As a hiring manager, I often tell my search committees to pay attention to an applicant’s cover letter, especially if their resume leaves us wondering why they’ve applied for a role in our office. For some applicants, the role that they apply for is directly connected to their past experiences or their education, but more often applicants are looking for new opportunities because they’ve accomplished all they can in their previous roles. While a resume highlights a lot of great accomplishments and can emphasize certain skills in action, it only tells a hiring committee what you’ve done and not what you enjoy doing; that’s what the cover letter is for.
Consider a resume and cover letter a package that highlights your qualifications for the role that you’re applying for and the culture that you’ll be joining. When I review applicant materials, I find a lot of candidates that I could make the argument for being a good fit for a role, but I turn to the cover letter to see if the candidate has identified why the role is right for them. Most times the cover letter provides narrative details to the resume but falls short when answering “why?”
Does it take time to write a good cover letter? Yes. Do you have to start from scratch every time? Absolutely not. Customizing a cover letter to a role certainly requires your attention, but if you dedicate some time to crafting a solid template at the beginning of your job search, the rest becomes much easier.
First, review the job/internship post on Handshake, LinkedIn, or company job board and highlight the key phrases that touch on skills, competencies, “candidate fit” criteria that you align with. As you craft your cover letter, these will be the pieces you use to customize it! Below you will see a paragraph-by-paragraph breakdown of what a cover letter might look like. As you read on, the bolded text represents information that is being pulled from the job posting and is specific to the role that you’re applying to—as you work through your own draft, do not keep the text bold.
Paragraph 1: This is dedicated to introducing yourself and identifying the role that you are applying for and a reason why you’re interested in doing so.
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am excited to apply for the Global Sales Summer Internship at Delta Air Lines. As a rising senior pursuing a degree in Data Science at the University of Georgia, I am drawn to the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in sales strategy, account management, and client relationships while contributing to Delta’s world-class reputation in the aviation industry.
Paragraph 2: Dedicate this space to a reflection of your past experiences rather than a retelling of items on your resume. Identify relevant skills that you would bring to the role you’re applying to.
Through my experiences, I have grown into a professional who thrives in dynamic and client-focused environments. Tutoring students taught me the importance of tailoring strategies to meet individual needs and how to communicate complex information clearly and effectively. My time in customer service sharpened my ability to remain composed under pressure, adapt to competing priorities, and build positive relationships with a wide range of individuals. Additionally, managing phone inquiries and scheduling appointments honed my organizational skills and attention to detail, while reinforcing the value of professionalism and a solution-oriented mindset. Together, these experiences have shaped my ability to collaborate, problem-solve, and prioritize effectively in fast-paced, team-driven settings.
Paragraph 3: This is where you focus on the company. Identify what you bring to the table and what you hope to gain from the experience. It doesn’t hurt to visit a company website and read the “About Us” section to find out about mission, vision, and values!
In this internship, I am eager to leverage my analytical mindset and communication skills to assist with developing sales strategies and fostering key account relationships. My proficiency in MS Office tools, especially Excel and PowerPoint, positions me to contribute to data-driven decision-making and impactful presentations. I am confident that my collaborative nature and detail-oriented approach will make me an asset to Delta’s Global Sales team. Furthermore, I am inspired and motivated by Delta's commitment to consciously promoting and creating a sense of belonging for all people.
Paragraph 4: Finally, this last paragraph expresses gratitude for the reader’s time and reiterates enthusiasm for the role while also inviting the interview.
Thank you for considering my application. I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to learn from and contribute to Delta’s Global Sales Organization. I welcome the chance to discuss how my skills and experiences align with this role and can be reached at myemailaddress@email.com or at (123) 456-7890. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
Data Science Student Name
Once you have a draft, schedule a 15-minute Career Quick Chat on Handshake to have a member of our team review what you have so that you can move forward with confidence. One final thought—if you re-read your letter and you are more energized by the role that you’re applying for because you can actually see yourself in it, you’ve done it right!