8. Save it as a PDF

Once the content is finalized, save it as a PDF and title it “ Cover Letter” to prevent confusion. Voila! You’re done. If you follow the tips above, you’ll have a great cover letter with no experience so you can get interviews and job offers in this new field!

Sample Cover Letter With No Experience in Field:

Next, let’s look at a full sample of a cover letter that explains why you’d fit well in a role ( and why you chose to apply for this type of role ):

Dear Name, I’m writing to you regarding the Sales Associate job posting, which I believe reports to you. I can offer 5+ years of experience working directly with customers over the phone and in person, primarily in customer support. Although I haven’t worked directly in sales, my customer support experience has helped me build skills in communication, persuasion, and problem-solving, which I believe will translate well into selling software subscriptions for your firm. I’m motivated to transition into sales to continue challenging myself and growing in my career, and I’ve always enjoyed a challenge, which I think working in sales will provide me. I’ve attached my resume for your review. If any of the above sounds interesting, I’d welcome the chance to talk on the phone this week. Thanks for considering my note today. Best regards, Your Name

This cover letter is upfront and clear that you have no experience in the field of sales, but shows that you’re willing to learn and excited to learn this new job. That’s essential!

You don’t JUST want to say you’re willing to learn, though. You want to PROVE that you’ll be able to learn. That’s why this letter also mentions the experience you have that is most similar. In the case of the example above, it’s the customer service experience and communication skills.

While this person may not have sold anything to customers, they still interacted with customers directly, which will be seen as a plus.

One other thing you should always point out if possible: Experience working in the same industry. So if you’ve never done sales, but you did customer support in the exact same industry as the employer, that’s a huge plus… because it means you’ll have less learning needed on the job!

Other Articles That May Help You:

• 3 more tips for writing a cover letter that stands out.
• General tips for how to get a job with no experience.
• How to write the perfect resume “Summary” section with no experience.

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This really helped me

Thanks for this! Really helpful for me as a new graduate and non native English speaker. I’ve started using the steps here and am planning on sending a lot of applications this week to see how it works.

Thank you for the examples. I hav ea little bit of experience so I’m not writing the cover letter with absolutely no work experience but this still is helpful and seems to work for me.

One hiring manager told me that the reason they chose to call me was my cover letter.

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Writing a Cover Letter Without Job Experience: Examples & Templates

Last Updated: September 7, 2024 Fact Checked

• Writing Your Letter
• Example Letter

This article was reviewed by Seth Hall and by wikiHow staff writer, Johnathan Fuentes . Seth T. Hall (ICF ACC, CLC, and MNLP) is a Certified Life Coach and Founder of Transformational Solutions, a Los Angeles-based life-coaching company that helps people achieve their toughest goals, find their own voice, and think outside the box. He has been a life coach for over 10 years, specializing in personal development, relationships, career and finance, and wellness. He has helped his clients break the negative cycles in their lives and replace them with a positive, proactive mindset. Seth believes that everyone has the potential to live a fulfilling and rewarding life, and works passionately to help them reach their full potential. With a deep understanding of how our minds work and the power of positive thinking, he encourages his clients to find their unique paths in life and find success on their own terms. He is a certified master practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a featured co-author for WikiHow, and co-author of "The Mountain Method”, “The Happy Tiger”, and “The V.I.S.I.O.N.S. Program”. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 5,109 times.

When applying for a job, a cover letter gives you a chance to impress a potential employer and convince them to interview you for the role. But what if you don’t have experience in the job you’re applying to? If you want it, go for it—but you’ll need to write your cover letter a bit differently. This guide explains how to write a cover letter when you lack relevant experience. We’ve even included an example letter and template for you to use on your own job hunt. Keep reading to persuade a recruiter to take a chance on you, all thanks to a great cover letter.

Things You Should Know

• Carefully read the job posting and research the organization thoroughly. Note any specific skills and qualifications required for the role.
• Explain why you are interested in the role. Discuss your skills and background, and describe how they are transferable to the job you’re applying to.
• Emphasize your talents, personality, work ethic, and other attributes that make you qualified for the job. Explain why the company aligns with your career goals.

Writing Your Cover Letter

• Make a list of your own skills, qualifications, and previous work experience that could be applicable to the job.
• For instance, if you’re applying for a teller position with a local bank, you can list previous customer service work, experience handling money, and your overall trustworthiness and work ethic.
• Visit the organization’s website to learn about their work. For a bank teller position, for example, you could learn about the specific financial products and services offered by the bank.

• You can also include your phone number and email beneath your mailing address, above the date.
• For a fancier look, center your contact information at the top of the letter, just as you would on a resume. If you do this, place the date on the left, two lines beneath your contact information.

• For example, if the recipient was a professor and department chair at a university, you could write “Prof. Emily Smith” followed by “Chair, Department of Physics” on the next line.
• Align this information to the left, two lines below the date.
• If you don’t know who will read the letter, exclude the recipient’s name and title. Be sure to put the organization’s name and address.

• Use a comma after a “Dear” greeting, such as “Dear Mr. Brown.” Use the recipient's name whenever possible since this makes your cover letter more personal.

• You could say “I’m writing to apply for the position of Instructor at Lotus Yoga Studio. I came across this opportunity on your website.”
• You could then add “I have practiced yoga for several years and would be excited for the opportunity to teach it to students.”
• If you learned about the position from a specific person, you can reference that person in your opening paragraph: “I was made aware of this opportunity by my close friend, Abby Smith, who was previously an instructor at your studio.”
• You don’t need to introduce yourself by name, as in “My name is Sofia Romero.” The recruiter will see your name at the top of the letter.

