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The Most Effective Ways to Write a Perfect Cover Letter [with Examples]Plato once said that the beginning is the most important part of the work. He didn’t say that in the midst of a job search, but he was right. Speaking of your cover letter, starting in a modest manner doesn’t pay off. Making a mighty entrance with designed career documents is what makes recruiters listen up (and call you back, eventually).The process of scanning applications has never been faster. Whether it’s your cover letter or your resume, either of them has just a few seconds to impress. And that’s the reason behind the introductory paragraph being the single most important part of your cover letter.Our cover letter guide will teach you how to transform its introduction into a captivating story that will help you land an interview. And we’ll not only tell you how it’s done, but we will also show you how to make it work in reality.While writing a cover letter, it is important to:1. Address your cover letter2. Target company needs3. Mention your mutual connection4. Show your passion5. Use humor and creativity1. To whom should I address my cover letter to?If you want to get to know someone, the first thing you need to know is their name. The same goes for the hiring process. Starting your cover letter with generic “Hello” or “To Whom it May Concern” is nothing extraordinary. But taking the time to look up the hiring manager’s name and starting with ”Dear Susan”? Pure gold.Personalize your cover letter and get closer to the person you’re talking to. Look in the job posting, on the company website or LinkedIn. Once you know the recruiter’s full name, start with ‘Dear Susan’ or ‘Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Camarena’. However, don’t use “Miss” or “Mrs” unless you know what’s the recruiter’s preference. “Ms” will work just fine and won’t comment on marital status.On the other hand, academic titles like “Dr” or “Professor” are definitely something to include.Still, there’s a chance your name search will for some reason fail. Don’t worry, then. You can either ditch the salutation altogether and start with the first line of the letter or use any of the following:Dear Software Team Hiring ManagerDear Hiring ManagerTo Whom it May ConcernDear [Company Name] Recruiter2. Target company needs.Remember that for virtually any job you’re going to compete with a bunch of other job seekers that are similarly qualified. One of the best ways to make your cover letter stand out is to highlight something about yourself that’s going to ring the bell with the recruiter.First of all, have a look at the job offer. It will be packed with company needs. Pick those that you can easily relate to. Then brainstorm an achievement that best fits the job description.Bring up a character trait, an accomplishment or a really impressive skill. Connect the dots between how your business value relates to the new job you’re hoping to score. Craft a captivating opening paragraph adorned with an impressive achievement.This will only make sense if you feature quantifiable results. Recruiters love seeing numbers so if you’re talking about “proven success”, don’t forget to provide numbers and stats to back it up.Company needs: Examples of how to start a cover letterDear Steve,I am so excited [Company XYZ] needs a marketing director skilled at storytelling and driving ROI for student travel. With my track record of boosting marketing ROI by 55% through storytelling and creative leadership, I think I’m a great fit.Over the past year as digital marketing manager at [Company XYZ] I’ve generated $50k+ in revenue, increased organic traffic to our blog by 18%, and almost tripled our social media ROI.Over the course of last year, I more than doubled [Company XYZ]’s Twitter followers and ran two successful Instagram ad campaigns that generated $35K+ in revenue. I’d love to bring my expertise in organically expanding the social reach and delivering ROI to the social media manager position at [Company XYZ].As a longtime fan of [Company XYZ]’s internal certifications, I was excited to see your project manager opening. With my experience cutting costs 65% for [Company XYZ] while dropping lead times 25% and boosting quality, I think I can help with [Company XYZ]’s current challenges as I continue to expand my skill set.2. Include company facts and news.Begin your cover letter with a little digging. To find some captivating cover letter openers, look for facts stemming from recent news about the company. Take time to browse their website and read news articles online. These sources can provide you with interesting facts that you can easily relate to. Who wouldn’t like to hire someone who already knows everything about their brand?Hiring managers treasure authentic enthusiasm because it tends to translate to motivated and highly successful employees. Kick-off your cover letter with a little (genuine) flattery. To avoid sounding insincere with your compliments, tell a story.Including the company news gives you a chance to sneak in your own values, too. Also, research shows that stories are up to 22 times more memorable than dry facts. Any specific event, fact, notable statistic or a recent award the company earned can be a good starting point of your narrative. Let’s say the company’s just won an award for its innovative solutions in the computer industry. Take advantage of it and follow up with how much you value forward-thinking methods in technology.Company facts and news: Examples of how to start a cover letterDear Nancy,The [Company XYZ]’s emphasis on employee development is why I’m so excited about this position. My 98% client satisfaction rate at [Company XYZ] owes a lot to my commitment to constant skills improvement. I’m excited to see where I could take your client KPIs within such a well-constructed system.When I saw that [Company XYZ] was featured in Fortune Magazine last month for its commitment to renewable energy and reducing waste in the workplace, I was truly inspired. With my track record of reducing costs by over 30% and promoting sustainable technologies, I’m