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Tips to write a motivation letter for traineeships at the EU institutions

Last updated on Monday, 15/11/2021

Applying for traineeships may become a tedious and stressing task, yet we will help you to get closer to that letter that will make you land your first experience in the EU institutions.

There are different programmes to obtain a traineeship in EU institutions: Blue Book Traineeship in the Commission , Schuman Traineeships in the European Parliament , funded traineeships in EU External Delegations, traineeships at the Council , the European Ombudsman, or experiences at any of the Agencies. To demonstrate your interest and display your qualifications you will have to carefully write the application form in each case. The format to submit your candidature may differ between a dedicated tool - such is the case of the Blue Book - or emails with the required documents.  A work-experience in the EU institutions is the best way to understand how the EU works from the inside and get you started in a fruitful career in EU-related affairs. That is why there are thousands of applicants across the continent for each call, nonetheless, we will give you some tips to make your application stand out and increase your chances to be selected.

1. Take into account the space and character limit

It may sound obvious, but this is one of the first things you should consider when you are going to draft your motivation letter. Usually, the range is between 1,000 and 2,000 characters, depending on the application, and this will affect what information you put in and how detailed it can be. 

2. Be selective

Having in mind the space you allocated, you should select very wisely what you are going to write. It’s likely that you have had various work-experiences (like summer jobs or part-time jobs in combination with your studies) or volunteering activities before, but you should only consider them if they relate to the position you are applying for.

3. Link your achievements to how they can contribute to the position

You certainly have achieved many things throughout your academic and personal life which could be an advantage to the position, but so have the rest of applicants. Hence, you shouldn’t aim to send a list with all your certificates since primary school to prove that your candidature excels among the rest. Instead, your experiences can serve the application if you elaborate on what you learnt in a way that explains how they can contribute to the position you are applying for. Put in a different way, the best way to highlight your background is to show how this will help you to carry out the duties related to the position.

4. Get familiar with EU jargon

Thanks to its diversity, during a traineeship in the institutions you will be able to come across many EU languages on a daily basis. However, you will be most likely using English and you should know that some words appear more often than others. This could help you to insert some of them in your motivation letter because it is a subtle way to demonstrate your interest and knowledge of the area where you will be involved. For example, some of these are worth having in mind: cooperation, fairness, development, integration, solidarity, diversity, sustainability, growth, or potential. Make sure you also understand the basic functioning/structures of the EU in order to use the correct vocabulary. Indeed, in the motivation letter, you will have to explain why you want to apply to a specific DG, unit or Agency.

5. Your personal touch

Last but not least, don’t forget that you should feel comfortable with the letter you send and that it should reflect what you want to highlight for the position. Make sure to follow a specific structure that serves to organise what you want to express about yourself, but don’t make it too difficult for a reader to get to know you. You may be sending that letter to your future colleagues! Read more about traineeships in EU institutions in the section Traineeships .

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How to Write a Cover Letter [Full Guide & Examples for 2024]

After weeks of heavy job searching, you’re almost there!

You’ve perfected your resume.

You’ve short-listed the coolest jobs you want to apply for.

You’ve even had a friend train you for every single interview question out there.

But then, before you can send in your application and call it a day, you remember that you need to write a cover letter too.

So now, you’re stuck staring at a blank page, wondering where to start...

Don’t panic! We’ve got you covered. Writing a cover letter is a lot simpler than you might think. 

In this guide, we’re going to teach you how to write a cover letter that gets you the job you deserve.

We're going to cover:

What Is a Cover Letter?

• How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter, Step by Step
• 15+ Job-Winning Cover Letter Examples

Let’s get started.

A cover letter is a document that you submit as part of your job application, alongside your resume or CV.

The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, it should be around 250 to 400 words long .

A good cover letter is supposed to impress the hiring manager and convince them you’re worth interviewing as a candidate.

So, how can your cover letter achieve this?

First of all, it should complement your resume, not copy it. Your cover letter is your chance to elaborate on important achievements, skills, or anything else that your resume doesn’t give you the space to cover. 

For example, if you have an employment gap on your resume, the cover letter is a great place to explain why it happened and how it helped you grow as a person. 

If this is your first time writing a cover letter, writing about yourself might seem complicated. But don’t worry—you don’t need to be super creative or even a good writer .

All you have to do is follow this tried and tested cover letter structure:

• Header. Add all the necessary contact information at the top of your cover letter.
• Formal greeting. Choose an appropriate way to greet your target audience.
• Introduction. Introduce yourself in the opening paragraph and explain your interest in the role.
• Body. Elaborate on why you’re the best candidate for the job and a good match for the company. Focus on “selling” your skills, achievements, and relevant professional experiences.
• Conclusion. Summarize your key points and wrap it up professionally.

Now, let’s take a look at an example of a cover letter that follows our structure perfectly:

New to cover letter writing? Give our cover letter video a watch before diving into the article!

When Should You Write a Cover Letter?

You should always include a cover letter in your job application, even if the hiring manager never reads it. Submitting a cover letter is as important as submitting a resume if you want to look like a serious candidate.

If the employer requests a cover letter as part of the screening process, not sending one is a huge red flag and will probably get your application tossed into the “no” pile immediately.

On the other hand, if the job advertisement doesn’t require a cover letter from the candidates, adding one shows you went the extra mile.

Putting in the effort to write a cover letter can set you apart from other candidates with similar professional experience and skills, and it could even sway the hiring manager to call you for an interview if you do it right.

Need to write a letter to help get you into a good school or volunteer program? Check out our guide to learn how to write a motivation letter !

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter

Now that you know what a cover letter is, it’s time to learn how to write one!

We’ll go through the process in detail, step by step.

#1. Choose the Right Cover Letter Template

A good cover letter is all about leaving the right first impression.

So, what’s a better way to leave a good impression than a well-formatted, stylish template?

Just choose one of our hand-picked cover letter templates , and you’ll be all set in no time!

As a bonus, our intuitive AI will even give you suggestions on how to improve your cover letter as you write it. You’ll have the perfect cover letter done in minutes!

#2. Put Contact Information in the Header

As with a resume, it’s important to start your cover letter with your contact details at the top. These should be in your cover letter’s header, separated neatly from the bulk of your text.

Here, you want to include all the essential contact information , including:

• Full Name. Your first and last name should stand out at the top.
• Job Title. Match the professional title underneath your name to the exact job title of the position you’re applying for. Hiring managers often hire for several roles at once, so giving them this cue about what role you’re after helps things go smoother.
• Email Address. Always use a professional and easy-to-spell email address. Ideally, it should combine your first and last names.
• Phone Number. Add a number where the hiring manager can easily reach you.
• Location. Add your city and state/country, no need for more details.
• Relevant Links (optional). You can add links to websites or social media profiles that are relevant to your field. Examples include a LinkedIn profile , Github, or an online portfolio.

Then it’s time to add the recipient’s contact details, such as:

• Hiring Manager's Name. If you can find the name of the hiring manager, add it.
• Hiring Manager's Title. While there’s no harm in writing “hiring manager,” if they’re the head of the department, we recommend you use that title accordingly.
• Company Name. Make sure to write the name of the company you're applying to.
• Location. The city and state/country are usually enough information here, too.
• Date of Writing (Optional). You can include the date you wrote your cover letter for an extra professional touch.

#3. Address the Hiring Manager

Once you’ve properly listed all the contact information, it’s time to start writing the content of the cover letter.

The first thing you need to do here is to address your cover letter directly to the hiring manager.

In fact, you want to address the hiring manager personally .

Forget the old “Dear Sir or Madam” or the impersonal “To Whom It May Concern.” You want to give your future boss a good impression and show them that you did your research before sending in your application.

No one wants to hire a job seeker who just spams 20+ companies and hopes something sticks with their generic approach

So, how do you find out who’s the hiring manager?

First, check the job ad. The hiring manager’s name might be listed somewhere in it.

If that doesn’t work, check the company’s LinkedIn page. You just need to look up the head of the relevant department you’re applying to, and you’re all set.

For example, if you’re applying for the position of Communication Specialist at Novorésumé. The hiring manager is probably the Head of Communications or the Chief Communications Officer.

Here’s what you should look for on LinkedIn:

And there you go! You have your hiring manager.

But let’s say you’re applying for a position as a server . In that case, you’d be looking for the “restaurant manager” or “food and beverage manager.”

If the results don’t come up with anything, try checking out the “Team” page on the company website; there’s a good chance you’ll at least find the right person there.

Make sure to address them as Mr. or Ms., followed by their last name. If you’re not sure about their gender or marital status, you can just stick to their full name, like so:

• Dear Mr. Kurtuy,
• Dear Andrei Kurtuy,

But what if you still can’t find the hiring manager’s name, no matter where you look?

No worries. You can direct your cover letter to the company, department, or team as a whole, or just skip the hiring manager’s name.

• Dear [Department] Hiring Manager
• Dear Hiring Manager
• Dear [Department] Team
• Dear [Company Name]

Are you applying for a research position? Learn how to write an academic personal statement .

#4. Write an Eye-Catching Introduction

First impressions matter, especially when it comes to your job search.

Hiring managers get hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of applications. Chances are, they’re not going to be reading every single cover letter end-to-end.

So, it’s essential to catch their attention from the very first paragraph.

The biggest problem with most opening paragraphs is that they’re usually extremely generic. Here’s an example:

• My name is Jonathan, and I’d like to work as a Sales Manager at XYZ Inc. I’ve worked as a Sales Manager at MadeUpCompany Inc. for 5+ years, so I believe that I’d be a good fit for the position.

See the issue here? This opening paragraph doesn’t say anything except the fact that you’ve worked the job before.

And do you know who else has similar work experience? All the other applicants you’re competing with.

Instead, you want to start with some of your top achievements to grab the reader’s attention. And to get the point across, the achievements should be as relevant as possible to the position.

Your opening paragraph should also show the hiring manager a bit about why you want this specific job. For example, mention how the job relates to your plans for the future or how it can help you grow professionally. This will show the hiring manager that you’re not just applying left and right—you’re actually enthusiastic about getting this particular role.

Now, let’s make our previous example shine:

Dear Mr. Smith,

My name’s Michael, and I’d like to help XYZ Inc. hit and exceed its sales goals as a Sales Manager. I’ve worked as a Sales Representative with Company X, another fin-tech company , for 3+ years, where I generated an average of $30,000+ in sales per month and beat the KPIs by around 40%. I believe that my previous industry experience, passion for finance , and excellence in sales make me the right candidate for the job.

The second candidate starts with what they can do for the company in the future and immediately lists an impressive and relevant achievement. Since they’re experienced in the same industry and interested in finance, the hiring manager can see they’re not just a random applicant.

From this introduction, it’s safe to say that the hiring manager would read the rest of this candidate’s cover letter.

#5. Use the Cover Letter Body for Details

The next part of your cover letter is where you can go into detail about what sets you apart as a qualified candidate for the job.

The main thing you need to remember here is that you shouldn’t make it all about yourself . Your cover letter is supposed to show the hiring manager how you relate to the job and the company you’re applying to.

No matter how cool you make yourself sound in your cover letter, if you don’t tailor it to match what the hiring manager is looking for, you’re not getting an interview.

To get this right, use the job ad as a reference when writing your cover letter. Make sure to highlight skills and achievements that match the job requirements, and you’re good to go.

Since this part of your cover letter is by far the longest, you should split it into at least two paragraphs.

Here’s what each paragraph should cover:

Explain Why You’re the Perfect Candidate for the Role

Before you can show the hiring manager that you’re exactly what they’ve been looking for, you need to know what it is they’re looking for.

Start by doing a bit of research. Learn what the most important skills and responsibilities of the role are according to the job ad, and focus on any relevant experience you have that matches them.

For example, if you’re applying for the position of a Facebook Advertiser. The top requirements on the job ad are:

• Experience managing a Facebook ad budget of $10,000+ / month
• Some skills in advertising on other platforms (Google Search + Twitter)
• Excellent copywriting skills

So, in the body of your cover letter, you need to show how you meet these requirements. Here’s an example of what that can look like:

In my previous role as a Facebook Marketing Expert at XYZ Inc. I handled customer acquisition through ads, managing a monthly Facebook ad budget of $40,000+ . As the sole digital marketer at the company, I managed the ad creation and management process end-to-end. I created the ad copy and images, picked the targeting, ran optimization trials, and so on.

Other than Facebook advertising, I’ve also delved into other online PPC channels, including:

• Google Search

Our example addresses all the necessary requirements and shows off the candidate’s relevant skills.

Are you a student applying for your first internship? Learn how to write an internship cover letter with our dedicated guide.

Explain Why You’re a Good Fit for the Company

As skilled and experienced as you may be, that’s not all the hiring manager is looking for.

They also want someone who’s a good fit for their company and who actually wants to work there.

Employees who don’t fit in with the company culture are likely to quit sooner or later. This ends up costing the company a ton of money, up to 50% of the employee’s annual salary , so hiring managers vet candidates very carefully to avoid this scenario.

So, you have to convince the hiring manager that you’re passionate about working with them.

Start by doing some research about the company. You want to know things like:

• What’s the company’s business model?
• What’s the company’s product or service? Have you used it?
• What’s the company’s culture like?

