example of cover letter bank

6 Professional Banking Cover Letter Examples for 2024

Your banking cover letter must immediately highlight your understanding of financial trends and economic regulations. It should demonstrate familiarity with the specific banking institution to which you're applying. Be sure to showcase your previous banking experience and your ability to foster client relationships. Your cover letter needs to reflect both your analytical skills and your commitment to customer service excellence.

All cover letter examples in this guide

Commercial Banking

Corporate Banking

Loan Officer

Loan Processor

Phone Banking

Cover letter guide.

Banking Cover Letter Sample

Cover Letter Format

Cover Letter Salutation

Cover Letter Introduction

Cover Letter Body

Cover Letter Closing

No Experience Banking Cover Letter

Key Takeaways

Crafting a banking cover letter can often feel daunting. You might have already dived into job applications, only to realize a punchy cover letter is a must-have. It's not about echoing your resume; it's about showcasing a key professional triumph and bringing your journey to that success to life. Remember, formality is key, but dodging clichés will make you stand out. And keeping it concise to one page is crucial. Let's guide you through writing a cover letter that opens doors.

• Create a banking cover letter to persuade the recruiters you're the best candidate for the role;
• Use industry-leading banking cover letter templates and examples to save time;
• Dedicate your banking cover letter space to your best achievement;
• Make sure your banking cover letter meets recruiters' expectations and standards.

Avoid starting at the blank page for hours by using Enhancv's AI - just upload your resume and your banking cover letter will be ready for you to (tweak and) submit for your dream job.

If the banking isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:

• Banking resume guide and example
• Financial Accountant cover letter example
• Public Accounting Auditor cover letter example
• Finance Coordinator cover letter example
• Corporate Accounting cover letter example
• Bank Manager cover letter example
• VP of Finance cover letter example
• Tax Manager cover letter example
• Cost Accounting cover letter example
• Finance Manager cover letter example
• Tax Director cover letter example

Banking cover letter example

Alex Johnson

New York, NY

+1-(234)-555-1234

[email protected]

• Explicitly stating relevant previous experience, such as managing relationships with over 500 customers at Chase Bank, provides concrete evidence of capability in the field and assures the hiring manager of the candidate's qualifications for the customer relationship role.
• Quantifying achievements, like citing a 95% customer satisfaction rate and a 30% reduction in customer complaints, helps to objectively demonstrate the candidate's impact and effectiveness in the previous position.
• Identifying a specific initiative, such as leading the integration of a new CRM system, exhibits the candidate’s ability to innovate and improve processes, which could translate into similar successes in the new role.
• Expressing eagerness to apply strategic vision and skills to the potential employer's institution, and aligning personal commitment with the company's core values, shows the hiring manager that the candidate is not only qualified but also genuinely interested in the company's mission.

What about your banking cover letter format: organizing and structuring your information

Here is one secret you should know about your banking cover letter assessment. The Applicant Tracker System (or ATS) won't analyze your cover letter.

You should thus focus on making an excellent impression on recruiters by writing consistent:

• Introduction
• Body paragraphs (and explanation)
• Promise or Call to action
• Signature (that's optional)

Now, let's talk about the design of your banking cover letter.

Ensure all of your paragraphs are single-spaced and have a one-inch margins on all sides (like in our cover letter templates ).

Also, our cover letter builder automatically takes care of the format and comes along with some of the most popular (and modern) fonts like Volkhov, Chivo, and Bitter.

Speaking of fonts, professionals advise you to keep your banking cover letter and resume in the same typography and avoid the over-used Arial or Times New Roman.

When wondering whether you should submit your banking cover letter in Doc or PDF, select the second, as PDF keeps all of your information and design consistent.

The top sections on a banking cover letter

• Header: This should include your contact information, the date, and the employer's contact details, providing a professional appearance and ensuring that the recruiter can easily identify and get in touch with you.
• Greeting: A personalized greeting addressing the hiring manager by name demonstrates that you have done your research and are genuinely interested in the position at their banking institution.
• Introduction: In this section, you should clearly state the banking position you are applying for and give a brief overview of your relevant experience, capturing the recruiter's interest and showing immediate relevance.
• Body: Here, you elaborate on your previous banking experience, quantitative achievements, and understanding of financial principles, showing how your background makes you the right fit for the specific banking role you are pursuing.
• Closing: The closing should reiterate your enthusiasm for the role, include a call to action politely prompting an interview, and thank the hiring manager for considering your application, leaving a professional and courteous final impression.

Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter

Understanding of Financial Regulations: Banks must adhere strictly to financial regulations, and showing knowledge in this area indicates a candidate's readiness to operate within legal and ethical boundaries.

Attention to Detail: Handling financial transactions requires precision, and even small errors can have significant repercussions, making this trait critical in banking roles.

Customer Service Skills: Bankers often interact with customers, requiring the ability to manage relationships, address concerns effectively, and maintain customer satisfaction and trust.

Sales Experience: Many banking positions have sales components, such as promoting credit cards or loans, hence experience in sales reflects the potential for revenue generation.

Risk Management: The ability to identify and mitigate financial risks is crucial in banking to protect the institution's assets and maintain financial stability.

Numeracy and Analytical Skills: A strong aptitude for numbers and the ability to analyze financial data are essential for making informed decisions in a banking context.

What greeting should you use in your banking cover letter salutation

A simple "Hello" or "Hey" just won't work.

With your banking cover letter salutation , you set the tone of the whole communication.

You should thus address the hiring managers by using their first (or last name) in your greeting.

But how do you find out who's recruiting for the role?

The easiest way is to look up the role on LinkedIn or the corporate website.

Alternatively, you could also contact the organization via social media or email, for more information.

Unable to still obtain the recruiter's name?

Don't go down the "To whom it may concern path". Instead, start your cover letter with a "Dear HR team".

List of salutations you can use

• Dear Hiring Manager,
• Dear [Bank Name] Recruitment Team,
• Dear [Hiring Manager's Name],
• Dear [Department Name] Team,
• Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
• Dear [Position Title] Hiring Committee,

Your banking cover letter intro: showing your interest in the role

On to the actual content of your banking cover letter and the introductory paragraph .

The intro should be no more than two sentences long and presents you in the best light possible.

Use your banking cover letter introduction to prove exactly what interests you in the role or organization. Is it the:

• Company culture;
• Growth opportunities;
• Projects and awards the team worked on/won in the past year;
• Specific technologies the department uses.

When writing your banking cover letter intro, be precise and sound enthusiastic about the role.

Your introduction should hint to recruiters that you're excited about the opportunity and that you possess an array of soft skills, e.g. motivation, determination, work ethic, etc.

Structuring your banking cover letter body to add more value

You've hinted at your value as a professional (this may be your passion for the job or interest in the company) in your introduction.

Next, it's time to pan out the body or middle of your banking cover letter .

When creating your resume, you've probably gone over the advert a million times to select the most relevant skills.

Well, it's time to repeat this activity. Or just copy and paste your previous list of job-crucial requirements.

Then, select one of your past accomplishments, which is relevant and would impress hiring managers.

Write between three and six paragraphs to focus on the value your professional achievement would bring to your potential, new organization.

Tell a story around your success that ultimately shows off your real value as a professional.

Finishing off your banking cover letter with what matters most

So far, you've done a fantastic job in tailoring your banking cover letter for the role and recruiter.

Your final opportunity to make a good impression is your closing paragraph.

And, no, a "Sincerely yours" just won't do, as it sounds too vague and impersonal.

End your banking cover letter with the future in mind.

So, if you get this opportunity, what do you plan to achieve? Be as specific, as possible, of what value you'd bring to the organization.

You could also thank recruiters for their interest in your profile and prompt for follow-up actions (and organizing your first interview).

No experience banking cover letter: making the most out of your profile

Candidates who happen to have no professional experience use their banking cover letter to stand out.

Instead of focusing on a professional achievement, aim to quantify all the relevant, transferrable skills from your life experience.

Once again, the best practice to do so would be to select an accomplishment - from your whole career history.

Another option would be to plan out your career goals and objectives: how do you see yourself growing, as a professional, in the next five years, thanks to this opportunity?

Be precise and concise about your dreams, and align them with the company vision.

Key takeaways

Writing your banking cover letter doesn't need to turn into an endless quest, but instead:

• Create an individual banking cover letter for each role you apply to, based on job criteria (use our builder to transform your resume into a cover letter, which you could edit to match the job);
• Stick with the same font you've used in your resume (e.g. Raleway) and ensure your banking cover letter is single-spaced and has a one-inch margin all around;
• Introduce your enthusiasm for the role or the company at the beginning of your banking cover letter to make a good first impression;
• Align what matters most to the company by selecting just one achievement from your experience, that has taught you valuable skills and knowledge for the job;
• End your banking cover letter like any good story - with a promise for greatness or follow-up for an interview.

Banking cover letter examples

Explore additional banking cover letter samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

Cover letter examples by industry

AI cover letter writer, powered by ChatGPT

Enhancv harnesses the capabilities of ChatGPT to provide a streamlined interface designed specifically focused on composing a compelling cover letter without the hassle of thinking about formatting and wording.

• Content tailored to the job posting you're applying for
• ChatGPT model specifically trained by Enhancv
• Lightning-fast responses

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Banking cover letter examples

If you’re hoping to land your next banking role, then you need a cover letter that’s right on the money.

In our step-by-step guide, we’ll share our top tips and advice for writing an impressive application.

We’ve also created some banking cover letter examples to inspire your own. Check them out below.

CV templates 

Banking cover letter example 1

Banking cover letter example 2

Banking cover letter example 3

These 3 Banking cover letter example s should provide you with a good steer on how to write your own cover letter, and the general structure to follow.

Our simple step-by-step guide below provides some more detailed advice on how you can craft a winning cover letter for yourself, that will ensure your CV gets opened.

How to write a Banking cover letter

A simple step-by-step guide to writing your very own winning cover letter.

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

When writing your Banking cover letter, it’s best to type the content into the body of your email (or the job site messaging system) and not to attach the cover letter as a separate document.

This ensures that your cover letter gets seen as soon as a recruiter or employer opens your message.

If you attach the cover letter as a document, you’re making the reader go through an unnecessary step of opening the document before reading it.

If it’s in the body of the message itself, it will be seen instantly, which hugely increases the chances of it being read.

Start with a friendly greeting

To start building rapport with the recruiter or hiring manager right away, lead with a friendly greeting.

Try to strike a balance between professional and personable.

Go with something like…

• Hi [insert recruiter name]
• Hi [insert department/team name]

Stay away from old-fashioned greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very formal companies – they can come across as cold and robotic.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try to uncover it via these methods.

• Check out the company website and look at their  About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
• Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

Once you’ve opened up the cover letter with a warm greeting to start building a relationship, it is time to identify which role you want to apply for.

Recruiters are often managing multiple vacancies, so you need to ensure you apply to the correct one.

Be very specific and use a reference number if you can find one.

• I am interested in applying for the position of *Banking role* with your company.
• I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 406f57393)
• I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
• I saw your advert for a junior project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The sole objective of your cover letter is to motivate recruiters into to opening your CV. And you achieve this by quickly explaining your suitability to the roles you are applying for.

Take a look at the job descriptions you are applying to, and make note of the most important skills and qualifications being asked for.

Then, when crafting your cover letter, make your suitability the central focus.

Explain why you are the best qualified candidate, and why you are so well suited to carry out the job.

This will give recruiters all the encouragement they need to open your CV and consider you for the job.

Keep it short and sharp

A good cover letter is short and sharp, getting to the point quickly with just enough information to grab the attention of recruiters.

Ideally your cover letter should be around 4-8 sentences long – anything longer will risk losing the attention of time-strapped recruiters and hiring managers .

Essentially you need to include just enough information to persuade the reader to open up your CV, where the in-depth details will sit.

Sign off professionally

To round of your CV, you should sign off with a professional signature.

This will give your cover letter a slick appearance and also give the recruiter all of the necessary contact information they need to get in touch with you.

The information to add should include:

• A friendly sign off – e.g. “Kindest regards”
• Your full name
• Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
• Email address
• Profession title
• Professional social network –  e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Jill North IT Project Manager 078837437373 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip: To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate documents that you could copy in.

What to include in your Banking cover letter

Here’s what kind of content you should include in your Banking cover letter…

The exact info will obviously depend on your industry and experience level, but these are the essentials.

• Your relevant experience – Where have you worked and what type of jobs have you held?
• Your qualifications – Let recruiters know about your highest level of qualification to show them you have the credentials for the job.
• The impact you have made – Show how your actions have made a positive impact on previous employers; perhaps you’ve saved them money or helped them to acquire new customers?
• Your reasons for moving – Hiring managers will want to know why you are leaving your current or previous role, so give them a brief explanation.
• Your availability – When can you start a new job ? Recruiters will want to know how soon they can get you on board.

Don’t forget to tailor these points to the requirements of the job advert for best results.

Banking cover letter templates

Copy and paste these Banking cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.

Hello Harry

I am keen to showcase my interest in the Bank Manager position at Investec. With a distinguished career in the financial service industry spanning over 15 years, I am excited about the opportunity to lead a dynamic team, steer exceptional customer experiences, and contribute to the success of your company.

Throughout my career at Metro Bank, I have held progressively responsible roles, where I honed my expertise in optimising branch operations, client service, team management, and business development across all activities. Some of the significant contributions I have played throughout my time at Metro Bank include, increasing deposits by 30% through integrating targeted marketing campaigns and relationship-building strategies, developing training programs which enhanced branch staff’s cross-selling of bank products by 50%, and lessening annual expenses by £80K by negotiating favourable contracts with suitable vendors.

My passion for fostering a customer-centric culture has been the driving force behind my success, and I am confident that my collaborative approach and ability to build and maintain relationships will ensure continued growth for Investec as a whole. Thank you very much for considering my application and I hope to hear from you very soon regarding scheduling an interview.

Kind regards

Ellen Mount ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

I hope you’re well. I am thrilled to apply for the Private Banker role at Santander, as advertised on Indeed. With a successful track record in wealth management and a deep commitment to delivering personalised financial solutions to high-net-worth clients, I am eager to contribute my expertise to your institution.

I possess 7 years of experience as a Private Banker at CitiBank, where I increased AUM by 20% since 2016, successfully generated £3M in revenue and exceeded individual/team targets through cross-selling financial products to clients. I also boosted CSAT scores by 10% within 3-months due to promptly addressing any complaints.

I am eager to leverage my skills to enhance your establishment’s reputation and ensure to its continued success. As a highly analytical professional, I thrive in dynamic market environments and excel at navigating complex financial landscapes. My dedication to providing exceptional service is matched by my commitment to stay abreast of industry trends and guaranteeing my clients receive the most relevant advice.

Thank you for considering my application and look forward to attending an interview at your convenience.

Simon Piles ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

Good morning, Gary

I am excited to apply for the Junior Teller role at Fidelity Bank. I am eager to leverage my skills and commitment towards maintaining the high standards of service associated with your institution.

Throughout my academic journey and part-time experiences, I have developed a deep understanding of banking procedures, where I gained valuable insights into the importance of accuracy, confidentiality, and efficiency in handling transactions. As a recent HND Banking Graduate from Lincoln College, I possess theoretical knowledge in financial accounting and economics.

Additionally, I completed a one-year internship at TD Group where I was exposed to real-world cash handling, account management, and customer interactions. During this internship I assisted in the implementation of a new process for addressing inquiries that reduced wait times by 20%, as well as assuring a 100% record of compliance with bank policies which led to successful audits with no major findings.

Please feel free to reach out to me via email or by phone at your convenience to schedule an interview. Thank you for considering my application.

Lisa McKenzie ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing a Banking job, so taking the time to perfect it is well worth while.

By following the tips and examples above you will be able to create an eye-catching cover letter that will wow recruiters and ensure your CV gets read – leading to more job interviews for you.

Good luck with your job search!

Top Banking Cover Letter Examples

• 30% higher chance of getting a job‡
• 42% higher response rate from recruiters‡

Our customers have been hired at: * Foot Note

Your compliance and regulatory knowledge go hand in hand with your persuasive speaking abilities. Whether you work as a loan officer, relationship manager or teller, your work helps small businesses, corporations and regular customers. It’s time to write a cover letter to highlight your interpersonal skills and banking abilities.

We’ll help you make a cover letter that complements your CV or resume. Find inspiration in our library of 200+ cover letter examples to get started.

