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3 High School Student Cover Letter Examples for 2024
- High School Student Cover Letter
- High School Student No Experience Cover Letter
- Summer Job High School Student
- Write Your High School Student Cover Letter
As a high school student, you’re nearing your first steps into the professional world. You’ve got passion, energy, and a go-getter attitude—all you need is a chance to prove how capable you are.
Whether you’re angling for a class president position at your school or searching for a part-time job, writing a cover letter to accompany your impressive high school student resume can really help you express your dedication. However, writing your first job application can seem pretty intimidating.
Don’t worry! That’s why we’re here. Start with our high school student cover letter examples and tips, and polish things off with our free AI cover letter generator to impress your target audience and reach for the stars.
High School Student Cover Letter Example
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123 Fictional Avenue Dallas, TX 75001 (123) 456-7890
August 20, 2023
Mia Moore Woodrow Wilson High School 123 Fictional Lane Dallas, TX 75001
Dear Ms. Moore,
I advocate for nurturing students to become leaders, and Woodrow Wilson High School is a fertile ground for such a realization. I am expressing my interest to become a class president in the upcoming student elections. My decision is backed by a strong vision for our school’s role in fostering a positive and inclusive environment that will empower every student to reach their full potential.
Since joining the school, I have been actively involved in organizing various events. I was the lead organizer for this year’s cultural festival, which achieved a 47% more attendance than last year. From this experience, if elected a class president, I will leverage event mobilization skills to create engaging and enjoyable events that bring us together as a close-knit community.
I have also utilized my graphic design abilities to create eye-catching posters, flyers, and social media adverts for different clubs. In particular, I designed social media banners to create awareness for the annual art exhibition, with posts garnering over 1000 comments within an hour across social media platforms. I firmly believe that effective communication is the key to success, and I will use my creativity and design skills to disseminate important information to all students.
Balancing academics, extracurricular activities, and personal commitments have honed my project management skills. As a class president, I will apply these competencies to work closely with my fellow student council members, ensuring that our ideas and initiatives are effectively executed for the betterment of our school and community.
Thank you for considering my candidacy. I look forward to the opportunity to serve our school and contribute to an even brighter future for all of us. If you have any questions or want to discuss further, do not hesitate to reach out.
Miguel Torres
Enclosures: Resume Application 2 letters of recommendation Personal Statement
Why this cover letter works
- Therefore, it makes perfect sense for your high school student cover letter to emphasize your role in event planning and back it up with the attendance metrics to prove your mobilization competencies.
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High School Student No Experience Cover Letter Example
Copy this text for your high school student no experience cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue Atlanta, GA 30033 (123) 456-7890
Avery Johnson Jamba Juice 123 Fictional Lane Atlanta, GA 30033
Dear Mr. Johnson,
Growing up, I helped my mother with setting the dining table. It put a smile on my face to see everyone enjoy their meal. It is from this childhood passion, which has changed to customer service, I am writing to express my strong interest in the barista position at Jamba Juice.
I have always been captivated by the art of drink preparation and have spent countless hours experimenting with various flavor combinations at home. Moreover, my experience in providing exceptional customer service in my volunteer work at Mercy’s Community Center has allowed me to develop strong interpersonal skills and a genuine commitment to meeting the needs of others.
I am well-versed in creating delicious and visually appealing beverages. Whether it’s crafting the perfect smoothie, juice, or specialty drink, I take great pride in ensuring that each creation is made with the utmost attention to detail and quality. I will also strictly follow food safety guidelines and take personal responsibility for adhering to proper hygiene and sanitation practices.
I believe that working at Jamba Juice will provide me with valuable experiences and skills that will complement my educational journey and future career aspirations. I would be grateful for the opportunity to discuss how my skills and enthusiasm can benefit Jamba Juice in person. Thank you for considering my application.
Diego Chavez
- Your many experiments at home with multiple beverage flavors and food safety knowledge would be perfect examples of skills that you can highlight for your application to sail through.
Summer Job High School Student Cover Letter Example
Copy this text for your summer job high school student cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue Omaha, NE 68101 (123) 456-7890
Benjamin Brown McDonald’s 123 Financial Lane Omaha, NE 68101
Dear Mr. Brown,
Every other weekend, my dad takes us out for a brunch at Mcdonald’s. I always look forward to the treat and the excellent customer service. I would welcome the challenge of being on the other side, serving and meeting customer preferences as a crew team member for the upcoming summer break.
As an order taker at local community event dubbed “Good Neighbor” with a 350+ attendance, I developed strong communication skills and the ability to work under pressure while ensuring accuracy in taking orders. Additionally, I honed my cleaning and sanitization abilities during my volunteer stint at FreshBitez food bank, where maintaining a hygienic environment was of utmost importance.
I also have experience in food preparation at school events which taught me the importance of efficiency and attention to detail. Adding that to my food safety knowledge and excellent timekeeping equips me with unique skill sets to exceed all expectations for this role.
As a crew team member at McDonald’s, I am committed to upholding the restaurant’s reputation for excellence. I am a quick learner and thrive in fast-paced environments, which I believe are vital attributes for success in this role’s high expectations.
Thank you for considering my application. I would be thrilled to discuss my suitability further in an interview. Please find my resume attached for your reference. I am available at your earliest convenience.