Chances are, you’ll find all the information you need either on the company website or on job-search websites like Jobscan or Glassdoor.

Then, pick your favorite thing about the company and talk about it in your cover letter.

But don’t just describe the company in its own words just to flatter them. Be super specific—the hiring manager can see through any fluff.

For example, if you’re passionate about their product and you like the company’s culture of innovation and independent work model, you can write something like:

I’ve personally used the XYZ Smartphone, and I believe that it’s the most innovative tech I’ve used in years. The features, such as Made-Up-Feature #1 and Made-Up-Feature #2, were real game changers for the device.

I really admire how Company XYZ strives for excellence in all its product lines, creating market-leading tech. As someone who thrives in a self-driven environment, I truly believe that I’ll be a great match for your Product Design team.

So, make sure to do your fair share of research and come up with good reasons why you're applying to that specific company.

Is the company you want to work for not hiring at the moment? Check out our guide to writing a letter of interest .

#6. Wrap It Up and Sign It

Finally, it’s time to conclude your cover letter.

In the final paragraph, you want to:

• Wrap up any points you couldn't make in the previous paragraphs. Do you have anything left to say? If there’s any other information that could help the hiring manager make their decision, mention it here. If not, just recap your key selling points so far, such as key skills and expertise.
• Express gratitude. Politely thanking the hiring manager for their time is always a good idea.
• Finish the cover letter with a call to action. The very last sentence in your cover letter should be a call to action. This means you should ask the hiring manager to do something, like call you and discuss your application or arrange an interview.
• Remember to sign your cover letter. Just add a formal closing line and sign your name at the bottom.

Here’s an example of how to end your cover letter :

I hope to help Company X make the most of their Facebook marketing initiatives. I'd love to further discuss how my previous success at XYZ Inc. can help you achieve your Facebook marketing goals. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the provided email address or phone number so that we may arrange an interview.

Thank you for your consideration,

Alice Richards

Feel free to use one of these other popular closing lines for your cover letter:

• Best Regards,
• Kind Regards,

Cover Letter Writing Checklist

Once you’re done with your cover letter, it’s time to check if it meets all industry requirements. 

Give our handy cover letter writing checklist a look to make sure:

Does your cover letter heading include all essential information?

• Professional Email
• Phone Number
• Relevant Links

Do you address the right person? 

• The hiring manager in the company
• Your future direct supervisor
• The company/department in general

Does your introductory paragraph grab the reader's attention?

• Did you mention some of your top achievements?
• Did you use numbers and facts to back up your experience?
• Did you convey enthusiasm for the specific role?

Do you show that you’re the right candidate for the job?

• Did you identify the core requirements for the role?
• Did you show how your experiences helped you fit the requirements perfectly?

Do you convince the hiring manager that you’re passionate about the company you’re applying to?

• Did you identify the top 3 things that you like about the company?
• Did you avoid generic reasons for explaining your interest in the company?

Did you conclude your cover letter properly?

• Did you recap your key selling points in the conclusion?
• Did you end your cover letter with a call to action?
• Did you use the right formal closing line and sign your name?

15 Cover Letter Tips

Now you’re all set to write your cover letter! 

Before you start typing, here are some cover letter tips to help take your cover letter to the next level:

• Customize Your Cover Letter for Each Job. Make sure your cover letter is tailored to the job you're applying for. This shows you're not just sending generic applications left and right, and it tells the hiring manager you’re the right person for the job.
• Showcase Your Skills. Talk about how your skills meet the company’s needs. And while your hard skills should be front and center, you shouldn’t underestimate your soft skills in your cover letter either.
• Avoid Fluff. Don’t make any generic statements you can’t back up. The hiring manager can tell when you’re just throwing words around, and it doesn’t make your cover letter look good.
• Use Specific Examples. Instead of saying you're great at something, give an actual example to back up your claim. Any data you can provide makes you sound more credible, so quantify your achievements. For example, give numbers such as percentages related to your performance and the timeframe it took to accomplish certain achievements.
• Research the Company. Always take time to learn about the company you're applying to. Make sure to mention something about them in your cover letter to show the hiring manager that you're interested.
• Follow the Application Instructions. If the job posting asks for something specific in your cover letter or requires a certain format, make sure you include it. Not following instructions can come off as unattentive or signal to the hiring manager that you’re not taking the job seriously.
• Use the Right Template and Format. Choose the right cover letter format and adapt your cover letter’s look to the industry you’re applying for. For example, if you’re aiming for a job in Law or Finance, you should go for a cleaner, more professional look. But if you’re applying for a field that values innovation, like IT or Design, you have more room for creativity.
• Express Your Enthusiasm. Let the hiring manager know why you're excited about the job. Your passion for the specific role or the field in general can be a big selling point, and show them that you’re genuinely interested, not just applying left and right.
• Address Any Gaps. If there are any employment gaps in your resume , your cover letter is a great place to mention why. Your resume doesn’t give you enough space to elaborate on an employment gap, so addressing it here can set hiring managers at ease—life happens, and employers understand.
• Avoid Quirky Emails. Your email address should be presentable. It’s hard for a hiring manager to take you seriously if your email address is “[email protected].” Just use a [email protected] format.
• Check Your Contact Information. Typos in your email address or phone number can mean a missed opportunity. Double-check these before sending your application.
• Mention if You Want to Relocate. If you’re looking for a job that lets you move somewhere else, specify this in your cover letter.
• Keep It Brief. You want to keep your cover letter short and sweet. Hiring managers don’t have time to read a novel, so if you go over one page, they simply won’t read it at all.
• Use a Professional Tone. Even though a conversational tone isn’t a bad thing, remember that it's still a formal document. Show professionalism in your cover letter by keeping slang, jargon, and emojis out of it.
• Proofread Carefully. Typos and grammar mistakes are a huge deal-breaker. Use a tool like Grammarly or QuillBot to double-check your spelling and grammar, or even get a friend to check it for you.

15+ Cover Letter Examples

Need some inspiration? Check out some perfect cover letter examples for different experience levels and various professions.

5+ Cover Letter Examples by Experience

#1. college student cover letter example.

Check out our full guide to writing a college student cover letter here.

#2. Middle Management Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing a project manager cover letter here.

#3. Team Leader Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing a team leader cover letter here.

#4. Career Change Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to a career change resume and cover letter here.

#5. Management Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing a management cover letter here.

#6. Senior Executive Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing an executive resume here.

9+ Cover Letter Examples by Profession

#1. it cover letter example.

Check out our full guide to writing an IT cover letter here.

#2. Consultant Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing a consultant cover letter here.

#3. Human Resources Cover Letter

Check out our full guide to writing a human resources cover letter here.

#4. Business Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing a business cover letter here.

#5. Sales Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing a sales cover letter here.

#6. Social Worker Cover Letter

Check out our full guide to writing a social worker cover letter here.

#7. Lawyer Cover Letter

Check out our full guide to writing a lawyer cover letter here.

#8. Administrative Assistant Cover Letter

Check out our full guide to writing an administrative assistant cover letter here.

#9. Engineering Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing an engineer cover letter here.

#10. Receptionist Cover Letter Example

Check out our full guide to writing a receptionist cover letter here.

Need more inspiration? Check out these cover letter examples to learn what makes them stand out.

Plug & Play Cover Letter Template

Not sure how to start your cover letter? Don’t worry!

Just copy and paste our free cover letter template into the cover letter builder, and swap out the blanks for your details.

[Your Full Name]

[Your Profession]

[Your Phone Number]

[Your Email Address]

[Your Location]

[Your LinkedIn Profile URL (optional)]

[Your Personal Website URL (optional)]

[Recipient's Name, e.g., Jane Doe],

[Recipient's Position, e.g., Hiring Manager]

[Company Name, e.g., ABC Corporation]

[Company Address]

[City, State/Country]

Dear [Recipient's Name],

As a seasoned [Your Profession] with [Number of Years of Experience] years of industry experience, I am eager to express my interest in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. With my experience in [Your Industry/Sector] and the successes I've achieved throughout my education and career, I believe I can bring unique value and creativity to your team.

In my current role as [Your Current Job Title], I've taken the lead on more than [Number of Projects/Assignments] projects, some valued up to $[Highest Project Value]. I pride myself on consistently exceeding client expectations and have successfully [Mention a Key Achievement] in just a [Amount of Time] through [Skill] and [Skill].

I've collaborated with various professionals, such as [List Roles], ensuring that all [projects/tasks] meet [relevant standards or objectives]. This hands-on experience, coupled with my dedication to understanding each [client's/customer's] vision, has equipped me to navigate and deliver on complex projects.

My key strengths include:

• Improving [Achievement] by [%] over [Amount of Time] which resulted in [Quantified Result].
• Optimizing [Work Process/Responsibility] which saved [Previous Employer] [Amount of Time/Budget/Other Metric] over [Weeks/Months/Years]
• Spearheading team of [Number of People] to [Task] and achieving [Quantified Result].

Alongside this letter, I've attached my resume. My educational background, a [Your Degree] with a concentration in [Your Specialization], complements the practical skills that I'm particularly eager to share with [Company Name].

I'm excited about the possibility of contributing to [Something Notable About the Company or Its Mission]. I'd be grateful for the chance to delve deeper into how my expertise aligns with your needs.

Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

The Heart of Your Job Search - Creating a Killer Resume

Your cover letter is only as good as your resume. If either one is weak, your entire application falls through.

After all, your cover letter is meant to complement your resume. Imagine going through all this effort to leave an amazing first impression in your cover letter, only for the hiring manager to never read it because your resume was mediocre.

But don’t worry; we’ve got you covered here, too.

Check out our dedicated guide on how to make a resume and learn everything you need to know to land your dream job!

Just pick one of our resume templates and start writing your own job-winning resume.

Key Takeaways

Now that we’ve walked you through all the steps of writing a cover letter, let’s summarize everything we’ve learned:

• A cover letter is a 250 - 400 word document that’s meant to convince the hiring manager that you’re the best candidate for the job.
• Your job application should always include a cover letter alongside your resume.
• To grab the hiring manager’s attention, write a strong opening paragraph. Mention who you are, why you’re applying, and a standout achievement to pique their interest.
• Your cover letter should focus on why you’re the perfect candidate for the job and why you’re passionate about working in this specific company.
• Use the body of your cover letter to provide details on your skills, achievements, and qualifications, as well as make sure to convey your enthusiasm throughout your whole cover letter.
• Recap your key selling points towards the end of your cover letter, and end it with a formal closing line and your full name signed underneath.

At Novorésumé, we’re committed to helping you get the job you deserve every step of the way! 

Follow our career blog for more valuable advice, or check out some of our top guides, such as:

• How to Make a Resume in 2024 | Beginner's Guide
• How to Write a CV (Curriculum Vitae) in 2024 [31+ Examples]
• 35+ Job Interview Questions and Answers [Full List]

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From Clever Girl Finance

How To Write A Publisher Cover Letter

Your first step in getting a publisher's attention is writing a publisher cover letter. It’s a simple yet powerful letter that can influence the future of your book.

In this article, you’ll learn about what a publisher's cover letter is, why it's important, and how to put one together.

You’ll also review a sample cover letter for more guidance when you create your own!

What is a publisher cover letter?

A publisher cover letter has the simple job of introducing you and your book to a publishing company.

In your book cover letter, you will state who you are and your experience. Not unlike a cover letter for a job. It’s essentially your elevator pitch.

But keep in mind that it’s also a letter to a publisher that can set your manuscript apart from the dozens of other submissions that publishers receive!

When do you need a book cover letter?

If you’re thinking of submitting your manuscript to different publishers then a book cover letter is an essential part of your submission package. This is because book publishing is a business.

And ideally, you want your cover letter to explain to agents or recruiters how your experience and your book will help their business grow.

Outside of the book publishing world, cover letters are also an important aspect when submitting manuscripts to journals.

What to include in a letter to a publisher

Constructing a publisher cover letter is like baking a cake. There are instructions to follow and you can’t write too much or too little or else the letter won’t be well received. Add too much salt or too little vanilla to a cake and it throws off the taste.

To write an ideal cover letter make sure you follow these instructions and include the following elements.

1. Start with an attention-grabbing introduction

The introduction of your book proposal cover letter is the most important part. According to Blue Pencil Agency, the first part of your letter should give details of your book such as title, genre, and word count.

After that, you want to hook them in with your second sentence . This sentence should describe the most interesting aspect of your book.

Following the hook, you’ll want to summarize the main points of your book by giving an intriguing synopsis.

You don’t want to share every aspect of your book, but instead, entice publishers to want to read more.

2. Include why you wrote your book and what makes your book interesting

Once you’ve got the publisher's attention, you can explain why you wrote your book and what makes it different. Use this section of your publisher cover letter to share your unique why.

What special experiences or knowledge do you have that motivated you to write this book? What are you hoping your audience will take away from the book?

Also, explain how your book differs from other books in its genre.

Are there more diverse characters? Does your book take a unique perspective for your niche?

Explain how your book stands out.

3. Share who your book is for

In addition to explaining your great storyline, you’ll want to mention your target audience. Who is your book for? Who is meant to read it?

This knowledge helps publishers when considering how marketable your book is.

4. Share your background as a writer

This part of your letter will focus on you as a writer. Whether you’re a new author, self-published, or have been previously published you’ll want to focus on different aspects of your career.