excited about the opportunity to take on the account executive role to expand your company’s growth and work towards a greener future.Having grown up in Harlem, I understand firsthand why you’ve earned your reputation as one of the most visited burger places in New York. Since I was a teen, I’ve been hanging out at your restaurant every Friday. Now I want to impress your customers in the same way your staff has so graciously done for me.3. Highlight a mutual connection.You’ve managed to scramble a few decent accomplishments, but nothing groundbreaking. What else could you turn to? Use the strength of your professional network. Referrals can work their magic when it comes to getting an interview, so be sure to mention yours right away. Maybe you just happen to be friends with an ex-colleague that referred you to a position, company, or specific hiring manager. Make a strategic move and use the name right away in your cover letter.A valuable connection that can throw a positive light on your professional skills is worth its weight in gold. Name-dropping your mutual contact means there are professionals willing to back up your skills and vouch for you. After reading your cover letter, recruiters will most likely want to learn why your referrer thought you’d be a good fit for the position.And what if you’ve got no name to drop? Go out and network. Contact and meet people that work for the company. It’s one of the best ways to get closer to the job you’re hoping to score.Name-Dropping: Examples of how to start a cover letterDear Robert,Brad Smith suggested I apply to this position because she knows that my software solutions achieved 97% performance-to-goals at [Company XYZ] and that you’re looking for a developer what works with speed and absolute precision.I was excited to learn of this job opportunity from my former colleague, Lucy May. We’ve worked closely together for several years, most recently on a complex data analysis project at [Company XYZ]. She advised me to apply as she thought I’d be a good match for this position on your team.Justin Rosewood suggested I contact you regarding the Customer Service Representative position at [Company XYZ]. I met Justin last year when we volunteered together at a local mobile food bank. Working closely together allowed him to see my ability to genuinely connect with others, which is why he’s referred me to this role on your team.4. Show passion for what you do.None of the previous openers worked for you? Well, maybe the shiniest fact about you is your passion.The employer wants to see you’ll stay dedicated to the role and company. A motivated employee that comes with a strong work ethic has a great value. If you enjoy your job, you’re more likely to stick around longer, help drive company growth and become an enthusiastic member of the team. So if you’re all hype about the company, don’t hesitate to infuse your cover letter with a couple of sentences demonstrating your excitement about what the job entails.Passion: Examples of how to start a cover letterDear Sharon,When faced with the CPA exam in school, I told my mentor, “I want to blow this test out of the water,” and I did. Beyond my 98 average score across all four sections, a passion for finance has always been the guiding factor in my life. That’s why I’m so excited at the chance to work for [Company XYZ].Graphic design for jewelry shows has always been a passion of mine. My panel talk on jewelry graphics at the AIGA Design Conference was put on YouTube and retweeted 2,300 times.When I was young, all I wanted to be was a musician busking the streets of Chicago. Unfortunately, my guitar skills have faded over the years, but I still love to work with a crowd and entertain the masses — passions that I hope qualify me to become your new community manager.5. Use humor and creativity.First of all, recruiters are humans too. Amidst a pile of boring resumes and repetitive cover letters, they may find a good joke, juicy pun or funny opening line as a nice refreshing break (plus maybe a reason to call you up for an interview). Gauging your recruiters is a matter of educated guesswork. Would they appreciate some sass or snark? If so, peppering your cover letter with an anecdote will be an appropriate way to make them smile. And if they don’t? Erm, who knows.Besides being a nice tool to ease things off a bit, humor can be a part of a powerful explanation for why you’re the right person for the job. Listen closely to the tone of the job posting. Then you’ll be able to say whether or not to take the creative route.Humor and creativity: How to start a cover letter examplesDear Marilyn,Before I flood you with all the reasons why I’m going to be your next writer, I would like to tell you a little about myself. I didn’t learn to hold a pencil until I was about six years old, which made everyone think I’d never open a single letter. And now here I am, bidding to become your next Shakespeare.Have you ever met a guy checking his social media accounts bazillion times a day? Yep, that’s me, nice to meet you. I’m here to offer my expertise and become your full-time social media manager. Fortunately, I offer more value than a procrastinating kid. Let me tell you more.Gosh! Thank you so much for offering me the position of marketing specialist at [Company XYZ]! Well, I know we’re not quite there yet. But if we were, let me tell you what I’d do for you once a member of your team.KEY TAKEAWAYSThis guide has shown you several powerful ways to start your cover letter. Choose whichever suits you the best and the one that you can feel comfortable with. The rest of your cover letter is important, too. Each and every word and sentence should be there for a reason. If you want to bring it to perfection, check out our ultimate guide to writing a perfect cover letter and also take out any worn-out phrases and clichés that no one really wants to see. Finally, close your cover letter the way you opened it — with a style. For some real-world examples, head over to our help center to see a packed library of 50+ real cover letter samples from job seekers who got hired by leading brands like Microsoft, IBM or IKEA.

