sample cover letter for co op student

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Co-op & Career Centre

Write the best cover letter ever.

Posted on Tuesday, March 7th, 2017

What’s the deal with cover letters? Are they necessary? Should you use a template? If the employer doesn’t specify they want one, should you even bother?

The answer, of course, is yes. You should bother. In fact, you need to bother. It’s so easy to shoot off a resume to every single possible job being advertised, and employers know that. By taking the time to craft an excellent cover letter, you prove to employers that you truly care .

Think of your cover letter as your first impression to a potential employer. It is the first chance you have to separate yourself from the crowd and make a positive impression on your future boss. It’s a way of showing yourself to be a well-rounded human, more than a list of work experience and skills (that’s what your resume is for).

Employers are also crazy busy. By having a beautiful, well-written cover letter, you’ll catch their eye. You want to make sure your cover letter is really standout.

[Algonquin co-op students: Module Three in your Co-op 1000 Blackboard course has all this information and more! Be sure to read your modules before applying to co-op jobs.]

Set Up Your Letter

The first thing you always need to do is carefully read the entire job description. Employers sometimes have very specific expectations for your cover letter, resume, and overall application. They may require you to include certain information in your cover letter. If you don’t follow those instructions, your application is going in the trash.

It is tempting to get fancy with cover letters, but remember that you want to make it as easy as possible for employers to read. Date the letter, address it to the hiring manager by name, use a clear 12-point font, and keep your whole letter to four short paragraphs. Remember: presentation matters. Keep it professional.

Now you know what the employer expects from you. It’s time to start writing your cover letter.

Paragraph 1: Introduce Yourself

Your first paragraph should be a quick introduction of yourself. You want to answer the employer’s immediate questions: who you are, where you come from, and how you found their job posting.

It can be as simple as, “My name is __ and I’m in the __ program at Algonquin College. I’m interested in the position of __ that you are currently advertising at __.

[Important note for Algonquin co-op students: do not say that you found the job on HireAC. Employers don’t know what that is. Instead, tell them that you found the position through the Algonquin College Cooperative Education Department.]

Paragraph 2: Sell Yourself

The best way to look at your cover letter is as a marketing tool for yourself. It’s how you show the employer that you are the best person for the job.

How do you do this?

The first step is to read the job description very carefully and make a list of all the skills and requirements the posting indicates. Then, take a look at your work/school/volunteer history. You want to draw a correlation between the work that you’ve already done, and the work that you’re applying to.

This is more than just listing jobs you’ve done. Draw out the specific skills and experiences you’ve had that make you capable of doing the work the potential employer is advertising. For example, don’t just say that you worked retail; instead, explain how you increased sales, how you learned leadership skills, how your time management improved, or how your communication skills developed.

This is why it’s so important to individually tailor each cover letter to the specific job you are applying for. Each job is going to list particular skills, and you need to make sure that your cover letter matches up.

Paragraph 3: Flattery

Google the company you’re applying to and find their ‘about’ page. Head over to news.google.com and search the company name to see what the press is saying. Research, research, research, and find some strong, viable reasons why the prospect of working for that company excites you.

Including a section about the company shows the employer that you really care about this position and that you took the time to do your research. Companies want employees that are enthusiastic about their work, so take a couple of sentences to explain what excites you about the organization.

Paragraph 4: Reiterate

Your final ‘paragraph’ should really just be a sentence. Think of it as a thesis statement. Repeat once again why you, and only you, are perfectly suited for the position. Thank the employer for their time. Sign off with ‘sincerely’ and your name. Easy, right?

Proofread to Infinity and Beyond

Guys, we talk about this a lot, but it’s very important: employers will throw out your application if they find typos or errors .

Do not reply on spellcheck, either. Have someone you trust review your cover letter. Even try reading it aloud: this will help you understand if your sentences are flowing well together. Proofread, and then proofread again.

Follow these steps, and you’ll be well on your way to having a fantastic cover letter.

Algonquin co-op students: want some extra help writing your cover letter? Contact the co-op office today to set up an appointment with your consultant. Visit our website at https://www.algonquincollege.com/coop/ , connect with us at [email protected] or call us at 613-727-4723 Ext.7623.

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Cover Letter Guide

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A cover letter is a formal business letter that complements your resume by illustrating how your interests & experience relate to the position for which you are applying. It is a primary marketing tool for a job seeker. It is an opportunity for applicants to provide vivid narratives that enhance an application. While some employers do not require a cover letter, we strongly recommend it because it gives the applicant a strategic advantage.

Why write a cover letter?

• To convince an employer that you are the right candidate for the open position. Demonstrate an understanding of how your education, interests, and experience fit the job description. Show the employer that you have researched the company and that you want to work there. Express enthusiasm and interest in one or more of the following: the job, the company, or their products/projects!
• To showcase your communication skills. Employers want proof that you can communicate effectively in writing. Effective cover letters show your ability to make a thesis statement and support it with descriptive examples. Every job demands clear writing.
• To demonstrate that you can craft a formal business letter. You will most likely utilize formal writing skills in some capacity at your future place of employment and you will certainly need to follow directions. NOTE: A specific format is expected and necessary in business letters.

Tips & Tricks

• Write a unique cover letter for each job application: never use the same cover letter to apply to every job of interest.
• Keep a positive tone. Focus on what you can offer. Do not mention experience or skills you lack. Never cite a negative experience.
• Be concise, clear, and convincing. No fluff!
• Indicate availability. When writing a cover letter for co-op, state the semester you are available. When writing for a full-time job, state the month you will graduate.
• Keep the cover letter to ONE page, and a maximum of 4 paragraphs. • Avoid repetition of verbs and phrases – use a thesaurus and our Action Verb handout.
• Consider printing a job description and highlighting key phrases. Use similar language when writing a focused cover letter that is specific to the role and company to which you are applying.
• Avoid summarizing all of your relevant skills in the cover letter! Prioritize 1 or 2 and write about a strong example of each. The rest of your relevant qualifications should be visible on your resume.
• Be selective when pulling from your resume: Only use experience & skills that pertain to the job description.
• Expect to write several drafts of a cover letter – your Co-op + Career Advisor can help you!
• Proofread to assure that your letter is error free: review spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure.
• The heading of the cover letter should match your resume – they are a pair, not two separate documents.
• Any letter you send should be signed with a signature. Create an image file of your signature and insert it into every cover letter.

How to send a cover letter

• Upload to an application platform as a PDF or Word document.
• Save as the second page of the resume — one document with two pages.
• Attach to an email as a PDF.
• Copy and paste the cover letter into the body of an email.

• The header on your resume & cover letter should match. They are a pair.
• The company contact & their information go here. If you have no name or job title, do research to find them. If you still are missing information, skip the first 1-2 lines.
• Write the date formally: November 2, 2024
• If you cannot find a name, write “Dear Hiring Manager:”
• Get permission before using someone’s name so they will be comfortable and prepared if asked about you.
• Use the middle two paragraphs to tell two good stories or examples supporting your claim in the first paragraph: you are an excellent candidate for the job. Do not list every one of your qualifications. Your resume does that already. If there are additional skills that you wish you could mention in your cover letter, make sure they appear in your resume. An interested reader will look at both documents.
• If you will have no phone access for a while, provide another way to speak (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.) Email is not good enough!
• Create an image file of your hand-written signature and insert into each cover letter.