Write An Engineer Cover Letter W/ No Experience + Examples

Landing your first engineering job can be exciting but also a little nerve-wracking, especially when you haven't gotten real-world experience yet. The good news is companies are looking for more than just experience. But how do you show them you are the perfect fit? It is pretty simple: with a graduate engineer cover letter.

This article discusses how to create a graduate engineer cover letter and the common mistakes you should avoid when writing one. We will also provide 2 real-world examples of engineering cover letters to guide you better through the process.

How should you structure your graduate engineer cover letter?

As a fresh graduate, your cover letter should show the recruiter how you will benefit the company as a new hire. That is why crafting a cover letter is no less than an art. So if you want your application to stand out, follow these steps: 

1. Add an organised header

Every cover letter needs a header that contains your contact information. Just think of it as the title of your cover letter. It helps recruiters easily track you in case they need to contact you. Here’s what to include:

• Name & Date: This should be your full name along with the latest date. 
• Address: Include your current mailing address. You can format it like this: [Your Street Address], [City], [State], [ZIP Code].
• Phone Number: Provide a phone number where the recruiter can reach you at any time.
• Email Address: Use a professional email address that you check regularly. Something like [YourName]@[Domain].com would be great.

Use the same header for your cover letter and your resume to keep the application uniform.

2. Address the recruiter

Start your application with a salutation like "Dear Mr. Smith" to make it stand out. Research the name of the hiring manager which you can find in the job listing, on the company's website, or by contacting their office. 

If for some reason you can't, you need not to worry. You can address the greeting to the relevant department or simply write “ Dear Hiring Manager”. Just make sure that you keep it professional and to the point. 

3. Introduce yourself

Provide a brief overview of who you are and the position you are applying for. Mention where you found the job listing to provide context. Keep this section concise but engaging. This will capture the reader's interest from the start. 

Highlight your connections to the company or why you are particularly interested in the role. For example, you can discuss the company’s recent project or milestone that motivated you to submit your application. 

The goal is to grab the recruiter's attention in the first few seconds and make them continue reading your cover letter with enthusiasm. Here, setting the tone for the whole cover letter is crucial. Be sure to work on that. 

4. Showcase your qualification

Now it is time to bring the recruiter’s focus on your qualifications and achievements. Be specific when mentioning your degrees and courses. This highlights how you can contribute to their team and immediately captures the employer's interest. Don’t forget to specify your grades especially if you were a high achiever.  

 

If you had internships, talk about the projects you worked on and the problem-solving skills you used. Here is an insider: use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) method to showcase your achievements. For example, you can use this technique to say:

• Situation: During my internship at XYZ Company, I was tasked with improving the efficiency of a manufacturing process.
• Task: I analysed the current process and identified areas for improvement.
• Action: I implemented a new workflow.
• Result: As a result, we reduced production time by 20%.

5. Align values & goals with the job

Recruiters look for applicants who understand their company's values. They want people who can fit in well with their team. So this part of the cover letter is your big chance to achieve that attention. 

Show them how your values and goals match up with the company's. Do some research on their mission, values, and culture. This will show that you understand what they are all about and that are on the same page with their goals.

Share insights into why you are interested in working for the company and how you can help it succeed. A recruiter looks at a few things when you do this.

• They see if you share the company's values and goals – a sign of commitment.
• They assess if you would fit in with the team – a sign that you would bring a positive attitude to the workplace.

6. Add a closing paragraph with a call to action

Show how excited you are about discussing the opportunity further. This shows your enthusiasm and initiative, which is impressive to the recruiter. Finish your cover letter confidently. Thank the recruiter for considering your application and mention your readiness to move the process forward.

End your cover letter with a strong call to action. Ask the recruiter to take the next step, like scheduling an interview or reviewing your resume. Be clear and direct but polite in your request.

Finish your cover letter with a professional closing like "Sincerely," "Best regards," or "Thank you for your consideration", followed by your name. 

9 mistakes to avoid when writing a graduate engineer cover letter

With so much riding on a cover letter, even the most talented graduates can make critical mistakes. To help you stand out, we identified 9 common mistakes to avoid when writing your graduate engineer cover letter. Stay clear of these and your application will get the right attention from the right people. 

I. Being overly generic

This is perhaps the biggest mistake. Many organisations receive a flood of applications for engineering positions. This means hiring managers have limited time to decide who gets an interview. A generic cover letter that could be sent to any company won't make you stand out.

Here's what to do instead:

Take time to understand the company and the position. Read the job description carefully. Highlight the skills and experiences they mention that match yours. This shows you did your research and genuinely want to work for them, not just any engineering company.

II. Focusing too much on coursework

Your education is important. However, recent graduates often spend too much time listing every single engineering class they took in the university. Hiring managers can see your transcript; they don't need a detailed rundown.

Here's what to do instead:

Focus on specific coursework that directly applies to the job you want. Did a project involve designing a new machine? Mention it. Did you take a course in a specific programming language the company uses? Highlight it. Show how your coursework prepared you for the work you would be doing at their company.

III. Ignoring the job description

The job description is your roadmap to landing the interview. It tells you exactly what the company is looking for in their ideal candidate.  Skipping over it or ignoring its key points is a big miss.