Here’s what to include in this section based on your experience.

New authors

If you’ve never been published, your book cover letter will focus on other written work and your fan base.

For instance, if you have a blog or group of followers on your mailing list you can mention that in your letter to a publisher.

If you don’t have a following you can share how your unique expertise makes you a credible writer.

For example, your can share how your field experience as an anthropologist helped you to build a more realistic and intriguing storyline for your historical fiction novel.

Self-published authors

If you’ve self-published before, you want to share about the success of your self-published book . Important things to share include rankings and feedback from readers.

Previously published authors

If you’ve previously published don’t be humble, share your achievements. Use this opportunity to share the success of your book.

Mention how many copies you sold, along with sharing some of the top reviews and endorsements.

Also, include how you’ve built a fan base or a following from your previous book.

5. Don't forget to add your contact details

To end your book proposal cover letter you’ll want to thank publishers for their time and include your contact details.

Make sure to include your name, address, telephone number, and email address. Without your contact information publishers can't contact you to move forward.

Key components

These key components are the most critical elements of your letter. Use these tips to increase the chances of your letter being read.

No more than one page

With the large volume of requests that publishers receive on a weekly basis, many publishers don't have the time to read lengthy requests. Keeping your book proposal cover letter to one page helps you to write concise and insightful information .

Aim to write around five paragraphs

To help keep your book cover letter to one page it’s best to write five paragraphs. By doing so you can avoid writing unnecessary information.

Don't make your book sample a part of the cover letter

When writing a cover letter for book submission, it can be tempting to want to include a sample of your book.

However, a publisher's cover letter is meant to be an introduction to your book and who you are as an author.

If you do include a book sample, it should be a separate document.

A sample proposal letter

In order to demonstrate how to put all the previous information together, below is an example publisher cover letter for a book submission.

Dear (Insert the name of publisher),

My name is Susie Que and I’m the author of the book Climbing to the Top, a 60,000-word non-fiction book. My book is an inspiring and impactful story that focuses on how rock climbing some of the most dangerous mountains taught me how to become stronger and how to excel in life.

This book will challenge you to examine your own fears and personal dreams and help you find the strength and resilience you need to achieve them. In this book, I provide the tools you need to move away from your comfort zone, face your fears and triumph over any obstacle.

What makes this book valuable is that I draw from my personal life experiences climbing over 30 summits. I did this while overcoming medical issues as well as mental health challenges. The surprising part is I'm over 40 years old, a wife, and a mother to two children.

My book is relatable to mothers, and women in their 40s and older who think that it's too late for them to have the success they desire.

I currently have a blog with over 100,000 readers and have been a guest on podcasts such as Ambitious Women, and Fearless Women.

Along with this, I currently have 300,000 followers on Instagram, and 120,000 subscribers on YouTube. I have a strong base of supporters and fans that will be eager to read Climbing to the Top.

Thank you for reading my letter. Attached are copies of the first three chapters of my book. If you’re interested in moving forward you can contact me at (insert phone number) or by email at ( insert email).

Sincerely, Susie Que

Related articles on getting writing a publisher cover letter

Enjoy this article? Check out articles related to writing a publisher cover letter!

• How To Get A Book Published: Self-Publishing Vs Traditional Publishing
• Writing A Book Proposal: A Great Book Proposal Template To Use
• How To Write A Book Pitch

Write a cover letter that publishers will love!

A cover letter for book submission has one main purpose. Your purpose is to get publishers interested in your book and have them believe in your capacity as an author.

You achieve this interest by hooking them in with the intriguing introduction in the first paragraph. Keep them captivated by sharing the most interesting details of your book.

Then you share your expertise as a writer and your experience in the field. And always end the letter with gratitude and your contact information.

If you're ready to publish your book, start with a stand-out letter to a publisher. Doing this can lead to getting a book deal and getting paid for your writing !

Kiersten Brown

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Blog Cover Letter Help How to Write a Cover Letter

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Job in 2024

Picture this : you’ve already made a resume that highlights your experience  and you’re about to submit a job application. But before you can continue you see the phrase that every job seeker dreads: “ cover letter required .”

As featured in *

Learn what a cover letter looks like

How to write a cover letter

Good cover letter example

Tips for improving your cover letter

Nobody enjoys writing cover letters, but if you’re job hunting you’ll need to write the best cover letter possible to make a strong positive first impression on employers.

1. Learn what a good cover letter looks like

Cover Letter Template (Text Version)

(Today’s Date)

(Hiring Manager’s Name) 123 Company Address Company’s City, State, Zip Code (xxx) xxx-xxxx [email protected]

Dear (Mr./Ms./Mx.) (Hiring Manager’s Last Name),

I’m writing to express my interest in the open position of Communications Specialist at AudioSonic. With 4+ years of experience in social media, public relations, and communications strategy, I’d be a valuable addition to your team.

As a performance-driven professional with proven expertise in internal and external communications, I’m sure I will excel at the internal and external operations handled in this role. Below are some achievements that illustrate my suitability:

• Managed 4 brand websites and 3 social media accounts for BASF for 2+ years • Attracted a daily average of 10 new customers to BASF by developing creative content to promote the brand • Streamlined internal communications SOP at W. L. Gore & Associates, increasing operations efficiency by 10%

Moreover, I’m adept at building productive relationships with colleagues, making me an ideal person to have working on high-pressure projects. Previous employers have described my interpersonal and organizational skills as instrumental to their teams. I hope to offer the same value to AudioSonic.

Thank you for taking the time to review my application. I’d love the chance to speak with you in person about the position. You can reach me by phone any weekend or weekday evening after 6pm.

Don’t have time to write a cover letter? No worries — you can also make a cover letter quickly using online tools or a cover letter template .

Our free-to-use cover letter builder can make you a cover letter in as little as 5 minutes. Just pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.

If you’re ready to jump in, follow these seven simple steps to make a cover letter that leaves a lasting impression on employers:

2. List your contact details

Underneath your name in your cover letter header , list the following contact information:

• Email address
• Phone number
• Mailing address (optional)
• Linkedin profile link (optional)
• Portfolio or website link (optional)
• Pronouns (optional)

3. Address the hiring manager by name

Here’s how the top half of your cover letter should look.

After your header, include the date and the company contact information in this format:

Name or job title of the person or team you’re writing to Company name Company’s street address Company’s phone number Hiring manager’s email address

Next, address your cover letter to the hiring manager — by name if possible.

A standard cover letter salutation includes the hiring manager’s last name, and begins with “Mr.”, “Ms.”, or another relevant professional title.

Just remember that greetings like “ To Whom It May Concern ” and “ Dear Sir or Madam ” are old-fashioned and make your cover letter feel generic, so avoid using them.

If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, you can address your cover letter without a name by using their job title or something like Dear [Department Name] Director.

Here are some acceptable greetings you can use on your cover letter:

Ways to open your cover letter

• Dear Jane Smith
• Dear Ms. Smith
• Dear Accounting Department
• Dear [Company Name] Recruiter

4. Write an attention-grabbing opening paragraph

Start your cover letter with an informative, direct introduction.

In the first one or two sentences, mention the position and organization you’re applying for, where you found the position, and why you’re excited about the opportunity. Check out this example of an effective cover letter introduction:

Example of a good cover letter introduction

Your opening paragraph should encourage the employer to read the rest of your cover letter.

Highlight your passion

You can make your introduction even more engaging by adding some personality, or by including a career highlight. Here’s a sample cover letter for a job application highlighting the jobseeker’s passion for the role.

As a teenager, I would cut my friends’ hair because of my passion for haircare. Eventually, many of my friends and family would come exclusively to me when they needed their hair cut. Today, if anything, I’m even more passionate about hair care, which is why I’m applying for the open Stylist role at Grateful Dreads.

Showing personality in your cover letter helps employers understand what motivates you.

Just be sure to strike the right tone for your industry or field. For instance, if you’re applying for a job in law or finance, keep your writing formal.

Mention any referrals or contacts you have at the job

If you received a referral to the job by a current employee, your introduction is the place to mention it. Include a referral in your cover letter by quickly stating their name and your connection to them. This is a great way to quickly win over a hiring manager.

Your Personal Trainer, Augusta Maine, informed me about your open Executive Diary Secretary role and encouraged me to apply.

5. Explain why you’re qualified for the job

Your second and third paragraphs should convince employers that you’re the right person for the job.

Use these paragraphs to market yourself by discussing your relevant work experience, skills, and achievements.

Some things to include in your cover letter that highlight your value to employers include achievements , awards , and expertise . Here’s how you can add these elements:

If you’ve received compliments from management or colleagues for your work, you can add them to your cover letter:

The managing partner of the law firm, Olympia Washington — one of my references — informed me that without my research skills, we wouldn’t have been able to guarantee such a good result for our clients in a class-action suit against an eldercare facility that had been overcharging its residents.

If you lack professional work experience and are writing an entry-level cover letter or a career change cover letter , you should instead highlight details like your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, or volunteer work.

6. Relate your experience to the company’s needs

Close your cover letter by restating your interest in the job and explaining how your experience fits into the needs of the company.

For example, if you’re applying to work at a company that’s seeking to break into a new market that you have experience in, you should highlight this experience in your writing.

I noticed in The San Antonio Express-News that you’re expanding Los Pollos Sobrinos into neighboring New Mexico. As a supervisor at Big Kahuna Burger, I’ve onboarded 20+ new employees, and I’m sure I could help you rapidly grow and train your team.

If you’re not sure what the goals or needs of the company are, find out by doing some research online. Take note of the products or services they offer, what their work culture is like, and if they have any future goals.

The job ad is also an excellent place to learn more about what the company is seeking and find relevant cover letter keywords to include.

AI tools can help identify keywords to include in your cover letter. Check out our list of the best AI cover letter generators to learn more.

7. Finish with a concise closing paragraph and sign-off

When writing a cover letter closing , be polite and confident, and continue to market yourself as the best candidate for the job.

First, restate your excitement about the job opportunity. Then, encourage the hiring manager to interview you (remember to mention when you’re available), and thank them for their time:

Finally, wrap up your cover letter with a professional closing salutation. The standard closing is “Sincerely” but here are some more options:

• Best wishes,
• Respectfully,
• Kind regards,
• Best regards,
• Yours truly,

Then, make two spaces below the salutation, and type your full name.

For some professional (but optional) flair, sign your cover letter either with a scan of your signature or by using software like DocuSign .

8. Check your cover letter’s content and formatting

Proper cover letter spacing and other formatting details ensure your application looks professional. A well-written cover letter is normally:

• 200–350 words ( short cover letters are easier to skim)
• single-spaced
• US Letter (USA) or A4 (elsewhere) page size
• Left-aligned (except for your contact details, which can be centered)

Take a look at the checklist below before you submit your application to make sure your cover letter is formatted correctly.

If you’re writing an email cover letter you don’t have to worry as much about formatting, but you should still make sure to be consistent with your use of font sizes and include your contact information at the end.

Cover letter example that successfully landed our content manager his job

When you’re trying to figure out how you want to write your cover letter, sometimes what’s most helpful is seeing an example that actually worked .

Here’s a cover letter our very own content manager , Conrad Benz , submitted to land his first role at Resume Genius:

Successful Cover Letter Example (Text Version)

Geoffrey Scott Resume Genius (866) 215-9048 [email protected]

Dear Mr. Scott,

I’m delighted to formally submit my application for the Content Writer position at Resume Genius. With my extensive experience writing and editing content for a large audience, I’m confident that I’d be a valuable asset to your team.

Previously, I worked in American politics as a finance intern at End Citizens United PAC, and then subsequently as a lead strategist at Mothership Strategies – a digital fundraising firm based in Washington, D.C.

At Mothership Strategies, I was responsible for brainstorming, writing, editing, and coding content for our clients’ email fundraising programs. On a day-to-day basis, my workload entailed researching relevant topics like new legislation, then quickly producing engaging online content around hot-button issues with the goal of convincing readers to donate to a given cause.

While there, I gained considerable experience not only drafting content for donor email lists, but also brand building – both skills I’m confident would be put to good use at Resume Genius. I regularly worked with clients to develop a specific online voice for their organization or candidate, and produced email content consistent with this voice. In addition to writing content myself, I was also tasked with managing a small team of two editors to ensure everything we put through the door was polished and consistent with the standards set by both the clients and the company.

Before working at Mothership Strategies, I interned for five months at End Citizens United PAC, where I worked closely with staff members across the organization. During my time as an intern, I was responsible for proofreading and editing official press releases, drafting social media content, and assisting the finance team in tracking and reaching out to donors. I was also tasked with maintaining the PAC’s official Facebook and Twitter presence, from which I gained my first real professional experience in mass communications.

The Content Writer position at Resume Genius would give me a chance to continue pursuing my passion for writing in an exciting new environment. I’m confident that my professional experience will allow me to contribute immediately, and that my unique perspective cultivated during my time in politics will ensure I produce valuable, effective content for the users that land on ResumeGenius.com. I’m available for an interview and to start as soon as possible – thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to speaking with you further about this opportunity!

