Professional Undergraduate Cover Letter Examples for 2024

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Your undergraduate cover letter must demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position. Show them that you've done your homework about the company. Illustrate your relevant skills and academic achievements. Connect these directly to the job's requirements to stand out.

Writing your undergraduate cover letter can often feel like a roadblock in your job hunt. You've polished your resume, started applying, and suddenly you hit a wall: the dreaded cover letter. How do you craft a compelling narrative without rehashing your resume? It’s about striking the perfect balance between formal tone and fresh, cliché-free content, all wrapped up in a concise one-page story that spotlights your proudest professional moment. Let’s embark on this journey together to ensure your cover letter stands out for all the right reasons.

Discover our guide on writing your undergraduate cover letter with tips and tricks on how to:

  • Introduce your profile to catch recruiters' attention;
  • Use professional templates and examples to make sure your undergraduate cover letter follows the best industry standards;
  • Settle on your most story-worthy achievement to shine a light on what makes your application unique;
  • Write a undergraduate cover letter, even when you lack professional experience.

Ready to start with the basics: upload your resume to Enhancv's AI, below, to see the undergraduate cover letter it would write for you.

Undergraduate cover letter example

TAYLOR FOSTER

Riverside, CA

+1-(234)-555-1234

help@enhancv.com


Dear Hiring Manager,

I've had the opportunity to delve into the core of cloud infrastructure and web development during my tenure at Salesforce, a testament to my dedication to advancing in this dynamic field. My academic accomplishments, coupled with my practical experience, align seamlessly with the innovative work culture at your esteemed company.

Among my key achievements was when I took the initiative to resolve a critical bottleneck affecting the performance of our cloud systems during my summer internship at Salesforce. Through meticulous root-cause analysis, I identified a flaw in the service configuration that had gone unnoticed. By devising a streamlined solution, I was instrumental in enhancing the system's efficiency, evidenced by a notable 30% improvement in incident resolution time. This experience reinforced my problem-solving aptitude and underscored my capability to significantly contribute to a team focused on technical excellence.

I am eager to bring my background in cloud engineering and my proactive approach to problem-solving to your team. It would be a privilege to discuss how my experience and skills will be beneficial to your company's objectives, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to further explore potential contributions during an interview.

Sincerely, TAYLOR FOSTER, Computer Science Undergraduate
What makes this cover letter good:


  • Highlighting relevant experience: The cover letter mentions a specific achievement during the candidate's summer internship at Salesforce, showcasing their hands-on experience with cloud infrastructure and problem-solving abilities.
  • Demonstrating impact: The letter quantifies the candidate's contributions by stating a "30% improvement in incident resolution time," which helps the hiring manager understand the tangible value the candidate can bring to the team.
  • Proactive attitude: The cover letter emphasizes the candidate's proactive approach to identifying and solving problems, which is a highly valuable trait in the fast-paced tech industry.
  • Alignment with the company's culture: The candidate mentions their alignment with the "innovative work culture" at the company, suggesting that they're not only a fit for the role technically but also culturally.

What about your undergraduate cover letter format: organizing and structuring your information

Here is one secret you should know about your undergraduate cover letter assessment. The Applicant Tracker System (or ATS) won't analyze your cover letter.

You should thus focus on making an excellent impression on recruiters by writing consistent:

  • Header
  • Greeting
  • Introduction
  • Body paragraphs (and explanation)
  • Promise or Call to action
  • Signature (that's optional)

Now, let's talk about the design of your undergraduate cover letter.

Ensure all of your paragraphs are single-spaced and have a one-inch margins on all sides (like in our cover letter templates).

Also, our cover letter builder automatically takes care of the format and comes along with some of the most popular (and modern) fonts like Volkhov, Chivo, and Bitter.

Speaking of fonts, professionals advise you to keep your undergraduate cover letter and resume in the same typography and avoid the over-used Arial or Times New Roman.

When wondering whether you should submit your undergraduate cover letter in Doc or PDF, select the second, as PDF keeps all of your information and design consistent.

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The top sections on a undergraduate cover letter

  • Header: Includes your contact information, the date, and the employer’s contact information, which is essential for making sure your cover letter reaches the right person and they can easily reply to you.
  • Greeting: A formal salutation addressing the hiring manager by name conveys your attention to detail and genuine interest in the position.
  • Introduction: Briefly introduces who you are, your educational background, and the specific job you are applying for, helping the recruiter understand your intentions immediately.
  • Body: Describes your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that pertain to the role, demonstrating how your academic and extracurricular experiences make you a perfect fit for the position.
  • Closing: A professional closing that reiterates your enthusiasm for the role, includes a call to action encouraging the recruiter to contact you for an interview, and thanks them for considering your application.
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Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter

As the job title was not specified in the prompt, I'll provide a general list of qualities, experiences, and traits that recruiters often prioritize in undergraduate cover letters across various roles. If you have a specific job title in mind, please provide it, and I can tailor the list accordingly.

