Your cover letter is a chance to show who you are beyond just your resume. A strong cover letter needs to explain why you want the job and what skills you can bring, even without work experience. Your school activities, volunteer work, and personal qualities are valuable things to share. These experiences show employers that you’re responsible and ready to work.
Example Cover Letters Tailored to High School Graduates
A great cover letter shows your enthusiasm and makes you stand out. These five templates will help you create your own perfect letter.
Template 1 – Retail Position
Dear [Manager Name],
I am excited to apply for the Sales Associate role at [Store Name]. As a recent graduate of [School Name], I learned valuable teamwork skills through my involvement in [Activity]. My strong math abilities and friendly personality make me a good fit for your team.
Template 2 – Office Assistant
Dear [Hiring Manager],
Your Administrative Assistant position caught my eye. At [School Name], I maintained organized records as Class Secretary and typed 45 words per minute. My attention to detail and computer skills align well with your needs.
Template 3 – Restaurant Work
Dear [Manager Name],
I am writing about the Server position at [Restaurant]. Through my cafeteria volunteer work at [School], I gained experience handling food safely and providing friendly service. I work well under pressure and enjoy helping customers.
Template 4 – Child Care
Dear [Director Name],
The Daycare Assistant role interests me greatly. My experience babysitting and leading activities at [Church/Organization] taught me patience and responsibility. I love working with children and helping them learn.
Template 5 – Entry Level Manufacturing
Dear [Manager Name],
I am applying for the Production Assistant position. My shop class experience at [School] taught me to follow safety rules and quality standards. I have perfect attendance and strong attention to detail.
1. Starting Your Cover Letter
A strong cover letter opening grabs attention and sets you up for success. The right header, greeting, and first paragraph make employers want to keep reading.
Creating a Professional Header
The top of your cover letter needs your contact details lined up neatly. Put your full name, phone number, email, and address.
Example
- Full Name
- Street Address
- City, State ZIP
- Phone Number
- Email Address
Keep it simple – use the same font and format as your resume. Make the text easy to read with standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman.
Writing an Engaging Greeting
Start with a proper greeting to make a good first impression. Avoid “To Whom It May Concern” when possible. Look up the hiring manager’s name on the company website or LinkedIn. Using their name shows extra effort.
Examples
- “Dear Mr. Smith”
- “Dear Ms. Johnson”
- “Dear Dr. Williams”
- “Dear Hiring Manager”
- “Dear [Company Name] Team”
- “Dear Human Resources Manager”
- “Dear Selection Committee”
- “Dear [Department] Department”
- “Dear Recruitment Team”
- “Dear [Position] Search Committee”
Opening Paragraph Strategies
Your first paragraph needs to grab attention right away. Tell why you want the job and what makes you a great fit.
Strong opening lines:
Examples
- “I am excited to apply for the [position] role at [company]”
- “Your posting for a [position] caught my attention”
- “As a high school student with strong [skills], I am eager to join [company]”
- “My passion for [field/industry] drives me to apply”
- “Your company’s mission to [goal] inspires me”
- “My experience in [activity/skill] makes me ideal for this role”
- “I learned about this opportunity through [source]”
- “My [relevant skill] would benefit your team”
- “My track record of [achievement] aligns with this position”
- “I admire [company]’s commitment to [value/goal]”
Keep this paragraph short and focused. Pick 2-3 key points about why you’re applying.
2. Presenting Your Qualifications
Your first job cover letter needs to highlight your best qualities and show employers what makes you a great fit. List your achievements, activities, and skills that match the job requirements.
Highlighting Academic Achievements
Strong grades prove you work hard and take your responsibilities seriously. You might want to mention specific classes related to the job you want.
