The cover letter that landed a mediocre student his Dream job, why you shouldn’t write cover letters, and the perfect template to use (if you need one)
A Winning Cover Letter
Dear ______,
My name is Matthew, and I am an undergraduate finance student at XYZ University. I met you the summer before last at Smith & Wollensky’s in New York when I was touring the East Coast with my uncle. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to talk to me that night.
I am writing you to inquire about a possible summer internship in your office. I am aware it is highly unusual for undergraduates from average universities like XYZ University to intern at [Redacted], but nevertheless, I was hoping you might make an exception. I am extremely interested in investment banking and would love nothing more than to learn under your tutelage. I have no qualms about fetching coffee, shining shoes, or picking up laundry and will work for next to nothing. In all honesty, I just want to be around professionals in the industry and gain as much knowledge as I can.
I won’t waste your time inflating my credentials, throwing around exaggerated job titles, or feeding you a line of crap about how my past experiences and skill set align perfectly for an investment banking internship. The truth is I have no unbelievably special skills or genius eccentricities, but I do have a near-perfect GPA and will work hard for you. I’ve interned for Merrill Lynch in the Wealth Management Division and taken an investment banking class at XYZ University—for whatever that is worth.
I am currently awaiting admission results for [Redacted]’s Master of Science in Accountancy program, which I would begin this fall if admitted. I am also planning on attending law school after my master’s program, which we spoke about in New York. I apologize for the blunt nature of my letter, but I hope you seriously consider taking me under your wing this summer. I have attached my resume for your review. Feel free to call me at [Redacted] or email at [Redacted]. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Matthew RossThe bank called him within a matter of hours and he landed the internship. He also received offers from many other investment banks after the story went viral.
Why did so many people suddenly become interested in a topic as mundane as “cover letters’? Cover Letters are notoriously dull. If you’ve ever worked in recruiting, you may be guilty (as we are) of often throwing the letter in the trash bin immediately, or giving a courtesy “5-second glance” before ignoring it.
But despite their dullness, the “necessity of a cover letter” is preached to the masses by every college career counselor in the country. Students dutifully write them, perhaps blissfully ignorant that their well crafted letter is likely to meet the fate described above.
It begs the questions: Are cover letters worth it? And if they are, what should they look like?
This article will teach you how to land an internship or job with and without using a cover letter.
How to Write a Cover Letter in 2025
We’re serious. Don’t write a cover letter.
You may be thinking “What should I do? The online application says to attach a cover letter!”
First of all, pause and take a breath. Now stop what you’re doing and get on LinkedIn. Do a search for that company and find a few people who work there. Send them each a message saying you’re interested in working at that company. Talk to them. They’ll refer you in. You don’t need a cover letter.
Last year when Jason was looking for a job he ended up applying to every job using this technique. It works. He’s now happily working in one of those jobs. Just trust us here.
The true secret of landing a job isn’t a perfectly crafted cover letter. It’s not even a meticulously polished resume. It’s about having an advocate inside the company who is willing to champion you. As they say “it not “what you you know but who you know”
The reason we often default to things like cover letters and resumes is because deep down there is a part of us the dislikes the notion of connections mattering more than well articulated accomplishments. This is especially true for those of us who are the academically minded “straight A student” types. But it unfortunately ignores the reality of how the job market operates. Connections are king.
So instead of wasting 3 hours on crafting a cover letter, take that time to connect with 3-5 people at the target company of your choice. The ROI on this approach is far far better.
You can read about this technique in detail here: The Unwritten Guide to Job Searching: How to Find a New Job in 8 Hours
But Really, I Need to Write a Cover Letter!
The best cover letters are the most memorable. As a hiring manager we are reading through all these cookie-cutter, AI-written cover letters that are frankly boring and often do not contain any new information that the resume didn’t have. You’d be amazed at how similar and unremarkable most cover letters appear. If you want to give yours a chance at standing out from the herd here here’s our tips:
- Use bullet points. This makes the letter far easier to read. It doesn’t fit the normal paragraph style of cover letters, which is actually refreshing for the reader. You want to reduce the mental strain of the reader. Bullet points are great for this. Long paragraphs? Not so much…
- Tell a story. Use a story in your cover letter. Stories (even short ones) catch people’s attention. For example: “When I was at the Traeger Timberline launch party and talking with Ken Griffey Junior, my childhood hero (and baseball legend) – who came simply because he loved the product, I knew I had launched something great” is far better than “I have a track record for successful product launches.”
- Name drop. This is your chance to say who at the company you have talked with in your application process. This is incredibly helpful for the hiring manager because they can see you’re truly interested
- Use the whole page. Length matters. There’s a strange phenomenon where there is higher perceived intent, value, and writing ability if you’re able to fill out a page. If your cover letter is just 2 paragraphs, and that’s being compared to a letter with 5 paragraphs, the 5-paragraph novel cover letter will win. You should try to have your cover letter fill out the entire page (but clever use of bullets and 1.5 spacing can accomplish this while also making it easier for the reader to quickly scan without sacrificing depth of content)
A Cover Letter Template for 2025
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I am a [Your Current Status, e.g., undergraduate finance student] at [Your University/College]. I had the pleasure of meeting you [specific time/place, e.g., last summer at XYZ event], and I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to talk to me.
I am writing to inquire about a possible [internship/job position] in your office. I understand that [acknowledge a potential obstacle, e.g., “it is highly competitive” or “it’s uncommon for candidates from my background”], but I was hoping you might make an exception. I am extremely interested in [specific field/role] and would love the opportunity to learn under your tutelage. I have no qualms about [menial tasks relevant to the position, e.g., “fetching coffee, organizing files, or staying late to complete projects”]. In all honesty, I simply want to be around professionals in the industry and absorb as much knowledge as I can.
Why I’m a Great Fit for This Role:
- [Highlight your first key strength or experience, e.g., “Near-perfect GPA and proven work ethic”]
- [Mention a specific skill or achievement relevant to the role, e.g., “Interned at XYZ Company, contributing to 15% revenue growth”]
- [Acknowledge unique traits, e.g., “Strong adaptability and ability to learn quickly”]
A Memorable Story That Reflects My Passion: When [specific anecdote, e.g., “I led a student team to launch a mock investment fund, and we doubled our hypothetical portfolio value in three months”], I realized how much I love [specific aspect of the role/field, e.g., “analyzing financial data to uncover growth opportunities”].
Connections and Personal Touch: I’ve had the opportunity to connect with [specific person or group at the company], which further solidified my excitement for this opportunity. [Explain briefly, e.g., “During my conversation with Jane Doe, she emphasized how much the team values proactive problem-solvers, which I pride myself on being.”]
I am currently [your plans, e.g., “awaiting admission to XYZ graduate program” or “exploring opportunities to grow in this field”]. I apologize if my directness is unconventional, but I hope it shows how serious I am about this opportunity. I have attached my resume for your review. Please feel free to reach out to me at [your phone number] or [your email address]. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Conclusion
And when you land your dream job, be sure to send us your winning cover letter so we can publish it! Or even better, let us know how you got the job without using a cover letter in the first place.
