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You don’t have 2 years of experience, but you know you can do the job given the chance. Learn how to write a cover letter with no experience and prove it to your next boss.
Applying for a job without experience may make you feel like you don't belong in the job market. This is especially true when the employer requests a cover letter to accompany your application.
However, you may not realize that you already possess the relevant skills and achievements. They just need to be brought to the surface. You’re about to learn how to do just that.
In this guide, you’ll get:
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Do you want to see specific cover letter examples right away? There you go:
You can always visit our Cover Letter Examples page where all of them are available.
We extracted data from over 500,000 documents created in our product and discovered that*:
- Cascade, Cubic, Primo, and Classic are the most popular cover letter templates for our users.
- On average, our users create 2.36 documents in our builder.
- Most of our users report having over 10 years of experience. Only 2.63% of users show they have zero expereince.
* The data comes from the last 12 months (August 2023-August 2024)
Before you dive into the instructions for your no-experience cover letter, let’s dispel your doubts about writing it first.
Absolutely, yes. A cover letter in your situation is even more important than for a person with some years of experience. That is because you create more space for instances of unpaid employment, academic achievements, and transferable skills that you can draw from to create a relevant application.
Expert Hint: Transferable skills are the ones you use in every job, like data analysis or interpersonal skills. You could learn them in school, while volunteering, or at a job you had.
Let’s see some examples now to prove that theory.
Meet Michelle. She’s only started studying Healthcare Administration and wishes to get a clinic receptionist job. Given no prior experience in the medical field, it could be hard to get it, but she’ll use her transferable skills from other jobs to highlight the most desired skills she found in the job description.
Michelle Wynes
Receptionist
4884 Holden Street
Marion, IL 62959
linkedin.com/in/michellezwynes
12/09/19
Chelsey Ratcliff
Office Manager
Morton Medical Clinic
2804 Davis Court
Marion, IL 62959
Dear Ms. Ratcliff,
I'm excited to apply for the receptionist position at Morton Medical Clinic. Though I'm an entry-level applicant, I'm passionate about doing a good job and received multiple compliments from my manager at Ruby Tuesday for efficiency, collaboration, and writing skills.
I'm very interested in beginning a career in the medical field, as I'm attending online classes for an associates degree in healthcare administration. I believe I'll make an excellent receptionist thanks to that passion, plus the following accomplishments:
I'm excited to show you how my efficiency and cheerful attitude can help provide a positive experience for patients at the Morton Clinic. Could we set up a time to discuss your needs?
Best Regards,
Michelle Wynes, Receptionist
michellezwynes@gmail.com
773-914-7965
Now check out Sharon’s story. She’s a recent graduate and a Registered Medical Assistant looking for an internship. Because she doesn’t have experience, she’ll use her academic history and transferable skills, like technical writing, to back up the relevancy of her application.
Sharon Beckstead
Medical Assistant
802-688-1353
sharonzbeckstead@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/sharonzbeckstead
12/9/19
James Whited
Clinic Director
Darben Sutton Medical Clinic
1752 Stone Lane
White River Junction, Vermont 05001
Dear Mr. Whited,
I'm writing to apply for the medical assistant internship position at Darben Sutton Medical Clinic. I'm Registered Medical Assistant and a recent graduate of NHU, with a passion for helping nurses, patients, and doctors to ensure the highest quality care and efficiency.
Your job posting says you need someone skilled in medical coding, clinical procedures, and billing. I maintained a 4.0 GPA in all those coursework areas, with 5 commendations from instructors for attention to detail.
I'd love to talk with you about how my skills in time management and collaboration can support the Darben Sutton Medical Clinic's needs and goals.
Best Regards,
Sharon Beckstead, Medical Assistant
802-688-1353
sharonzbeckstead@gmail.com
PS—I'm also happy to explain how my 100% score in business and technical writing can translate to zero-error documentation at your clinic.
It’s a good moment to remind you that a cover letter only accompanies your resume. So, in case you don’t have it yet, here are our two guides for How to Write an Entry-Level Resume and First Time Resume With No Experience that can help you out. If the job ad requires it, send your cover letter and resume via email. Here is what you what you should write in the email.