Warm Regards,

Conrad Benz

Geoff Scott , Hiring Manager at Resume Genius, provided several reasons he found Conrad’s cover letter effective:

Conrad immediately touches upon his relevant experience in the first paragraph, which makes me want to continue reading. It’s important to note that he claims to have extensive experience writing and editing, and also proves his ability to string sentences together coherently, which I appreciate. I like that Conrad focuses first on his most relevant experience, because it makes a more compelling case for him as a candidate. In the closing paragraph, Conrad’s statement of interest in pursuing his passion for writing holds more weight because he’s already used the preceding paragraphs to establish his experience effectively.

In his cover letter, Conrad did an excellent job of describing how his past experiences and the skills he developed translated to the Content Writer position, what interested him about the role, and the value he would add to the team.

However, if we were to suggest one area for improvement in retrospect – it would be to include some quantified achievements that demonstrate the scope of Conrad’s experience and maximize the impact of his cover letter.

Additional cover letter examples

Want to see some more cover letter examples ? Check out the industry-specific examples below:

Office Manager Cover Letter

Retail Sales Associate Cover Letter

Video Editor Cover Letter

Engineering Cover Letter Example

Bartender Cover Letter Sample

Elementary Teacher Cover Letter Example

Extra tips for writing a good cover letter

Here are some additional tips to help you create the best version of your cover letter:

Highlight your research

You’ve probably spent some time looking into your target company by now, so use your cover letter as an opportunity to showcase what you’ve learned.

A little research goes a long way toward showing employers that you’re committed and genuinely interested in the role.

Here are some company-related tidbits you can mention:

• Founding or origin story
• Reputation and position in the industry
• Notable successes or growth
• Measurable impact
• Future goals
• Challenges to overcome

Don’t forget to tie in why you find their mission motivating or how you can contribute. Here’s an example:

“I’m inspired by EcoPower Solutions’ impressive track record in advancing sustainable energy, shown by the remarkable reduction of carbon emissions by 15% over the past year. Your dedication to environmental stewardship aligns seamlessly with my passion for clean energy, and I’m enthusiastic about contributing to the company’s future impact. My experience in implementing energy-efficient solutions that led to a 20% increase in operational efficiency perfectly complements your commitment to driving positive environmental change.”

Simplify your writing

Your cover letter should be easy to read, confident, and friendly. Remember: you’re addressing another person, not a robot.

To instantly improve your writing tone:

• Use contractions like “don’t” instead of “do not”
• Avoid overused buzzwords and phrases like “dynamic,” “think outside the box,” and “go-getter”
• Choose simple words like “helpful” instead of “advantageous”

Here’s a comparison between a friendly writing style and an overly formal one:

Excited and professional

I’m thrilled to apply for the customer service position at [Company Name]. Having been a customer service representative for 5+ years at Walmart, I’m confident I can quickly apply my experience using Zendesk and Salesforce to make a positive impact on [Company Name]’s bottom line.

It is with great interest that I apply for the open customer service position posted by your company on Indeed. I possess the requisite skill set to ably perform the customer service duties described in the job requirements.

Proofread carefully

Typos and grammatical errors in your cover letter will leave a negative impression on employers.

Here are two quick tricks professional editors use to catch mistakes:

• Read your writing out loud : Reading your letter aloud forces you to consider every word, sentence, paragraph, and punctuation mark. Plus, you’ll more easily notice hard-to-read sentences, and can then simplify them.
• Change the font : A new font forces your brain to process something that seems new. Switching your cover letter to a different cover letter font and font size can help you notice mistakes you’d otherwise miss.

After you’ve read your cover letter out loud, have someone else read it over. They can provide helpful feedback like whether your letter is clear and well-argued, or vague and filled with cliches. They’ll also (hopefully) notice any small grammar and spelling errors you missed.

Save time using online software

If you’re short on time, try using a web application to quickly make a convincing letter that follows the right cover letter format .

There are several powerful cover letter builders online that you can try out. In this video, we’ll walk you through our own cover letter generator , so you can create your own letter in a few quick steps.

Frequently asked questions about how to write a cover letter

Still unsure about something? Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about writing a cover letter:

Are there templates for my cover letter?

Yes, you can find many cover letter templates online, but not all of them are free. Try browsing our library of 200+ free cover letter templates for every professional to find one that works for you.

What’s the best opening sentence for a cover letter?

The best opening sentence for a cover letter is one that briefly states:

• What position you’re applying for
• How you came across the job
• Why you’re interested
• How your experience aligns with the role

An opening sentence needs to make it clear what position you’re seeking and provide a quick introduction that highlights why you’re a good fit. For example:

“Drawn by Content Forward’s innovative marketing approach, I’m enthusiastically applying for the Marketing Coordinator position posted on your website, and am confident that my diverse digital marketing experience aligns seamlessly with the role.”

What makes a good cover letter?

A good cover letter expands upon the information in your resume, providing context for your skills and accomplishments. The best cover letters also give employers insight into your personality so they can determine if you’d be a good cultural fit for the company.

What should you not say in a cover letter?

What you shouldn’t say in a cover letter is anything that makes you seem negative . For example, avoid talking about why you hate your job , or complaining about your current employer.

Instead, focus on what you learned in your current position that will help you succeed in your next role.

Should you include salary requirements in a cover letter?

No, you shouldn’t include salary requirements in your cover letter unless the company requests it.

If the salary you state is too high, the employer might reject your application before you get the opportunity to explain why your skill set and experience warrant a higher salary.

How do you write a general cover letter for a resume?

You write a general cover letter for a resume by highlighting the skills that make you a competitive candidate in your target industry without including any specific details about the job you’re applying for.

However, keep in mind that tailoring your cover letter to each position you apply for will increase your chances of landing a job. We recommend against using a general cover letter unless you really need to save time.

What should be included in a cover letter?

The following elements should be included in a cover letter:

• A header that includes your name and contact information
• A professional salutation using the hiring manager’s name (if possible)
• An opening paragraph that presents your interest and key qualifications
• Body paragraphs that support your key qualifications with specific achievements
• A closing paragraph that includes a call to action
• A professional sign off

Additional cover letter FAQs:

• Does a resume need a cover letter?
• What is a cover letter?
• How do I include a referral in a cover letter?
• How do you write salary requirements in a cover letter?
• What is an enclosure in a cover letter?
• Should you use a template for a cover letter?
• Does a CV include a cover letter?
• Can a cover letter be two pages?
• Do cover letters need an address?
• Do I need to sign a cover letter submitted electronically?
• Should you put a photo on a cover letter?

How to Write a Cover Letter

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Corissa Peterson, CPRW

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How To Write A Killer Cover Letter to Publishers

May 20, 2015

A cover letter introduces you and your novel to potential publishers . This letter is your first point of contact between you and a publisher, therefore, it is crucial that aspiring authors know how to write a decent cover letter.

Here are three common questions, answered for writers looking to pave a successful path into the world of publishing with a cover letter that leaves an impression…

What do I need?

1. an ‘elevator pitch’ and hook.

An ‘elevator pitch’ is a brief and punchy summary of your novel that could be told to someone important between floors of a short elevator ride. Condense the core ideas of your novel in a dynamic and enthusiastic couple of sentences.

Remember that your cover letter should be no longer than a page, so this section can only take a up a paragraph or two. Show them why it’s worth reading and be sure to include a ‘hook’ – something that drags your reader into the story, and has them dying to know what happens next.

2. A target audience

Outline your target audience  to publishers and demonstrate an alignment to their publishing vision . A good way to start is by looking at previous novels they have published and whether these books fall in the same category as yours, and share a target audience.

Remember to be specific; publishers need more information than ‘Adult’. Include your audience’s age group, interests etc. if applicable.

3. Novel titles comparable to yours

Give two titles comparable to your novel (even better if they’re published by the publisher you’re reaching out to). This is a great way to establish direct relevance and relation to potential publishers.

More than that, it gives them an idea of where your novel will sit in the marketplace and how it will work with their existing list.

4. A word count

This is a simple and necessary inclusion to let publishers know how long your novel is.

5. A killer author bio

Be interesting, be readable and draw publishers in with who you are and what you intend to do with your work.

Here is also the place to list existing publishing credentials, and relevant education such as writing courses or degrees. You want to be able to get publishers to see that you are a capable, focused and passionate writer.

6. Contact details

Give yourself the opportunity to be contacted if the publishers decide to get in touch for further questions or discussions. Include your phone number, address and most importantly, your email address.

How do I put it together?

Put the above elements together in an easy-to-read, simple form. Keep sentences short, purposeful and in an active voice. The desired length of your letter should no longer than a page. Opt for 12pt standard font such as Times New Roman, and 1.5 spacing.

Many new authors make the mistake of attempting to detail their background, life achievements and a lengthy breakdown of their novel. Long, unnecessary paragraphs will irritate the editor, and an irritated submissions editor is not someone you want reading your life’s work and deciding its future.

In addition to being concise, remember to keep it error-free. Creatively written content may help you stand out, but keep in mind that your letter is still a business proposal.

It also goes without saying that a successful pitch leaves no room for error, so before you click send, proofread it again and again. Better still, have other writer friends review it and provide you with feedback.

Do I include my manuscript?  

Always follow the publisher’s submission guidelines. These guidelines are usually accessible on publisher’s website. The most common request is to include the first three chapters. In addition, you might also be asked for a synopsis (usually no longer than 300 words).

We cannot stress enough the importance of adhering to the guidelines. This shows that you care about the publisher’s work as well as yours.

Some other useful tips

• Address your cover letter by name. Avoid clichés such as ‘Dear sir/madam’ or ‘To whom it may concern’. It is more genuine and respectful.
• Use more formal language throughout the letter.
• Have a logical and readable structure.
• Thank the publisher for their time.
• Sign off gracefully – e.g. ‘Yours sincerely’ – before your name.

With these tips, you’re good to go!

This post was written by Natalie Ong Lih Tyng

Carmel JOYCE

Hello A cover letter introduces you and your novel to potential publishers. This letter is your first point of contact between you and a publisher, therefore, it is crucial that aspiring authors know how – “to” – write a decent cover letter.

Could you please correct the first sentence on this web page? I was told once that my emails, no matter how appealing, would be rejected because of a spelling mistake or a sentence that was not constructed correctly. I can not be a member of AWG as I do not have any credits for my drama script writing. I can not gain a credit until my work is accepted. How do I attract Australian publishers with Australian/British drama scripts without credits?

Claire Bradshaw

Thanks for pointing that out – things do slip through the cracks sometimes, but the sentence is fixed now!

As for your submissions: generally, book publishers won’t accept unsolicited submissions of play scripts or screenplays, no matter whether you’re a member of AWG or not. We’d recommend looking into more specific submission opportunities, such as Australian Plays ( https://australianplays.org/about/submissions ), and also visiting sites like Playwriting Australia ( http://www.pwa.org.au ) for more information and opportunities.

You might also like to purchase a subscription to the Australian Writer’s Marketplace ( https://www.awmonline.com.au ), which has a comprehensive directory that includes opportunities for plays/theatre and screenplays.

Best of luck with your writing.

Is it possible to have an example of a submission letter? Even if something general. Cheers!

Here’s a site with a list of examples of successful cover/query letters from different genres: http://www.adweek.com/galleycat/successful-query-letters-for-literary-agents/63594

Hope this helps!

Kathy Steinemann

Thanks, Claire.

Your third point highlights how important (and time-consuming) advance research is. A writer might have to read several novels to find two comparable titles.

Glad you enjoyed Natalie’s post! Definitely agree that research can take up a lot of a writer’s time – definitely worth it, though, if it improves your cover letter in the end!

Comments are closed.

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Write a Good Cover Letter with This Step-By-Step Guide

First impressions count big time whether you’re submitting a book manuscript, introducing a product, or applying for a job.

Kathy Widenhouse

The Book Mechanic

“I only need to know how to write a cover letter when I’m job hunting.” That’s a common misconception. Plenty of other cover letter scenarios abound. You write a cover…

Written by Kathy Widenhouse

Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has written 9 books and garnered 600K+ views for her writing tutorials, which you can get at www.nonprofitcopywriter.com .

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How to Write a Stand-Out Cover Letter

• How to Write a Stand-Out…

SO, WHAT IS A COVER LETTER?

Literary agents and many literary competitions require a cover letter along with your sample chapters and synopsis. This is a formal introduction to you and your novel. Note: It is not a CV, a bio or a blurb for the book. It’s a letter, written from one professional to another, that should make the agent or judge want to read more. The biggest mistake entrants to the BPA First Novel Award made this year was getting the balance off, either writing too much about the novel or too much about themselves – some poor novels didn’t get a mention. There’s a rough template most agents and competition judges will look for, and it’s pretty doable! Let’s give it a go.

TELL US ABOUT THE NOVEL

First, tell us about the novel. That’s what you’re trying to sell! You want the agent to finish the cover letter with such curiosity about the book that they’re hungry for the sample chapters. 

The first paragraph will usually reveal the title , the genre , the word count of the completed manuscript (If you don’t include this, they might worry you haven’t finished it!) and something that offers a taste of the novel, like a mention of the themes you’re going to explore.

Be specific when stating the genre – if it’s general fiction, think about whether the market is commercial, book club, upmarket or literary. If it’s YA, don’t just say it’s YA – is it a YA romance? YA dystopia? Who’s out there writing YA crime? The literary agent will be familiar with all the terms, so the more specific you are, the easier it will be to picture an audience for the book.