More banking cover letters by job title

• Branch Manager Cover Letter

Resume examples for top banking jobs

• Personal Banker Resume
• Banking Relationship Manager Resume
• Teller Resume
• Retail Banker Resume
• AML Analyst Resume
• Loan Officer Resume
• Corporate Banking Executive Resume
• Mortgage Loan Officer Resume
• Mortgage Underwriter Resume

CV examples for top banking jobs

• Loan Officer CV
• Credit Officer CV
• Personal Banker CV
• Private Banker CV

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Say hello with the best cover letter.

Use our cover letter examples as inspiration to write a perfect cover letter with our Cover Letter Builder. We guide you through each section of your cover letter and provide expert phrases you can include in just a few clicks.

Banking cover letter FAQ

What are some common skills required for banking jobs.

In the banking industry, hiring managers look for applicants with a mix of soft skills and hard skills .

Some of the key skills required in the banking industry include:

• Banking operations
• Financial analysis
• Risk management
• Payment systems
• Relationship building
• Attention to detail
• Banking software
• Time management
• Collaboration
• Written and verbal communication

What's the ideal format for a banking cover letter?

A banking cover letter format is the same as a professional business letter format, which includes a header, salutation and closing. The body paragraphs are divided into the following topics: 

• Compelling introduction 
• Body paragraph explaining what you bring to the table 
• Closing paragraph with a thank you and a call to action 

Use action verbs and keywords from the job description to write the body of the letter. Make the writing process easier by using a professionally designed cover letter template and our Cover Letter Builder .

What qualifications and certifications do employers look for in the banking industry?

Employers in the banking industry typically look for candidates with a combination of education, experience and industry-specific certifications. A bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, accounting or a related field is typically required for entry-level positions in the banking industry. 

A master’s degree in business administration (MBA) or a related field is often preferred for mid to senior-level positions. In addition to your degree, you can pursue certifications aligned with your specialization, for example:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Certified Financial Analyst (CFA)
• Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)
• Financial Risk Manager Certification (FRM)
• Certified Treasury Professional (CTP)
• Chartered Banker

Employers in the banking industry often look for candidates with relevant experience in finance, accounting or banking. They also look for candidates with strong analytical and communication skills, as these are essential for success in the banking industry.

What is the outlook for employment in the banking industry?

The outlook for employment in the banking industry varies depending on the specific sector and region, but overall it is expected to be steady in the coming years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, financial occupations are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations in the next decade. Additionally, around 911,400 jobs are projected to open each year in the next decade. 

As banks continue to digitize their operations and automate routine tasks, some jobs may be eliminated or changed. However, this may also create new opportunities for workers with skills in technology and data analytics.

The banking industry is highly competitive, and banks are constantly looking for ways to gain an edge in the market. This may lead to changes in staffing and hiring practices as banks seek to attract and retain top talent.

How do you write an investment banking cover letter?

An effective investment banking cover letter should demonstrate your experience and relevant skills such as financial analysis, time management and attention to detail. 

Here are some quick tips on how to write an impactful investment banking cover letter:

• Highlight your relevant experience: Use specific examples to demonstrate your deep understanding of market trends, regulatory issues and competitive landscape. Emphasize your knowledge of investment banking and highlight any previous internships or work experiences in the field.
• Demonstrate your passion for the industry: Express your passion for the industry and your motivation to succeed in the role. Explain how your financial skills and experience align with the company’s mission and values.
• Proofread and edit: Before submitting your cover letter, proofread and edit it carefully to ensure there are no errors or typos. Ask a friend or colleague to review it as well to get a second opinion on the content and formatting.

It is important to keep your investment banking cover letter concise and to the point. Avoid repeating information that is already in your resume.

How we reviewed this article

Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process .

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Business and Financial Occupations
• Vault Law. Article. Commercial Banking Overview
• CollegeGrad. Article. Banking Industry Jobs, Salary and Education Information

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Career advice expert.

Nilda Melissa is a Certified Professional Resume Writer who has written for The Washington Post and Latina Style Magazine. She has a master's in Journalism from Columbia University and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

‡ Results derived from a study responded by 1000 participants of which 287 created a resume online.

*The names and logos of the companies referred to above are all trademarks of their respective holders. Unless specifically stated otherwise, such references are not intended to imply any affiliation or association with MyPerfectResume.

Personal Banker Cover Letter: Examples, Templates & Writing Tips For 2024

Our personal banker cover letter examples will inspire you to create a cover letter that communicates your customer service skills and your passion for finance.

by Hailey Brophy | Career Advice Expert

Last Updated: February 22, 2024

Table of contents

Personal banker cover letter example

Related cover letter examples, cover letter template for a personal banker role, format your personal banker cover letter, how to write a cover letter for a personal banker, add a matching resume, key takeaways, resources to help prepare for your interview.

As a personal banker, you excel in strategic decision-making and find fulfillment in nurturing individuals’ financial health.  To get the right personal banker role for the next step in your career, you’ll need a compelling resume that reflects your professionalism and a cover letter that showcases your passion and achievements.

Creating a cover letter for a personal banker role is an exciting opportunity to demonstrate your skills and enthusiasm for helping clients achieve their financial goals. And, it doesn’t have to be hard! Our guide will help you through every step of the cover letter-writing process so you can apply to your dream role today.

Our guide provides:

• Examples of cover letters for personal banker positions.
• Adaptable cover letter templates tailored to highlight your professionalism.
• Expert advice on building each section of your cover letter.
• Proven strategies and techniques to make your cover letter stand out.

Need a cover letter fast? Our Cover Letter Builder is at your service. This tool streamlines the writing process, helping you create a polished application that highlights your qualifications. With expertly crafted text suggestions, a wide selection of stylish templates and insights from professionals, creating an impactful cover letter is well within reach.

What makes this a great sample cover letter for a personal banker role?

A personal banker is a client-facing role, so a neat style is key to communicating your professionalism and personability.

Financial knowledge is important for a personal banker role, but soft skills like communication and relationship-building are also critical. This cover letter example provides a balanced blend of both.

This sample cover letter ends with a polite call to action restating the candidate’s contact information and prompting the reader to reach out.

Looking for a different cover letter? Check out our library of cover letter examples for more inspiration:

Browse other popular samples

• Bank Branch Manager Cover Letter
• Free Internship Cover Letter Templates
• Mortgage Loan Processor Cover Letter
• Personal Banker

Joseph Morris New Rochelle, NY 10801 555-555-5555 [email protected]

March 16, 2024

Jose Long, HR Manager Capital One 38 Princeton Ave. New Rochelle, NY 10801

Dear Mr. Long,

I am writing to express my interest in the personal banker position at Wells Fargo, as advertised on your bank’s website. With a proven track record in financial services and a commitment to providing exceptional customer service, my skills align well with the requirements of this role.

In my previous role as a personal banker at Citi, I consistently exceeded performance targets and demonstrated a strong focus on customer satisfaction. Over the past two years, I increased customer deposits by 15% through effective relationship-building and proactive cross-selling of financial products. My ability to analyze customer needs and recommend appropriate banking solutions resulted in a 20% growth in loan portfolio during the same period.

I am particularly drawn to Capital One’s commitment to excellence and its reputation for providing innovative financial solutions. Your emphasis on fostering a positive and inclusive work environment aligns with my values. I am eager to contribute to Capital One’s continued success by delivering exceptional service to your clients.

Enclosed is my resume, which details my professional experience and accomplishments. I would like to discuss how my skills and achievements make me a strong fit for the personal banker position at Capital One.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to discussing how my background and expertise can contribute to your team’s success. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at 555-555-5555 or [email protected] to schedule an interview.

Sincerely, Joseph Morris

It’s your cover letter’s job to showcase your merits as a candidate. It should highlight key qualities such as adaptability, teamwork and a commitment to financial growth and success. To achieve this, your cover letter must convey a sense of professionalism by adhering to a professional format that allows potential employers to easily evaluate your skills and expertise without distractions.

Here are some formatting suggestions to help you create an impressive cover letter for a personal banker position:

• Font style and size: Opt for professional and easily legible fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman. Maintain a font size between 10 and 12 points for clarity and readability.
• Spacing: Use consistent spacing throughout your cover letter, with line spacing between 1.15 to 1.5 to enhance readability.
• Margins: Structure with 1-inch margins and left alignment to present your qualifications clearly and professionally.

Personal banker cover letter templates

Your choice of cover letter template should also reflect your expertise and confidence as a personal banker. Your cover letter is your initial impression on potential employers, so choosing a template that conveys competence and sound judgment is crucial.

Consider the specific position you’re applying for; a role in a progressive financial institution might call for a modern, sophisticated design, while a position in a traditional bank may require a more classic and straightforward approach.

Explore our collection of cover letter templates   and select one that effectively highlights your experience and qualifications.

Also, maintain consistency between your cover letter and resume template to present a coherent and professional application package. A unified presentation of your credentials demonstrates your dedication to excellence in the field of personal banking.

Research shows that cover letters are a critical part of the hiring process, with 83% of hiring managers considering them essential. Yet, many candidates underestimate their significance. Making a cover letter may not be the most thrilling task, but it’s an opportunity to go the extra mile that should not be neglected.

Fortunately, writing a cover letter doesn’t have to be hard. By following a few straightforward steps, you can build a cover letter you can be proud of without the headache.

Study the job description

You may be tempted to use one cover letter for every job you apply to, but every job description has differences that you need to address. Using a generic cover letter for multiple applications suggests a lack of enthusiasm or commitment to the role at hand. On the other hand, putting in the effort to customize your cover letter shows your genuine interest in the role and allows you to showcase how your skills align with the company’s requirements.

Additionally, many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to quickly evaluate candidates. These systems search for keywords that match the qualifications listed in the job description.

To create an ATS-friendly cover letter , include terms specified in the job description. Tailoring each cover letter to resonate with the unique requirements of each role not only enhances your application’s quality but also positions you favorably with ATS.

Include your contact information in the header

Although simple, the contact information in your cover letter’s header is crucial. The goal of your cover letter is to prompt the hiring manager to contact you for an interview. To facilitate this, your contact information needs to be easily visible and accurate.

Place your details in the header and ensure they match the information on your resume.

• City and state
• Phone number
• Email address
• Relevant links to your professional portfolio or LinkedIn profile, if applicable

Keep it professional. If your email address seems unprofessional or overly casual, consider creating a new one. Use a variation of your name or initials.

Address the hiring manager by name

Personalize the salutation of your personal banker cover letter by addressing the hiring manager directly. This demonstrates commitment and initiative.

If you can’t find the name or details of the hiring manager, addressing the letter to the hiring team is a suitable alternative.

Job listings often provide contact information for a hiring manager or department. If not, take the time to research the company to identify the individuals responsible for hiring. 

Introduce yourself in the first paragraph

Whether you’re a seasoned financial guru or a brand new banker, making a strong first impression is crucial. The opening paragraph introduces you, providing a brief overview of your qualifications and your career story.

Example opening paragraph for an entry-level personal banker cover letter:

I am thrilled to apply for the personal banker position at [Company], as advertised. With a recent degree in [Relevant Field] and a passion for helping individuals achieve their financial goals, I am eager to contribute to the success of [Company]. My dedication to customer service and strong analytical skills make me an ideal candidate for this role.

Example opening paragraph for an experienced personal banker cover letter:

I am excited to submit my application for the personal banker position at [Company], as advertised. With [Number] years of experience in the banking industry, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of success to [Company]. I am particularly impressed by [Company’s] commitment to customer satisfaction and am eager to contribute to its continued growth and success.

Keep your introduction short and focused. Highlight your qualifications and emphasize your enthusiasm for the position in just a few sentences.

Explain why you’re the best candidate for the job

The body paragraphs of your personal banker cover letter provide an opportunity to showcase your qualifications and demonstrate why you’re the ideal candidate for the position.

• Specify relevant experience: Detail your experience in personal banking, highlighting any key achievements that demonstrate your skills. Provide concrete examples of how you’ve contributed to clients’ financial success, managed accounts and met or exceeded sales targets. Adding specific numbers to support your achievements can make your cover letter more convincing.
• Highlight transferable skills: In addition to your personal banking background, emphasize transferable skills such as customer service, communication and relationship-building. Showcase your ability to communicate effectively with clients, analyze financial information to make recommendations and adapt to changing market conditions. Your skills section should showcase a mix of hard and soft skills , demonstrating your versatility.
• Address unique qualifications or experiences: Use the body paragraphs of your cover letter to highlight any unique aspects of your background that set you apart as a standout candidate. Whether you have experience working with a diverse range of clients, have a deep understanding of financial products and services or have a track record of achieving high customer satisfaction ratings, emphasize how these experiences have prepared you for success in the personal banker role.

Example body paragraphs for a personal banker cover letter:

During my tenure as a personal banker at [Previous Bank], I consistently exceeded sales targets and received positive feedback from clients for my exceptional service. I have a proven track record of building strong relationships with clients, understanding their financial goals and recommending suitable products and services to meet their needs. My ability to analyze financial information and provide personalized recommendations has also led to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

As a dedicated personal banker, I am committed to continuous learning and professional development. I stay updated on industry trends and regulations to provide clients with the most relevant and beneficial advice. I am excited about the opportunity to leverage my skills and expertise to help clients achieve their financial goals while contributing to the growth and success of [Company].

Write your cover letter closing

Conclude your personal banker cover letter by reiterating your enthusiasm for the role and expressing your eagerness to contribute to the success of the organization. Highlight the alignment between your skills and the company’s values, and invite further discussion or consideration for an interview.

Example closing paragraph for a personal banker cover letter:

I am excited about the opportunity to join the team at [Company] and contribute to its mission of helping clients achieve financial success. With my strong background in personal banking, dedication to customer service and passion for helping clients meet their financial goals, I am confident in my ability to make a positive impact. I look forward to discussing how my skills and experience align with the objectives of [Company]. Thank you for considering my application.

End your personal banker cover letter with a professional signoff. Keep this signature polite and formal. Safe bets include: “Sincerely” or “Best regards,” followed by your name.

resumes made with Resume Now!

Remember that your cover letter is just one part of your application package. You must also write a resume that effectively showcases your personal banking experience, skills and achievements. To get inspired and visualize what a successful personal banker resume includes, check out some resume examples that showcase job-winning resumes. 

If you’re pressed for time, consider using our Resume Builder to create a polished and professionally formatted resume that complements your cover letter for a cohesive application package in just a few minutes.

Explore personal banker cover letter examples

Gain valuable insights into effective cover letter writing by examining examples tailored specifically for personal banker positions. These examples serve as a source of inspiration and guidance, empowering you to craft a compelling cover letter that highlights your qualifications and enthusiasm for helping clients achieve their financial goals.

Highlight essential skills for personal banking

Showcase your proficiency as a personal banker by emphasizing your experience in providing exceptional customer service, managing accounts, and meeting or exceeding sales targets. Highlight your ability to analyze financial information, recommend appropriate products and services and build lasting relationships with clients. Additionally, emphasize personal attributes such as communication skills, attention to detail and a client-focused mindset.

Select an appropriate personal banker cover letter template

Choose a cover letter template that reflects your professional demeanor and aligns with industry standards. Opt for a clean and professional design that allows your qualifications and achievements to stand out. Avoid overly flashy or gimmicky templates, as they may detract from the substance of your cover letter.

Keep your introductory paragraph concise

Capture the reader’s attention with a brief introductory paragraph. Introduce yourself and express your interest in the personal banker position, clearly conveying your passion for helping clients achieve their financial goals and your suitability for the role, while avoiding unnecessary details or embellishments.

Compose detailed body paragraphs

Use the body paragraphs of your cover letter to provide specific examples of your personal banking experience, achievements and contributions to client financial success. Highlight any relevant accomplishments, such as meeting sales targets, resolving client issues or developing personalized financial plans. Tailor your examples to demonstrate how your skills and experiences align with the requirements of the personal banker position.

Ensure meticulous formatting

Maintain a professional appearance for your cover letter by following established formatting guidelines. Use a legible font, such as Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri, and choose an appropriate font size for readability. Ensure consistency in formatting and spacing throughout the document to create a polished presentation. Before finalizing your cover letter, carefully proofread it for any grammatical or typographical errors.

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Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.

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The Investment Banking Cover Letter Template You’ve Been Waiting For

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A long time ago I said that we would never post a cover letter template here :

“I was tempted to post a Word template, but I don’t want 5,000 daily visitors to copy it and to start using the same exact cover letter.”

But hey, we already have resume templates that everyone is using, so why not go a step further and give you a cover letter template as well?

Plus, “investment banking cover letter” is one of the top 10 search terms visitors use to find this site – so you must be looking for a template.