Ingrid Hansen
- Telling your story about how it feels every time your dad takes you to McDonald’s for brunch is a great pacesetter to get hired. To add weight to your summer job high school student cover letter, emphasize your order-taking skills when you catered to a 350+ attendance community event.
Related cover letter examples
- Entry Level
- Customer Service
- Social Media Manager
How to Prepare a Fantastic High School Student Cover Letter
Whether you’re still in school or just graduated, you already have a lot more marketable skills than you might think. Your cover letter is how you inform potential employers or the school faculty about them and make them shine.
The key is to focus on the job description and determine what it is that they want. For instance, if you’re applying for a part-time job as a barista, emphasize skills that are key for that role, such as customer service or cash handling. You got this!
Write the perfect greeting and intro
Start by addressing the recipient by name. If you’re announcing your candidacy for class president, find out the name of the student council advisor or faculty advisor and include it here. Applying for a job? Address the hiring manager or recruiter. If you absolutely can’t, a “Dear Hiring Manager” will do.
Move on to expressing why this particular role is special to you. Perhaps you care about your school and want to improve it as a class treasurer or secretary, or you want to work in food service because of your past volunteering at a food bank.
Mention these things, alongside the company or school name, to show that you care about the position.
Here’s what you should steer clear of—a generic opener that makes it clear that this role is just a means to an end.
Don’t do this!
I’m applying for this job because I need to save money to buy a new car. I can work every other weekend.
The personal connection in this opener makes it clear that this person cares about the student body and has a deep commitment to the well-being of their fellow students, both of which are essential qualities for a class president.
Dive into why you’re a great fit in the body paragraphs
Use these 2-3 paragraphs to connect your skill set to the job description and explain why you’re a great fit. The exact contents depend on the role.
For instance, if you’re applying to work at a pizza joint, emphasize the multitasking abilities that you’ve honed while organizing a class event. On the other hand, if you were ever a class treasurer, that’s a great thing to mention if you’re going to be handling cash—after all, you’ve already got experience in that.
A good way to make your past successes stand out is to add useful metrics. As an example, talk about how your efforts at promoting the school play resulted in over 30% higher attendance than the previous year.
If you don’t have any metrics, that’s okay—simply use this part of your cover letter to emphasize your strengths.
This is the way!
End on a good note with an impressive closing paragraph
To make a lasting impression, personalize your closing paragraph just as much as you did the rest of your cover letter.
If you’re applying for a job, make sure to mention the company by name and express why you want to work there. You can also pick a couple of key skills that you’re excited to bring to the role, such as your positive attitude and love for math, if you’re applying to work at the cash register in a supermarket.
It’s important to thank the recipient for their time and express that you’re looking forward to the opportunity to discuss the role during an interview. Make sure to come off as respectful and emphasize how important this role is to you.
This is a poor example of a closing paragraph. The writer assumes that they will be hired due to the shortage of workers, but instead, they leave a poor impression on the potential employer.
Oh, no…
I know you are having trouble finding servers to hire so I hope you can get back to me quickly because I’m ready from next Monday.
Below is a much better approach that establishes a connection with that particular company. The writer comes off as humble and talks about how the job will be a learning opportunity.
Impressive!
Don’t worry—everyone has to start somewhere. Discuss your skills and work experience from school, extracurriculars, and passion projects. For example, if you’ve previously volunteered during a charity event, include it to show that you know how to work in a team.
It’s important to keep things professional. If the job description is informal, you can allow yourself to be a little more casual. However, as a high school student, it’s crucial to show that you’re ready to work with people and avoid using colloquialisms.
Start by digging through LinkedIn and the company website. You may also be able to find it in the job description or the email you’re sending your application to. If all else fails, you can always call them and ask. Doing this will earn you a lot of brownie points as a high schooler in need of a job.
High School Cover Letter Examples and Templates for 2024
- Cover Letter Examples
- Cover Letter Text Examples
How To Write a High School Cover Letter
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
High School Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
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]
Dear Chef Smith,
Two of my personally developed recipes were put on the permanent menu at Jack’s Bistro, the restaurant I interned at as a line cook during my two-year Introduction to Culinary Arts Careers half-day program partnership with Miami High School. I believe that my innate ability to use locally sourced ingredients to create new, innovative dishes with Cuban flair helped me earn this recognition as a student kitchen worker. I hope to bring this passionate originality to Jane’s Cuban Restaurant as a line cook.
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
I look forward to speaking with you in person about your full-time line cook position. Please contact me with your preferred meeting time.
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.
Astrid Bower
Ammarah Grimes High School Graduate | [email protected] | (654) 321-0987 | 531 First Street, Dover, DE 98765
Macy Padilla Senior Hiring Manager Gamestop (432) 109-8765 [email protected]
Dear Ms. Padilla,
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.
As an energetic and enthusiastic recent high school graduate with a year of part-time experience in a busy retail outlet, the opportunity to contribute to Gamestop’s incredible reputation for customer service appeals to me. My professionalism and customer-focused attitude make me the ideal fit for your organization.
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
I would like to arrange an interview to explore how my gaming knowledge and strong work ethic can yield strong sales for Gamestop in 2021. Please get in touch to book a suitable appointment.
Ammarah Grimes
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.
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 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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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 ?
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.
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.
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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Jacob Meade
Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)
Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.
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