Once you’ve provided these core facts, write an elevator pitch . This is a single sentence that conveys your novel’s hook or USP. For inspiration, check out the Sunday Times Bestsellers List:

• Richard Osman’s  The Thursday Murder Club : Four friends in a retirement village team up to solve a mystery on their doorstep.
• Paula Hawkins’  The Girl on the Train : A commuter’s fascination with a married couple she passes every day turns deadly.

It’s a good idea to follow this up with a one-paragraph description of the novel. Unlike the synopsis, it doesn’t need to tell the entire story, but it should be just more than the premise. Tell us who the protagonist is, what happens to upset the balance of their life, and what their goal is (presumably to restore said life balance!). If you can do that in a couple of sentences, you might also mention one of the novel’s core turning points.

Cover letters should describe the novel first, then the writer, then remind us of the novel at the end. In a short final paragraph, say what inspired you to write the book and offer some comparable titles . (Check out agent Nelle Andrew’s advice on comparable titles .)

The letter should be targeted towards the literary agent or competition judge you’re writing to. Some writers choose to open with this and others incorporate it into the later paragraphs. The best way to make a connection and show you’ve done your research is to mention an author on the agent’s list who has a relevant readership. You could also explain why you think your novel aligns with what they describe in their wish list.

TELL US ABOUT YOU

It’s the writing, not the writer, that’s important … but the agent or judge does want to know about you too. They especially want to know why you were the one person who could write this book . And it’s true – no one else could write the book you’ve written. So tell us why. Did your job as a psychiatrist inspire the analysis of your antagonist’s motivation? Do you live in the idyllic town where the book is set? Have you studied the era of your historical novel? Share relevant details about yourself. 

The agent or judge also wants evidence that you are a writer. You’re not just someone who thinks they have a novel in them; you take your craft seriously. If you can, share what magazines your short fiction has been published in, the competitions you’ve been listed in or the creative writing courses you’ve completed. If you don’t have that kind of experience, share anything that tells us you’re serious. Join a writer’s workshop group and tell us about that. Attend an online masterclass (like the ones BPA runs ) and mention that. Experiment with writing in different forms and tell us about it. S hare which contemporary authors have inspired you, so it’s clear that you’re well read. Just don’t put, ‘This is my first attempt at writing fiction,’ and leave it at that. It doesn’t inspire confidence.

A cover letter should be professional, like the cover letter you would send with a job application, but you also want it to have some personality. And given you’re basically applying for the role of ‘novelist’, it needs to be well written.

So, keep it formal, make sure it’s eloquent, and try to get some flow into it. When you read it aloud, it should sound natural. If it doesn’t, it might be that you haven’t varied sentence length, that you’ve used rigid language, or simply that you’re trying too hard. As formal as a cover letter should be, you want your enthusiasm for this novel you’ve spent so long writing to imbue the lines. 

COMMON ISSUES IN ‘BPA FIRST NOVEL AWARD’ SUBMITTED COVER LETTERS

• Formatting it like a CV or splitting it into sections titled ‘Bio’ and ‘Novel Summary’.
• Sharing irrelevant detail about your personal life. 
• Making it too short – 200-350 words is a good guideline.
• Or too long – unfortunately, nobody’s going to read a cover letter past the first page!
• Writing a vague description of the story e.g. ‘When a mysterious event happens, a woman will have to look to the past to uncover the truth.’
• Including long-winded explanations of why there’s a huge market for your book.
• Coming across as arrogant … or lacking in confidence.
• Sharing more about the novel’s message than its story.

WRITE THE COVER LETTER YOUR NOVEL DESERVES

Once you’ve finished a manuscript, the instinct is to get it on submission as soon as possible, but it’s worth taking the time to give an accurate and exciting representation of the work . Literary agents receive many submissions a day and have to fit reading time in with a huge workload. You need to grab them in the cover letter so that they’re already thinking of you as a potential client when they read the sample.

Out of everything you could have written on the blank pages of a document titled Novel , you’ve carefully chosen each word of this story that has to be told. You know people will love it and you hopefully have a sense of who and why . Get that across to the agent or competition reader, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll request the full manuscript.

For personalised feedback on your cover letter, you might want to consider a BPA Submission Package Report – enquire here .

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How to Get a Blue Book Traineeship at the EU Commission (Tips, Motivation Letter, Salary, Everything…)

• Post published: October 31, 2021
• Post category: Resources / Articles
• Post last modified: February 11, 2023

In this article, I will explain how I got into the Blue Book traineeship at the EU Commission and will give you tips and tricks on how you can do the same.

I will also explain how you can find a job at the EU Commission directly after your Blue Book traineeship.

At the end of the article, you will find a list of websites and Facebook groups to find a room (or an apartment) in Brussels. We will also talk about safety.

There are three different traineeships you can do at the EU.

1. The Blue Book Traineeship

The first one is the Blue Book traineeship — the traineeship at the EU Commission. It’s the most popular one.

Acceptance rates vary between 1% and 5% (I will explain you in a minute how you can be a part of the 1%.) Blue Book trainees are older (+25 years old).

2. The EU Council Traineeship

The second one is the EU Council traineeship . Less than 1% of applicants get there.

3. The EU Parliament Traineeship

The third one is the EU Parliament traineeship . It’s the one that pays the most (they receive a salary of roughly €1350/month, while the Blue Book Traineeship’s salary was around €1250/month) and where trainees “work the less” since they have Friday afternoon off.

Parliament trainees are younger (21–24 years old), so if you’re under 25 years old, you’ll have more chances to get in there.

In this article, we will focus on the Blue Book traineeship (the one for the EU Commission) because this is the one I was accepted in.

Despite its excellent reputation, a Blue Book traineeship at the EU Commission isn’t as difficult to get as it seems.

Consider my profile.

I studied one of the easiest bachelor’s (communication, huge mistake but that’s another story) and my grades sucked.

Yet I managed to get into one of the most sought-after Directorates-General (DGs): The Joint Research Center (JRC).

Here’s exactly how I did it.

Side note 1 : The JRC also offers scientific internships outside of the Blue Book context.

I have written a short text about them in the Addendum .

Side note 2 : The application process constantly evolves. Your process may not resemble the process detailed hereafter. I strive to keep this article constantly updated though, so thank you for letting me know if anything in the article is outdated or wrong.

Table of Content

Click to expand

Part I: Understanding the Criteria

• The languages you speak
• The discipline you studied
• The university you studied at
• Your (work) experience
• Your academic level (bachelor, master, Ph.D.)
• Your country of origin

Conclusion of Part I

Part ii: the selection process.

• The First Step
• The Second Step
• The Third Step
• The Fourth Step
• Motivation Letter Template

Conclusion of Part II

Part iii: how to get a job at the eu commission directly after your traineeship, part iv: practicals.

• How to Find a Room or an Apartment in Brussels for Your Blue Book Traineeship
• Safety in Brussels
• Conclusion of Part III

Part V: FAQ

Final conclusion.

Before you apply, you need to understand the minimum requirement and the criteria you will be judged on.

Read this article  here .

You will see you need to have a bachelor’s degree, speak at least English, etc.

These criteria are no secrets so we won’t speak about them.

What we will speak about are the unofficial criteria.

The EU gives you points based on these criteria. The better you rank for each metric, the more points you have, the higher your chances to be selected.

Let’s discuss them in order.

1. Your Age

The older you are, the better it is. The EU doesn’t take trainees for fun. It takes them for financial reasons.

Trainees are cheap and work well. Since older people have more experience and work better, the EU prefers hiring older people.

If you’re under 25 years old, getting a spot will be harder. Unless you’re a genius with a Ph.D. in civil engineering and speak 5 languages, you’re unlikely to be selected.

The EU values specific experience, so go do some volunteering in NGOs, internships in embassies, or get a job.

If you’re under 25 and get rejected, don’t be discouraged. It’s normal.

I met a girl who had applied three times in a row before getting accepted.

2. The Languages You Speak

You have to speak at least English. The more languages you speak, the better.

Your level must be sufficient so that you can work with these languages.

Anything below B2/C1 is useless. If you have some time to kill, I urge you to work on your languages and reach C1.

French and German are always appreciated, but Spanish will do well too.

3. The Discipline You Studied

The problem with people that want to work for the EU is that they all study political science.

Which makes sense.

Unfortunately, political science doesn’t teach you how to do politics. On top of that, we’re living in the age of diversity.

Therefore, the EU is looking for everything except political scientists.

When my internship ended in July 2021, I received a survey asking me how the EU could attract people whose background was not political science.

As a result, I strongly encourage you to broaden your skillset.

You’ll have more chances to get into the EU if you have a business, economics, law, engineering, medicine, or maths degree than political science.

The best degrees are IT and everything related (AI, data science, etc).

4. The University You Studied at

Sciences Po, Bocconi, Polytechnique institutes, Oxbrigde, etc don’t play as big of a role as before due to the EU’s willingness to be more inclusive.

While they’re still important, what really matters is that you studied  outside of your home country.

You must have done at least one Erasmus , at best a master abroad.

International experience is a must.

5. Your (Work) Experience

The EU selected me because of my work experience.

I had had the chance to work as a research assistant for an EU-funded research project at one of the leading universities in Belgium.

That project happened to be somewhat similar to what the JRC (the place where I ended up doing the internship) was doing when I applied.

So they hired me.

I can’t stress enough how important work experience is.

During my internship, I met an Italian architect whose previous job was to get administrative authorizations and permissions for new buildings in Brussels.

He got his traineeship because of his experience with Belgian bureaucracy.

The importance of work experience seems counter-intuitive when you apply for an internship.

However, as we specified above,  the EU is not a university (or a charity).

They’re not hiring trainees for the mere pleasure of teaching them.  They’re hiring them to work.

Side note: experience does not necessarily have to be “job” experience. This blog helped me get the internship too, for example.

6. Your Academic Level (Bachelor, Master, Ph.D.)

While the EU requires at least a bachelor’s, I recommend you get a master’s before applying.

Ph.D. candidates will have even more chances due to the volume of research that the Commission produces.

7. Your Country of Origin

Your country of origin doesn’t give you points – but it plays on your chances to get in.

It’s obviously much harder for a German or a French to get an internship because there are more candidates per place than for smaller countries.

The worst country to be coming from is Italy.

From what I understand, no one wants to stay in Italy. All smart Italians leave and go work in the UK, Belgium, Netherlands, the US, etc (can’t blame them).

I don’t remember the exact number, but Italians are always thousands to apply compared to other countries.

If you’re Italian with a second nationality, use that one.

To help you estimate your chances to be selected, the EU created a  self-assessment tool.

The easiest countries to be coming from are Luxembourg, the Baltic states, and Bulgaria.

You don’t need to be brilliant to go to the EU.

All you need is

• to be old enough
• speak English
• have studied something else than political science
• have studied abroad
• get some relevant work or volunteering experience
• get a master
• not be from Italy, France, or Germany.

As you can see, no one is mentioning grades or winning math competitions.

There are four steps in the selection process.

1. The First Step

The first step is the initial application.

You’ll have to send a motivation letter, a resume, proof of skills, proof of work experience, proof of language, and a lot of other documents.

The idea is to get rid of a maximum number of contenders that already feel tired just doing all of this administrative work.

Don’t wait up.

The faster you fill-up the application, the better it is.

You will also have to choose two DGs you want to work at.

This is where you need to become strategic and think in terms of the  value you can deliver and not the DG you want to work in.

The two DGs you choose will have a hiring priority over other DGs.

Eg: If you have a Ph.D. in economics, don’t go apply to DG JUST or HR (the DGs where they don’t do anything).

If you want to maximize your chances, you need to think about the DGs that’d be happy to hire you.

So think in terms of the value you can deliver.

Not about your wishes.

During this first step, HR will review your documents to make sure that you are eligible.

2. The Second Step

Once you have been declared eligible, you have passed the first step.

The second step is easy. HR will authenticate your documents.

They may ask for other proofs if the ones you have sent them did not suit them (Eg: proof of level for the languages you claimed to speak).

You will have one week only to come up with the required documents.

3. The Third Step

Once your documents have been authenticated, you will be part of the last pool of contestants.

Roughly 30% of candidates will get an internship, so you have three chances out of ten to be selected.

The different DGs and agencies are supposed to “select you” and approach you. To do so, they search for keywords in your resume.

My DG selected me because I had “media analysis” written.

Officially, you’re not supposed to do anything during that phase. However…in the past, candidates used to track managers in DGs and send them emails to get in.

It was such a mess that the Commission asked each department and agency to provide an official email address where candidates could send their motivation letter (while discouraging candidates to send any emails to anyone else).

UPDATE December 2022: it seems that the Commission no longer provides a list of email addresses that trainees could contact, and instead asks them to choose three DGs and write motivation letters to them directly. I assume that it is because they received too many emails. As a result, I discourage you to try to hack the system and contact managers to ask for an internship. I maintain this is a bad idea, even if you have “heard of someone that knows someone that did it”. I will advise you to always respect the guideline, in this context at least. I will update this section as time goes.

They will send this list to you with a message along the lines “if you want, you can still contact the DGs and send them your motivation later”.

You obviously should send both a CV and a motivation letter to each and everyone of these email addresses.

When I did it, I created templates to automate and speed up the work.