The Template & Tutorial

Let’s jump right in:

Investment Banking Cover Letter Template [Download]

Download Template – Word

Download Template – PDF

And here’s the video that explains everything:

(For more free training and financial modeling videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel .)

And if you’d rather read, here’s the text version:

Do Cover Letters Actually Matter?

At bulge bracket banks, people barely read cover letters.

Cover letters matter 10x less than resumes and 100x less than networking.

But there are a few special cases where they’re more important:

• Boutiques and Local Banks – Sometimes they actually read cover letters.
• Unusual Backgrounds – If you’re NOT in university or business school at the moment, you may need to explain yourself in more detail.
• Outside the US – In Europe, for example, some banks pay more attention to cover letters, online applications, and so on.

Similar to grades and test scores, a great cover letter won’t set you apart but a poor one will hurt you – so let’s find out how to avoid that.

Keep your cover letter compact and avoid 0.1″ margins and size 8 font.

With resumes you can get away with shrinking the font sizes and margins if you really need to fit in extra information, but this is questionable with cover letters.

Go for 0.75″ or 1″ margins and at least size 10 font.

With resumes there were a couple different templates depending on your level – but with cover letters that’s not necessary and you can use the same template no matter your background.

1 Page Only

Ok, maybe they do things differently in Australia (just like with resumes) but aside from that there is no reason to write a multi-page cover letter.

If you actually have enough experience to warrant multiple pages, do it on your resume instead and keep the cover letter brief.

Contact Information

List your own information – name, address, phone number, and email address – right-aligned up at the top.

Then, below that you list the date and the name and contact information for the person you’re writing to, left-aligned on the page.

If you don’t have this information you can just list the company name and address and use a “Dear Sir or Madam” greeting.

That’s not ideal – especially if you’re applying to smaller firms where cover letters actually get read – but it’s all you can do if you can’t find a person’s name.

If you’re sending the cover letter via email as the body of the email, you can omit all this information and just include the greeting at the top.

Paragraph 1: Introduction

This is where you explain who you are, where you’re currently working or studying, and how you found the bank that you’re applying to.

Name-drop as much as possible:

• Impressive-sounding university or business school ? Mention it. Even if it’s not well-known, you still need to mention it here.
• Your company name , especially if it’s recognizable, and the group you’re working in, especially if it’s something relevant to finance like business development.
• How you found them – specific peoples’ names , specific presentations or information sessions where you met them, and so on.
• The position you’re applying for (Analyst? Associate?) – especially for smaller places that are not well-organized.

This first paragraph is all about grabbing their attention.

Example 1st Paragraph:

“My name is John Smith and I am currently a 3rd year economics major at UCLA. I recently met Fred Jackson from the M&A group at Goldman Stanley during a presentation at our school last week, and was impressed with what I learned of your culture and recent deal flow. I am interested in pursuing an investment banking summer analyst position at your firm, and have enclosed my resume and background information below.”

Paragraph 2: Your Background

You go through your most relevant experience and how the skills you gained will make you a good banker right here.

Do not list all 12 internships or all 5 full-time jobs you’ve had – focus on the most relevant 1-2, once again name-dropping where appropriate (bulge bracket banks / large PE firms / Fortune 500 companies).

Highlight the usual skills that bankers want to see – teamwork, leadership, analytical ability, financial modeling and so on.

If you worked on a high-impact project / deal / client, you can point that out and list the results as well.

This may be your longest paragraph, but you still don’t want to write War and Peace – keep it to 3-4 sentences.

Example 2nd Paragraph:

“I have previously completed internships in accounting at PricewaterhouseCoopers and in wealth management at UBS. Through this experience working directly with clients, analyzing financial statements, and making investment recommendations, I have developed leadership and analytical skills and honed my knowledge of accounting and finance. I also had the opportunity to work with a $20M net-worth client at UBS and completely revamped his portfolio, resulting in a 20% return last year.”

Paragraph 3: Why You’re a Good Fit

Now you turn around and link your experience and skills to the position more directly and explain that leadership + quantitative skills + accounting/finance knowledge = success.

There is not much to this part – just copy the template and fill in the blanks.

Example 3rd Paragraph:

“Given my background in accounting and wealth management and my leadership and analytical skills, I am a particularly good fit for the investment banking summer analyst position at your firm. I am impressed by your track record of clients and transactions at Goldman Stanley and the significant responsibilities given to analysts, and I look forward to joining and contributing to your firm.”

Paragraph 4: Conclusion

This part’s even easier: remind them that your resume is enclosed (or attached if sent via email), thank them for their time, and give your contact information once again so they don’t have to scroll to the top to get it.

Example 4th Paragraph:

“A copy of my resume is enclosed for your reference. I would welcome an opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you and learn more about Goldman Stanley at your earliest convenience. I can be reached at 310-555-1234 or via email at [email protected]. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.”

Unusual Backgrounds

These examples cover how to apply to a bank if you’re in university, business school, or you’ve been working for several years.

If you have a more unusual background (e.g. you went to med school, graduated, started your residency, but then decided you wanted to be an investment banker), then you might need to add a few sentences to paragraph #2 or #3 explaining yourself.

Resist the urge to write your life story because no one will read it – interviews are a much better venue to prove how committed you are.

Email vs. Attachments

If you’re emailing your cover letter and resume, do you create a separate cover letter attachment?

Or do you make the body of your email the cover letter?

I think it’s redundant to create a separate cover letter and attach it, so don’t bother unless they ask specifically for a separate cover letter.

If you’re making the body of your email the cover letter, make it even shorter (4-5 sentences total) and cut out the address bits at the top.

Optional Cover Letters?

If you’re applying online and it says “Optional Cover Letter” should you still upload one?

You might as well because it takes 2 minutes once you have a good template – it’s not the end of the world if you don’t include one, but you never know what everyone else is doing and it’s not terribly time-consuming.

Cover Letter Mistakes

Remember the role of cover letters: great ones don’t help much, but poor ones get you dinged.

The biggest mistakes with cover letters:

• Making outrageous claims (“I’m a math genius!”) or trying to be “creative” with colors, pictures, fonts, and so on.
• Going on for too long – 10 paragraphs or multiple pages.
• Listing irrelevant information like your favorite ice cream, your favorite quotes from Wall Street or Boiler Room , and so on.

If you think this sounds ridiculous, remember the golden rule: do not overestimate the competition .

For every person reading this site, there are dozens more asking, “What it’s like to be an investment banker?” at information sessions.

Sometimes you hear stories of people who write “impassioned” cover letters, win the attention of a boutique, and get in like that …

…And I’m sure that happens, but you do not want to do that at large banks.

If you do, your cover letter will be forwarded to the entire world and your “career” will be destroyed in 5 minutes .

More Examples

As with resumes, there are hardly any good examples of investment banking cover letters online.

Most of the templates are horribly formatted and are more appropriate for equities in Dallas than real investment banking.

Here’s a slightly different but also good templates you could use:

• Best Cover Letters – MBA Template

More questions? Ask away.

Still Need More Help?

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We will take your existing resume and transform it into a resume that grabs the attention of finance industry professionals and presents you and your experience in the best possible light.

When we’re done, your resume will grab bankers by the lapels and not let them go until they’ve given you an interview.

Specifically, here’s what you’ll get:

• Detailed, line-by-line editing of your resume/CV – Everything that needs to be changed will be changed. No detail is ignored.
• Your experience will be “bankified” regardless of whether you’ve been a student, a researcher, a marketer, a financier, a lawyer, an accountant, or anything else.
• Optimal structuring – You’ll learn where everything from Education to Work Experience to Activities should go. Regional badminton champion? Stamp collector? You’ll find out where those should go, too.
• The 3-point structure to use for all your “Work Experience” entries: simple, but highly effective at getting the attention of bankers.
• How to spin non-finance experience into sounding like you’ve been investing your own portfolio since age 12.
• How to make business-related experience, such as consulting, law, and accounting, sounds like “deal work.”
• How to avoid the fatal resume mistake that gets you automatically rejected . Nothing hurts more than making a simple oversight that gets you an immediate “ding”.
• We only work with a limited number of clients each month. In fact, we purposely turn down potential clients in cases where we cannot add much value. We prefer quality over quantity, and we always want to ensure that we can work well together first.

FIND OUT MORE

Other Options for Personalized Help: Wall Street Mastermind

Finally, if you want to go  beyond your cover letter and also get help with your resume, work experience, networking, and interview prep, check out Wall Street Mastermind .

They’ve worked with over 1,000 students to help them secure high-paying investment banking jobs out of school (and internships while in school), and their coaches include a former Global Head of Recruiting at three different large banks.

They provide personalized, hands-on guidance through the entire networking and interview process – and they have a great track record of results for their clients.

It could be a great fit for you if you’re looking for comprehensive coaching through the entire process rather than just a new version of your resume or cover letter.

You can book a free consultation with them to learn more .

About the Author

Brian DeChesare is the Founder of Mergers & Inquisitions and Breaking Into Wall Street . In his spare time, he enjoys lifting weights, running, traveling, obsessively watching TV shows, and defeating Sauron.

Free Exclusive Report: 57-page guide with the action plan you need to break into investment banking - how to tell your story, network, craft a winning resume, and dominate your interviews

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279 thoughts on “ The Investment Banking Cover Letter Template You’ve Been Waiting For ”

I love how hand downs and direct this page is. Trying to break into IB come from a (semi-)target school but very bad GPA, love how you are always motivating, but realistic. Keep it up!

I am a sophomore and have a low gpa (2.5) should I include this on my cover letter? how do I stand out and not get dinged, low gpa because had to work full time freshman year because my dad lost his job, and my family had health issues. Am an only child.

All you can really do about a low GPA is network extensively so that people who know you can recommend you, and so you can avoid being filtered out by screening tools. See: https://mergersandinquisitions.com/low-gpa-investment-banking/

Maybe include a brief mention of why your GPA is lower in your cover letter, but focus on how you’ve improved since your first year (mention the higher GPA since then).

Thanks for the write up!

If i am writing my cover letter in the body of the email, Do i write the name of the recipient instead of dear Madam ?

I like it not bad

Hey Brian – thanks for this article. Quick question: is there a certain point in your career (in my case, I’m an associate) when you can stop with the cover letters even if they give you the option?

Cover letters are pretty much always optional unless they ask for one.

I was wondering for your template, you gave a solid and formal introduction. I also see other career advice sites that recommend making the cover letter “memorable” and straying away from the cookie cutter method with more flashy intros. As an example just from another online source: When I was seven, I wanted to be the GEICO gecko when I grew up. I eventually realized that wasn’t an option, but you can imagine my excitement when I came across the events manager position, which would have me working side by side with my favorite company mascot. So what’s your opinion on this? I’m sure it’s different for every field, so would you say the average investment banker appreciates something like this, or would it just make them roll their eyes and make you seem too keen/tryhard.

Same Andrew again…

Sorry I should’ve watched your video fully before asking. But you mentioned to not get too fancy with fonts, photos, etc. But would the bit of personal information outside the cookie cutter approach separate you in the slightest? To me, cover letters sound like they have the same purpose as GPA. A 4.0 (good but generic cover letter) won’t give you any advantages, but a 2.5 (poorly done letter) will eliminate you from the application process.

Yes, cover letters are basically used to weed out people, not to select them. You can include some personal information such as an interesting student group, study abroad, or experience that led you to IB, but don’t go overboard with trying to appear “interesting.” Save that for actual networking and interviews.

If you are applying to traditional “high finance” roles such as investment banking, private equity, etc., you should not do anything creative with your cover letter. It will only backfire. Firms either do not read cover letters, or if they do, they simply look at them to make sure you didn’t do something silly or inappropriate. You’re taking a very big risk by writing a “creative” cover letter, and one that has very little upside with tons of downside.

For online applications that request your resume, but do not specify whether a cover letter should be included, should I submit a cover letter? Also since you can only submit one document in these cases, should you compile resume and cover letter into one document?

Thanks so much.

If they just request your resume, just include your resume. I would not even bother with a cover letter or combining them into one document.

Do we have to leave

“Enclosure: Resume”

At the bottom of the Cover Letter? Many thanks

*In Online Application where they ask you to attach your CV and Cover Letter – if that makes any difference

Brina, many thanks for the quick answer. Just a last question:

Shall we sign between sincerely and our name or under our name?Both options are good?

Alternative A:

(Signature)

Alternative B:

The first one is slightly better.

I just wanted to thank you for not only this Cover Letter template but also your Resume template. I have used both and I have received great feedback from interviewers and getting my foot in the door for asset management.

Thanks! Glad to hear it. Good luck!

This question targets the paragraph listing relevant experiences & skills gained through it.

As a University Student with some corporate finance and consulting experience but nothing directly related to investment banking, do you think it would be relevant to list explain skills gained during university classes (e.g. a term project that simulated the entire M&A process based on a real life deal) that involved valuation, simulated investor calls, etc. Or do you believe sticking to actual work experience would be best suited.

Thanks a lot for all the content you post.

Stick to your work experience if you have actual CF and consulting internships. Maybe add a line or brief phrase within a line that mentions your learnings from university classes as well.

I live in the UK and I’ve been told cover letters carry a lot of weighting in the initial application process. I have written a cover letter which is 8 paragraphs but it’s still 1 page. Do you think this would be ok or should I take some stuff out? Thanks in advance, great website you have.

By the way, it’s still size 10 font but I had to reduce the line spacing between the paragraphs to fit it all in.

Cover letters only matter in the “negative” sense, i.e. if you write something stupid or have typos, you could lose an offer or interview opportunity. Your cover letter should be as short as possible, so 8 paragraphs is too long, especially if you had to reduce the font size to 10, which is too small. So, be more concise and realize that bankers glance at hundreds/thousands of these letters each recruiting season…

How do one relate a tax internship experience which I acquired In an accounting consulting firm to an investment banking internship I hope to start with with BofA

Talk about how your tax findings/work affected the big picture… did they potentially change the company’s valuation? What was the impact on the company’s financial statements? Did anything you did result in changes to the internal controls at the company? Did you do any tax work related to M&A or equity/debt deals?

Hi Brian, I have read that the header of a cover letter should match your resume. Is there a reason the header from the M&I resume template was not included in this cover letter template?

??? I think it would be very odd if your cover letter started with your name in a bigger font size at the top… so, no if that is what you are asking about. A cover letter should start with the normal heading of a letter. Your resume is different because it’s intended to present the key points in bullet/highlight format.

I agree. Thanks.

I’m applying online to banks in the EMEA area and most banks ask for my motivation – they don’t require a cover letter. Could I still use this template? or wouldn’t it make any sense to use this template?

If its the case that this template would not be useful, do you have any tips on what to focus on in such a motivation letter?

I think this template is too long for a simple question about your motivation. Your motivation should basically be the last part of your “story” – assuming 150 words for a competency question and a 300-word story. See:

https://mergersandinquisitions.com/walk-me-through-your-resume/

How do you travel like a dug dealer? haha…You are funny. Great info. Thanks a lot. I’m trying to break the front door at Piper Jaffray so I can put my little two feet inside that door.

hey, i am actually studying law in France but i wanted to go on trading/investment banking/hedge fund area. What would you suggest me ? Which arguments should I point out ?

Thanks a lot !

??? I’m not sure I understand your question.

The links for Workbloom – Investment Banking Intern Template and Vanderbilt – Cover Letter Template are not valid anymore. Is it possible to fix that? Thank you very much!

Sincerely, Frank

We don’t have alternate links, sorry. But the template there wasn’t much different anyway.

Hi Brian, I had a question in mind. I have been working with a Big four Audit firm in India for the past 10 months now, and have a Bachelors in Commerce degree from a non-target University here. The role here is Back-end, as in we do not have client interaction, and rather coordinate with the US/EMEA teams – which deal with the clients directly – for the work. Recently, I got a call from GS for an Analyst position under the Data Resource Group for its IB Division in India. How do you suggest I pitch my auditing experience to get an offer for this position? Also, considering the work I do here is back-end and basically, formatting files around and punching in numbers! Thanks in advance for your help!

I would just point out how your audit work led directly to results with clients and how you were a part of the client-interaction process, even if you didn’t speak with them directly. As a result, you have a good understanding of what they’re looking for and how to get them results most efficiently.

Thanks for the template. Is it correct to include in the cover letter an entreprise which I am auditing or not?

Sure, you could, but you have to be able to tie that to whatever role(s) you’re applying for.

Hi there, thanks for the cover letter template you provided. It’s a great help. Just wondering does the same template work for UK application? As you mentioned they tend to pay attention to cover letters.

Yes this template works for UK applications.

