Embarking on a job hunt, you may find yourself needing to craft an MBA cover letter that stands out. It's not just a repeat of your resume; it's your chance to share a compelling story about your proudest professional moment. Striking the right balance between formality and originality without resorting to clichés can be challenging. Plus, fitting it all on one page adds to the pressure. In this guide, we'll navigate these common hurdles together, ensuring your cover letter shines.
- Write a mba cover letter that helps you stand out (and get the job);
- Understand how to start and end your mba cover letter with the appropriate greeting;
- What to include in the body of your mba cover letter to put your best foot forward;
- Your most important achievements - how to present them as part of your mba cover letter.
And if you want to make your life even easier, simply drag and drop your mba resume into Enhancv's AI cover letter generator, and it will write your cover letter for you in just a few moments.
If the mba isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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MBA cover letter example
ISABELLE TODD
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- Quantifiable Achievements: Mentioning specific results such as "elevating customer retention by 35%" and "boosting paid search ROI by 150%" provides concrete evidence of the candidate's abilities and impact on past roles, which is compelling for hiring managers.
- Relevant Experience: Highlighting experience that is closely related to the role, such as leading a PPC marketing team, directly demonstrates the candidate's suitability for the job and their potential to bring value to the company.
- Alignment With Company Goals: The cover letter shows the candidate's awareness and understanding of the company's commitment to innovation, indicating they have researched the company and are already thinking about how they can contribute to its objectives.
- Call to Action: The candidate effectively closes the letter by expressing an eagerness for an interview, demonstrating their proactive approach and interest in engaging further with the hiring process.
What are the basics of the design or format of your mba cover letter?
To start, here's a reminder for you: the Applicant Tracker System (or software that is used to assess candidate profiles), won't be reading your mba cover letter.
Recruiters enjoy reading mba cover letters with a standardized format that uses:
- the same font as the resume (e.g. modern ones like Raleway or Volkhov are prefered over the clichéd Times New Roman or Arial);
- single spacing to keep the content concise and organized (this is all ready for you in our cover letter templates);
- a one-inch margin to wrap around the text, like in our cover letter builder;
- PDF as a file format, as it allows your design (and visual element) to stay the same.
Finally, we can't go on without mentioning the key sections of your mba cover letter.
In the top one-third, make sure to include a header (with your contact information, name, role, and date), a salutation, and an introduction.
Next, follows the heart and soul of your mba cover letter or its body.
End your mba cover letter with a closing paragraph and, if you wish, a signature.
The top sections on a mba cover letter
- Header with Contact Information: Include your name, address, phone number, email, and date at the top of the cover letter so the recruiter can easily identify and contact you.
- Greeting with Personalization: Start with a professional greeting, and if possible, address the recruiter by name to add a personal touch and show that you've done your research about the company.
- Introduction Stating MBA Relevance: In this section, briefly introduce yourself with a focus on your MBA background, and explain why the degree makes you a strong candidate for the managerial or analytical roles typical in an MBA job search.
- Body Highlighting Experience and Skills: Break down your relevant experience, achievements, and specific skills acquired through your MBA program that apply directly to the job you're applying for, such as strategic planning, leadership, and financial acumen.
- Closing with a Call to Action: Conclude by reiterating your interest in the position, expressing your desire to discuss how your MBA and professional background make you the ideal candidate, and suggest a meeting or interview to discuss further.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Strategic Thinking and Vision: Recruiters look for candidates with the ability to develop and implement long-term strategies, understanding how decisions impact the overall direction of a business.
- Leadership and Management Skills: An MBA applicant should demonstrate past leadership experiences, highlighting abilities to manage teams, motivate staff, and drive business results.
- Analytical and Problem-Solving Abilities: Being able to dissect complex issues, use data-driven analysis, and come up with effective solutions is crucial for MBA roles.
- Financial Acumen: A solid understanding of financial principles, budgeting, and financial analysis is key as many MBA roles require managing budgets and making financial decisions.