Then I sent custom emails to all of all the DGs and agencies (find the templates below.)

WARNING: SOME PEOPLE WILL NOT LISTEN TO THE GUIDELINES AND WILL STILL TRY TO TRACK MANAGERS WITHIN DGs.

Don’t do that. It feels needy, desperate, and it’s not allowed anyway. The first signal it sends is that you’re not capable of respecting the rules (and it’s only the beginning…).

4. The Fourth Step

The fourth step does not always happen.

Some DGs offer placements to trainees during the third step, while others organize interviews (the fourth step).

Both happened to me.

After I sent emails to every DG and agency, I got two answers.

First, one DG offered me an interview. I did it, then waited. Meanwhile, the JRC offered me a traineeship, without any interviews.

Obviously, I didn’t wait to know whether I was taken to the other DG. I accepted the JRC’s proposal right away.

Even though the other DG was better, my sole purpose was to get into the Commission. This application was my only shot since my plan afterward was to be serious about business.

So I said yes to the JRC.

5. Motivation Letter Template

Here’s an example of one of the motivation letters I sent to one of the DGs.

In this case, it was the DG in charge of innovation. I personalized each letter to show that I cared and knew what I was talking about.

Dear Madam, Sir,

In a world increasingly driven by creativity and technology, innovation is a key component in the creation of jobs, wealth, and prosperity for the Union. The attention that Mrs. von der Leyen has given to innovation and science at the beginning of her presidency is an excellent reason to be optimistic about the future!

Here is what I can do for you as a Blue Book trainee.

These last two years, I studied two master’s degrees, one in political science (EU studies) and one in business management. I have learned about economics, the EU legislative process, and had the chance to interview many of your colleagues from the JRC for my thesis on innovative political practices.

The two internships I have participated in (one in a movie production company in Belgium and one in a technology company in Poland) taught me how to use the entire Office 365 Suite (including Excel, Teams, and DevOps) and various other programs such as SAP, WordPress, and Photoshop.

I have learned through numerous student jobs both soft and hard skills such as public speaking, leadership, teamwork, pro-activity, copywriting, and online marketing.

I would be happy to use these skills and assist you with research, presentation-making, paper-summarizing, writing, problem-solving, and any other task that needs to be well done.

I understand the importance to be creative and constantly think of ways to improve the workflow. I am also attached to the respect of deadlines and being on time.

This, in a nutshell, is the value I could bring to the Research and Innovation Directorate-General. Should you be interested in my profile, I would be happy to move forward with an interview.

Best regards,

As you can see, I started with an introductory paragraph then explained my skills and what I was ready to do for the DG.

Now that I am looking at it, I think I used the word “I” too much.

But it worked, didn’t it?!

I am happy I did the EU traineeship because it’s prestigious and I wanted to see the inside of the Commission (and a friend of mine did it and I’d lie if I said she hadn’t inspired me ).

Overall though, I was slightly disappointed.

First, the people I met weren’t as good as I expected them to be.

Second, the experience looked more like an Erasmus (getting drunk with friends and having sex with strangers, or the other way around) than a professional internship.

So, this is how I got an EU internship.

Was I the best candidate? None at all.

But I fitted the profile perfectly. I was old, experienced, spoke languages, had studied at Sciences Po, and had a much more intensive international background than anyone else.

None of these things require a brain to acquire.

If you want to get an EU internship, it’s more than possible.

Just follow this plan, and you’ll get in.

A Blue Book Traineeship does not entitle you to a job, but it helps.

Let’s see how.

1. The Junior Professionals Program

The Junior Professionals Program (JPP) is an elite program developed by the Commission to hire the best of the best.

This program is only accessible to the Blue Book trainees doing their internship in a DG. Those in agencies are not eligible.

You will hear about the JPP and how to apply during your traineeship.

If my memory is correct, only 20 people get admitted into this program per batch, and there are two batches per year (so that’s 40 in total).

To get in, you need to pass a series of “logic tests”, two interviews, etc. It’s quite hard to get in, the JPP only welcomes the best of the best. You can find more info here .

Don’t be sad if you don’t get into the it.

There are other ways.

2. Passing the CAST

CAST means Contract Agents Selection Tool. It’s a database with people who have been screened and judged smart enough to work at the EU. Once you get into the CAST, getting a job becomes a whole lot easier.

To get into this database, you’ll have to pass a series a tests (logic, knowledge, etc).

Once you’re in, you can start applying for CAST-only job offers.

If you are recruited, you will be a contract agent for a maximum period of six years.

After that, they will have to give you a permanent contract…or drop you.

Once you get a permanent contract, you’re set for life.

3. Getting a temporary agent contract without the CAST or through interim

Interim is the French word for “temp staff”.

This is how most people start after a Blue Book.

When civil servants get sick or take a sabbatical, or simply when a DG has a special mission for which they need help, temporary job positions that do not require the CAST open.

Now, these jobs aren’t advertised on TV.

They’re hard to come by, and they’re quite competitive.

Nonetheless, I know a few people that got these jobs, so it means it’s possible.

Here’s how:

• Hustle . The best way to get one of these jobs is to do such a good job during your internship that they want to hire you right away. Do not work from home, arrive early, leave late, volunteer for tasks, work hard, introduce yourself to people, and let them know you’re looking for an actual job at the end of your internship (be subtle and non-needy, please). One girl in my team had done such a good traineeship that she got hired right after it within the same team. This is where you see that experience can be good! She was a data scientist with lots of experience so she could be useful and valuable FAST.
• Be a part of as many WhatsApp groups as you can . Everyone will start making some dumb WhatsApp groups. Eg: one per country, one per hobby (when I did the traineeship, there was a WhatsApp group called “Plant Parents”…). They often circulate some job offers in these groups, so be a part of them.
• Talk to people . You always have people that somehow know everything (hot girls, tall guys), so make sure to befriend them. Remember that the competition among trainees is insane, so don’t reveal all of your cards either. Play it smart.

Finally, take a look at this page which outlines the different options you have to get a job at the EU.

1. How to Find a Room or an Apartment in Brussels for Your Blue Book Traineeship

First thing you should do is read my honest Brussels guide . I am from Belgium and lived in Brussels 3+ years, so I know what I talking about.

Read it? Good.

I recommend you book an Airbnb (or hostel) and fly to Brussels prior to starting the internship so you can visit the rooms and the neighborhood.

Indeed, Brussels is not the same everywhere, and the room you take isn’t only about the room – it’s also about the neighborhood.

You can always ask the tenant/owner to show you the room through Skype. If they have a lot of friends on Facebook, some pics, comments, etc, you may reasonably think that they’re not fake and won’t scam you.

There aren’t as many scams as one may think. My best advice is not to be overly paranoid and just have a bit of common sense.

Alternatively, you can read the most detailed guide on the Internet about how to find a room in any city in the world.

Do not mention that you’re going to do an EU Internship before knowing the price of the room, as it might entice the owner to charge you a premium.

Most offers for rooms are on Facebook.

You’ll get paid something like €1.3k/month. Because of inflation (which has been 90%-110% since 2018, don’t believe the “10%” from the media, it’s a lie), €1.3K is not nearly enough to live in Brussels.

So you’ll have to hustle another job online or dip into your savings.

Find a list of Facebook groups that offer rooms, apartments, etc to rent. There are more websites at the end.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/BRUSSELSFORRENT/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/brussels4rent/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1861261114151382/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/alouer.meuble.stgilles.ixelles/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1043857159023306/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/373319039493392/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/551842041574913/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/387869898439292/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/249165441913335/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1468782609864124/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/150087345814547/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/281553825275009/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/901230233329112/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/BRUXELLESALOUER/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1525522444394631/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/195527370457521/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/482068671840449/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/394108044073579/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/vastgoedbrussel/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1952601251669075/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bruxelleskot/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/303286503412889/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/chambresbruxelles/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/188519461195986/

Find below websites other than Facebook.

www.nestpick.com

www.housinganywhere.com

www.student.be

www.appartager.be

www.immoweb.be (for apartments)

2. Safety in Brussels

Brussels isn’t the safest city to live in.

So, what should you fear?

According to the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs , there is a high risk of terrorist attacks in Brussels.

However, I estimate this risk to be low.

Theft or harassment is what you should be wary of. I used to work for a pub crawl in Brussels, and people got their phones stolen every single night.

So, please, be careful.

Take Bolt or Uber when you don’t feel like walking, put your phone in your front pocket, avoid the subway, buses, train stations, and trams, hold your bag near you and close it well, don’t let watches and wallets linger around, and always watch your drinks.

Don’t dress too fancy (holds true for both men and women) and never, ever stop if someone seems like they want to ask you for something as these will likely be:

• Someone asking you for money to buy drugs.
• Someone offering you to buy drugs.
• Someone asking you for money for Oxfam, the WWF, etc.
• Someone distracting you while someone else comes behind you to steal your phone, bag, wallet, etc.

1. What is the monthly salary of the Blue Book Traineeship?

€1300 net per month. Technically this isn’t a salary but an allowance given in the context of a traineeship.

2. How can I find a house in Brussels?

Look at the list of Facebook groups and other websites above.

3. Should I report my Blue Book Traineeship salary to any tax authorities?

Technically yes, you should report this in Belgium.

Practically though…no one really cares.

4. Should I register in the city hall when I come to Brussels?

Technically yes, practically, no.

It doesn’t give you any benefits, it’s long and annoying to do, and you won’t stay there enough time for it to be worth it.

For example, most people’s ID comes 6-9 months after they registered.

5. What about health insurance?

I highly recommend you subscribe to the Commission’s Allianz plan. It’s €30/month but it is definitely worth it. Take your European Health Insurance card too (you should ask for it from the social security of your country).

6. Does the Blue Book Traineeship entitle me to a job?

No, it does not entitle you to a job, but it is an excellent opportunity to work hard and network to get one!

7. What are the best tips and tricks to obtain a Blue Book Traineeship?

• Get some international experience (study/work abroad)
• Get a master’s degree
• Study a non-political science-related degree (STEM is best)
• Write about relevant experiences in your resume and motivation letter
• Get some relevant work experience prior
• Learn a third language
• Respect the guidelines

More than a year and a half after I finished the traineeship, I am still editing this article.

The results have been pretty impressive as thousands of people have read it.

I have one last piece of advice to give you: don’t be discouraged if you don’t get in the first time.

You have higher chances to get a job if you already have skills and experience, than if you don’t.

If you have spotted some changes in the selection process of the EU Commission, kindly let me know here so I can keep this article updated.

PS: if you have read to the end, I thank you for reading my work. I’m always up to meet some readers, so shoot me a message when you come to Brussels! Maybe I will be around 🙂

Addendum: Scientific Traineeship at the Joint Research Center

The JRC offers traineeships outside of the context of the Blue Book traineeship.

This is because their work is important and they often need skills and know-how from the outside because they lack it internally.

You can find opportunities for a scientific internship here .

The application process is different than that of the Blue Book, but I don’t know exactly how it works.

So, I’ll tell you what I know: every DG has a fixed budget to hire trainees. This budget is set by the EU Commission. The more money they have, the more trainees they can hire. Sometimes they don’t know in advance whether they’ll be able to hire or not.

The JRC is the only (?) DG to hire trainees outside of the Blue Book traineeship.

Because their HR needs depend on their projects, deadlines, and budget, they can’t plan much in advance who and how many trainees they will need. As a result, everything is done last minute. 

When I was at the JRC, I was working with a software engineer on a scientific traineeship that got his place two weeks or so before starting. But it was virus time too, so I suppose it didn’t make things any easier. 

My advice: get a plan B in case the traineeship doesn’t work. And definitely expect a last-minute call. 

Photo by Guillaume Périgois on Unsplash

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This Post Has 4 Comments

love your article and thank you for your article and advices !!

I’m preselected for the march 2023 but I was not selected during the first step (where I chose 3 DGs). Now I’m waiting for the second selection of January. I was actually thinking about lobbying, but I don’t understand why you say it’s forbidden ? I haven’t read that anywhere, plz let tell me more about this before I make a regrettable mistake. (you can email me : [redacted])

Hello, Thank you for your comment. I have dozens of people emailing me with the same question. In the past, candidates spammed managers and employees within DG to get a spot. So the Commission asked DG to create an email address where candidates could send their CVs right away. I assumed these mailboxes were flooded and this is why they changed the system, asking candidates to choose three DGs and wait to be selected. This is also why I strongly advise against trying “to hack your way” into the Commission by contacting people individually. After, everyone is free to do what they want, and if you think it is best to do it this way, by all means, do it this way. Best, Aure

Hi, I have doubts as to what the ATS could reject from the application platform. I just applied for the European Commission bluebook. I think I meet all the criteria you have mentioned here and I have filled out the form and documents well. However I have not noticed that in the document with the supporting documents of what we have declared, it said that we had to place on page “0” a table of contents (I have omitted it) I don’t know if this could be crucial. And another detail that I have omitted is the name of the document, I have not named it as you have indicated. Do you think that I am automatically discarded as a matter of system filters?

I have no idea. I think it helps people that are in charge of sorting out the applications but I doubt it’s such an important factor. The question you should ask yourself is: would you like to work for an institution that would cancel your candidacy because you forgot a table of content? I do hope you get in and wouldn’t worry too much about that. If you are a competent person with high-value skills, I don’t think they will miss out on your candidacy. And if they do…you can always reapply in a few months 🙂 Good luck!

