We Won’t Lie About This..

Finding a job as a new graduate is hard.

The numbers speak for themselves…

More than half of recent four-year college graduates (52%) are underemployed a year after finishing their degree. Not only that, even ten years later, 45% still don’t have a job that requires a four-year degree. [1][2]

This issue is not new. It’s longstanding. It has plagued recent graduates for decades, and was exacerbated after the 2008 crash. The New York Fed interrogated and complained about this problem nearly ten years ago (New York Fed). The trends were bad then, and they remain bad today.

Studies back this up as well. For the past two decades, data has shown that the struggles new graduates face in finding employment are nothing new. It’s an accepted fact that recent grads often have a hard time transitioning into the job market, and it’s assumed they just “need time” to find that elusive suitable job (ResearchGate).

Leaving such euphemisms aside, we plan on getting to the heart of the issue.

And while we take a holistic approach to helping new grads get good jobs, it’s worth taking a moment in this article, and talking about what it means to be a new grad as far as the job market is concerned, and the importance of cover letters for new grads.

New Grad Challenges

Being a new grad comes with its own set of additional difficulties. It puts your job search on the hard mode.

Lack of Experience

As a new grad, you face a significant barrier: limited work history. With minimal professional experience, proving your value to potential employers is challenging, especially when they often demand a proven track record before they even look at you.

(Pro Tip: We have gone to considerable lengths around this issue, and created “The Language of Value” and “The Instant Track Record Formula” frameworks to resolve the “you lack real world job experience” problem. See Launch Your Career for details.)

High Competition

The job market is saturated at the entry level. Very, VERY saturated.

Standing out among a sea of applicants, many of whom have more experience or established networks, requires more than just your degree.

Financial Pressure

The urgency to secure employment is real. Financial constraints push you to find work quickly, often forcing you into roles that don’t align with your qualifications or career goals.

While you are not alone in facing this financial pressure, the level of pressure you experience is much higher as a new graduate compared to someone who already has a “few jobs under their belt”.

Job Market Skepticism

Misleading job postings and exploitative opportunities make the job search even harder for new grads.

By the way, we’re not saying that you are naive and more likely to fall for scams because you are young. Not at all… What we’re saying is that, more scammers target new grads because they assume new grads are going to be more desperate and willing to try things out.

You must navigate the job market carefully, and avoid positions that promise much but deliver little, exploiting your desperation for a job.

Cover Letter For a New Grad

A cover letter is one of your key weapons in a job search that’s stacked against you. It’s more than just a formality; it’s a chance to directly address the issues you face as a new grad.

That’s its entire point as far as you are concerned: to handle objections head on.

Why It’s Important

Your cover letter serves as a crucial tool to overcome the barriers of limited experience and intense competition. It’s your opportunity to make a strong first impression by showcasing your potential and fit for the role in a way that your resume never can.

In a saturated job market, a compelling cover letter can make you actually stand out and convince employers to give your application a serious look.

How You Need To Use Your Cover Letter

You can highlight your relevant skills and experiences, even if they’re limited, and demonstrate how they align with the job’s requirements.

It’s also a platform to express your enthusiasm for the role and your understanding of the company’s needs.

Use it to frame your resume’s achievements in context, providing a narrative that makes your application memorable.

Of course, there are many details, and many, MANY nuances to each of those points. But, as a starting point, your keywords are going to be:

  • Skills demonstration
  • Enthusiasm
  • Company needs
  • Narrative control

Writing an Effective Cover Letter for New Grads – Principles

To get started, you may want to catch up with some of our resources:

Assuming you have some of these basics, we can now focus on what is important for you in writing a cover letter as a new graduate…

The principle is simple:

YOU MITIGATE YOUR SHORTCOMINGS AS A NEW GRAD, DON’T HIDE THEM OR PRETEND THEY DON’T EXIST

You cannot fool anyone by trying to distract from or avoid your shortcomings. The goal is to address these issues directly and resolve them effectively.

Handle Their Biggest Objections in Your Cover Letter

You need to confront the obstacles head-on.

Lack of Experience

Focus on relevant projects, internships, and academic achievements that showcase your capabilities. Utilize The Language of Value framework to clearly demonstrate your potential.

Standing Out in a Saturated Job Market

Highlight any unique experiences or skills that set you apart from other candidates. Use specific examples that align with the job’s requirements to make a strong case for your candidacy.

Urgency Makes You Look Needy

Be cautious about how urgency is perceived. While financial pressure is real, appearing desperate can diminish your value. Present yourself as a confident and capable candidate rather than one driven solely by urgency.

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast…

Job Market Skepticism

Address any doubts about your ability to perform the job effectively. Clearly outline how your skills and experiences prepare you for the role. Demonstrate your understanding of the job’s demands and your readiness to “hit the ground running”.

That’s a lot to manage in a cover letter. True.

But it can be done. And when it’s done, it makes a big difference.

Write Your First Draft

You start by writing your first draft. It need not be perfect. It needs to be done.