• Use keywords from the job posting that refer to specific skills. For example, “customer service,” “teaching experience,” or specific programming languages like “Javascript” could be keywords.
• If you’re a student, emphasize extracurriculars, leadership positions, and academic achievements. [6] X Research source
• If you’re applying for a math tutoring position for grades K-3, you could mention your academic performance in math classes. You could also discuss previous experience working with children, like babysitting or camp counselor roles.
• Discuss your temperament and work ethic too. For instance, you could say “I am patient, kind, and very comfortable working with groups of children in a learning environment.”

• For a sales job, you could say “I am very extroverted and thrive in fast-paced environments. I also enjoy the challenge of exceeding quotas. For these reasons, I believe I’m naturally suited for a career in sales.”
• You could also reference the company’s mission and values: “I am impressed by the quality of ABC, Inc.’s products and their commitment to their customers.”

• You could write: “I would welcome the chance to interview for this position. I believe my background and skill set make me an excellent fit for this role, and I see a future myself at ABC, Inc. Thank you for your time and consideration.”
• If you know the recruiter or their managers by name, you could thank them personally: “Please send my warmest regards to Ms. Rhodes and the rest of the team.”

• If you sign the letter, sign it in the space above your printed name.
• Make sure your letter fits on one page. If it’s too long, consider cutting down some of the paragraphs, but avoid altering the margins or making the font too small.

• Set the letter aside for a few hours or overnight, then read it again with “fresh” eyes. This makes it easier to catch mistakes.
• Have a friend or family member read the letter and offer feedback. Ask them if any sections were unclear or confusing.
• Check the job posting again to make sure you’ve covered everything. If you forgot to include something important, add it to the letter now, then proofread it again.

• Check the PDF after saving it to make sure the formatting is right. Check the spacing and font, and make sure the letter fits on one page.
• If you send the letter by email, include a subject line like “Re: Cover letter for Marketing Position with ABC, Inc.” Write a 2-3 sentence email introducing yourself. State the position you're applying for, mention the attached cover letter, and include your contact information.

Example Cover Letter

• Dana Robinson 12 5th Avenue Seattle, WA 98109 (555) 277-1771 [email protected] October 5, 2023 ABC Inc. 4500 West 57th Street New York, NY 10019 Dear Hiring Committee, I am writing to apply for the role of Sales Representative for ABC, Inc. I learned of this opportunity from the listing on your company’s website. I believe my strong communication skills, friendly personality, and experience in customer service make me a strong fit for this role. I am a recent graduate of South Seattle Community College, where I obtained an Associate’s Degree in Marketing. While completing my studies, I worked full-time as a Customer Service Associate for XYZ Pharmacy. In this role, I helped customers obtain medication and healthcare products that fit their needs. I also developed an understanding of our company’s financial goals, and learned that happy customers could boost our store’s profits. I feel this knowledge and experience would be directly transferable to the Sales Representative role with your company. I believe ABC, Inc.’s values and mission are strongly aligned with my professional goals. ABC values its customers, and your top-quality products and brand recognition and second to none. As someone who loves working with people, I would be honored to sell your products to customers and build ongoing relationships with suppliers and retailers. My outgoing personality and strong work ethic make me a natural fit for this kind of work. Most importantly, I see many opportunities to grow with ABC, Inc. as it expands its customer base nationwide. I would welcome the chance to interview for this position. I believe my skills, previous experience, and ambitions for the future make me an excellent fit. I also see a future for myself at ABC, Inc. and would be honored to join your team. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Dana Robinson.

Blank Cover Letter Template

• [Your Name] [Your Street Address] [Your City, State & Zip Code] [Your Phone Number] [Your Email] [Today’s Date] [Recipient’s Name - leave out if unknown] [Recipient’s Title - leave out if the recipient is unknown] [Company Name] [Company Street Address] [Company’s City, State & Zip Code] Dear [Recipient’s Name - use if recipient is known] , Dear Hiring Manager, [Use if recipient’s name is not known] I am writing to apply for the role of [Job Title] with [Company Name] . I learned of this opportunity from [Job Posting or Name of Person who referred you] . [1 sentence listing skills and experience that are applicable to the job] . [1 sentence stating your current job, school you recently graduated from, or school you’re currently attending] . [4-5 sentences explaining your skills and previous work experience. Explain how these skills and experiences are transferable to the job you’re applying for] . I believe [Company Name] ’s values and mission are strongly aligned with my professional goals. [4-5 sentences explaining what you like about the company, why you want to work there, and how working there will help you achieve your goals] . I would welcome the chance to interview for this position. I believe my skills, previous experience, and ambitions for the future make me an excellent fit. I also see a future for myself at [Company Name] and would be honored to join your team. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, [Your Name]

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• ↑ https://socialwork.columbia.edu/content/writing-cover-letter-0
• ↑ https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/allcoverlettersweb2011.pdf
• ↑ https://icc.ucdavis.edu/materials/cover-letters
• ↑ https://vp4.wne.edu/career-development-center/doc/The-Cover-Letter-2021.pdf
• ↑ https://careers.bloch.umkc.edu/blog/2021/10/20/7-tips-for-writing-a-cover-letter-with-no-experience/
• ↑ https://law.ubalt.edu/career/students/currentstudents/Cover%20Letter%20Guide.pdf
• ↑ https://law.seattleu.edu/media/school-of-law/documents/careers/additional-documents/Preparing-a-Cover-Letter.pdf

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