This was from Brian diChesare Founder MI"Summer internship recruiting is not dramatically different from full-time recruiting – you still get in via networking, having a solid resume, and then acing your interviews.But there are some differences and special considerations:NetworkingIdeally you will have started at least a few months in advance with contacting alumni, setting up informational interviews, and figuring out your story.This is more necessary if you’re at a non-target school than if you’re at a top school and already have a competitive profile: networking always helps, but if you have perfect grades and 2 internships at Goldman Sachs you will get (at least some) interviews anyway.If you have time to start in advance, you know the drill: start with informational interviews over the summer, continue with weekend trips in the fall leading up to recruiting season and make your “ask” just before interviews begin.If you have not started in advance and this is a last-minute effort, here are some tactics to try:Go to all the information sessions you can – these are held right before the application deadline, so you still have a shot even at the last-minute.If you’re at a non-target school, go to another school’s information sessions and sneak in if you can get away with it. Don’t kidnap someone and steal his/her student ID, but see if you can “borrow” a friend’s or otherwise talk your way in if security is tight. Some bankers frown on this, but others will be impressed thatyou were hungry enough to get in.Look up alumni on LinkedIn or in your alumni database and still set up informational interviews – but be more direct and ask how you can position yourself for a formal interview at the end of each conversation.Cold-call aggressively – this works better at boutiques and you should do it only if you have no other options and/or you made it through recruiting season without any offers.It’s not ideal to start networking at the last-minute, but it is slightly less of a deal-breaker than if you went into full-time recruiting with minimal networking.And if you already started months in advance, you’re well ahead of the game because most aspiring bankers don’t read this site and are still going to information sessions asking what it’s like being an investment banker.Resumes / CVsFirst, download and use this university student resume template if you’re an undergraduate or this MBA-level template if you’re at the business school level.Using one of those templates helps you avoid the most common mistakes like poor formatting, impossible-to-scan text, the temptation to be “creative” and make a video resume (please don’t or it will be forwarded widely and your life will be ruined), and so on.But much of your resume is beyond your immediate control: bankers place a heavy emphasis on your school name, where you’ve worked, and your grades – and you can’t change those at the last-minute.But you can control how you present your experience and what you focus on:At the MBA level write about the 2 or 3 full-time positions you had before going to business school, focusing on whatever was closest to finance; just 1 full-time position is OK if that’s all you have, but you may want to include an undergraduate internship or an activity you’ve been involved in for the sake of variety.If you have limited work experience as an undergrad, pick the 2-3 activities, sports, or competitions you’ve been most heavily involved in (see this tutorial and resume makeover for more). Hopefully you’ve held a leadership role in these.For example, you could write about a student investment fund that you’ve led, a nonprofit you’ve been volunteering with, and a case or investment competition you won.They don’t have to be finance-related, but it certainly helps when it comes time to tell your story and prove your interest in the field.If you’ve had a rotational internship or you’ve had actual finance experience, then devote at least half your resume to that and don’t write as much about unrelated activities.The specific format for each entry is the same as what’s in the tutorials above – pick a project-centric or task-centric structure depending on the experience and be as specific and results-oriented as possible.As usual, cover letters are mostly useless but there is a cover letter template right here if you need it – there are no differences for internships.InterviewsFor full-time interviews bankers focus more on your most recent internship, but for internship interviews you haven’t had as much experience – so they will ask more about your background before university or business school and the activities you’ve been involved in.You still need a solid story and then 2-3 mini-stories (see The Banker Blueprint for an explanation) that you can use to answer the usual questions about leadership, teamwork, strengths and weaknesses, and so on.The only difference is that you may rely more on your activities as an undergrad, or on your pre-MBA experience at the business school level.Going back to the example above, the interviewee might talk about where he’s from (the “beginning”), then use the case competition as his finance “spark,” and then talk about how he started the student investment fund for his growing interest (see the story tutorial for definitions of all these and the overall outline).The key challenge will be to convince bankers that you want to be in the field without sounding TOO certain and coming across as