- Effective Communication: The ability to convey ideas clearly and persuasively in both written and verbal form is essential for MBAs who often lead teams and present to stakeholders.
- Adaptability and Innovation: Recruiters value candidates who can adapt to changing business landscapes and contribute innovative ideas to keep the company competitive.
Personalizing your mba cover letter salutation
Always aim to address the recruiter from the get-go of your mba cover letter.
Use:
- the friendly tone (e.g. "Dear Paul" or "Dear Caroline") - if you've previously chatted up with them on social media and are on a first-name basis;
- the formal tone (e.g. "Dear Ms. Gibbs" or "Dear Ms. Swift") - if you haven't had any previous conversation with them and have discovered the name of the recruiter on LinkedIn or the company website;
- the polite tone (e.g. "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear HR Team") - at all costs aim to avoid the "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam", as both greetings are very old-school and vague.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Specific Person's Name],
- Dear [Department] Team,
- Dear [Mr./Ms. Last Name],
- Dear [Professional Title],
- Dear [Company Name] Recruiter,
What to include in those first two sentences, or your mba cover letter introduction
Have you ever wondered what the best way is to present your profile in the mba cover letter introduction?
There's no right or wrong answer if you're being concise and authentic to yourself.
Some professionals start their mba cover letter by:
- congratulating the company - focusing on something impressive, whether that's an award, an industry-leading project, or a key event;
- aligning their passion for the field or industry with the job - if you're enthusiastic about what you do, you'd thus grow your skill set and value as a professional.
Storytelling in the middle (or body) of your mba cover letter
You've got your whole resume sorted, detailing your achievements and skills. What else can you write in your mba cover letter?
For starters, take the time to re-assess the job requirements and re-discover the most crucial skills and requirements (or keywords).
After making a list of these important keywords, look back on your experience to select just one of your past accomplishments.
Choose the achievement that is the most noteworthy, relevant to the role, and matches the required skills.
Use the next between three and six paragraphs to narrate how:
- you've grown your skill set, thanks to your achievement;
- you'd use the know-how you've gained in your new role;
- your accomplishment could help your potential employers grow.
Remember that recruiters don't need a retelling of your whole resume, but want to find out what makes you, you.
Finishing off your mba cover letter with what matters most
So far, you've done a fantastic job in tailoring your mba cover letter for the role and recruiter.
Your final opportunity to make a good impression is your closing paragraph.
And, no, a "Sincerely yours" just won't do, as it sounds too vague and impersonal.
End your mba cover letter with the future in mind.
So, if you get this opportunity, what do you plan to achieve? Be as specific, as possible, of what value you'd bring to the organization.
You could also thank recruiters for their interest in your profile and prompt for follow-up actions (and organizing your first interview).
Addressing limited to no experience in the mba cover letter
There's nothing to worry about if you lack professional experience.
Your mba cover letter could bridge the gaps in your professional history by focusing on what matters most to recruiters, that's either:
- skills - focusing on transferable ones you've gained, thanks to your life experience (e.g. volunteering, certificates, etc.);
- achievements - select the most relevant and noteworthy one from your history (e.g. education, projects, etc.);
- motivation - describe how you envision your professional growth in the next up to five years, thanks to this opportunity.
Key takeaways
Writing your mba cover letter doesn't need to turn into an endless quest, but instead:
- Create an individual mba cover letter for each role you apply to, based on job criteria (use our builder to transform your resume into a cover letter, which you could edit to match the job);
- Stick with the same font you've used in your resume (e.g. Raleway) and ensure your mba cover letter is single-spaced and has a one-inch margin all around;
- Introduce your enthusiasm for the role or the company at the beginning of your mba cover letter to make a good first impression;
- Align what matters most to the company by selecting just one achievement from your experience, that has taught you valuable skills and knowledge for the job;
- End your mba cover letter like any good story - with a promise for greatness or follow-up for an interview.
MBA cover letter examples
Explore additional mba cover letter samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
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