Thank you for sharing your blog, it helped a lot cos I am also having a hard time in writing a cover letter and I suck! Hope you can help more. Keep it up!

Thank you for sharing the template and guide! I am a recent college grad and just started working in an economic consulting firm (last month). I want to make the career transfer to IB and I am trying my best networking everywhere. I am applying for an IB analyst position and editing my cover letter. Should I still mention in the cover letter my leadership roles in college or it does not matter much?

Many thanks!

You can mention them briefly, but you should focus on your current role.

Thanks for the template! After working as an ER associate for 2 years in my hometown, I am moving from North America to Europe in the next few weeks. Should I mention in my cover letter something to the effect of “After visiting [country] several times over the past few years, I applied for and received my Work Visa” or will the recruiter assume I have a visa and do not require sponsorship? I just do not want to be passed over if they are assuming I will be a headache for them!

Furthermore, I am also hoping to move from ER to corporate. Besides tailoring the letter to reflect skills mentioned in the posting, are there any other changes that need to be made when moving out of capmarkets?

Thank you for your time!

Sure you can include this. Yes, I’d talk about why you want to move from ER to corporate and talk about why you prefer corporate over ER (perhaps you prefer the type of work in corporate better and you see yourself in a corporate vs. in a bank) and you want to move over to XX industry [the industry the corporate you’re applying for is in] given XX reason [ideally you’ve covered that industry in ER before]

Thank you Nicole. Should I be putting this explanation in paragraph 2? Or later on in the letter?

I’d probably list this later in the letter.

Hi, I’m studying in the US and applying to summer IBD internship in 3 different locations (New York, London, HK), so who should I address to in my cover letter since there is only one cover letter for three different recruiters? Thanks!

I’d say Dear Sir/Madam or To Whom It May Concern

when you express abbreviations, let’s say M&A, how do you put it in a cover letter? i.e., (“M&A”) or (M&A) without punctuations mark?

M&A is fine I believe

Hi! You mentioned that putting the name of the recruiter is always better than just a “Dear Sir/Madam”. When applying in London, do you think it is appropriate to address the cover letter to a recruiter I haven’t personally met that I just found his name via an internet search, specifically from Linkedin. Also, there are dozens recruiters for the same company on Linkedin, should I still address the letter to a specific person? What about if it is the director of HR? Should I address it to him/her directly?

Yes, I’d address the email to Director of HR. If you don’t know the person’s name, I’d say “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam”

Hey, I have a question concerning applying for an internship at G&S in Europe. Instead of a cover letter they want you to submit a motivational statement with 300 words when applying, which is according to them similar to the cover letter. But I am a bit unsure that I express my motivation for applying for an investment banking postion with this cover letter because it focuses more on previous internships. Should I outline my internships and then explain that I want to pursue an career in IB because of them? and should I mention my extra curriculare activities which involve leadership experience and exotic interests?

I’d briefly touch on your previous experience and focus on why IB, and why GS. If the previous experience can serve as your IB spark, use them. So yes you can mention that you want to pursue a career in IB because of your previous internships, but don’t dive too deep given word limit and you can address that in interviews. No, the latter part should be demonstrated on your resume, unless you have space in the statement

What should you do in [Signature]?

I’m not sure I understand your question. I’d just insert your signature there.

Upload an image of your handwritten signature?

Yes you can do that. Copy and paste it below “Yours sincerely/Best Regards”

I resigned from my previous role in April this year as we were planning a family move to another country However, it did not materialize due to some unexpected changes and I have to start looking for a job again. This has left an employment gap of about 3 months in my resume. During this period, I have taken the BIWS course to enhance my knowledge. Shall I mention my current status and address that in my cover letter? or leave it out and talk about it when asked during interview?

Xavier, you can list that on your resume and cover letter. You may also want to talk about other activities you’ve done during those 3 months.

I am a first year associate working at a boutique bank on the trading floor and trying to switch into equity research/banking side. How is the cover letter different from the cover letter template above. Do I need to specifically state why I am switching?

Yes you need to address why you’re switching

Do you have any suggestions as to how I can gracefully address this? The reason why I am switching is because I don’t feel like I am learning much out of my positions – not being given much responsibilities, etc…

I’d focus on the positives on why you prefer the other division versus your current one; not what you’re lacking.

Hi, I am wondering when introducing my skill sets and experience in the second paragraph of the cover letter, is it appropriate to use bullet points? e.g. my key skills/experience include: bullet point: A bullet point: B

Yes you can do that, though a lot of times we find that its best to follow our template, unless you’re a very experienced candidate

I worked at a boutique investment bank for an internship and I was wondering how I may explain my low gpa on my cover letter. I would focus on my strengths and what I learned from the position but sooner or later the question of gpa will be addressed either during an interview or sent through email. How would I approach this?

This may come up in interviews and I’d address it then. I am not sure why you had a low GPA. If you had family/personal reasons you can list that. Otherwise if you were taking more advanced courses because you were too ambitious and got a lower GPA as a result of that you can list that too.

I’m applying to various finance and IB positions and my documents will be seen as a package sent through my school. I created my resume in a very similar format to the template on your website, only using .5″ margins. I have the same header layout (with name and personal info) on both my resume and cover letter. My question is regarding holding these .5″ margins on both of my documents to keep a consistent look. I’m just curious as to whether this would be a good or bad idea, or as to whether you think it would even matter.

I haven’t seen the format of your resume so I am not 100% sure. 0.5 margins maybe a bit crowded but depending on your content it can be doable. If you have lots of solid content, yes this is applicable. Otherwise, I’d shorten your content and go for the standard margins

Hey, this template isn’t just for investment banking right, it can be used for targeting internships in accounting as well? Same with the resume template?

If you change the paragraph from why IB to why accounting, you can use this template. The resume template is tailored to IB though you can use it for Accounting roles too

I graduated from a top school 1.5 years ago, but unfortunately ended up at a not so impressive bank. What’s the best way to name drop the school in the cover letter? Thanks.

First paragraph – you can just say that you are working at XX bank and have recently graduated from XX school

I am applying to three different divisions in the same investment bank that are different in nature (2 back office and one front) and there is only one cover letter for all three that asks you to describe your motivation for each. Since they are different positions, how do I go about this?

I’d be generic and focus on why finance and how you can make an impact to the firm

How about adding the recommendations from the previous job? Is it worth? Should we add it even if they do not menton about that?

You can provide recommendations upon request

Hi, I am wondering whether I need to include a signature in my cover letter for online application. If so, should I just insert it in the pdf document or scan a paper copy of the cover letter? Thanks!

Yes you can include it. Both works.

Yo’re welcome.

Just a follow-up question: I am applying for summer analyst position at CS, and they only allow one application per applicant. Should I use the same cover letter during campus recruiting (addressed to an alumnus) for my online application? Since I am applying to CS HK as well, I am wondering whether I should use a slightly different cover letter.

Sure I think this shouldn’t be a problem. Yes the HK one should be slightly different – i.e. why HK, why Chinese market

Dear M&I staff,

I’m a master student in Europe. I’m currently attending a Master of Science in Finance after completing a bachelor in business administration. Do you have any specific suggestion about my first paragraph? Also, if I can’t find the name of the recruiter, how can I start the letter? I was thinking about expressions such as “To whom it may concern…”; does this work?

Thanks in advance

Yes it does, or Dear Sir/Madam.

First paragraph – I’d follow the template on the post

Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is [Insert Name] and I am currently pursuing a Master of Science in Finance at [Insert University Name] where I have also been awarded a Bachelor of Science with honors. How would this sound?

Sounds good, though I’d probably just use My name is [Insert Name] and I am currently pursuing a Master of Science in Finance at [Insert University].

Hey Brian/Nicole, Thank you guys so much for this website. I spend days on it reading your articles! lol I’m just wondering when I do the name-dropping on the cover letter, is it alright to put the company names in bold? or is that too much? What do you guys think?

Thank you for your kind comment. You should credit Brian for his hard work! I don’t think its necessary to bold company names. I think its probably better to leave it “unbolded.”

i a lil older i was originally an engineering major, left school (didnt graduate), started working as a stock broker, then mortgage broker, and then more sales background. I then re entered school and graduated with a degree with finance, gpa not so high bc of past screw ups, but now looking to break into finance. I love finance, and cant figure out how to convey that in a cover letter. can you help?

Focus on the impact you’ve made in your previous roles. Then say while you’ve enjoyed and learn a lot from your previous experience, you realize [Talk about your IB spark here], and that you realize you wanted to pursue IB because [XYZ]. Then say that you’re confident that your [XX] skills can be an invaluable asset to the firm (something around those lines)

If I’m applying for a job based on an online job posting (LinkedIn / other job board), then in my 1st paragraph, ho would you address the section about how you learnt about the job / company ?

(I find it awkward to say that “I recently learnt about your company through your online ad on abc.com”)

ThankX Guys!

I recently learned about your company from [a contact/an event/an online job posting] and was impressed with what I learned of [List what you’re impressed with here]

Hey Nicole,

Thanks for your reply.

I’m finding it awkward to write “I learnt about your company from an online job posting” bcoz I feel it sounds like I did not know them before seeing the posting (which, in turn, sounds insulting for the company).

Instead, can I just say “I recently found out about the XYZ position at ABC Capital & want to apply for this position”?

Sure, this sounds good. No, this isn’t insulting – this is why companies post on job postings! It is best if you have already spoken to people at the company and use that as an intro. line.

please i am an undergraduate in my final year with just one internship experience and one teaching experience, that was before i gained admission. i want to know if it is appropriate to include my date of birth and list of referees; i will also like to know the maximum length of resume ideal for some one in my category. Thanks.

Please see https://mergersandinquisitions.com/free-investment-banking-resume-template/

No, I don’t think you need to include your DOB and list of referees. Maximum length of your resume would be 1 page.

Hi Brian, thanks so much for creating this awesome website.

I’m a year one student in a non-target uni in HK who’s interested in IBD. My first semester GPA wasn’t stellar because I had a hard time balancing family issues and adapting to a new country.

I’m currently applying for several pre-internship programs, and am afraid my less-than-3 GPA will cause my immediate disqualification. What can I do?

I’ve had several leadership positions in high school, am great at networking/socializing, and speak a few languages. But my first semester GPA is lackluster. Please advice, should I explain in my cover letter?

Best Regards, Sara

Yes, your GPA is likely to be alarming to interviewers. Sure, you can explain the above on your cover letter, though I would focus on your strengths and what you have achieved first. You want to draw people to your strengths. I’d also try as hard as you can to boost your GPA next semester and craft a very good explanation when you land interviews.

Hey there M&I,

Firstly, I’d just like to thank you for this template – it truly is priceless.

I’m from Melbourne, Australia and I’d like to break into Investment Banking for a long-term career.

I’m starting a Bachelor of Commerce degree at The University of Melbourne and I was thinking of double majoring in Accounting and Finance.

I feel as though this will put me in a good position for Investment Banking and will also provide me with a few alternatives should I be unable to make it to Investment Banking or decide that it’s not for me.

Sorry about the long-winded explanation, I guess what I want to know is whether or not the double major sequence I have suggested is desirable in Investment Banking or there is a better sequence you could suggest to me.

Also, what do you have to say about people getting summer internships after first year? I haven’t heard of anyone doing this before, but have you? How should I go about trying to increase my chances?

Thanks very much!

Thanks. Yes, that sequence is fine but I don’t know if it would give you an advantage. From what I understand about Australia, I believe most people who get into banking there actually have dual Commerce and Law degrees.

Summer internships after year 1: very tough. You’d have to aim for small local firms. And probably not common in Australia.

I’m applying to a Private Equity internship and I completed the BIWS fundamental and advanced modeling courses. Should I talk about this in my cover letter? Right now I just have a general statement about it and that I worked on some case studies.I was wondering whether I should go more in depth and mention a specific case? Leave it as a general statement? Or take it out completely

Yes, definitely mention the specific case studies as that makes it sound much better than just saying you completed the courses.

Document for listing them on your resume (you may be able to apply parts of this):

http://biws-support.s3.amazonaws.com/BIWS-Courses-Resume-Instructions.docx

Thanks Brian,

I took your advice and mentioned specific case studies.

One other thing, currently in the second paragraph of my cover letter I talk a lot about my internship experience, but this internship doesn’t have to do with IB, its accounting and sales for a hotel. I did spin it in away that says that I picked up skills from this internship that I can apply to IB, PE, etc. Should I focus less about this and more on the BIWS courses, and projects in school I worked on since it doesn’t directly relate?

I would probably do an even split in that case.

I found this guide and template very useful. I was wondering, though, if I were to apply online to bb investment banks that didn’t make any meeting at my university and require a cover letter, what should I write in: “I was recently introduced to your firm via [Friend / Contact at Firm / Presentation] and was impressed with what I learned of [Your Culture / Working Environment / Bank-Specific Info.].”

I know about these banks just because of their fame, so should I just skip this part?

Sure though having this line may be more convincing.

I am now applying to Société Générale M&A summer internship in Power, Utilities and Infrastructure department. I tried to find some alumni working there. I could manage to find one via linkedin; however, i cannot contact him because he sets a permission. I wonder what should i write on cover letter if i can’t find a contact in SG?

Dear Sir or Madam / [Name of Recruiter if you have it]

Dear Nicole,

I feel sorry not to explain it clearly.

Quoted from the IB template: ” I was recently introduced to your firm via [Friend / Contact at Firm / Presentation] and was impressed with what I learned of [Your Culture / Working Environment / Bank-Specific Info.] ”

I searched SG career website but they mention the work environment and culture very vague. I tried to find an alumni working there; however,the alumni office hasn’t replied me yet.Even worse, SG hasn’t held any campaign event at our uni. At present moment,I can’t manage to get a contact at firm. I did search they have an aggressive expansion plan for the department 2 years ago. Should I mention this instead?

Much thanks

It would help if you have spoken to a contact who is working/worked there or attending one of their info sessions. Otherwise, yes it may be useful to mention of their department’s aggressive expansion plan.

Hi! What if I have not attended any presentation and I do not know nobody that work in a specific bank? Can I still apply online? I am applying to investment banks in London and I know that they recruit using the online application process.

Yes you can still apply online.

Hi Nicole/Brian,

Adding to what Paolo has mentioned, what about the cover letter? Since we do not know anybody that work in that specific bank (nor attend any presentations), who do we address the cover letter to? (Or is it better not to submit one if the cover letter is optional?)

Secondly, is it alright to say that we found out about the job/vacancy by browsing through their website?

Again, thanks for your continuous kind support.

Regards, Rifki

Quoting from the article:

“If you don’t have this information you can just list the company name and address and use a ‘Dear Sir or Madam” greeting.’ ”

If it’s optional, I wouldn’t even bother submitting it especially if you don’t know anyone there. Yes saying you saw it through a website is OK.

Thanks Brian!

I’ve just graduated in Finance and Accounting but wasn’t able to get summer internships in my 2nd year. What else can I write in section 2+3? I’ve got work experience in wholesale, an accounting firm and an insight day at a Merrill Lynch which were just before I started uni, i.e. 2009 can I still use these in this section or would it look bad since they are old?

I’ve taken part in many trading simulation games in teams etc which show all the skills you have mentioned in the paragraph, would it be acceptable to use this as an example even though it was a simulation?

They wouldn’t look bad but not exactly current. Ideal if you have recent experiences to list. Otherwise you can list them

Yes – show the returns you generated

Thanks for the useful resources.

Last year, I hadn’t as much insight and experience with IB (I was coming from law and bearely started to study a MSc-Finance in a good school). I still got two interviews with a nice boutique and a bb. I got reject at the final round.

This year I’m applying again (I’m currently doing an off cycle M&A internship)

1. Shall I mention I applied last year, and why I like the firm so much? or shall I just make a regular cover letter and avoid to mention I applied a year ago?

2. How many interviews should I go through to secure an offer, or what is the average? I’d like to know whether I am doing something bad or just if it is because you need to go through several interviews to finally get something?

3. What would shall I do with the current market if I secure another off cycle internship or a full time M&A position in a leading law firm? (I prefer finance than law, but I m getting old and need to start working as oppose to “intern”)

Sorry for this long thread, thanks for your help.

1. you can mention it if you want though I don’t think its necessary 2. hard to say – depends on you. people generally go through more than several rounds of interviews to land an offer 3. network a lot

Last year, I hadn’t as much insight and experience in IB profiles (I am coming from law and bearely started to study a MSc-Finance in a good school). I still got two interviews with a nice boutique and a bb. I got reject at the final round.

