When writing your cover letter for high school jobs, focus on how you can apply your secondary education in your target role. Express your interest in the employer, and cite the relevant skills you’ve gained through your work, school, extracurricular, or other life experiences so far.
This guide will help you write a cover letter that gets you interviews for a job during or right after high school.
High School Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
How To Write a High School Cover Letter
Even if you’ve never had a job, you’ve probably gained useful skills through your education or other experiences. An effective high school cover letter focuses on those capabilities so hiring managers see you’re ready to excel in a work environment. Below, we outline what to include in a cover letter and explain how you can properly focus each section.
1. Heading
At the top of the page, include:
- Your resume contact header, which should give your full name, address, email, phone number, and LinkedIn or other social accounts if applicable
- The date
- The recipient’s name, title, organization, and contact information (when available)
Note: Feel free to omit this section when sending your cover letter as an email message as long as your contact details are part of your email signature. Look for instructions in the job posting on whether to send by email message or attachment. When the posting doesn’t specify, it’s your choice – just bear in mind email messages are increasingly common, but an attachment is often still better for more formal applications to large employers.
Example
John Jones
High School Student | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | 111 Address St. Miami, Florida 55555
April 1, 2024
Jane Smith
Head Chef
Jane’s Cuban Restaurant
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
2. Salutation
Address your recipient by name as in the first example below – this is the quickest way to show you’re sending a job-specific letter and not a boilerplate. If you can’t find the person’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager” so your greeting is still tailored somewhat to each job opening.
Examples
Dear Mr. Chang,
Dear Sullivan’s Steakhouse Hiring Manager:
3. “Hook” or introduction
Catch the reader’s attention by citing an achievement from your high school or other experiences so far. Feel free to adapt a bullet highlight from your resume, as some repetition across documents is fine and can make your job application more cohesive. But choose carefully. The highlight that opens your letter is often your first impression on employers. Pick one that’s compelling and relevant to the job so managers can quickly envision you adding value to their team.
Alternatively, you can set yourself apart by networking. This approach is especially useful if you’re applying to your first job and/or have trouble choosing an experience highlight. Begin your letter by citing any personal or professional connections you have with the hiring manager. If someone at the organization alerted you to the job, use a line like “I was excited to hear from your colleague [Name] about [Company]’s new [title] position.” Or, if you’ve already met your recipient, mention that with a line like “It was great speaking with you at the job fair last week.”
Example
Last year, I achieved 99.8% positive feedback in my part-time server role. Reviews mentioned my outstanding menu knowledge, friendly attitude, and willingness to go above and beyond to ensure perfect service. I hope to create incredible diner experiences as a server at Sullivan’s Steakhouse.
4. Job- or employer-specific paragraph(s)
Here’s where you can tell the employer directly why you want the job, bringing your candidacy into sharp focus. Read the posting again closely, then write two or three sentences responding to it. What interests you about the job’s main role or duties? And what appeals to you about the organization’s industry, size, or work culture? (It often helps to brainstorm your answers on a separate document or piece of paper first.) Consider quoting any text from the job posting that resonates with you. With this targeted approach, you can show the hiring manager you’re interested in their specific job opportunity.
Following this explanation, cite a few more of your skills or achievements, possibly as bullet points.
Example
Your establishment’s inclusion in Miami’s Top Ten Cuban Restaurants list for the last five years running makes it my top choice to begin my post-high school culinary career. Armed with my associate degree in culinary science, I can now:
- Maintain exceptional quality standards in food storage, preparation, and presentation
- Prepare your existing dishes to perfection using precision in recipe duplication
- Create new, exciting Cuban-inspired menu items and specials
5. Call to action
Finally, request an interview for the position. Consider briefly restating your skills to maintain the letter’s focus through the last paragraph. If the job posting names a certain time commitment, you can also use this section to clarify how your school schedule would pose no conflict. To end your cover letter, use a simple closing like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” and then your name.
Example
I would love to meet to discuss how I can help Sullivan’s Steakhouse achieve its goals. Please don’t hesitate to get in contact to schedule a convenient interview.
Sincerely,
Astrid Bower
High School Cover Letter Tips
1. Show you’re ready to apply your secondary education
Unless you already have work experience, start your letter with a detailed example of your success in high school to date. Have you studied subjects or completed school projects that relate to the job opening at hand? Or have you done extracurricular activities that gave you useful soft skills or technical skills?
Example
In my final year at Dover High School, I received the highest mark in my cohort for my marketing elective coursework. My teachers praised my detailed understanding of consumer behavior and strong insights into effective sales techniques. I am excited to apply this knowledge as a retail associate at GameStop.
2. Tell why you're a good fit
In two or three brief sentences, describe what you have in common with the position or employer. For instance, maybe you share the company’s focus on excellent service, as reflected by your “Employee of the Month” awards at your last retail job. Or maybe the role interacts with many Spanish-speaking customers, a language you’ve earned honors in at the AP level.
Example
Your company’s reputation for warm and attentive service is the perfect match for my customer-centered ethos. As a recent high school graduate with a committed work ethic, I can become an asset to your service team.
3. Highlight your relevant strengths
Add a short list of bullet points to show your skill in key work areas for your target job, such as group leadership or customer service. In addition to your high school experiences, feel free to cite highlights from any past jobs, internships, volunteer positions, or even personal milestones like running a marathon. Just make sure they all speak to the role you’re now pursuing.
Example
My recent achievements include:
- Ranking in the top 10% for upselling in my store during the Christmas period in 2023
- Being selected to coach three new hires to use the point-of-sale system
- Receiving an email of thanks from a customer for my outstanding service after helping her find the ideal gift for her son’s 18th birthday
High School Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Astrid Bower
High School Graduate | [email protected] | (876) 543-2109 | 420 Second Street, Wilmington, DE 53197
April 23, 2024
Barney Chang
Senior Hiring Manager
Sullivan’s Steakhouse
(998) 877-6655
[email protected]
Dear Mr. Chang,
Last year, I achieved 99.8% positive feedback in my part-time server role. Reviews mentioned my outstanding menu knowledge, friendly attitude, and willingness to go above and beyond to ensure perfect service. I hope to create incredible diner experiences as a server at Sullivan’s Steakhouse.
Your company’s reputation for warm and attentive service is the perfect match for my customer-centered ethos. As a recent high school graduate with a committed work ethic, I can become an asset to your service team.
My recent accomplishments include:
- Achieving a score of 85% for my hospitality and tourism elective course, placing me in the top 5% of my class
- Leading a team of five classmates to organize a charity soccer match to raise money for cancer research charities
- Being voted “Server of the Month” in December 2020 for my efficiency and attention to detail
I would love to meet to discuss how I can help Sullivan’s Steakhouse achieve its goals. Please don’t hesitate to get in contact to schedule a convenient interview.
Sincerely,
Astrid Bower
High School Cover Letter Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the most important part of a cover letter?-
Any explanation you give for why the specific job opening or employer interests you. These details distinguish the cover letter from your resume and other application materials and can help you get past applicant tracking systems (ATS). They also set up a good interview discussion about how you fit the role and the organization’s work culture.
Should I include a cover letter when the job posting says it’s optional?-
Yes. Actually, this is the best scenario for a cover letter. By sending yours, you can instantly stand out from the many applicants who send just their resume.
What should my cover letter’s design look like?-
Your resume’s. Carry over all of that document’s basic format settings, like font style, line spacing, and page margins.
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