Entry-Level Counseling Text-Only Cover Letters
Years of Experience
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Raymond Ortiz
123 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected]
April 11, 2022
Mr. Matthew Johnson
Hiring Manager
WFT Society
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
Dear Mr. Johnson:
During a 90-day internship last fall, I was praised on all three formal reviews for my dedication to connecting recovering alcoholics to relevant social services. I hope to bring that same dedication to WFT Society as a Substance Abuse Counselor.
I’m intrigued by your group’s mission to reduce alcoholism in lower-income families, as that was the focus of my recent internships at two nonprofits. Through these experiences I gained a passion for helping people take steps (however small) to recover from alcohol dependency through influential new mindsets and patterns of behavior.
My work highlights and qualifications also include the following:
- Compiled a new, expanded list of job placement agencies and support groups, offering individuals a better sense of local resources based on their specific life situation
- Recently graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology
- Nearly 11 months’ combined internship experience helping efforts to guide people out of alcohol addiction and dependency, with focus on active listening and group facilitation
I look forward to potentially telling you more about how I can help your organization, and am available to talk at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Raymond Ortiz
Mina Sayed
123 Bridge Street, Boston, MA 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected]
April 11, 2022
Ms. Meiling Li
Hiring Manager
U.B.E. University
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
Dear Ms. Li:
On completing a three-month, on-campus internship for my master’s degree in counseling, I earned high marks for my diligent support of and communication with a diverse student population. I hope to bring that same dedication to U.B.E. University as a Counselor for Student Affairs.
Your job posting intrigued me as I’d love to support your goal of delivering timely and compassionate services to students in distress. This was the cause I found most engaging through the course of my internship at my school’s health clinic.
My work highlights and qualifications also include the following:
- Consulted closely with students to help them address personal crises and locate additional mental health resources in the region as needed
- Thrived on a cross-functional, 15-member team of student counselors and other health clinic professionals
- Recently completed Master’s Degree in Counseling with concentration in Clinical Mental Health
I would welcome the chance to discuss my skills further. Please call or email me to arrange an interview. I will follow up with you soon to confirm you received my resume and see if you have any initial questions.
Sincerely,
Mina Sayed
Jasmine Brown, CATC
123 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected]
April 11, 2022
Mr. Caleb Morris
Hiring Manager
JDO Health Services
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
Dear Mr. Morris:
During my recent Substance Abuse Counselor internship, I was praised by my manager for performing thorough needs assessments and developing viable treatment plans for clients. I hope to bring that same level of diligence to your organization as a Substance Abuse Counselor.
I’m drawn to your group’s mission to help people address and overcome substance abuse challenges. What motivates me most is helping efforts to combat the opioid crisis and other urgent drug problems in our city. I believe I can support these efforts based on my skill and experience in these areas:
- Communication: Effectively engaged with diverse groups and individuals, making sound use of cognitive-behavioral intervention methods
- Organization: Created and continually honed an efficient system for managing intake forms and other client documents
- Collaboration: Built positive relationships with other members of the treatment team, and submitted feedback and ideas that contributed to an updated mission statement
The enclosed resume contains a full overview of my recent work and academic experience. I look forward to hearing from you and possibly learning more about this job opportunity soon.
Sincerely,
Jasmine Brown, CATC
Entry-Level Counseling Cover Letter Tips
Below are three essential tips you should follow in working on your cover letter:
1. Show your “soft skills” in action
For counselors in issues like substance abuse and mental health, so-called “soft skills” like empathy, patience, and communication are key. But how can you emphasize those strengths in a clear and compelling way? One good strategy is to couple each skill with an active statement that shows how you applied the skill to bring about a positive result.
Example
- Communication: Effectively engaged with diverse groups and individuals, making sound use of cognitive-behavioral intervention methods.
- Organization: Created and continually honed an efficient system for managing intake forms and other client documents.
2. Align with the organization’s mission
Counselors advance essential causes like reducing opioid addiction and helping people navigate mental health issues. When drafting your cover letter for a counselor job that intrigues you, take up the organization’s stated mission and state how it aligns with your own. Doing so will show the hiring manager that you are ready to support their unique efforts.
Example
I’m intrigued by your group’s mission to reduce alcoholism in lower-income families, as that was the focus of my recent internships at two nonprofits. Through these experiences I gained a passion for helping people take steps (however small) to recover from alcohol dependency through influential new mindsets and patterns of behavior.
3. Start your letter with a specific career highlight
Countless cover letters begin with a broad general statement like “Please accept my enclosed application to your [Title] job opening.” But statements like this are stuffy and unnecessary — if the hiring manager is looking at your cover letter, they already know they’ve received your application.
Give your letter a fresher intro by cutting to the chase with a specific, factual statement of one of your work highlights. When the highlight aligns with a reader’s hiring needs, it can catch their attention in the same way the job posting caught yours.
Example
Dear Mr. Johnson:
During a 90-day internship last fall, I was praised on all three formal reviews for my dedication to connecting recovering alcoholics to relevant social services.