— Shall I mention I applied last year, and why I like the firm so much

Hi, I have an upcoming interview with a bulge bracket bank in Capital Markets. I submitted my resume about 1 month ago and got selected recently. My resume was updated recently and is much much more in depth than before. Should I reach out to the recruiters and ask if I can have them replace the resume on the website with my new one? Or would this be frowned upon? Thanks!

Yes, please do that!

Thank you for your tips, they are great!I have two questions:

1. All templates I find are about experienced people. If you are a person with no experience (or with a very short experience in a different area), how can you turn this fact around and convince someone to hire you? Should you really emphasize your academic background?

2. I started a PhD but early on I realized that it was not the right fit for me. How and where should I mention this? Should I explain why? I am afraid that no one will be considering me for a job position because I am quitting the PhD…

Thank you so much!

1. There are templates for inexperienced hires – pls look for the one for undergraduates. If you have NO work experience at all, I’d suggest you to emphasize your academic background and extracurricular activities. 2. Explain this on your cover letter & interviews. No, it shouldn’t be a problem if you know how to spin your story. Most jobs don’t require a PhD these days anyway.

Hi, Thank you very much for uploading the template.

But what if I don’t have background info or experiences specific to the investment banking industry even though I have banking experience in a different field such as Loan Officer? Will that matter?

I will be considered as a fresher in that case how can I convince anybody about changing my profession to investment banker or wealth management analyst from this profession?

And can you also please help me with a sample C.V for freshers in Invest and Wealth Management.

I do have an MBA in finance.

You’ll have to figure out why IB and pitch your story well.

You can use the same template for Wealth Management – just focus on your research and investment experience

I’m planning to use this short cover letter as my email body. My question : “Should I opt for a longer version with more elaborate details?”

— Dear Sir/ Madam [or the recruiter’s name],

I would like to express my interest in a position as [position] for [company].

As you may perceive from my summary, I’ve been leveraging my consulting and technical skills from my previous career as an IT Consultant to break into the finance industry. Thus, I’m adapt at translating clients’ problems into a satisfying, concrete solution. I also possess good leadership skill and can work well with others. [ + other skills the company valued / demanded for this specific job]

I would love to expand my career with your company, and am confident that I would be a beneficial addition to your company. I have enclosed my resume and I would welcome a personal interview at your earliest convenience.

[Name and contact address] —

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I’d keep your email short, sweet and succinct. Anything longer than that is too much.

Hello, my question is regarding the introduction —

“Paragraph 1: Introduction This is where you explain who you are, where you’re currently working or studying, and how you found the bank that you’re applying to.”

I have nearly 2 years of consulting experience, but have recently been laid off. Since I’m no longer working or studying, how would I approach this as far as introduction?

Just introduce yourself and tell interviewer you’ve been laid off due to the lackluster economy – they should understand. Tell them what you’ve been doing with your free time i.e. traveling, studying, picking up a new hobby, etc. As long as you sound like you are doing something productive/interesting with your life, you should be fine

Errors – If there are minor typos that most people don’t see at a glance, are you in the clear? I’m not sure if people read cover letters that closely especially during OCR when hundreds of people apply at the same time from one school.

It depends on whether your reviewer is attentive to details or not!

I don’t exactly have a stellar GPA, so I was wondering if the cover letter is where I would explain myself? Or is it better to just not mention it? Thanks! And love this website!

It depends why you don’t have a stellar GPA – if you have a legit reason i.e. you had sick parents you needed to take care of etc I think it would help

Thanks for the article. I just had a quick question. I was originally interested in marketing and completed two internships my freshman year undergraduate (currently a junior applying for summer analyst positions). Since then I have had several research internships. Would it be a good idea what lead my decision to go from marketing to banking in my cover letter?

Any input would be awesome. Thanks!

Yes I would explain why you changed your mind in your cover letter and point to a specific person/incident

I am studying at a “frontier market” university and am currently an exchange student at a highly ranked (Top 100) universities.

Should I use an exchange studies university in a cover letter instead of a university where I’ll be graduating and mention it accordingly (I am currently an exchange student at…)?

No, I think you should still use the university where you’ll be graduating

ha frontier market. I am putting where I am an exchange student with the frontier school I attend.

I’m applying for an internship in the US, but I’m studying in Germany. Should I mention that my University/Business School, is one of the best business schools in Germany?

Thank you for your answer!

I don’t think it makes a difference. You could try but reviewers might not necessarily care too much re that

Hi, thanks so much for this article. I am writing a cover letter to J.P. Morgan, but I cannot find the office address in HK, shall I omit it at the top?

But what if I don’t have background info or experiences specific to the investment banking industry? does that automatically rule me out as a candidate even though they specify that finance background is not necessary?

Could I simply emphasize my skills and abilities that I have gained through other experiences such as working for an NGO?

Not necessarily.

just one other quick question. At Goldman Sachs, one could apply for internship in several divisions and they have asked motivation for applying to different divisions. Would it make this impression that you yourself do not know what division is right for you when you make applications for several divisions? Thanks a lot.

With Goldman, yes. However, in a way you still need to hedge your bets because one division’s MD might like you and the other’s MD might not.

I’ve shown my CL to the Head of HR in my firm and he adviced me to write something “catching” as a title between the date and “Dear Sir or Madam,..”. So do you think it would be okay to write there: “Why I am a good fit for taking part in your spring programme”? Or does this sound too arrogant?

Thanks a lot! Jevira

This sounds generic.

Have you got another idea or just put there: Spring Programme at XYZ. :D Thanks, and sorry for the time you lose with all my questions..

Come up w something original he said right? I don’t know if the above is original. You should just ask him what his suggestions are. I’d love to help but I need to think through it and have to look at your CL; wouldn’t be fair to other customers who are paying for our CL editing service.

Thanks very much for your helps. I have a few questions and I would greatly appreciate if you could help me. I am doing a double degree master in Complex Systems Science (A multidisciplinary field), so I have studied one year at Warwick, UK and now I am studying the second year at Ecole Polytechnique, France. 1) Should I mention anywhere that I have had a multidisciplinary approach since in my field I have to interact with people with completely diverse backgrounds, from Physics and math to economics and Philosophy? 2)I have got a full scholarship from European commission for my studies. How should I mention it? 3)I think many people are not very acquainted with the structure of such joint programs between two universities in two different countries. In my CV, shall I mention it as two masters and not saying that they are in fact joint? 4)My master thesis has been about financial contagion and I do not have ant job or internship opportunity, so how should I write the second paragraph?

Thanks in advance and sorry it becomes too long. Mostafa

1. Not sure how you will be wording this one. Difficult to use this to stand out 2. Yes 3. No, put joint but you can separate the two in diff lines 4. Can’t help you on this one.

Hi, it’s me again. Does this template also apply for online applications where you have to upload the cover letter? Or can my personal adress, the banks adress and the date can be removed withous replacement?

Yes these templates apply to online apps too

No, I don’t think you should remove the details you mentioned

I’m a first year university student in the UK, and looking to apply to a spring division internship at Goldman Sachs (and probably many others in the near future).

I have litte actual experience in terms of working for firms, but have competed in many stock market challenges/competitions, and I have come to university a year early, having been moved up a year.

Clearly with my lack of experience, I will need to slightly change the template you have provided above; how would you recommend I do this?

Many thanks.

I nearly asked the same thing – but my question didn’t even appear.

You should elaborate on your stock market challenges/competitions

Is it okay to write under my asset mgmnt firm that I “increased producivity of checking several entries by about 60%”? It was an excelsheet with about 120 rows in which I had to find the entries which were more than once in these rows. (it was an excel formula I made for that).

Or does it sound ridiculous?

Oh, its in the CV, not the cover letter.

yes it does sounds a bit ridiculous and monotonous. Sorry.

So I’ll delete :) Thanks. Its very difficult to boost your CV.

btw: may I send you, Nicole, my CV that you could look over that? You see my email adress, i guess. I’d really appreciate it! Thinking, that it sounds “too” ridiculous…

We’re not offering resume editing at the moment but will be introducing it shortly, so you can watch for that announcement.

What does “shortly” mean? Within this month? And will it be free? If not, how much would it cost? If you’re launching in the very near future, please reserve one place for me :-).

Haha yes but not free. Sure.

Thanks for your work!

My question is that if I apply for some regions where original language is not English i.e. China, Japan, will it be ok I send a 2-page resume/cl with one in English and another Chinese/Japanese/whatever? or seperately in 2 .pdfs?

Thanks again

No. Not necessary. Just send a one-page resume in English

If bilingual required?

No still submit one pager unless they ask

Thanks Nicole.

Another not-related question, do you think that a 4-month full time internship in PE department of commercial banks, say, standard chartered, strong enough to pass the summer/FT online selection? prior to that i had internship in big-4. a senior in university and will pursue a finance master degree right after. thanks

Should do but again it depends on what position you are interviewing for and which division you are looking at. Also depends on who is screening you..However, I believe your experience should suffice

Do you think sending a cover letter with a CV directly to the Head of investment banking dpt is inappropriate? The bank is hiring (according to website). Sent my CV to HR a month ago, no responce.

Sure, just send him a brief email and your resume. No point in sending a cover letter – address what you need to say briefly on the email

What is your opinion about listing client names. Obviously working in a deal situation it would not be acceptable to mention a client name and the transaction itself if this is not public but in my case I have done a lot of work which didn’t result in deals however I am quite keen on mentionning the clients as I have worked with many PE and large Corporate clients. Is it fine to write: “selected list of clients: A,B,C,D,E…

Why would you want to use names there? Just for more credibility when you discuss deals? I would still avoid using names if possible for dead deals. You can still mention that you’ve worked with some big PE names such as X but I wouldn’t go into details; pretend deal is still ongoing even if it died, and leave out the names.

https://mergersandinquisitions.com/why-investment-banking-deals-fail/

You do such a great service for idiots like me!Keep it up.

Hi! For my motivation letter, which the company requires on their application website, shouldn’t I just say I like money and that I want to work for their company because I would like to earn a lot? Or should I go with the “It’s my passion… I like to be challenged… I’d like to contribute innovations for the growth of the business…” bits? Thank you!

applications for bulge brackets. thanks!

Um #2, always

Okay, thanks!

I am beginning to write my cover letter for a number of boutique banks in the fall to apply for analyst positions. What do I if I don’t know anyone at the firm and can’t namedrop a presentation I attended (1st paragraph)? Can I just say

“My name is John Smith, and I am a recent graduate of Fordham University (Class of 2011). I am interested in applying for an analyst position at XYZ firm”

Is there anything else I can add to the first paragraph to flesh out my cover letter a bit? Thank you very much and keep up the good work!

That’s fine

Hi, I recently switched to a major in economics from engineering. The engineering curriculum at my school is very challenging and had a negative impact on my GPA over my freshman/sophomore year (3.4 currently). Would it be appropriate to list that I was previously an engineering major on my resume to reflect the challenging curriculum I was previously engaged in?

Yes that’s a good idea or at least reflect coursework on there

Thanks for the cover letter and resume templates, they’re really helpful. A friend of mine used your templates to score a summer internship in corporate finance advisory at a big four company in london and I was able to score a SA offer in the IBD of a BB firm in frankfurt, germany. we’re both germans btw.

depending on how fulltime recruiting develops we should set something up for a “breaking into IB in europe”-feature if you see the demand for this. So long, Nick

Congrats, interesting to hear that it works in other countries. There are a few articles on Europe (UK, Germany, Italy) already but could use more if you have a unique angle.

A company was recruiting at my college, and all they asked for was for us to send them a 1-page motivational letter? Any idea what I can include in the letter? Eg, why me? Why should I get the offer? Why should I get the bursary? My strengths and weaknesses?

They don’t want a cv, they just want a motivational letter. I’m not too sure what to include in it. Any help would be appreciated.

I would just follow the cover letter template here and expand on it a bit… don’t go into strengths/weaknesses, just follow the outline above.

Thanks Brian for putting up such a nice website and sharing valuable stuff with us aspirers. I might be using a wrong space to look for your suggestions anyways here I go. My challenge here is to make a successful transition from a business development/ strategy side (prior 3 yrs of exp. with a commercial bank) to IB. Being done an MBA recently from a decent B school in UK where I gained the required skill sets for IB, I was targeting at BB which doesnot seems to be working out my way so I m considering the small boutiques as well to start with. I thought a good cover letter can win recruiters attention in my case. Any advice on the approach I should carry to enter into IB & put my prior experience into use to encash it is highly appreciated.

If you do a search for “Networking” and “Cold-calling” you’ll see the most helpful advice – cover letters do not make a difference, focus on your cold-calling and networking skills and do not give up until you try hundreds of places.

is it okay to put stuff on your resume you don’t mention in your cover letter? or should your resume ONLY include stuff from your cover letter?

It’s fine, you can’t even mention everything in the cover letter anyway

In the 3rd paragraph you explained that we should say something along the lines of “I am impressed by your track record of clients and transactions at Goldman Stanley…”

This is obviously a great way to tailor your cover letter, but I was wondering where you find out information of transactions. I’ve found some doing a simple Google search, but is there an independent authority that tracks all of these? As well, how do you know which transactions to mention? The ones that the firm is particularly proud of or ground-breaking?

Use the WSJ Deal Journal or NYT Dealbook to find recent deals they’ve done, anything sizable or significant e.g. the Goldman / Facebook deal

I realized I made a grammatical error in the last paragraph of my cover letter today. I never noticed it before and I’ve sent it to three places already, one BB and two boutiques. Big deal?

No, no one reads cover letters anyway

Firstly thanks for the website, it’s great.

My question is: in most summer IB internships, they ask several cover letter-like questions like “In 250 words max, describe your career aspirations” etc., however there’s usually an option to upload a cover letter as well. Would you advise keeping it concise or would you include examples of IB-related things, adapted to the question, despite the fact you’re effectively rewriting the cover letter?

This is in UK by the way.

Thanks in advance.

Just keep it concise – competency questions are not a big factor vs. CV/interviews.

Thank you for the template.

Quick questions:

Should we use the email format for a doostang message as well?

No keep it way shorter like 2-3 sentences maybe

Dear M&I,

I guess I’m the most complicated case here. I’m currently doing BA in Art History and Italian at UCL, London, now doing my Erasmus in Italy. However, last summer I worked as a M&A Summer Analyst in a small boutique bank specializing in cross-border M&As. There, I started from scratch, with no finance experience/knowledge, but learnt a lot and had lots of hands-on experience, since the company was really small and I was involved in literally everything.

I’m applying for summer internships in large investment banks and about to start writing my cover letters. I assume I must explain myself for studying Art History & Italian and my out-of-the-blue interest in I-Banking, plus use my last summer experience as a selling point. Any other specific hints?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Well, why did you work there? What made you interested in doing that? Reference a specific person or if nothing comes to mind use something from the news or your background e.g. I was always really interested in Italy and the UK and got interested in finance as a result of [xx] so I wanted to explore cross-border M&A and leverage my skills/interests like that.

Hi, I have completed my masters in Drug Discovery and Translational Biology. But currently I am planning to apply for any investment banking positions. As I don’t have any background or experience in the given field, i don’t what to write in the 2nd and 3rd paragraph.

Can you please help me,

Talk about the analytical skills you gained and how they apply, or the leadership / project management skills or anything else like that from previous internships or school.

Hey guys, this letter just repeats what is inside the Resume anyway. What is the additional value for the potential employer to read this kind of resume? There are no additional information. Wouldnt it be better to wite about your motiviation, your personal (not work) background, and reasons to chose this department/bank ? Or would it harm to do this?

Furthermore, the letter includes the information about resume enclosure 3(!) times. I like this site but this template really does not look too promising for me!

So don’t use it? The point is that no one reads cover letters, but in case they do, you don’t want to screw up by saying anything controversial or anything that could be misinterpreted.

If you start writing your personal story, bankers might mistake it for a soap opera script rather than cover letter.

Cover letters have no value at all, but just like grades if you screw one up it could hurt you. This template is intentionally boring and gives very little information because otherwise people would download this and insert pictures of unicorns, write about their past relationships, and other nonsense.

Great comment, made me laugh

Do you recommend being creative in cover letters, ie varying sentence structure, using big/expressive words ?

No, creativity is for marketing or poetry – this is finance.

I’m a US student currently at Oxford for my junior year. All the applications for the UK offices are online. I know you have already answered the question before, but I don’t want to make any mistakes. So just to clarify:

1. Omit the physical addresses, mine as well as theirs. 2. Omit the recruiters name leaving only the name of the bank 3. Omit the signature 4. Do not enclose resume since that is a separate attachment

Thanks so much in advance.