Examples
- “Earned Honor Roll status for four consecutive quarters”
- “Maintained a 3.8 GPA while taking advanced math courses”
- “Selected for National Junior Honor Society”
- “Received Perfect Attendance Award”
- “Completed AP Computer Science with an A grade”
- “Named Student of the Month in Business Education”
- “Earned top marks in Public Speaking class”
- “Achieved Excellence in Writing Award”
- “Selected for Accelerated Math Program”
- “Recognized for Outstanding Academic Progress”
Featuring Extracurricular and Volunteer Experiences
School clubs and volunteer work show you can manage time well and work with others. You can share these experiences using clear examples.
Examples
- “Led weekly student council meetings as Class President”
- “Organized food drive collecting 500+ items”
- “Coached youth soccer for two seasons”
- “Managed ticket sales for school plays”
- “Volunteered 100+ hours at local animal shelter”
- “Created fundraising events for school band”
- “Tutored middle school students in math”
- “Helped organize school recycling program”
- “Served meals at homeless shelter monthly”
- “Planned and ran after-school reading club”
Showcasing Relevant Skills and Experience
Match your skills to what the job needs. Think about what you’ve learned from class projects, babysitting, or helping family members.
Examples
- “Trained new volunteers at the library”
- “Handle cash register transactions accurately”
- “Work well in fast-paced environments”
- “Comfortable using Microsoft Office”
- “Strong problem-solving abilities”
- “Good at explaining complex topics simply”
- “Meet deadlines consistently”
- “Learn new tasks quickly”
- “Work well independently and in teams”
- “Speak Spanish and English fluently”
3. Displaying Personal Traits
Your personal traits can set you apart from other job seekers. Strong character qualities and abilities make employers take notice of your potential, even without work experience.
Emphasizing Soft Skills
Think about times you worked well with classmates or helped solve problems.
Examples
- “I helped new students feel welcome by giving tours of our school”
- “My teammates counted on me to keep everyone focused during group projects”
- “I stayed calm when handling disagreements in student council”
- “Teachers often picked me to lead class discussions”
- “I found ways to include everyone’s ideas during team activities”
- “My listening skills helped me understand different viewpoints”
- “I enjoyed bringing people together to work toward common goals”
- “Classmates often asked me to explain difficult concepts”
- “I adapted quickly when project requirements changed”
- “My organization skills helped our club events run smoothly”
Describing Work Ethic and Eagerness to Learn
Share your dedication to growth and improvement. Use examples from school, clubs, or volunteer work.
Examples
- “I always completed homework assignments ahead of schedule”
- “I asked for extra practice problems to improve my skills”
- “I came early to basketball practice to work on my technique”
- “I watched online tutorials to learn new computer programs”
- “I took notes during club meetings to track my progress”
- “I sought feedback from teachers to enhance my work”
- “I volunteered for extra responsibilities in school events”
- “I practiced presentations until they were perfect”
- “I read industry magazines to learn about my future career”
- “I used summer breaks to build new skills”
Illustrating Creativity and Passion
Share examples of your unique ideas and enthusiasm. Talk about projects or activities that sparked your interest.
Examples
- “I designed new posters for school events”
- “I created innovative solutions for recycling at school”
- “I wrote original stories for our school newspaper”
- “I developed fun ways to teach younger students”
- “I brought new fundraising ideas to our club”
- “I combined different art styles in my projects”
- “I found creative ways to explain math to classmates”
- “I started a study group with unique learning games”
- “I improved our club’s social media presence”
- “I invented new ways to organize group activities”
4. Relevant Job Experience
Your first job search needs work experience to impress employers. Job experience comes in many forms, from paid positions to volunteer work to internships that build valuable skills.
Part-Time Jobs and Summer Work
Working part-time shows employers you can handle job duties and manage your time. List any retail, food service, or customer service jobs with specific duties.
