How To Write A Cover Letter For A Job With No Experience In That Field

Most people run into this problem at least once in their professional careers. They’re looking to get a job but have no experience. This can happen if you’re just entering the workforce for the first time. It also happens to people who have decided to take their career in a different direction.

So what do you do when it’s time to write a cover letter, but you have no experience in that field. It’s time to take stock of your experiences and make the most of them. If you want this job, there is a way to make yourself a standout in the applicant field and get the job.

What Is a Cover Letter?

The first thing is to contemplate what a cover letter is. It’s simply an introduction to the company. Of course, your cover letter might be read by a hiring manager or a recruiter, but they’ll be serving as the representative for the company.

It’s also your first impression, so this is your chance to stand out and be recognized. A well-crafted cover letter will get you noticed and get the person reading it interested enough to want to know more.

In your cover letter, you don’t have to list all of your experience. That’s for the resume. The first hurdle you have is this cover letter, which should make it a lot easier. Writing a cover letter can be difficult, but it shouldn’t be a problem if you take it piece by piece and section by section. Luckily for you, there is a basic formula to cover letters.

The Cover Letter Format

If you’re a creative person, you might instantly cringe at the idea of a formula. You might also wonder why you’d ever use a formula if the entire purpose of a cover letter is to make you stand out from the crowd and get noticed.

The formula is just to help you hit the important parts of a cover letter. After that, you can get as creative as you want. It’s more about the words you choose than the way you compile them.

• Header. This is where you list the contact information for you and the person you’re reaching out to.

• Greeting. To Whom It May Concern is pretty typical, and it’s not the best approach. Instead, try to find out who exactly your letter is reaching and then use their name.

• Opening paragraph. This is your chance to grab their attention.

• Second paragraph. This fills out the cover letter a bit and lets them know why you’re the best candidate. It’s all about you.

• Concluding paragraph. It’s already time to sum up your cover letter. Highlight why you’re the fit they want and what you bring to them. This is all about them.

• Closing. Make sure to thank them and offer to supply additional information, if necessary. This is typically only a sentence or two. Then sign off with a polite and professional close and follow it by your name. We highly recommend putting your email and phone number under your name so they can get in touch with you immediately. Some people also include a link to their professional portfolios or their LinkedIn profile.

That’s it, the cover letter formula. There’s not really any place in there where you’re required to list your job experience, and the more creative you are, the more they won’t notice. But it’s clear that in the body there, a little experience could go a long way. So how do you handle that?

How to Write a Cover Letter With No Experience

The first thing you should do before writing any cover letter is review the job listing carefully. As you re-read it, pay attention to what the company is looking for.

Are they looking for someone who has to deal with the public? If so, you might have some good communication skills to highlight. Are they looking for an organized person? Do you have those skills? Do they want a leader? Have you been in the position of a leader in your life?

Next, go to the company’s website and see what they’re all about. A website can tell you a lot about a company but what’s most important to you now is their “personality.”

Yes, a company has a personality. Is the company very professional, or do they pride themselves on being laid back and fun? What are their company values, and how do you fit in? This is all important information.

As you were researching, what made that job jump out as one you desperately want? If you want it, why? Try to figure out what you bring to the company, why you’d be the best fit. If you don’t have any professional experience, do you bring enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, outside experience, or talent? These are the things you’ll focus on in your cover letter.

Cover Letter with No Experience Example

Now that you’ve got some ideas let’s see if we can make them gel with an example of what a cover letter might look like for our imaginary person.

Notice how our applicant has no experience as an editor. She doesn’t even necessarily have the appropriate degree. We do know she’s taken some English classes, though, so that’s nice. But what comes across is that she has a talent and a passion. That’s what’s important.

Many hiring managers realize that an engaged employee will succeed in their company, even if they’re not experienced, qualified, or a professional. Sometimes training an interested candidate can work out better than hiring the most experienced person. This is what you need to bank on when you’re writing your cover letter.

Template for Cover Letter With No Experience

As we mentioned above, there is a formula to cover letters. This can make it very easy for you to start. We suggest following this template initially and plugging in the information. Then, going back and tweaking it to make it more interesting and a standout. Here’s your basic starting cover letter template.

Final Thoughts

Don’t fear the cover letter when you don’t have any job experience. It’s actually the perfect introduction for you. This is your chance to explain why you’re a great choice for so many other reasons. Let them know you can be trained to do the job, but the other skills you bring are not trainable, which is why you’re the best applicant.

Your resume is the place where you’re meant to list all of your professional skills and experience. This is where it can get tricky if you don’t have any experience or all of your experience is in another field, which is why a cover letter is ideal.

If you’ve done it well, you’ve already piqued their interest, and they’re ready to overlook your lack of experience in the field. You’ve moved ahead of other candidates already if you can accomplish this.

Author

Kristin Kizer

Kristin Kizer is an award-winning writer, television and documentary producer, and content specialist who has worked on a wide variety of written, broadcast, and electronic publications. A former writer/producer for The Discovery Channel, she is now a freelance writer and delighted to be sharing her talents and time with the wonderful Zippia audience.