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4 Cover Letter Examples (Plus Tips on How to Write Yours)

We love having examples. It’s so much easier to decorate a cake, build a model, or yes, even write a cover letter when you know what the end product could look like. So that’s what we’re going to give you—all the cover letter examples and tips you need to make yours shine (unfortunately we’re not experts in cake decorating or model building). 

You'll see that writing a cover letter is all about highlighting your relevant skills, professional experience, and accomplishments, while emphasizing your interest for the role in an engaging manner.

Want to get right down to business? Skip ahead to:

1. The traditional cover letter example

2. the impact cover letter example, 3. the writing sample cover letter example, 4. the career change cover letter example, bonus cover letter examples, a few more cover letter tips, why bother with a cover letter at all.

We bet when you see a job listing that says “ cover letter optional ,” you breathe a sigh of relief, gleefully submit your resume, and move on. But you’re truly doing yourself a disservice by not including a cover letter (or by writing one that’s super generic or formulaic).

“When you’re writing a resume you’re oftentimes confined by space, by resume speak, by keywords—you’re up against a lot of technical requirements,” says Melody Godfred, a career coach and the founder of Write in Color who’s read thousands of cover letters over the course of her career. “In a cover letter you have an opportunity to craft a narrative that aligns you not only with the position you’re applying to but also the company you’re applying to.”

Whether you’re writing a cover letter for a data scientist or marketing manager position, an internship or a senior-level role, a startup or a Fortune 500 company, you’re going to want to tailor it to the role, company, and culture. A strong, customized cover letter will help you explain your value proposition and stand out from the stack of applicants. 

If there’s a gap in your resume , you have the opportunity to explain why it’s there. If you’re changing careers, you have the chance to describe why you’re making the switch. If your resume is pretty dull, a cover letter helps you show some personality . And yes, cover letters still get read.

Deep in the job search, or just browsing? These open jobs on The Muse could be your ideal next step »

What do I write in a cover letter? The 3 basic elements

You'll notice from our cover letter examples that the body of your text can vary a lot depending on factors like the position you're applying for, your career stage, and the type of cover letter requested by the hiring manager. For instance, a writing sample cover letter is different from a traditional professional cover letter (we'll get there soon.)

However, there is some information that you can't leave out. It's important to highlight your most relevant experience, skills, and qualifications for the role in any type of cover letter. Plus, make sure to write an engaging first paragraph to grab the reader's attention, and an effective final paragraph, ideally followed by a call to action, in order to leave a lasting positive impression.

You could say that cover letters are a little like puzzles. When you put each component in its proper place (and remove any parts that don’t fit), you create a complete picture. Even though that picture is always different, the types of pieces are basically the same. We've broken down these three key elements for you:

1. An engaging opener

How you start a cover letter is everything. Your opening lines influence whether someone keeps reading—and you want them to, right? “Starting with something that immediately connects you to the company is essential—something that tells the company that this is not a generic cover letter,” Godfred says. “You have to say something that tells the employer, ‘I wrote this just for you.’”

It can be a childhood memory tying you back to the company’s mission. It can be a story about the time you fell in love with the company’s product. It can be an anecdote from another job or experience showing how hard of a worker you are. Whatever you decide to open with, make it memorable.

2. A clear pitch

Use the next few paragraphs of your cover letter to “hit them with the strongest results you have that are aligned with the opportunity,” Godfred says. Ryan Kahn , Muse career coach and founder of The Hired Group , calls this your pitch. In other words, the part where you’re “selling yourself for the position and why you’re qualified for it.”

Additionally, Godfred says, “If you’re someone who’s transitioning careers, and you need to explain that transition, you do it there.”

This section should have a balance of soft and hard skills . Talk about your experience using Salesforce or doing SEO work, but also highlight your ability to lead teams and communicate effectively.

“Companies are embracing authenticity, they’re embracing humanity, they’re looking for people who are going to fit their culture,” says Godfred. “So what are your values? What do you stand for? These values should be as much a part of your cover letter as the super specialized hard skills.

3. A great closing line

Your closing line could include your next steps or a call to action, Kahn says, such as “ I welcome the opportunity to speak with you more about how I can contribute to the team ,” or, “ I would love to schedule a time for us to discuss this role and my experience. ” But more importantly, “You want to make sure that you’re gracious and thanking them,” he says. While seemingly cliché , it never hurts to end on a simple, “ Thank you for your consideration. ”

Does that sound a bit overwhelming? Don’t panic! We’ve got examples of four types of cover letters below: a traditional cover letter , an impact cover letter , a writing sample cover letter , and a career change cover letter . So let’s take a look at these examples, why they work, and how you can use them to craft your own.

A traditional cover letter is similar to what you’d come up with using position-based cover letter templates . It moves in reverse chronological order through your career history, highlighting parts of your past jobs that make you well suited for this position.

You might want to use this type of cover letter if:

• You’re applying to a more formal company (like a law firm or major healthcare company ) or a more conventional role (like a lawyer or accountant).
• You want to play it safe and conservative with your application materials.

What does the job description say?

Imagine you’re applying to a paralegal job opening at a law firm. The job description might include:

Responsibilities

• Draft routine legal documents for review and use by attorneys
• Coordinate and organize materials and presentations for legal proceedings
• Research legal and related issues and report findings and conclusions to team
• Provide overall legal administrative support to the legal team
• Maintain calendars and ensure timely filings

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent of relevant education and work experience
• Strong communication skills (oral and written)
• Strong organizational , multitasking, and prioritization skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and LexisNexis
• Trustworthy, positive, energetic, and optimistic attitude with a willingness to roll up your sleeves

The cover letter example

Here’s an example of a traditional cover letter you could write for this role—keeping things strictly professional but without sounding too boring or jargon-y:

Dear Ms. Jessica Sanchez,

In my five-year career as a paralegal, I have honed my legal research and writing skills, and the attorneys I’ve worked with have complimented me on my command of case law and litigation support. Spiegel Law Firm’s 20 years in practice proves that the firm has strong values and excellent attorneys, and I’d be eager to join such a talented team.

I currently serve as a paralegal for Chandler, Chandler, and Greene, where I work closely with the partners on a number of high-priority cases. During my time here, I implemented a new calendar system that ensures timely filing of court papers. This system has prevented missed deadlines and allowed for better organization of internal and client meetings.

Previously, as a paralegal for the Neuerburg Law Firm, I received praise for my overall support of the legal team and my positive attitude. While working there, I came up with and implemented a plan for digitizing their old files while still ensuring security and privacy. This led to more efficiency when preparing for client meetings and legal proceedings.

My further qualifications include a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University, a paralegal certificate, and training in LexisNexis, Westlaw, and Microsoft Office Suite.

I would love the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to your legal team. Thank you in advance for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Chase Broadstein [email protected] (222) 222-2222

Download this example

Why this works

This cover letter example is short, sweet, and to the point. It shows the candidate has a knack for getting things done in a thorough and timely manner and a track record for helping out wherever needed. The opening lines also express a genuine interest in this specific firm. Plus, there are some important keywords in there like “calendar system,” “bachelor’s degree,” “paralegal certificate,” and “LexisNexis.”

The impact cover letter puts your accomplishments front and center rather than organizing your paragraphs by past roles. You might use a cover letter like this if:

• You’re applying for roles where you’re expected to deliver on certain goals or results (for example, if the jobs involve sales quotas or marketing metrics).
• You haven’t followed a straightforward career path and your past job titles don’t show the extent of your qualifications.
• You want your personality to stand out a bit more than it might in a traditional cover letter.

What does the job description say

Imagine you’ve come across an opening for an email marketing manager . Part of the job description states:

• Manage email marketing strategy and calendar, including copywriting, optimization, monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on campaigns
• Improve campaign success through conversion optimization, A/B testing, and other experiments
• Collaborate with the design team to ensure brand guidelines are followed in emails
• Partner and collaborate cross-functionally with sales, product, product marketing, and data teams
• 3+ years in email marketing
• Experience with Constant Contact, Google Analytics, HTML, CSS, Photoshop, and Microsoft Excel, a plus
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) and an eye for copyediting
• Strong interpersonal , relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent project management, problem-solving , and time management skills, with the ability to multitask effectively

Here’s an example of an impact cover letter where the writer’s hard skills and successes stand out:

Dear Russ Roman,

I have a problem. See, my inbox currently (and embarrassingly) hosts 1,500 unread emails—including newsletters from at least 50 different brands.

But this problem only fuels my passion for creating emails that are worth opening. Because from my perspective, as someone who can barely get through their own stack of mail, that’s a true win.

I’ve been following Vitabe for years, and can proudly say that I open every single email you send to me. I’m a sucker for a good subject line—“Take a Vitamin-ute—We’ll A-B-C You Soon” being my favorite—and the way your email content feels both fun and expert-backed really speaks to me. This is why I’m thrilled to submit my application for a role as email marketing manager at your company.

I have over four years of experience working in the email marketing space. In my current role at Westside Bank, I was able to implement new email campaigns centered around reengaging churned clients. By analyzing data around the types of clients who churn and the engagement of our current email subscribers, as well as A/B testing headlines and newsletter layouts, we were able to increase email subscribers by 15% and convert 30% of those subscribers to purchase our product, a significant increase from the previous year. 

I also launched a “Your Credit Matters” newsletter focused on educating our clients on how they spend and manage their credit—which became our highest performing campaign in terms of open-rates and click-through to date.

Previously, as a member of the marketing team at Dream Diary Mattresses, I collaborated with the sales and product team to understand how I could best support them in hitting their quarterly goals. One specific project involving creating personalized emails for customers drew more people to come back to our site after 30 days than direct paid ad campaigns, leading to a 112% increase in revenue from the last quarter.

I take the content I write and the calendars I manage seriously, editing and refining beyond detail-oriented and into meticulous territory, and I feel my experience and drive would greatly help Vitabe further develop their email program for success.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Lad Miller [email protected] (987) 654-3210

This sample cover letter concisely highlights the applicant’s most significant, relevant achievements. By adding context to how their projects were created, monitored, and completed, they’re able to show just how results-driven they are and how they’ve successfully leveraged some of the skills the company is looking for.

One thing worth noting: This person didn’t include keywords such as Constant Contact, Google Analytics, HTML, CSS, Photoshop, or Microsoft Excel—all of which are listed in the job description. But those skills are most likely in their resume already, and leaving them out gives them the space to discuss specific projects and tell a story not visible on other parts of their job application.

For roles where written communication is key, such as PR, copywriting , or journalism jobs, your cover letter will likely be the first writing sample your future employer sees. So it’s just as important to show your skill set in action through eloquent writing.

• Writing or editing is a key component of the role you’re applying to.
• You want to show off your creativity.

Here’s part of a job description for a staff writer position:

• Pitch and write articles, reporting on timely issues and trends
• Collaborate with editorial and other teams to launch each digital issue and other special projects on schedule
• Evaluate content performance and digital trends on a daily basis to constantly adjust pitches and packaging
• Utilize CMS tools, strategically select photos and videos, and request original graphics to optimize all written content for maximum engagement
• At least 2-3 years of experience creating content at a digital-first outlet
• Strong writing and reporting skills, and the ability to write clearly and quickly
• Familiarity working in a CMS and with analytics tools such as Google Analytics
• Deadline-driven, strategic thinker with a knack for crafting click-y headlines
• Strong collaborator who thrives in fast-paced environments

Have fun with this one, but triple-check for spelling and grammar mistakes, and make sure you’re showing off your best writing. Here's the cover letter sample:

Dear Tai Chen,

Since I could walk, I’ve been dancing. And since I could read, I’ve been glued to Arabesque Weekly. At one point, you featured one of my local heroes—a ballerina who struggled with an injury early in her career and went on to become a principal dancer at Pacific Northwest Ballet—and I plastered the article above my childhood bed. It’s still there today.

That article—and so many others you’ve published—taught me that dancing was about more than just pirouettes and arabesques and that the right kind of writer can shed light on aspects of the art that make it surprising, impactful, and universal. I can be that writer.

As an editorial assistant at TheImprovGroup.com for the past two and a half years, my main responsibility was to get all of our content ready to go live on the site. This included fact-checking, proofreading, adding in HTML where necessary, and finding photos, videos, and GIFs that would complement the content and optimize audience engagement. 

As I tinkered with each post, I became intimately familiar with our internal CMS. Reviewing every single article we published and following reactions and engagement helped me gain a deep understanding of what makes a piece really land with our audience.

But by far my favorite aspect of this role has been writing. Each week, I pitch and write at least one article, from 250-word news items to 900-word advice pieces to even longer profiles, features, and personal essays. I love the challenge of developing pitches that align with the trends we see in the data, reflect with the company’s brand and mission, and allow me to flex my creative muscles.

Collaborating with my team to form the best content library we can has been a dream come true. I would be so excited to use my experience to help Arabesque Weekly achieve its goals. And I hope to one day write a story that another little dance lover tapes to their wall forever.

It would be an honor to be a part of your editorial team, and I look forward to the possibility of discussing the opportunity with you.