Instructions

  1. Start with a Strong Opening: Captures the employer’s attention. Clearly state the position you’re applying for and briefly mention how you learned about the job opportunity.
  2. Address the Employer’s Needs: Directly align your skills and experiences with the job requirements. Use specific examples to show how your relevant projects, internships, or academic work make you a good fit for the role.
  3. Handle Objections Directly: Confront any potential objections related to your lack of experience or other concerns. Use The Language of Value framework to articulate your capabilities.
  4. Highlight What Sets You Apart: Emphasize any unique experiences or skills that differentiate you from other candidates. Provide concrete examples that demonstrate how you stand out.
  5. Showcase Your Enthusiasm and Understanding: Convey genuine interest in the role and the company. Demonstrate your understanding of the company’s needs and how you are prepared to meet them.
  6. Address Financial Urgency Cautiously: While it’s important to convey that you’re eager to start working, avoid appearing desperate. Focus on your strengths and readiness to contribute effectively rather than highlighting financial pressure.
  7. Conclude with a Call to Action: Include a polite call to action, such as scheduling an interview.

Example Cover Letter for Recent Graduate

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I am writing to express my interest in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name] as advertised on [Job Board/Company Website]. With a recent degree in [Your Major] from [Your University] and relevant experience through [internships/projects], I am eager to contribute to your team.

During my time at [University], I completed [specific project or internship], where I developed [specific skills]. This experience has equipped me with a solid foundation in [relevant field/skill], which matches the requirements for this role.

While I understand that my professional experience is limited, I have effectively completed [specific projects] that achieved [specific outcomes]. For example, my [specific achievement] showcases my ability to [specific skill or task relevant to the job].

Although I am eager to start my career, I assure you that my focus remains on finding the right match where I can contribute effectively for many years. 

I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss how my background and skills align with the needs of your team. Thank you for considering my application.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

This approach ensures your cover letter is strategic, addresses potential concerns, and effectively communicates your qualifications.

Improve Your First Draft

Of course, your first draft is only your starting point. Once you have it written down, you want to go over it many times and incorporate improvements.

We recommend the following improvements for new graduates:

Research and Customization

Make your cover letter stand out by showing you’ve done your homework. This is extremely important,  especially for new graduates and early career professionals…

Part of what you want to do when you apply for a job, is to convince the hiring manager not you are “willing to work hard to get things done.” In this context, saying that you are willing to work hard is meaningless.

You have to show them that you’re willing to work hard.

And of course, one of the easiest ways to demonstrate that you’re willing to work hard, is to actually work hard on your application – and make it painfully clear that you have worked hard to submit your application.

This means, doing your homework.

Research the company’s mission, recent projects, and industry trends. Learn the real details. Spend time investigating their story. Research their personnel. Make sure you have stories to tell.

For instance, if you’re applying to a tech startup focused on sustainable technology, mention what you have learned about their green projects, advocacy or media appearances. Then, relate your mention to your own story – such as how your coursework in environmental science and your internship at a green tech firm align with their goals. 

Of course, it’s not enough to show them that you’ve done your homework without creating the appropriate bridge with your cover letter – otherwise it looks weird. 

You need to tailor everything in your letter to reflect how you’re uniquely suited to help them achieve their specific objectives. For example, if they’ve recently launched a new product don’t just mention that you know about their launch, but also explain how your specific professional experience could contribute to its success.

Highlighting Relevant Academic and Internship Experience

You need to use your proximity to academia as a strength rather than a weakness. Leverage the  institutional power of academic credentials and your association with your field in your communications with companies.

Use specific examples from your academic and internship experiences that directly align with the job. If the job requires project management skills, for instance, describe a project you led during an internship, outlining the challenges you faced, your role, and the successful outcome.

This is a thinly veiled attempt to name drop, and it’s fine…

Just be sure to highlight your examples with concrete details: “During my internship at XYZ Corp for ABC University, I led a team of three on a market analysis project, which resulted in a 20% increase in client acquisition.” (This is just like typical resume writing, but stuffed inside paragraphs instead of bullet points.)

Spoon Feed Them Your Skills

Don’t assume the reader will connect the dots. Clearly outline your skills as though you’re explaining them to someone who has no background in your field. 

Think – talking to an eight year old, but without being condescending.

For instance, if the job requires technical proficiency with data analysis, explicitly state, “I am proficient in Python and SQL, which I used extensively during my internship to analyze data sets and generate real world insights.” Never mind the fact that both languages are implicit in data analysis, because as far as HR is concerned; what’s implicit is ignored.

Of course, you need to make sure every skill you mention is directly related to the job’s requirements.

Professional Tone and Precision

Keep your language professional and direct. Avoid using generic phrases like “hardworking” or “eager to learn.” Instead, focus on specifics: “I have developed strong analytical skills through my coursework in data science and my role as a research assistant, where I utilized these skills to contribute to published research [links].” 

This approach avoids clichés and makes your qualifications clear and compelling. Again, don’t stop there – fully incorporate The Language of Value.

Proofreading and Perfection

Review your cover letter carefully to catch any mistakes. Use online tool (Google Docs is fine) or ask a friend to proofread it. Ensure there are no typos or grammatical errors.

A letter that incorrectly spells the company’s name or uses the wrong job title will eviscerate your professionalism. A well-polished cover letter reflects your attention to detail and commitment to quality.

Conclusion

A tailored, precise cover letter is crucial for success in the job market as a new grad.

It’s not a hassle, even if it feels like one…

It is your opportunity to address your unique challenges head-on, showcase your relevant skills, and differentiate yourself from other candidates. 

Remember: No one owes you a job. No one even owes you any attention.

That being said, when you follow the formulas we’ve shared with you and utilize our frameworks, no one can stop you either.

It’s like wind and sailing: you set your sails up the right way, nature does the rest, and you reach where you want to go. 

Cover letters are about human nature. When you create them the right way, human nature does all your work for you.

And as a new grad, you only have to do this right once.

You’ve got this.