Hie ,i realy luv ur advice!.,Im doing a Bsc in Financial modelling with UNISA.is this a good start for a career in investment banking?.i finish next year, could u tell wat i can do to make myself marketable after graduation.

Honestly, I’m not sure on that one because I’m not familiar with the school. If a lot of banks recruit there, it’s fine; otherwise you should transfer elsewhere.

Its University of SouthAfrica ,im also staying in Africa.is there something i could do 2 giv me an added advantage over my coleagues?.

This article has some tips on South Africa: https://mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-south-africa/

Hey M&I,

What’s your take on headlines (i.e.Application for IB Analyst) and postscripts? I’ve heard from many friends to add them on because they will grab attention. But then again, they aren’t going into banking.

Thanks, Mack

Not applicable for banking

i will be applying to merrill lynch. In the template, you stated many of the internship and job roles that provide the skills required to be a great investment analyst. However, i was just wondering, if i have a perfect gpa, perfect sats score, how can i use these to my advantage in my cover letter?

You can’t really, just list them and be done with it – no point in trying to emphasize those because there’s not much to say and they speak for themselves.

Hi, If the firm’s online application says “you can only attach one file: this should contain your CV, cover letter and any other materials relevant for the position”, does it mean in the word document file I upload, the 1st page is resume, the 2nd page is cover letter and the 3rd is transcript? It looks pretty strange because the document is gonna be 4-5 pages. But since they only allow me to upload one file, I’m not sure what to do with the cover letter and the transcript. Or can I just omit them and attach the resume document only? Thanks a ton.

I would not send the transcript unless they specifically ask for it, otherwise just create a 2-page file with your cover letter and CV

First of all, great website! It’s really helpful and I think you guys are doing a great job.

I am visually impaired, however I have always followed regular education and have performed like anybody else (also in jobs, at associations, etc). Many banks stress their emphasis on diversity and now I am wondering if I should include this fact in my cover letter / online application? On the one hand I feel it would fit great into the whole “what are you most proud of”-question, but I am also scared it might work against me?

Please note I’m applying London, not NY. (I think European regulations might differ from US-ones). I go to a European target school.

Personally I would not list it on your CV / cover letter / online application, but maybe bring it up in an interview if it fits in naturally.

Hi Brian, I was beginning to start writing coverletters–atleast get them going, but I’m confused on where to find the unique strength of each BB, which makes it diff from its competitions. One of the things which makes a good cover letter is that its specific to a firm, but I dont know how to find such information. For instance, I was looking at MS, Barclays website in the section ,’Why MS’ or ‘Why Barclays’, and it seems every firm had the same agenda. We are committed to diversity , team player etc. Obv I need to go into more depth than this. Brian where I can find information specific to each BB on their website? I would really appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

You should read the WSJ Deal Journal blog and look for recent mentions of the bank and what deals they have been advising on – then reference those in the cover letter.

Hi Brian, I’m in a similar position as the above poster. For companies without a personal contact I want to talk about a specific deal they’ve advised on.

I’m just unsure how to formulate such a sentence without encouraging diffcult to answer questions.

E.g. I was thinking of something along the lines of “I was impressed with your company’s role as target advisor in the $X bn acquisition of companyX”

I’m afraid this would result in the question of ‘why were you impressed?’.

Any chance you could give a sample sentence of how you would talk about a deal in a cover letter?

P.S.: Keep up the good work with BIWS, love the constant updates. Highly recommended, well worth the money!

You can say something like “I recently saw news of your role as an advisor in the $X bn acquisition of company X and was immediately interested, since I’ve followed the [X] industry for awhile.”

Hi, I graduated from a target, went to medical school after graduation, but left after two years to pursue a career in investment banking. I now work at a small investment research firm, and I am applying for 2011 analyst class.

How much “explanation” do I need to do in cover letter? Or should I just focus on my job experience and modeling skills?

I don’t think you need much explanation since you quit medicine after 2 years, so just focus on other aspects

Is the physical address at the top still necessary if you’re attaching the cover letter as a .PDF in an online form?

I can’t thank you enough for all these info Brian,

In all honesty, I did have a sudden family death last year for which I had to leave school in the middle of the semester and come back after about two weeks. I got in a lot of psychological stress and uncertainty and I ended up messing up my grades significantly for two semesters. However, I did improve last semester with a full workload (maximum number of credit hours allowed at my school + advanced level classes) and got near 4.0.

How should I mention this on my cover letter? Also, how would I do that on an electronic cover letter which should only be about 4-5 sentences?

Thanks again in advance.

I would just say you had a health issue and had trouble balancing everything, but quickly learned your lesson and received perfect grades right after that. Giving a family excuse sounds fake so I would probably not write that even if it’s true.

Thanks but the thing is that wasn’t my freshman year. It was my sophomore year. So I did well my freshman year than poorly as a sophomore and improved as a junior.

Also, what about the electronic cover letter? Would it be ok to take up some sentences to explain my situation?

Just say you did poorly “at first” and then improved and have perfect grades this past year. I would still keep your cover letter short as no one has time to read a lot.

I would appreciate your advice on this.

I’m a senior at a target school in Far East Asia. It’s really tough to get into a BB here and I’m thinking of visiting each BB and handing them my resume and cover letter to ask for a junior equity research position. I doubt I’d be able to personally meet the head of research or a senior analyst without prior arrangement, so I’d be probably handing my resume and cover letter to HR. I need to stand out but I have no equity research internship experience. What I do have, is a equity S&T internship at a BB and a RA (intern) at a top-tier mgmt. consulting firm. Plus experience managing a personal portfolio and trading derivatives in notable amounts.

Now, my problem is this. I made it to the final round for a junior ER position at GS but unfortunately was not given the offer (the offer ended up going to someone with some full-time experience in ER; had I been competing against fresh-out-of-college candidates would the result have been different?). I would like to mention this in my resume or cover letter hoping that it would serve as evidence that I’m really interested in ER and that I have the potential. But I’m worried that this might send the wrong signal. Who would like to accept a candidate knowing that he was unsuccessful elsewhere? I’m worried that I might appear arrogant in their eyes. I’m thinking of visiting CS, UBS, Citi, MS, ML, JPM, etc. In ER here in Asia, they’re at least at par with GS if not better…

I realize that answer to this may depend on the culture here. Please advise. Thanks.

I would not mention an unsuccessful interview with GS for the reasons you mentioned.

Hi Brian! Long time reader, first time poster. I’m currently a rising senior at a target school on the tale end of my internship at a strong boutique bank in New York. I only have one week left, and I’ve been given zero modeling opportunities. I’m very disappointed. I figure that I should ask for some modeling work. But I have some questions.

1) Does it reflect poorly in interviews for full-time that I didn’t do any modeling? Should I “stretch” the truth?

2) Do you have any other relevant comments about doing a junior year internship and not getting any modeling experience? I’m concerned with how this hurts my full-time credentials, how this might affect my resume, and how overall my standing will decrease relative to my peers because I didn’t get modeling experience.

It’s quite common not to have modeling experience… just say you did research and assisted with potential clients / potential buy-side deals but don’t say anything about modeling. Most people do no modeling in their internships so it doesn’t matter much anyway.

What’s a better part-time fall internship, BB PWM or no-name boutique (I mean no name.. say 3-7 employees)?

Both are about the same, but the boutique is better for your resume because you can write “Investment Banking Analyst”

off-topic question:

I often read though it’s June interviews are still taking place.

When do banks in America/Europe begin accepting applications for: 1) summer interns (analyst) 2) full-time (analyst/associate)

Is the end of a summer intern equivalent to the end of the full-time offer application period? Because ppl. might are offered a full-time offer after their summer intern.

To put it in a nutshell: When is recruting/application time generally?

Summer interns are December/January, full-time is August-September.

And when do you start as summer intern, when u successfully applied in dec/jan or successfully applied for aug/sep?

Summer interns usually start in June

This post reminded me of the classic cover letter to Lehman that was on Leveraged Sellout. I tried to see it, but it appears LSO has shutdown. Is this the case? Are the days of re-reading the same, hilarious stories over?

I don’t know because it’s not my site, but yes it appears to be down. Maybe check the google cache.

Thanks for the release of this article, much appreciated.

Curious on an unrelated question though, when you try to develop relationships with bankers and do the initial outreach to set up an information interview, how far ahead should you plan? I mean should you give them dates within the week you email, 2 weeks ahead, etc?

Also, for specific time slots you ask for, what time is it usually best for a banker to talk to someone about that? Like early morning, late night, right after lunch, etc?

Thanks again, H

Give dates within the next 1.5 weeks so they have a few days to respond. Usually right after lunch is best for bankers, for traders you have to call after market hours are over

Hi Brian, Thanks for the website, I have a quick question for you. I am in one of the new Masters in Finance/Management programs. I am at a target school for undergrad/MBA (think UNC/Duke/UVA). However, since the program is very new, banks don’t know much about it. Aditionally, although I have had some Wealth Management internship experience, I don’t have an I-Banking internship.

Given my situation, do you think it is better for me (in terms of B-school and exit opportunities) to go into a top ten consulting firm (excluding MBB) or try for mid-market/boutique investment banks (My school is very good in placing people in consulting), assuming I don’t get into a BB. I ultimately want to end up in PE or HF (preferably PE).

Thanks for your help.

I would still say banking because consulting –> PE is very tough unless you go for firms like Golden Gate Capital that hire a lot of ex-consultants… and even there they’re mostly from MBB. Much easier to go from smaller bank –> PE than to go from smaller consulting firm –> PE.

Should I mention the fact that my company is in F500? It’s know in Europe, but I doubt it is known in North America.

You can add it in, yes

I don’t have any inside experience about the recruiting process, but a friend/colleague of mine (BB) mentioned that while recruiting for regional european branches/off-cycle internships often look at the cover letter, they almost never do it for summer positions in London.

Everyone seems to have different stories re: cover letters, but they are certainly less important than resumes, networking, or interviews

What about for laterals?

Same template applies but talk about how your previous banking experience applies to the new position you’re applying for

I appreciate your template for its compactness, I understand I shouldnt overestimate the competition, but Im trying to sell myself to the recruiter, so simply mentioning my skills and experience will not differentiate me from the “competitor”…?

I personally dont have so much experience in the finance realm (although Im genuinely interested in it and have managed to get a ten day insight into a BB) so do you encourage mentioning transferable skills I acquired through extra curricular activities, ie football = teamwork, etc, etc…

Cover letters are not really the place to “sell” yourself, which is why this is short… much safer to keep it boring and then do the selling via networking / interviews.

I know this is supposed to be basic, but the first paragraph is pretty useless. Your name, university/job position and contact details will already be on your resume so what’s the point in wasting time and space repeating the details on your cover letter. Also, saying “I am interested in pursuing an [Investment Banking Analyst / Associate] position at your firm” is also somewhat redundant, since the recruiter knows what position you’re applying for.

The template is good as a starting point, but on the off chance someone actually does read your cover letter, I would try to do a lot more than just make redundant statements.

This template is for both email and traditional letters… and in email it’s certainly not redundant. Even with traditional letters you are introducing new information by giving the name of the person you met at their firm as well as your major / where you’re working more specifically.

so do you expect the same stats as what you have written for the resume template? A given population, and a limited percentage will download it, and even a limited percentage will copy it word for word?

Cheers, thanks for all the great info!

In the grand scheme of things, yes – online a lot of people use these templates but most people who apply to banks do not use them.

I’m currently a rising junior at a semi target looking to be a SA next summer. This past summer I interned at a discount brokerage firm but had significant responsibilities (they didn’t have to hire an additional broker because of me) and got a lot of experience and face time with clients.

I have an opportunity to apply for a PWM internship for the fall with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Should I continue with my current internship through the fall or would it look better to move to the more distinguished name? I imagine the work would be similar. thanks

Go to the better name

nice template, it sure will be easier for internationals like me to write one now. thanks.

Thank you for the cover letter template.

“If you’re making the body of your email the cover letter, make it even shorter (4-5 sentences total) and cut out the address bits at the top.”

Do you mean we should drastically cut down the entire 4 paragraph cover letter into 4-5 sentences?

Yes, make it so they don’t have to scroll much (if at all) when reading on a Blackberry. 1-2 sentence intro, 2 sentences on your work experience and how it makes you fit for the job and then 1 sentence conclusion.

A nicely put article! Anyway, I like the new template for the website too!

A question that is unrelated to the article:

How far does an interviewer expect you to know in a previous live deal that you were previously involved in as an INTERN? I mean really, to be fair, often times, even if interns are being put into live deals, they are only doing menial works (including me), such as researching, data mining, presentation slides building, etc.

How far of financial analysis would the interviewer expect you to know?

Also, in terms of financial modeling, you’ve said it before that it is the kind of work that everyone should want to be exposed to. But what if the financial modeling is not for a live deal, but for a potential deal? Would it still look better than the menial works in live deals?

Thank you! You have no idea how helpful you have been.

They expect you to know what you indicate you know… so don’t set expectations very high. And yes any type of modeling work is better than menial tasks

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1 Bank Teller Cover Letter Example

Bank Tellers are the financial gatekeepers, adept at handling transactions with precision, maintaining confidentiality, and providing excellent customer service. Similarly, your cover letter is your first transaction with potential employers, accurately reflecting your skills, experience, and commitment to service. In this guide, we'll delve into the best cover letter examples for Bank Tellers, ensuring your application deposits a lasting, positive impression.

Cover Letter Examples

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The best way to start a Bank Teller cover letter is by addressing the hiring manager directly, if their name is available. Then, introduce yourself and express your interest in the Bank Teller position. Mention where you found the job posting and why you are interested in the role. For example, "Dear Mr. Smith, I am writing to express my interest in the Bank Teller position at XYZ Bank, as advertised on LinkedIn. With my strong financial background and customer service skills, I am confident I can make a positive contribution to your team." This approach is professional and shows that you've done your research.

Bank Tellers should end a cover letter by summarizing their interest in the position and their qualifications. They should express enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to the bank's goals and services. A closing statement could be, "I am excited about the opportunity to bring my customer service skills and attention to detail to your bank. I am confident that my experience and passion for providing excellent service make me a strong candidate for this position." Then, they should thank the hiring manager for considering their application, for example, "Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing my candidacy further." Lastly, they should sign off professionally with "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by their full name. It's important to leave a positive and lasting impression, showing enthusiasm and professionalism.

A Bank Teller's cover letter should ideally be about one page in length. This is because hiring managers often have to go through numerous applications, so they appreciate concise and clear letters that get straight to the point. Your cover letter should be long enough to effectively communicate your skills, experiences, and interest in the position, but short enough to maintain the reader's attention. Remember, the goal is to provide a snapshot of your qualifications and make the hiring manager want to learn more about you through your resume.

Writing a cover letter with no experience as a Bank Teller can seem challenging, but it's definitely possible. Here's how you can approach it: 1. Address the Hiring Manager: Start your cover letter by addressing the hiring manager directly. If you don't know their name, a simple "Dear Hiring Manager" will suffice. 2. Introduction: Begin by introducing yourself and stating the position you're applying for. Mention where you found the job posting. 3. Highlight Relevant Skills: Even if you don't have direct experience as a Bank Teller, you likely have other skills that are relevant. For example, if you've worked in customer service, you can highlight your communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and experience handling cash or sensitive information. If you've worked in a fast-paced environment, you can mention your ability to multitask and work under pressure. 4. Show Enthusiasm for the Industry: Express your interest in the banking industry and your willingness to learn. You can mention any relevant coursework or certifications you've completed, or your knowledge about the bank's products and services. 5. Use Examples: Provide specific examples of when you've used your skills in past roles. This could be a time when you resolved a customer complaint, or when you successfully balanced a cash drawer at the end of your shift. 6. Show You Fit the Company Culture: Research the bank's values and culture, and explain why you're a good fit. This could be your commitment to providing excellent customer service, or your alignment with their community involvement initiatives. 7. Closing: Thank the hiring manager for considering your application. Express your interest in discussing your qualifications further in an interview. 8. Professional Sign-off: End the letter with a professional sign-off like "Sincerely" or "Best Regards," followed by your full name. Remember, your cover letter should be concise, professional, and free of errors. It's your chance to make a great first impression, so take the time to tailor it to each job you apply for.

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Bank Teller Cover Letter Example

Start a Bank Teller cover letter that gets employers to act and helps you get the job faster. Impress hiring managers with the aid of ResumeCoach’s Bank Teller example letter template and professional tips and tricks for success.

Resume and Cover Letter Experts

Congratulations! You’ve stumbled upon a Bank Teller job opening with excellent benefits and working hours, what’s next?