Now read along to find out step by step how to write a cover letter with no experience. You’ll see templates right next to the instructions.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Here are 8 steps for how to write a cover letter with no experience:
First, before you get down to writing, find and note down all the information possible about the skills, qualities, and qualifications needed and wanted for the job. You’ll later use them to build your cover letter around them. Look for them in the job posting.
Make sure you also review the company’s website and social media to learn about the culture and values you’re hiring into. You can use that to refer to the same goals and prove alignment.
Expert Hint: Want to get a job “just to survive until you find something in your field?” A study by the Strada Institute shows you’ll still be in that dead-end job 10 years later. Your degree will be useless by then, and you’ll have to hit the reset button. Stick it out and stay in your field, even if it’s hard at first. You can always change tracks later with a career change resume and cover letter.
A cover letter for candidates without experience is like any other business letter. It needs a properly formatted cover letter header.
This is the template you can always use to get it right:
[Your Name]
[Title]
[Phone]
[Email]
[LinkedIn]
[Date]
[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[Title]
[Company]
[Address]
Here, you can’t be generic. Sending a generic cover letter breaks all the important rules:
So, to make your mark, stay formal and respectful in the address of your cover letter. Here are some good examples you can use:
Choosing one will depend on you finding out as much information as possible about the person recruiting and the person hiring.
In a cover letter with no experience, you need to get attention faster, than Usain Bolt finished his best sprint. And the good news is that there is more than one way to do that right in the opening. You can lead off your cover letter with:
But don’t break your neck to be creative. In a pinch, just give a few hard facts that show you’ll work hard. That’s an A-1 strategy.
Here’s a template that may come in handy:
Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
I am excited to apply for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. Though an entry-level applicant, I am eager to bring my [A Few Skills, Qualities, Or Achievements That Fit The Skills They Want] and contribute to your team’s success.
“Hire me.” Said nobody who ever got a job. Unless, of course, they gave a reason that made sense to the manager. So how can you do that? It’s actually pretty easy!
You just have to find out what skills they want and show when you’ve used them, even in a small way. Those achievements can be school accomplishments. You don’t have to shake the world. But they must show you’re at square 1 and not somewhere in the parking lot. That goes in the second paragraph of your cover letter with no experience.
See a template that can get you there:
Throughout my academic journey, I have grown a strong work ethic and a passion for a career in the [Your Field] field, as I am [Fact That Fits You To The Job]. I will make an excellent [Job Title] thanks to that passion, plus the following accomplishments:
Expert Hint: According to an NCES study, the employment rate for people who finish high school is 72%. Better still are college students at 79% and college grads at 86%. Think your education doesn’t matter in a cover letter with no experience? Think again, but you must use it to show skills the organization craves.
Remember the values and goals you read about in step 1? Now, it’s time to use that knowledge. In the last body paragraph, explain why you want to work for this company specifically by leveraging what you’ve learned about them. That’s your chance to build even better engagement with the reader. And, of course, a stronger case for your application.
Check out a universal template that will help you with that:
I am particularly drawn to [Specific Aspect Of The Job You’re Pursuing], as I believe that [Your Relevant Skills Or Qualities] closely align with [Requirements And Values] of [Company Name].
Your closing paragraph should reinstate your enthusiasm for the role and interest in applying. Is there a better way to do this than requesting an actual interview? Ask for one in your closing paragraph, and the only thing left for you to do is end it with a polite sign-off and your name underneath.
Here’s a template for you to close your cover letter without experience:
I am excited to show you how my [2 Skills They Need] can help [Company Goal] for [Company Name]. Could we set up a time to discuss your needs?
Best Regards,
[Full Name]
And here are some more examples of polite sign-offs:
Now that you’re done with the writing part, take care of the looks. The format of your cover letter must show you’re like a rocket, ready to blast off. And here’s what your cover letter should look like:
With ResumeLab’s resume builder you’ll write your resume in a flash. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.
Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You’re the perfect candidate and we’ll prove it. Just pick one of 21 resume templates and get started now.
Things you need to remember when writing a cover letter with no experience in the field:
Do you have questions about writing a cover letter with no experience? Check out the full guide on writing cover letters. Need more templates? Check out these free MS Word Cover Letter Templates. Let’s chat in the comments below. And thanks for reading!
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Don’t waste your time on mediocre resume builders. Pick one of the best resume apps and create your job-winning resume.
Olga Ber
Career Expert
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