unrealistic – it is just an internship, after all.So rather than saying you want to be a banker for life, say that it’s what you’re most excited about doing and what you want to do full-time after graduation. You know it depends on how you perform in the internship, but that is what you’re most looking forward to right now based on your past experience, networking, and everything you’ve learned on your own.Technical QuestionsThe “bar” for technical questions is definitely higher than it was in, say, the 2000-2005 period.Back then, you might have gotten in with little technical knowledge, but these days you pretty much have to know accounting, valuation, and how to answer basic questions such as how changes to line items affect the 3 statements.And often you’ll get asked a lot more than that – it is not unheard of to get questions on merger models, LBO models, and so on even if you haven’t had banking experience and are going for summer internships.Generally you will not get as difficult questions if you don’t have a finance background and haven’t had previous internships, but there are no guarantees.You may get overwhelmed if you try to cram in everything at the last-minute, so this is another area where you want to start prepping at least a few weeks to a month in advance.Undergraduate vs. MBA DifferencesThere aren’t many: networking and interviews are similar, and your resume may look different but the basic idea is the same.The key difference is that bankers expect more polish if you’re at the MBA-level: they know that you’re good at BSing and talking your way into situations if you’ve made it that far, so they will ask more probing questions.An undergraduate might get away with a generic answer for the “Why investment banking?” question, but you will not: they will ask more detailed questions to see whether you’re being relatively truthful or you’re just good at making stuff up on the spot.Everyone else will also be networking, since that’s arguably the true purpose of business school – so you need to get started before you even arrive on campus.Technical questions in interviews may also take the form of case studies – whether written or informal discussions – more often at this level.Instead of asking how to value a company or the trade-offs of the different methodologies, bankers may ask about a specific company and walk through an imaginary scenario where someone else wants to acquire them, and then frame all the valuation questions in that context.So be prepared and read up on case studies – the private equity case study tutorial is also applicable here.InternationallyThe main differences:In addition to CVs and cover letters, you may also have to submit written answers to competency questions (more common in Europe).The interview process will also consist of an assessment center and case studies that you complete there (mostly Europe and Australia).In emerging markets, the recruiting process will be more unstructured and haphazard.For #2, see the existing guide to case studies and assessment centers.For #1, just pretend you’re answering interview questions but condense what you say into 200 or 300 words, or whatever the word limit is.Just like with cover letters, if you say something stupid it could come back to haunt you – but amazing answers won’t help you that much.Answer each question with a definitive statement (e.g. “My top 3 qualities are my work ethic, leadership, and ability to work in a team.”) and then give a specific example or two to back up what you say.Banks claim to pay attention to these questions, but overall they are less important than your CV and interview skills so don’t lose sleep over them.OffersGood news travels quickly: if you get an offer, you’ll probably hear back right away. If you don’t get an offer or you’re on the wait list, you won’t.And yes, before you start panicking, there are exceptions and banks don’t always do this.If you get an exploding offer, you pretty much have to accept it unless you have another offer lined up.For internships it is much better to take something – even if it’s at a boutique or middle-market bank – than to turn it down and take a chance on getting an offer at a much larger bank.Even with a lesser-known bank on your resume, you’ll still get interviews at bulge bracket banks for full-time recruiting – so the risk of not accepting an offer outweighs the potential upside of waiting and taking a chance on a better offer.You could renege on your summer offer but that has its own set of risks.And for summer internships it is arguably more risky than with full-time recruiting, because you may have to interview once again after your internship – if someone remembers that you reneged on an offer, that’s bad news for you.Plan B OptionsWhat if you go through recruiting and end up with no summer internship offers?Just take a look at the Plan B options here and here and cut out the ones that don’t make sense (e.g. business school or a Master’s program).Get as close to banking as possible – outside of PE/HF/VC the best options are probably corporate finance/development and wealth/asset management.The back office is not necessarily the kiss of death as it is for full-time work, but it is a step below client-facing / revenue-generating options.If nothing on that list works for you, start your own project, your own student club or investment fund, or something similar.Whatever you do, don’t just sit around or only take classes or study