First, start by making sure you have an outstanding resume that fits the job description. If you do not have it, take advantage of our easy-to-use  resume builder  and get a customized version in minutes.

Besides a resume, it’s critical that you  include a cover letter  with your application that highlights your strengths and accomplishments to grab the recruiter’s attention and get you the interview.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to:

• Create a cover letter that sets you apart from other applicants
• Write a Bank Teller cover letter with or without experience
• Address any employment gaps

Plus access to expertly written samples tailored for Bank Teller positions!

How to Write a Cover Letter for Bank Teller with Experience

If you have previous job experience, writing a cover letter may seem like a straightforward task.

However, it’s essential to ensure that your cover letter effectively  highlights your skills and qualifications  for the position you’re applying for.

Looking over the  Experience section  on your resume can help you know exactly what to mention, such as your  past responsibilities and results .

Below are some tips on how to write a Bank Teller cover letter with experience.

1. Customize Your Cover Letter for the Job Posting

Tailoring your letter to the specific job posting can help you stand out from other applicants. Point out the  abilities and work history that are most relevant  to the job.

For example, if the job advertisement mentions  cash handling  as a requirement, mention in your cover letter how your experience relates to that.

Here is one way to do it:

I was pleased to see in the job posting that you are looking for someone who is comfortable working with customers and has experience in handling cash transactions.

During my previous job as a cashier, I learned how to provide excellent customer service while accurately processing transactions. I also have experience in reconciling cash drawers and preparing daily deposits, which I believe will be beneficial in this role.

Ensure that you use the same keywords used in the job advertisement to avoid  Applicant Tracking System (ATS)  filters and getting disqualified.

2. Start With a Strong Opening

Your opening should  grab the reader’s attention  and clearly state the position you’re applying for. You may also want to briefly explain why you’re interested in the job or why you’re a good fit for the company.

The examples below provide some  effective ways to start  your Bank Teller cover letter:

• I am thrilled to apply for the Bank Teller position at your Chatham branch. With over three years of experience in customer service and cash handling, I am confident that I possess the skills and expertise necessary to excel in this role.
• I am writing to express my interest in the Bank Teller position at your Chatham branch. With a strong background in cash handling and customer service, including three years of experience in a similar role, I strongly believe I would be a valuable addition to your team.
• I am excited to apply for the Bank Teller position at your Chatham branch. With a proven track record of success in customer service and cash handling, including three years of experience in a similar role, I believe I have the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in this position.

Remember that the purpose of the first paragraph is to get the reader’s attention so that they want to read the rest of your cover letter!

3. Provide Specific Examples

Use specific examples from your previous job experience to demonstrate your skills and accomplishments. This could include projects you’ve worked on, awards you’ve received, or  specific metrics  that show how you’ve contributed to your previous company.

Don’t just say “ I collaborated in a project to improve cash handling ”.

Say “ I collaborated with my team to develop and implement a new process for reconciling cash drawers and preparing deposits, which resulted in a 20% reduction in errors and discrepancies ”.

The more specifics you provide,  the more credible your claims  become.

4. Emphasize your transferable skills

Even if your previous job experience isn’t directly related to the position you’re applying for, you likely have  transferable skills that are relevant . Make sure to emphasize these abilities and explain how they would be valuable in the new role.

The list below showcases some  basic skills  all Bank Tellers should have:

• Active listening
• Strong verbal communication abilities
• An ability to satisfy customers while adhering to bank standards

According to the  Bureau of Labor Statistics , some similar occupations where applicants can acquire these abilities include cashier, customer service representative, receptionist, or information clerk.

5. Close With a Strong Call to Action

Your closing paragraph should  reiterate your interest in the position  and include a call to action, such as requesting an interview or expressing your availability to discuss the position further.

When closing your cover letter for a Bank Teller position, a powerful call to action can help you stand out from other applicants and showcase your enthusiasm for the job.

For example, you could write something like, “ I am eager to contribute my strong communication skills and passion for customer service to your bank. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you further and answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience to schedule an interview ”.

Mastering the Art of Bank Teller Cover Letters: Illustrative Examples

Now, let’s take a  look at another 2 examples  to recap and get a deeper understanding of how to write a powerful Bank Teller cover letter:

I am applying for the Bank Teller position at West Coast Bank. I have worked as a Bank Teller for two years. I am familiar with handling cash and providing customer service. I am also a quick learner and work well under pressure.

The previous example  lacks specific details  about the applicant’s achievements or contributions in their previous Bank Teller roles.

The statement merely points out basic job duties and traits that are expected of a Bank Teller, which does not make the applicant stand out or showcase their unique qualifications.

During my two years as a Bank Teller at West Side People’s Bank, I consistently exceeded my sales goals and achieved a 98% customer satisfaction rating. I also implemented a new cash management system that reduced cash handling errors by 30% and saved the bank over $8,000 annually.

This example is very effective because it points out the candidate’s ability to perform well, provide excellent service, and think critically about their work. It’s also  very specific  by mentioning numbers and percentages, adding a lot of credibility.

Example Cover Letter for Bank Teller With Experience

To familiarize yourself with the elements of a strong cover letter for a Bank Teller with experience, you can examine the sample cover letter below.

Hiring Manager’s name

Company name

Company address

Dear Mr/Ms. [Hiring Manager Name]

I am writing to apply for the Bank Teller position being advertised by [Company]. As an accomplished Teller with over three years of experience working with customers and financial services, I am certain that I fit the profile perfectly.

In my current position with [Current Company], I have played an active part in helping the branch achieve a record increase in revenue. During the last 3 sales campaigns, intake and sales have increased by around 12% on average.

Furthermore, I demonstrably showed my abilities to enhance customer service in-branch. My personal customer feedback score has never fallen below 90% and my performance has often helped to improve repeat trade by over 30%.

My resume is enclosed with further details on my career successes so far. Naturally, I would be delighted to talk in person to discuss any queries you may have about my credentials.

Please feel free to contact me via my personal phone number and email address. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely, Name

Address Phone number Email address

Along with reviewing these types of examples, using a  cover letter writing guide  to assist you can significantly streamline the entire writing process.

How to Write a Cover Letter for Bank Teller with No Experience

Many job applicants are discouraged from applying when they come across job postings that require prior job experience.

It’s no wonder that fresh graduates and those looking to  transition  into a Bank Teller position ask themselves, “How do I write a cover letter for a Bank Teller with no experience?”

It’s important  not to give up on applying  even if you don’t have any relevant work history.

Instead, you can create a compelling cover letter that highlights  how your skills and qualities align  with the job requirements.

To do this, you need to thoroughly understand the company’s needs and goals.

Take some time to analyze what they are looking for in an employee.  Use your education and any relevant internship experience  to demonstrate how you are a good fit for the position.

In your cover letter,  focus on 3 key areas :

• the company’s needs
• your relevant achievements,
• and your valuable skills.

By addressing these points, you can show the hiring manager that you understand what they are looking for and that you have the potential to be a valuable addition to their team.

If you don’t have as much experience as other applicants, you can still demonstrate your enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Use your cover letter as an opportunity to showcase your motivation and dedication, and convince the employer that you are the best candidate for the job.

Look at the following  examples tailored to Bank Teller positions  to get some ideas:

I have no experience as a Bank Teller, but I am a quick learner and am excited to start my career in banking. I have great customer service skills and am a team player.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t provide any specific examples or evidence of skills or qualifications that would make the candidate a good fit for the position.

Also, the statements “I am a quick learner” and “I have great customer service skills” are  generic and overused phrases  that don’t provide any tangible evidence of the candidate’s abilities.

Although I don’t have direct experience as a Bank Teller, my previous customer service internship at Amazonics taught me how to interact with customers, solve problems efficiently and handle cash transactions accurately. I am excited to bring these skills to your team at Atlantica Bank.

This is an excellent example because it highlights transferable skills gained from a previous customer service internship and  shows enthusiasm for the position .

It also specifically mentions relevant abilities such as handling cash transactions accurately, which are important for a Bank Teller role.

Example Cover Letter for Bank Teller With No Experience

When you are  just starting in the profession , the blank page before you begin typing your letter may be nerve-wracking!

We get that, but there are  tricks for writing a great cover letter  when you have little to no experience.

Refer to the sample Bank Teller cover letter for fresh graduates provided below to familiarize yourself with the components of an effective letter for someone who would like to get a job as a teller in a bank but has no prior experience.

I am writing to express my interest in the Bank Teller position at [Bank Name]. Although I do not have any direct experience in the banking industry, I am excited about the opportunity to learn and grow in this role.

As a recent graduate with a degree in finance, I have developed strong analytical and problem-solving skills that I believe will be valuable in the position. Additionally, my part-time job as a retail sales associate has provided me with customer service experience and sales skills.

During my time as a retail sales associate at Mediazon, I consistently met my sales targets and was able to upsell to customers, resulting in a 15% increase in revenue compared to the previous quarter. I also maintained a 99% accuracy rate when handling cash and credit card transactions, ensuring that there were no discrepancies in the store’s financial records.

My experience in retail sales and customer service, combined with my attention to detail and accuracy when handling financial transactions, make me a strong candidate for the Bank Teller position at [Bank Name].

While I understand that the role of a Bank Teller requires a specific set of skills and knowledge, I am confident in my ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations. I am a detail-oriented individual who takes pride in providing excellent customer service and ensuring accuracy in all tasks.

I am excited about the prospect of joining a team of professionals at [Bank Name] and contributing to the success of the organization. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further.

Please let me know if you require any further information or if there are any next steps I should be aware of.

Cover Letter for Bank Teller with Employment Gap

If you have experienced a gap in your employment history, you may struggle to determine what to include in your Bank Teller cover letter and resume. It can be disheartening to think that this gap may decrease your chances of landing the job.

However, a gap in your career does not necessarily disqualify you from the job. There are various  legitimate reasons  why someone may not have worked for a certain amount of time, such as to take care of a sick family member.

When applying for a Bank Teller position,  it’s crucial to clarify any employment gaps  since banks value attention to detail, accuracy, and credibility in their highly formal work environments.

Providing clear explanations for any gaps in your employment history is important when applying for a role, particularly in highly regulated industries such as banking where  adherence to strict protocols and guidelines is essential .

By demonstrating professionalism, honesty, and commitment to the job application process, you can  establish yourself as a trustworthy and reliable candidate  for the position.

There are some things you should and shouldn’t include in your cover letter to address the issue:

• Explain why:  Briefly describe the reason for the gap. A hiring manager may find out about it anyway and draw their own conclusions. You’re better off taking the first step.
• Don’t worry about old or really short gaps:  It’s important to note that not every single gap needs to be addressed in your cover letter.

During the interview process,  be prepared to answer any questions  related to your employment gap. You could even try to turn it into a positive by shortly mentioning any relevant skills you acquired during that time.

Remember to  adhere to the proper cover letter  and  resume format  when creating your documents.

Let’s analyze 2  examples customized to Bank Teller roles  for deeper insights:

I have a gap in my employment history, but I am eager to start working as a Bank Teller. I have great customer service skills and can handle cash transactions efficiently. I am a quick learner and can adapt to new situations easily.

Simply stating that you have gaps in your employment history  without providing any context  or explanation may raise concerns for the employer.

Additionally, the example does not provide any information about what the candidate has been doing during their time away, which could be perceived as a lack of productivity or commitment.

During my previous employment, I took a break to care for a family member who was ill. During that time, I volunteered at a local non-profit organization where I gained experience in cash handling and customer service.

I also took online courses to keep my skills up-to-date. I am excited to bring my experience and dedication to your team at Southern Entrepreneurs Bank.

The candidate mentions that they took a break to care for a sick family member, which is a valid reason for a gap in employment history.

The applicant also explains that they spent their time productively volunteering at a non-profit organization and taking online courses to improve their skills, which  emphasizes their dedication  and positions them as a strong candidate.

Example Cover Letter for Bank Teller With Employment Gap

If you are a Bank Teller with an employment gap in your resume, you may be wondering  how to explain this  to potential employers.

While taking time off from work can be a  great opportunity for personal growth and development , it can also be a challenge when it comes to job searching.

However, with the right approach, it is possible to address the gap in a way that highlights your strengths and  shows your commitment to your career .

In this example cover letter for a Bank Teller position, you can learn how to approach such an employment gap in a  positive and professional manner .

I am excited to apply for the Bank Teller position at Bankomatic. I am confident that my experience and skills make me a strong candidate for this role and I am eager to contribute to your team’s success.

After several years working as a Bank Teller, I took a sabbatical to travel around Asia and gain new experiences. During this time, I had the opportunity to visit many different countries, learn about different cultures and customs, and enhance my communication and problem-solving skills.

I believe that these experiences have made me a more well-rounded and adaptable person, and have given me a fresh perspective that I can bring to my work.

Although I took time off to travel, I have stayed up-to-date on industry trends and have continued to develop my skills and knowledge. I have taken online courses to improve my understanding of financial regulations and procedures, and have stayed connected with the banking industry through networking events and industry publications.

As a Bank Teller, I am committed to providing excellent service to customers, building strong relationships with clients, and ensuring that their needs are met efficiently and effectively. I am also a quick learner, and am always looking for opportunities to grow and develop my skills.

I am excited about the opportunity to join ABC Bank and am confident that my experience, skills, and passion for customer service make me a great candidate for this position. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications in further detail.

Creating a Bank Teller Cover Letter That Speaks to Employers: Key Takeaways

Are you ready to unlock the vault to your dream job as a bank teller? Your cover letter holds the key to making a lasting impression.

Here are some key takeaways for crafting an effective cover letter that will present your cash-handling skills, customer service experience, and passion for the banking industry:

• Powerful opening:  Highlight your relevant experience, skills, and passion for banking, while also emphasizing why you are a good fit for the specific Bank Teller position you are applying for.
• Experience in other fields:  Even if your previous work experience may not seem directly applicable to banking, demonstrate how your skills can benefit you in your new role.
• Specificity:  Showcase your banking skills in action and provide concrete details about your achievements in the banking industry. Include metrics to make your claims more credible.
• Tailor your letter to the position:  Use the same keywords and phrases that are used in the job advertisement to emphasize your relevant skills and experience in banking.
• Employment gaps:  Taking time off for personal reasons can actually be turned into an advantage. Point out the skills and experiences you gained during that time.
• Request an interview:  Conclude your cover letter expressing your eagerness for an interview and thanking the employer for their consideration.

Finally, make sure your  spelling and grammar are perfect . Little mistakes in the text of the letter can get you immediately rejected from the hiring process; so it’s worth taking the time to proofread everything before you hit send.

Trouble getting your Cover Letter started?

Beat the blank page with expert help.

Bank Teller Cover Letter Example

Want to use this letter?

City, State, Zip Code

Home: 000-000-0000

[email protected]

Dear Mr. Stone,

As a highly skilled Bank Teller, I read your posting for a new Bank Teller with interest. My experience aligns well with the qualifications you are seeking at SouthWestern Bank, in particular my role as a Bank Teller at Company Name, and I am certain I would make a valuable addition to your organization.

With more than 10 years’ experience as a Bank Teller, I am adept in money management, customer service, and upsells. Moreover, while my on-the-job experience has afforded me a well-rounded skill set, including first-rate interpersonal and communication skills, I excel at:

• Opening new customer accounts and resolving account issues.
• Building relationships with branch customers and increasing sales.
• Overseeing and mentoring junior tellers and new employees.
• Preparing closing reports on daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis.

In addition to my experience and personal qualities, I have a solid educational foundation and a passion for customer service. I am extremely enthusiastic about SouthWestern Bank’s focus on modernizing customer relationship strategies and would welcome the opportunity to contribute to your ongoing improvements and continued success.

Please review my attached resume for additional details regarding my expertise and career achievements. I will follow up to request an appointment to discuss how my experience and background meet your needs.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Madelynn Wilkinson

There are plenty of opportunities to land a position, but it won’t just be handed to you. Crafting a cover letter that catches the attention of hiring managers is paramount to getting the job, and LiveCareer is here to help you stand out from the competition.

View All Cover Letter Samples

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• Cover Letter Examples
• Investment Banking Cover Letter Template, Example, & Tips

Investment Banking Cover Letter Template, Example, & Tips

Our customers have been hired by:

You’re about to compose a job-winning investment banking cover letter.

Whether you want to become a boutique investment analyst or get a lucrative JP Morgan internship, you’re a high-value commodity. But first, they need proof. To get them to invest in you, you must write a perfect finance cover letter you can bank on.