Here's what to do instead:

Read the job description carefully. Shortlist the specific skills and experiences they mention. Add those keywords to your cover letter naturally to show how your education and projects align with what they need. 

Just a heads up, do not go overboard using the same keywords. It is always a good idea to use synonyms or different variations of these keywords.

IV. Using clichés or buzzwords

Hiring managers see a lot of cover letters, and trust us, they get tired of the same old overused phrases. Stuffing your letter with generic buzzwords like "team player" or "highly motivated" won't impress anyone.

Here's what to do instead:

Be specific and show, don't tell. Instead of saying you are a "problem solver," describe a complex engineering challenge you tackled in school and how you solved it. Use strong action verbs like analysed, improved, and streamlined to showcase your skills and accomplishments. 

This paints a clearer picture of your capabilities and makes you stand out.

V. Including irrelevant information

Your cover letter is not an autobiography. Don't fill it with details that don't connect to the engineering position. Listing your high school sports achievements might be interesting but it won't make a hiring manager see you as the perfect fit.

Here's what to do instead:

Focus on information relevant to the engineering role. Did you complete a project using a specific software they mentioned? Did you lead a team in a design competition? These are the details that grab attention.

VI. Exaggerating or lying about qualifications

It might be tempting to exaggerate your qualifications or even fabricate some entirely to land the dream job. Don't do it! Lying on your cover letter or resume is a surefire way to get disqualified. Plus, it can damage your reputation in the long run. Remember, companies verify qualifications.

Here's what to do instead:

Be honest and upfront about your skills and experience. Highlight your strengths but be realistic about what you can do. Focus on your eagerness to learn and grow within the company.

VII. Being too long-winded

Hiring managers are busy people. They don't have time to wade through pages of text. A long and rambling letter will likely get skimmed or worse, ignored completely.

Here's what to do instead:

Keep it concise. Aim for 1 page, maximum. This forces you to be selective and focus on the most useful information. Get straight to the point and highlight your most relevant skills and experiences. Use bullet points to break up text and make it easier to read.

VIII. Not quantifying achievements or impact

You mentioned you aced a complex engineering project in school but that's just half the story.  Vague statements about achievements don't tell the whole picture. Hiring managers want to see results. They want to understand the impact you made.

Here's what to do instead:

Numbers paint a picture. So always quantify your contributions with numbers – percentages, increased efficiency, reduced costs, or anything that shows the scale of your accomplishments.

IX. Not proofreading for errors

You spent hours crafting the perfect cover letter. You highlighted your skills, showcased your experience, and tailored it to the job. But a tiny typo or grammatical error can trip you up at the finish line. Don't let a silly mistake overshadow your hard work.

Here's what to do instead:

Read it aloud. This helps you catch typos, awkward phrasing, and unclear sentences you might miss silently reading. Another way is to take a break, come back with fresh eyes, and proofread again. 

You can also use spell check but don't rely on it. Spell check catches basic errors but it won't find everything. Proofread carefully. Then ask a trusted friend or family member to proofread for you.

Graduate engineer cover letter examples: Easy-to-use templates

Here are 2 easy-to-use cover letter templates specifically for graduate engineers. Remember, these are just to get your creative juices flowing. So don't be afraid to customise the template and make it your own.

Graduate engineer cover letter example 1

Graduate engineer cover letter example 2

Simplify your job search with Prosple Australia

Prosple is the premier platform for discovering graduate jobs and internship opportunities across various industries in Australia. Whether your expertise lies in engineering, accounting, law, or any other field, we have something promising for everyone. 

Let's explore how Prosple Australia streamlines your pursuit of graduate program positions:

• Use our advanced, user-friendly dashboard to seamlessly track applications and manage your job search from a single, convenient location.
• Stay informed without the hassle of constant monitoring. Prosple delivers instant notifications tailored to your preferences. This ensures you are promptly alerted to new opportunities in your chosen field.
• You can benefit from expert career guidance to help you with the job search process. It covers everything from refining your resume to excelling in interviews.
• Prosple features an AI search engine. You can use its advanced filters to shortlist jobs based on your preferences and qualifications. 
• Prosple's Day in the Life series is a great way to see what a specific job is like on a day-to-day basis. 
• Top 100 Graduate Employers in Australia consistently post openings on Prosple. This gives you enhanced accessibility to coveted positions through our platform.
• Prosple’s Work Rights is a very helpful feature if you are an international student. Figuring out visa restrictions and work permits can be a major headache. Prosple analyses your visa status and recommends only those jobs you are eligible for.

Conclusion

As we saw, creating a compelling graduate engineer cover letter, even without formal experience, is entirely achievable. Remember, every successful engineer started with no experience. So don't wait to have every box ticked before applying. 

A well-written engineering cover letter with a strong resume is a powerful way to open doors for your engineering career.  

To find your dream engineering role, head to Prosple, Australia's largest graduate job board. With a massive selection of engineering positions specifically targeted for recent graduates, Prosple makes it easy to find the perfect fit. Plus, applying for positions is completely free.

Join Prosple today and get ahead of the competition.