Not everyone applying for a job has years of professional experience behind them. This next sample cover letter's geared toward an entry-level position in the publishing industry.
The applicant has had a relevant internship, plus a summer job at her local bookstore. In lieu of more extensive experience, she makes sure her enthusiasm for the position and company shines through.
Read on to see how the writer shows her passion for publishing, and then check out the analysis below of what this cover letter does well.
Cover Letter Sample: Editorial Assistant
Mary Entel
1111 E. 15th St.
New York, NY 11230
May 1, 2016
Rita Bookman
Editor-in-Chief
Cooper Books Publishing House
74 Reading Street
New York, New York 10020
Dear Ms. Bookman,
I was pleased to find your posting for an Editorial Assistant with Coffeehouse Books on MediaBistro.com. As an English literature major with a passion for the written word, I am committed to working in the publishing industry following graduation. I’m especially excited about your publishing company because you represent two of my favorite authors, Tim Smith and Anne Lee. I'm confident that I have the skills and experiences to add substantial contributions to Coffeehouse Books.
Last fall, I gained practical experience in the publishing industry as an intern at Dharma Publishing House. I collaborated with members of the editorial staff on projects that included reading and reporting on manuscript submissions, editing promotional materials, and completing fact checks. In particular, I edited three social science works to publication-ready state using Chicago Manual of Style guidelines. My knowledge of grammar and style would allow me to step right into editorial work as an Editorial Assistant with your company.
Beyond my editorial experience, I would also bring a rich knowledge of literature. I studied English at NYU, maintaining a 3.8 GPA, and worked at my local bookstore during the summers. At the bookstore, I helped customers discover contemporary works - The Orphan Master’s Son and Swamplandia are two favorites - and organized events for speakers and book signings. Between my studies and work, I immersed myself in the world of fiction and nonfiction. My passion for reading underlies my commitment to this work, and I have the organizational and communication skills, along with the attention to detail, to excel in every aspect of the Editorial Assistant role.
My life has been shaped by the written word, and I would be thrilled to contribute to Coffeehouse Books in the role of Editorial Assistant. I would welcome the opportunity to interview and can be reached anytime at (555) 555-5555 or mary.entel@gmail.com.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Mary Entel
Mary Entel
While Mary hasn't worked in publishing before, she's spent a lot of time around books working in her local bookstore.
Editorial Assistant Cover Letter: The Breakdown
In her cover letter for the position of Editorial Assistant, Mary expresses her enthusiasm for the position. She shows that she has the skills - editorial, organization, communication - to do well in the role, and infuses her entire letter with a sense of excitement about working in the publishing industry.
In her introduction, Mary shows that she has some familiary with Coffeehouse Books, stating that the company represents two of her favorite authors. She describes her experiences as an editorial intern, as well as her knowledge of literature as an English major and summer employee of her local bookstore.
Mary ends by restating her excitement about the position with Coffeehouse Books. After reading her letter, hopefully Editor-in-Chief Rita Bookman will be happy to engage with Mary in conversation about the Editorial Assistant position.
In addition to the content of Mary's letter, let's take a closer look at its overall presentation.
A Note on Format
As you can see in the letter above, Mary formats her cover letter in a traditional way. She includes her name and address at the top, followed by the date and name and information of the hiring manager.
This is a great approach if you're sending your cover letter by hard copy or as a Word attachment. For a lot of jobs, though, it's fine or even preferred to send your cover letter right in the body of an email. Still other jobs use their own application portal and want you to paste your information into a text box.
In the latter two cases (body of the email and text box), it's usually fine to leave out all these headers. You can just start right in by addressing the hiring manager. Make sure you understand how to send your application materials and format your cover letter accordingly!
What's Next?
On to the next cover letter! Check out this cover letter sample for the position of Assistant Restaurant Manager.
Care to read more samples? Head over to our full cover letter guide with six sample letters and tips for how to write a great one.
Are you writing your own cover letter for a job application? Check out our great cover template to help you through the writing process, step by step.
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Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.
Holly R.