Examples
- “Trained 5 new team members on register operations”
- “Handled up to $2000 in daily cash transactions”
- “Served 100+ customers during peak hours”
- “Organized inventory and restocked merchandise”
- “Maintained clean and safe work environment”
- “Followed food safety and sanitation procedures”
- “Processed customer payments and returns”
- “Assisted customers with product selection”
- “Completed opening and closing procedures”
- “Managed social media accounts”
Internships and Networking Opportunities
Internships give you real work experience in fields that interest you. They help you meet people who can guide your career.
Examples
- “Supported marketing team with campaign research”
- “Created content for company social media”
- “Analyzed data and prepared reports”
- “Participated in team strategy meetings”
- “Designed graphics for presentations”
- “Coordinated with multiple departments”
- “Documented project progress”
- “Researched industry trends”
- “Developed new filing system”
- “Assisted with event planning”
Community Service and Volunteer Positions
Volunteer work builds leadership and teamwork skills. It shows you care about helping others.
Examples
- “Led group of 10 volunteers in beach cleanup”
- “Tutored students in math and reading”
- “Organized food drive collecting 500+ items”
- “Planned activities for senior center residents”
- “Created fundraising campaign materials”
- “Managed volunteer schedule and assignments”
- “Supervised children’s art activities”
- “Coordinated donation collections”
- “Built houses with Habitat for Humanity”
- “Distributed meals at food bank”
5. Concluding Your Cover Letter
The end of your cover letter needs a strong finish that leaves a positive impression and creates a clear path for future contact.
Expressing Continued Interest in the Position
Your closing paragraph should show excitement about working at the company. Pick one of these endings to wrap up your letter:
- “I am excited about the chance to join your team and help grow the business.”
- “Your company’s values match my own, and I would love to be part of your success.”
- “I look forward to learning more about this role and sharing how I can contribute.”
- “My energy and willingness to learn make me a great fit for this position.”
- “I’m eager to bring my customer service skills to your restaurant team.”
- “This role matches my career goals, and I’m ready to start right away.”
- “I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can help your business.”
- “My strong work ethic would make me a valuable addition to your team.”
- “I’m ready to put my skills to work and grow with your company.”
- “Working at [Company Name] would be an amazing start to my career.”
Offering Thanks and Contact Availability
Let employers know you’re easy to reach and grateful for their time. Try these closing statements:
- “Thank you for reviewing my application. You can reach me at [phone] or [email].”
- “I appreciate your time and look forward to speaking with you soon.”
- “Please contact me at any time to discuss this opportunity further.”
- “I’m available for an interview at your convenience.”
- “Thank you for considering me. I check my email regularly and respond quickly.”
- “I welcome your questions and am free to meet any weekday after 3 PM.”
- “You can reach me at [phone] between 9 AM and 8 PM.”
- “I’m grateful for your consideration and hope to hear from you soon.”
- “Feel free to contact me through any method that works best for you.”
- “Thank you for your time. I look forward to discussing this role in person.”
Specifics for High School Students
A strong cover letter shows potential employers your skills and eagerness to work. Your unique experiences from school activities and volunteer work can help you stand out.
Adjusting the Cover Letter for First Jobs
Start by mentioning your grade level and school name. Link any relevant coursework to the job you want. “I learned teamwork as captain of the debate team” works better than just listing activities.
Include your volunteer work and extracurricular activities. A food bank volunteer experience fits well for a grocery store job application.
Some good skills to highlight:
- Meeting deadlines with school projects
- Working in groups for class assignments
- Managing time between studies and activities
Mention specific achievements with numbers when possible. “I raised $500 for our school fundraiser by organizing a bake sale” tells more than “I helped with fundraising.”
Customizing for Different Job Roles
Match your skills to what each job needs. For a retail job, talk about your experience handling money in the student store.
Sample skills for common first jobs:
- Retail: Customer service from school events
- Food Service: Following safety rules in science lab
- Office Work: Computer skills from typing papers
Use action words in your descriptions:
- Organized team practices
- Led group projects
- Trained new club members
Keep job requirements in mind when writing. A barista position needs different skills than a summer camp counselor role.