  • Academic excellence or relevant coursework: Demonstrates the ability to master job-related knowledge and concepts.
  • Internships or related job experience: Shows practical experience and an understanding of the work environment.
  • Leadership roles in student organizations or projects: Highlights management potential and team collaboration skills.
  • Volunteer work or community involvement: Reflects a commitment to social responsibility and strong ethical values.
  • Technical skills specific to the industry: Indicates readiness to contribute practically from day one, reducing training time.
  • Effective communication skills: Essential for teamwork, customer interactions, and clarity in professional settings.

What matters most when tailoring your undergraduate cover letter salutation

Your undergraduate cover letter greeting should feel welcoming to recruiters.

Use their first name (e.g. "Dear Marshall" or "Dear Sara"), if you've previously been in touch with the hiring manager and are on a more friendly basis.

If this is the first time you're contacting the recruiters, start your undergraduate cover letter with:

  • their last name (e.g. "Dear Ms. Ali" or "Dear Mr. Stevens") - look up who's the hiring manager for the role on social media or the company website;
  • generalized greeting (e.g. "Dear HR Team") - just don't use "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam".
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List of salutations you can use

  • Dear Hiring Manager,
  • Dear [Department] Team,
  • Dear [Mr./Ms./Dr.] [Last Name],
  • Dear [Mr./Ms./Dr.] [Last Name] and Team,
  • Dear [Team or Department Name] Hiring Committee,
  • Dear [Job Title] Search Committee,

Get creative with your undergraduate cover letter introduction

Recruiters are going to assess plenty of candidate profiles for the role. Thus, anything you do to stand out will win you brownie points.

Use your undergraduate cover letter introduction to share something memorable about your experience.

But before you go down the rabbit hole of creativity and humor, align your message with the company culture.

For example, if you are applying for a role in some startup, use those first two sentences to tell a funny story (about your experience) to quickly connect with the recruiter.

Intro Paragraph
With a deep appreciation for [Company's] innovative approach to [industry-specific concept], I am keen to contribute to your team's success while growing my skills within a forward-thinking environment.
RIGHT

What comes next: your undergraduate cover letter middle paragraphs

In the next three to six paragraphs (or the body of your undergraduate cover letter) you have to prove your unique value.

Most candidates tend to mess up at this stage. They tend to just copy-paste information from their resume.

That's one big no-no.

Remember that when writing your undergraduate cover letter, it has to be personalized. And, your ultimate aim is to catch the recruiter's eye.

So, look back on key job requirements and write down a list that includes the ones you cover.

Next, select just one key achievement from your professional (or personal) history that meets those advert keywords.

Narrate a story around how you've grown your skill set and knowledge. Also, aim to show the unique understanding or soft skills you bring about, thanks to your past success.

Body Paragraph
As the lead on a crucial project at my university's tech club, I successfully spearheaded the development and launch of a mobile app that streamlined event registration, leading to a 30% increase in student engagement. This experience honed my project management and coding skills, demonstrating my ability to innovate and execute solutions that drive performance and user satisfaction.
RIGHT

A sincere and original way to end your undergraduate cover letter

When writing their undergraduate cover letter, candidates tend to use one of these phrases, "Sincerely yours" or "I look forward to hearing from you".

Both statements show good manners, but your cover letter should end in a more actionable manner.

Write about:

  • how you see yourself growing in the role/organization;
  • the benefits you would bring about (you'd impress even more with tangible metrics);
  • the next steps in the process (provide your availability for interviews).
Closing Paragraph
I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to discuss how my skills align with the goals of your team and to schedule an interview at your earliest convenience.
RIGHT

Lacking experience: here's how to write your undergraduate cover letter

As a candidate with no experience, it's important to be honest from the get-go of your application.

Use your undergraduate cover letter to sell your unique talents. Choose an accomplishment from your academic background or your volunteer work to show the skills that are relevant to the role.

Focus on your career objectives and how you see the job to align with them. Be specific and, at the same time, realistic about where you picture yourself in five years.

Key takeaways

Writing your undergraduate cover letter doesn't need to turn into an endless quest, but instead:

  • Create an individual undergraduate 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 undergraduate 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 undergraduate 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 undergraduate cover letter like any good story - with a promise for greatness or follow-up for an interview.
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Volen Vulkov
Volen Vulkov is a resume expert and the co-founder of Enhancv. He applies his deep knowledge and experience to write about a career change, development, and how to stand out in the job application process.
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