Don’t worry. This investment banking cover letter guide will show you:

• Investment banking cover letter examples better than 9 out of 10 others.
• How to write a perfect cover letter investment banking institutions love.
• Tips on how to grab their attention with a professional finance cover letter.
• How to sell yourself on a cover letter to get the investment bank jobs you want.

Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from  20+ professional cover letter templates  that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.

Create your cover letter now

Sample cover letter for a resume— See more cover letter examples and create your cover letter here .

Want to double-check your investment banking resume to be certain that’s on point? Here’s our guide on that: Investment Banker Resume: Sample & Complete Guide

Maybe you're looking for another positions? See other cover letter examples for jobs in your industry:

• Business Analyst Cover Letter
• Business Cover Letter
• Consulting Cover Letter
• Data Analyst Cover Letter
• Data Entry Cover Letter
• Data Scientist Cover Letter
• Executive Cover Letter
• Financial Analyst Cover Letter
• Manager Cover Letter
• McKinsey Cover Letter
• Project Manager Cover Letter
• Retail Cover Letter Examples
• Sales Cover Letter
• Law Firm Cover Letter
• Formal Cover Letter

Want to explore your options further? See our full selection of cover letter examples for every career:  Best Cover Letter Examples

First, here’s our take on the perfect cover letter for investment banking analyst jobs:

Investment Banking Cover Letter Sample

Carmen Villanueva

1234 35th St, #6

Astoria, NY 11106

March 1, 2019

Blythe Summers

IB Hiring Manager

Goldman Sachs

200 West St, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10282

Dear Blythe,

As the recent acquirer of an MBA from the Columbia Business School, I was excited to see the junior investment analyst opening. My previous JP Morgan internship experience has honed my accounting, risk, international markets, financial statement analysis, and financial modeling skills, and I know I have the knowledge required to take Goldman Sachs to the next level.

During my JP Morgan internship, I further developed the investment strategy and finance skills I learned in my MBA program. My experience researching for foreign direct investment and up-and-coming tech companies make me an excellent prospect.

At JPM, I’ve had several proud achievements:

• Instrumental in research and analysis for a $5B software firm acquisition.
• Supported IPO initialization for 10+ startups onto NYSE and Nasdaq.
• Researched and captured data for 35 companies, successfully obtaining investment for 32 of them.

As my wins clearly demonstrate, I am very capable with the workings for investment banking, whether it’s for foreign investment or finding funds for domestic startup capital. If given the chance to join Goldman Sachs, I would bring that same passion for success.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss your investment plans for the coming year and show you how my wins at JP Morgan can easily translate to the same at Goldman Sachs.

P.S. I’d love to explain my formula for achieving 95% valuation recommendations and how I believe I can do even better with the vast resources available at Goldman Sachs. Perhaps over a coffee at that diner on 57th Street?

How about that?

It’s solid and only just over 250 words.

Writing a strong investment analyst cover letter that Warren Buffet would drool over is easier than you think. Read on to learn more!

What’s the Best Format for an Investment Banking Cover Letter?

Preceding investment in the next unicorn, you’ll research, analyze risk, and do due diligence.

Same here—

Before you start writing, you need to make sure your cover letter is properly formatted like the final draft of a 10-K filing.

Here’s a sample investment banking cover letter outline to use as a guide:

Investment Banking Cover Letter Template—Format Sample

• Your personal contact details
• The date of writing
• The investment bank’s details in a business letter format
• An opening salutation  (e.g., Dear Blythe, )
• An introductory statement that grabs their attention
• A paragraph on how you’re the perfect banker for the job
• Several investment wins to prove you’re more than capable
• A paragraph on why this specific financial firm is perfect for you
• A closing statement with a strong call to action
• A complimentary close (e.g., Sincerely ) and your name

If you stick to this cover letter format, they’ll see all alpha and no beta .

How long should a cover letter be for investment banking jobs? Keep your investment letter of application to between 200–300 words, depending on your previous experience. That’s plenty of space to talk up your work history and achievements.

To read more about choosing the best investment advisor cover letter components, see this article: What to Put in a Cover Letter?

An Investment Banking Cover Letter Intro Finance Managers Love

Securities, commodities, and financial service jobs are projected to increase 6% between 2016 and 2026 in the US alone, adding more than 23,000 jobs.

What does that mean for you?

You need to stand out like Jamie Dimon on a trading floor.

For that to happen, write a Wall Street cover letter opening that’ll put dollar signs in their eyes.

Open with the hiring manager’s name.

People respond best when hearing their name, according to MRI scans —their first name, in particular.

Here’s how convoluted that is:

Investment Banking Cover Letter Examples—Salutation

Easy as dollar cost averaging.

Search the bank’s website and do some LinkedIn research to locate the hiring manager’s name.

If you want to hedge and be more formal, their last name beats no name: Dear Ms. Summers .

Can’t find their name?

No worries.

Dear Hiring Manager is still much better than To whom it may concern !

Don’t care for the Dear part? Not able to find a name? We’ve got other options for various scenarios: How to Start a Cover Letter: Sample & Guide [20+ Examples]

What’s next?

Like the after-hours earnings announcement for Morgan Stanley, they’ll be focused on your introductory statement.

So you need to hook them. Otherwise, they won’t read the rest.

Here’s how to start a cover letter for investment banking right:

Cover Letter for Investment Banking Job Examples—Introduction

That first one is awful—

It’s all about you, greedy as Gordon Gekko, and full of gag-inducing cliches.

The next one, though, starts with your background, segues cleanly into banking skills, and compels them to continue to the next paragraph.

That’s a solid, blue chip investment!

Pro Tip : Don’t make a general cover letter for investment banking jobs. Tailor it specifically to this one bank and specific position to achieve the most impact. Want to apply at a second investment bank? Spend 10 minutes writing a new cover letter.

There are other ways to go about your investment banker cover letter introduction. For more ideas, see: How to Write a Cover Letter: Sample & Guide [20+ Examples]

Write a Great Middle for Your Cover Letter for Investment Banking

Now, the main body of your cover letter—

Like banks wooing the next startup IPO during a beauty contest, you’ve got to sell yourself as the best investment bank candidate for the position.

In the following 2 or 3 paragraphs, here’s what you need to include:

• Explain why you’re the best investment banking analyst candidate.
• Add numbers to prove a few impressive past achievements.
• Describe how the finance and research skills you have match what they need.
• Show them they’re the only investment bank you want to work for.

Here’s an investment banking cover letter sample body:

Investment Bank Cover Letter Example—Body Paragraphs

These three paragraphs are brief, but they are detailed and super impactful. It paints a clear picture for them like a perfect prospectus so they can easily see you as the next great investment analyst at their firm.

You’ll be making bank in no time!

Pro Tip : Use keywords on your cover letter just as you did on your investment banking resume. Also, keep it legible by using the best cover letter fonts .

Need more ideas on how to tweak these middle bits? We’ve got all the cover letter dos and don’ts here: 35+ Professional Cover Letter Tips and Advice

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check . Start building a  professional resume template here for free .

When you’re done, our professional resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

How to Close Investment Banker Cover Letters Like a Boss

A transaction isn’t finalized until you have that tombstone framed and a deal toy on your desk.

A buy-side analyst cover letter isn’t ready to send until you close it off and sign your name.

First, let’s look at a good closing paragraph:

Investment Banking Cover Letter Examples—Closing Paragraph

The first example is curt and robotic—

They’ll want you like they want negative carry.

The second example, however, is just right. You are professional yet polite, and you close it off with a call to action—but leave the decision to them.

It attracts them like a great ROI.

The closing sentiment and your full name:

Cover Letter Investment Banking Valediction—Example

Easy as the Rule of 72!

And lastly, a postscript.

A P.S. below your name isn’t necessary on a cover letter for investment banking.

It’s a great after the bell hack to steal their attention once more before they put your cover letter down.

Here’s an example postscript:

Investment Analyst Cover Letter Samples—Postscript

You add one more accomplishment here in case they weren’t sold before, and you entice them by promising them similar results.

Finally, you add a nice personal touch and a friendly nudge for them to discuss.

That’s as hard to ignore as an SEC investigation, but in a good way.

Pro Tip : Are you writing a cover letter for investment banking internships ? Keep the same advice in mind. Use the job description to assist you in writing your cover letter, and use wins and skills from your education and past jobs to make the deal happen.

Looking for more ideas on how to end a cover letter for investment advisors and analysts? We’ve a great guide right here: How to End a Cover Letter: Sample & Complete Guide [+20 Examples]

Key Takeaway

Now you know that writing an investment banking cover letter that lands more job interviews isn’t that hard.

Let’s put it all together.

Here’s how to write a perfect cover letter for investment banking jobs:

• Follow the right cover letter format.
• Address the bank hiring manager directly.
• Start with a compelling intro statement.
• Explain why you are the best candidate.
• Give some key achievements to stand out.
• Show them why you want to work at this bank.
• Close with a powerful ending statement.
• Use a postscript to grab attention, optionally.

Now THAT’S an investment banking cover letter that everyone agrees has a solid BUY rating!

Have any questions on how to write a cover letter for investment banking jobs? Not sure how to talk up your finance skills or relate your trading achievements? Get at us in the comments below, and we’ll answer your questions. Thanks for reading!

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines . We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/securities-commodities-and-financial-services-sales-agents.htm
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2006.07.121

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• May 31, 2024

The Short Cover Letter: What to Include & Why (with Examples)

Short and sweet (and effective)

This article is part of InHerSight's Finding a Job series . Discover our most popular and relevant resources for finding a job fast—at a company that cares as much about your career as you do.

Cover letters, short or long, are increasingly unpopular among job seekers. However, a 2023 survey of 625 hiring managers across the nation found that 60 percent of companies still require cover letters, writes Rebecca Tay, Ph.D. at ResumeGenius. 

While medium and large companies are more likely to require cover letters (72 percent and 69 percent, respectively), nearly half of small businesses (49 percent) do too.

Because hiring managers use those letters to decide which applicants to interview, Tay writes:

49 percent say a strong cover letter can convince them to interview an otherwise weak candidate.

18 percent say a weak cover letter can cause them to throw out the application of an otherwise strong candidate.

33 percent say a good letter can elevate a weak applicant, and a bad letter can hurt a strong applicant.

Read more: 15 Good Character Traits Hiring Managers Love

What’s so great about cover letters?

A cover letter allows you to explain yourself.

In a LinkedIn post, Rachel Bradley , executive director at Sisu Youth Services in Oklahoma City, writes: “When your resume shows no direct or even indirect experience with the job to which you are applying, use that short cover letter to simply tell me why you are qualified or even interested. With no experience or explanation, you're wasting my time and yours.”

It’s in your cover letter that you can include referrals, explain resume gaps, or let the recruiter know you’ve done your research on the company you’re applying to.

A cover letter tells the hiring manager why you want to join the company

Ian Siegel , CEO and cofounder of ZipRecruiter, estimates hiring managers spend an average of 20 seconds reviewing a cover letter. They’re looking for the applicant’s reason for wanting to join the company.

“The golden rule of applying to a job is showing specific interest,” he says. “A lot of people write cover letters to describe their background and explain why they’re a fit for the role. But I would start my cover letter with the sentence, ‘I’m so excited to apply to this job because ... ’ and fill in the blank about the business.”

Read more: What to Write to a Hiring Manager: Example Messages & Tips to Help You Get a Response

Benefits of a short cover letter

Executive career strategist, business brand promoter and CEO of Career Trend, Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter , tells InHerSight that “in today’s attention-deprived job market, a short(er) cover letter often is the default.” She notes that “recruiters and resume screeners regularly lament the burden of cover letters.”

“An energy-filled and targeted letter aimed at the reader’s needs can serve to bring your story from being stuck at the virtual bottom of a digital resume pile to the top.” 

Of course, “brevity shouldn't be the primary goal when learning how to write a cover letter,” Kellie Hanna , a career advice expert, says. 

“Instead, you should focus on making a case to an employer that you are the right person for the role. A cover letter allows you to highlight your most relevant skills and experience, showcase your communication skills, and prove to an employer that you are willing to go the extra mile.”

Read more: Ask a Recruiter: How Can I Apply to Jobs More Efficiently?

Must-haves in your short cover letter

Each cover letter you write must be unique, tailored for the company and position. Include keywords from the job ad, which can be helpful if the recruiter is using applicant tracking software. Make the letter skimmable by writing concise, focused paragraphs, and be sure to include at least one achievement relevant to the role you’re applying for.

Hanna says that all cover letters—whether long or short—should be written using a professional tone and must contain the following elements:

A header that contains your name and contact information. This information should match that on your resume.

A salutation , ideally with the hiring manager’s name.

An opening paragraph that introduces you and concisely tells the hiring manager why you are the best fit for the job.

A paragraph that explains why you’re interested in the job and which of your past achievements are most relevant to the role.

A closing paragraph in which you reiterate your interest, thank the hiring manager for reviewing your credentials and invite them to contact you.

A professional sign-off, such as “Sincerely” or “Thank you.”  

Read more: How to Name Drop in a Cover Letter

Barrett-Poindexter explains that “with hundreds of applicants vying for a single position, setting yourself apart with crisp messaging that underlines your value can kindle the right, interview-generating reaction. It can also bring forward one to two key points that match you to the recruiter’s or screener’s needs, either before or after they have scanned your resume.”

She adds that the well-researched and written short cover letter will include these must-have absolutes:

Salutation addressed to the name of the recruiter , influential gate-keeper, or decision-maker in the hiring process.

A strong hint of proof that you know what the industry and company to which you are applying struggles with and how you will help solve their problems.

Evidence that you understand the hiring company's mission and values and how you align with both.

Link to your LinkedIn profile and any related portfolios (including your own personally branded website).

Enough content to provide value, but not so much that you exceed two to three paragraphs, or one-half of a page.

Read more: 21 Cover Letter Tips to Make Writing Quick & Easy

Samples of short cover letters

Hanna provides the following sample of a short cover letter, saying it’s “concise, focusing on key achievements and skills relevant to the job. It invites the reader to consider the applicant's qualifications without going into excessive detail, which is perfect for situations where brevity is appreciated.”

Dear [name of hiring manager],

I am writing to express my interest in the Social Media Coordinator position at [Company Name], as advertised on [where you found the job listing]. With over two years of experience in social media management and content creation, I have developed a keen understanding of digital marketing trends and effective communication strategies, specifically within the tech industry.

At my previous position with [Previous Company], I increased our social media engagement by over 50% within six months through targeted content campaigns and analytics-driven strategy adjustments. My graphic design background and my digital marketing certification from [Institution or Course] enhance my ability to produce visually appealing and impactful content.

I am excited about the opportunity to bring my unique talents to the innovative team at [Company Name]. I am eager to contribute to your success by increasing engagement and building a strong community presence online.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to discussing how I can contribute to your team. I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience and can be reached by telephone or email.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Read more: 7 Ways to Start a Cover Letter That Will Set You Apart

Barrett-Poindexter explains that “a one- or two-line cover letter will only serve to introduce the role you are applying for and maybe provide one hook as to your value, but will fall short of providing any kind of meaningfully tailored message. Conversely, anything written longer than a half page likely will bog down the hurried reader.” 

She provides this sample of a short cover letter:

Dear [Name]:

My passion for marketing energized a seven-year career at ABC Company where unrelenting deadlines melded with premier digital, social and product collaborations that contributed to millions in new revenue and profit.

With the wind-down of ABC, I am excited to explore how my exposure to the latest marketing trends can benefit your company. As you can see from the attached resume, my experiences as a strategic marketing leader mirror many of the requirements of the Marketing Communications Manager role, including integrating AI technologies that bolster marketing efficiencies and ROI. 

As well, I love the mission underpinning your objectives and operations and am intrigued by the possibility of helping you navigate your next evolution.

Please feel free to contact me at [phone number] or [email address].

PS – You may find a portfolio of my digital marketing impact at [link].

Read more: Didn’t Get the Job? Here's How to Stay on Their Radar (& When to Reapply)

So, how do you know if you need to write a short cover letter instead of a longer one?

“The decision to submit a short cover letter versus a regular-length one often depends on the specific application, industry norms, specific requests for information in the job ad, and the complexity of your background as it relates to the job position,” says Hanna. 

If a cover letter is optional, you may wish to submit one anyway. Even a short cover letter will let you highlight a skill specific to the role which isn’t sufficiently emphasized in your resume. You’ll also be able to mention a distinct point about the company you’re applying to, showing the hiring manager you’ve spent time researching the organization. The few extra minutes it takes you to write a short cover letter could prove extremely valuable.

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