for exams and certifications because you’ll put yourself at an even bigger disadvantage.And don’t even think about the Best Buy option.This came from JP Morgan ChaseInternships for freshmen and sophomoresWho says you have to be a rising senior to spend a summer at J.P. Morgan? Not us. We welcome rising sophomores and juniors. If you are currently a freshman or sophomore in college, have strong academic qualifications and think you might like to work in Investment Banking, Sales & Trading, Research, Risk, Treasury Services, Public Finance and Investor Services, spend the summer at J.P. Morgan and find out. Also, check out our Early Advantage program open to freshmen and sophomores.Get a head startWe offer a nine-week Summer Analyst opportunity in New York designed for exceptional college freshmen and sophomores who demonstrate how they can contribute to the J.P. Morgan team.You will work on the same projects and be given the same opportunities as rising senior Summer Analysts. Internships are available in Investment Banking, Public Finance, Sales & Trading, Research, Risk, Treasury Services and Investor Services and will prepare you for possible future internships with J.P. Morgan and future full-time employment with the firm.As a Summer Analyst, you will have the opportunity to start your own professional network with other interns, colleagues and senior managers. And, you will be invited to senior manager lunches, receptions, firmwide presentations and other exciting events.What you need to bringMinimum GPA of 3.2There’s no set degree for interns but coursework in finance or economics will be useful.Proficiency in MS Word and Excel.Beyond that, what we’re most interested in are the things that make you, you: the personal qualities, outside interests and achievements beyond academia that demonstrate the kind of person you are and the difference youcould bring to the team.Training and developmentYou will have the same training opportunities as the rising senior Summer Analysts and will receive the training and tools you need to succeed. We also assign junior and senior-level mentors to every student who is offered a summer internship.Learn about usFor a competitive edge in the process, learn everything you can about J.P. Morgan before you apply. Be sure to visit our Advice Center for more information.Attending campus presentations and talking with J.P. Morgan representatives are great introductions to our firm and our people. Our campus events will give you a chance to meet the colleagues with whom you may work one day. It's never too early to start networking. We urge you to attend as many of these events as possible, and meet as many of our people as you can. It will not only give you a fuller view of what the firm has to offer, but you'll come to know if the culture is a fit. Also, when it comes time to interview, our people are more likely to remember you! Check with your campus career office for information about presentations, résumé drop deadlines and our interview process

Let me walk you through all the things we did to bring you the biggest Kickresume release ever.We’ve redesigned all landing pages, overhauled the typography and user experience, improved ATS compatibility, added new templates, colors, fonts, guides, and much, much more.We discussed all the changes to the resume and cover letter templates with external HR experts and recruiters. In fact, we even hired an in-house HR expert to ensure that your resume meets (and exceeds) all their expectations and requirements.First, we had a data analyst analyze how you use our resume templates. We asked questions like: Do people in different industries prefer different templates? What customization options do they most frequently use? And so on.Based on this information, we had a typographer (his name is Martin and he’s got an incredibly keen eye for detail) redesign all our templates. He adjusted the typefaces, line heights, spacing and margins, and all the little details that make text easily readable and beautiful to look at. It’s the same person who designed our new logo (but more on that later).Finally, our team of developers, who have been with us for since the very beginning, overhauled the PDF rendering engine and turned all these designs into reality. It was no simple task but here we are — it’s real!New user interface has been given a new, cleaner look which is more in line with our new visual identity.It also lets you see more information inside a single screen. You don’t have to leave the editing screen to make changes to any part of your resume.In the end, the new Kickresume is easier to use than ever, faster than ever, and better looking than ever.Now you can access our resume guides from inside the resume builder. Simply click “Examples & Guides” in the top-right corner to switch from the live preview to our integrated career center.You can also access the individual section guides by clicking the friendly Pablo button next to each section while editing your resume.We’ve also improved the protection of your data, which now meets even higher industry standards. A leading security firm (we cannot name it due to confidentiality) did a thorough security audit of Kickresume, penetration testing, and so on. Kickresume passed the audit with flying colors and no data was compromised.We’ve also beefed up our infrastructure to handle the ever growing traffic to our website, and obtained an SSL certificate from Digicert.