Hoping to be your next staff writer,

Marlee Wood [email protected] (555) 666-4433

This candidate is clearly passionate about this specific publication and leads with a unique personal anecdote tied to the company’s mission that demonstrates their ability to tell stories in a compelling way. There are relevant keywords and phrases, sure, but they’re not just thrown in there. Their voice comes through in every sentence, proving this person knows how to communicate effectively and creatively.

Cover letters can play a big part in helping career changers prove their qualifications—especially when it’s unclear how their skills transfer over to this new field.

You might write a career change cover letter if:

• You want to highlight the transferable skills you have that relate to the job description.
• You want to explain why you’re making the switch and what’s driving you toward this specific industry, company, or position.

Imagine you’re someone who has experience supporting a sales team as an administrative assistant , and you’re now looking to become a sales representative. You come across a job posting that includes:

• Develop new sales techniques and strategies to build pipeline and hit team goals
• Coordinate with other teams to increase lead-generation efforts
• Assist in the processing of new business, including contacting customers to finalize sales and service transactions
• 1-3 years of successful sales experience
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
• Ability to work independently to plan, set priorities, and effectively organize work
• Proven ability to be persuasive, persistent, and confident in closing a sale

Typically, this type of cover letter should include a compelling narrative about your career change and how you can transfer your past experiences to this new role. Here’s how you might translate your past experience over to this new (and exciting) prospect:

Dear Maria Russo,

The head of sales at Sunshine Inc. was in a bind. She needed six client meetings scheduled, 18 service transactions processed, and a summary of the team’s new lead generation campaign drafted before getting on a flight to Austin—in three hours. So she turned to her cool-headed, sales-savvy administrative assistant for help. That assistant was me. Not only did I execute everything on her to-do list, I did it all before her plane left the ground.

For three years, I worked in lockstep with a busy, growth-oriented sales leader to support the business development team. As the sole administrative assistant in the department, I balanced a swath of competing priorities, ranging from coordinating meetings and inputting data to contacting customers, finalizing transactions, and creating promotional materials. This role helped me develop a comprehensive understanding of the sales cycle, sales strategy, and pipeline growth.

Like many others, my career path hasn’t been entirely straightforward. After leaving Crabapple Media, I enrolled in a local coding bootcamp. Six months later, I emerged with a certificate in computer programming and a certainty that I did not want to be a coder. But education is never wasted. I’m now an aspiring sales representative with experience supporting a thriving sales team and extensive knowledge of the tech space.

Here’s a little bit more about how my experience would translate into this role:

• At Crabapple Media, I assisted in coordinating three annual sales strategy rollouts, yielding an average increase in pipeline of 26% YoY.
• At Sunshine Inc., I supported 12 independent team members in their lead-generation efforts. I also assisted in processing an average of 300 sales transactions every quarter.
• I thrive in busy, ever-changing environments that require me to communicate clearly and concisely. Supporting a high-volume team and a busy executive helped me to hone these skills—I typically sent more than 200 emails a day!

I would, of course, love to schedule a time for us to discuss this role and my experience, and I truly want to thank you for considering me.

All the best,

Olu Abiola [email protected] (123) 456-789

The opener draws you in and makes you want to learn more. It toots the person’s horn, but in a way that’s substantiated. Then, the next couple sections explain their experience in the sales space and other relevant qualifications, before eventually tying that back to why they’re applying to this specific job. 

Similar to the impact cover letter, the author lists some of the more important qualities they bring to the table, doing a bit of keyword inclusion and resume gap explaining along the way.

To further guide you, check out some more cover letter examples:

• Pain point cover letter example
• Internship cover letter example
• Recent graduate cover letter example
• (Another) career changer cover letter example
• Stay-at-home parent returning to work cover letter example
• Sales cover letter example
• Email marketing manager cover letter example
• No job description or position cover letter example (a.k.a., a letter of intent or interest)
• Example cover letter with no experience

Let’s break down one of our example cover letters real quick

All three professional cover letter examples have some key elements that make them great and able to grab the hiring manager's attention. Check out this handy infographic that breaks down our impact cover letter:

Here are a few more tips to help the cover letter process:

Start with a “brain dump” 

If you’re staring at a blank page, Godfred always recommends that her clients start by getting all their ideas on the page without paying attention to length. Then “ask yourself how you can cut half of it,” she says. You’ll likely find that repeated information and very generic phrases are the first to go. (If it’s still too long, here are some tips for getting your cover letter down to one page .)

Don’t just repeat your resume

You only have so much space to get your point across, so focus on the information that isn’t stated elsewhere rather than simply regurgitating your resume. A good cover letter should complement your resume, so use the opportunity to elaborate your skills and qualifications further, as well as your accomplishments and why you're a good fit for that position.

Focus on quality over quantity 

Target the jobs you’re most closely drawn to and qualified for and give them all your energy, rather than trying to churn out hundreds of cover letters, Kahn says. You may not be able to apply to as many jobs, but you’ll have a better response rate.

Remember the ATS 

Much like your resume, an applicant tracking systems, or ATS , will be sifting through your cover letter. So you’ll want to scatter relevant keywords from the job description throughout your pitch where it makes sense.

Don’t stress over formatting 

You may see flashy cover letter examples across the internet, but for the most part, it just isn’t necessary. An ATS can’t read text that has been formatted beyond using bold, italics, underline, and color, so keep your font and layout simple—especially if you’re submitting your cover letter through an online portal.

Don't forget your contact information

Include your contact information on every page, including your name, phone number, and email. “Imagine you come across a cover letter and you print it out with a bunch of applications to review and it doesn’t have the person’s contact information on it,” Godfred says. “You never want to put yourself in a situation where you’re the right person and they can’t find you.”

Edit your cover letter before submitting

Never submit a cover letter right after you finish writing it—there could be critical errors that you didn't notice while typing. Take some time away from your text, then revisit it like you're reading someone else's letter. Be sure to double-check all the information you've included, paying special attention to:

• The company's name
• The hiring manager's name
• The job title
• Your contact information
• Basic grammar and spelling

You're ready to go

If you've come this far, you're equipped with all the information you need to craft a great cover letter. Hopefully these cover letter examples help as you go to tackle your own. Remember: This is just one small step in the process! Take your time, but learn to move on when you’ve given it your all.

Amanda Cardoso contributed to the latest version of this article.

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• check your email account (including your spam folder) for confirmation
• in the email, follow the link to ' create your password '
• choose your password and submit it
• click ' proceed ' to the application form
• use either the email or your EU Login username to login afterwards. Candidates for EC traineeships cannot login using electronic IDs.

Issues? Check ' Help for external users '.

Complete and submit the application form together with supporting documents

a)  Go to your candidate account , click on Send an application and choose the traineeship type to access the application form.

Video transcript (English)

• Sign in and carefully follow the instructions to complete each section of the application form.
• You can navigate between sections using the left-hand menu and save your progress to return later.
• Feel free to preview your application before submission.
• Once submitted, changes cannot be made.

b)  Upload your supporting documents . 

Please ensure that you upload all the justification documents to support every item declared on your application form, before submitting it. The pre-selection committee will reject your application if you do not provide adequate evidence of your declared studies, language knowledge, experience and other information stated on the form. Document only the items you have declared. 

It is highly recommended to prepare your supporting documents well in advance to avoid missing the deadline. No additional documents or justifications will be admitted after the reception of the application. 

Allow up to  3 working days  for a response if you require (technical) assistance. 

c) Once your application is submitted, you will need to wait for the results of its evaluation.

You will be informed about the results via e-mail. In case of acceptance, you will be invited to apply to available traineeship positions.  

Have you already submitted your application? Wait for the result of the evaluation phase! We will publish them in your account; make sure you check it regularly.  

If successful, we will invite you to apply to available traineeship positions. 

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The steps from registering for a traineeship to hopefully being able to accept your placement offer.

How does the selection process work?

Let's take a look at some practical elements of being a Blue Book trainee

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How To Write a Covering Letter

Literary agents will read the manuscript you send, and some the synopsis, but all will read the covering letter. Writing an effective one may take you a long time, but it is well worth the trouble. 

The whole thing should:

• Be well written – you are writing to people who care about words
• Be concise (don’t waste their time; you want to direct them to the manuscript rather than tell them everything about you). One side of the page is plenty
• Look attractive (it is the spaces on a page that draw the eye in, not the text, so paragraphs of different lengths and a ragged right-hand margin really help to attract the reader and keep them going)
• Be knowledgeable about the agency 
• Begin well (according to David Ogilvy, the copywriting guru, the first 11 words are crucial)
• Describe the project briefly (in no more than two or three sentences) so that the reader is clear about what kind of book is on offer, and wants to know more
• Never say at the end of the letter that you’ll telephone in a few days to follow up your submission – it sounds rather menacing (but do email to check on progress if you haven’t heard anything in a month or so).

Some agents and publishers acknowledge what they receive; others do not. Do bear in mind that some small agencies or publishers only deal with the unsolicited submission pile every few weeks, and so the waiting time may be slightly longer.

An agent’s advice

Here is the advice of  literary agent Simon Trewin on writing an introductory letter:

" Life is short and less is more. No letter should be more than one side of A4 and in a good-sized (12pt) clear typeface.

Sell yourself. The covering letter is one of the most important pages you will ever write. I will be honest here and say I find selling myself very difficult, so I can see how tricky this is – there is a thin line between appearing interesting/switched-on/professional and arrogant/unreasonable.

The letters that include phrases like “I am a genius and the world doesn't understand me” or “My Mum thinks this book is the best thing she has ever read” (of course she does – that is her job!) don’t exactly fill my heart with longing! In your pitch letter you are trying to achieve some simple things: you want me to feel that you take your work seriously. Wear your writing history with pride. Tell me about that short story you had published or that writing course you attended and the fact that you are writing alongside a demanding job or in the evenings and weekends when the kids are asleep. Tell me why you write – I love hearing about the different paths that have led people to the moment when they think “I want to write”.

Tell me who your influences are and tell me about the book you are sending me. A few lines will do the job here; I just want to get a sense of the territory I am going to enter. Tell me what you want to write next. Hopefully you won’t be following your commercial romantic comedy with a three-volume science fantasy epic or vice-versa!

At the end of your letter I want to feel in good company and ready to turn the page. I am not interested in seeing what you look like or how old you are – we are not running a model agency here! Publishing isn’t as obsessed with age and beauty as you might think, but it is obsessed with finding distinctive new voices. And a final point: get a friend to read the letter and give you some honest feedback. Put it to one side for a day or two and come back to it – distance is a great editor. "

Simon Trewin

Case Study. The Night Attila Died: Solving the Murder of Attila the Hun by Dr Michael Babcock  

Dear [Literary Agent]:

I am seeking representation for a non-fiction book entitled The Night Attila Died: Solving an Ancient Murder Mystery. I am a college professor with a PhD in medieval languages and literature from the University of Minnesota and a MFA in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina. [1]

Historians tell us that Attila the Hun died on his wedding night in 453 AD. Drunk and flat on his back, he died of natural causes – an internal haemorrhage. The only problem with this account (and it’s a big one) is that it’s a complete fabrication. The Night Attila Died challenges 1,500 years of history by presenting evidence that Attila was murdered and that the truth was covered up in the official imperial records. [2]

The events and characters are among the most interesting that history has ever assembled on one stage. There’s Aetius, the ruthless Roman general and boyhood friend of Attila who defeated the Hun in a decisive battle in Gaul. There’s the weak and stupid emperor, Valentinian III, who pulled a dagger from his robe and assassinated Aetius in a jealous rage. There’s the emperor’s older sister, Honoria, who secretly plotted to wrest power from her brother and managed to start a world war in the process. [3]

In the eastern Empire, the characters are just as colourful: Emperor Theodosius II, a weak ruler who bungled the first assassination plot against Attila, and Emperor Marcian, whom I accuse of masterminding the plot that finally destroyed the Empire’s greatest enemy. Throw in, for good measure, a scheming eunuch and a pathetic little dwarf named Zerko. It’s a great set of characters. [4]

But what the book is really about is philology. The textual science pioneered two centuries ago by the Brothers Grimm is the tool that lets us peel away layers of conspiracy and propaganda. Through the philological method we can reconstruct what really happened and how the conspiracy to kill Attila was covered up as official history. Chapter by chapter the reader participates in the detective work. In the end the threads of an ancient conspiracy are revealed and the verdict of history is overturned. [5]

There’s more at stake than just a good detective story. This is ultimately about what happens when two cultures with irreconcilable worldviews collide. It’s how we confront the Other with all the power of the sword and pen. What emerges from these violent confrontations is a skewed understanding of the past. We may call it history, but it’s often just propaganda. The Night Attila Died is rooted in the historical moment of the late Roman Empire, but the conclusions I draw are deeply connected to our own time. [6]

My publications to date are academic, in particular a book on the literary representations of Attila. I am uniquely qualified to write The Night Attila Died, having spent 15 years studying the historical and literary records as preserved in Latin, Greek, Old Church Slavonic, Old Icelandic, Old French, and Middle High German. (But that isn’t keeping me from writing a lively narrative!) I am recognised as an expert in this field and have consulted for a History Channel documentary on “famous deaths”. As an enthusiastic and dynamic speaker who speaks widely at conferences, I intend to promote the book aggressively. [7]

May I send you a full proposal with a sample chapter? [8]

Michael A Babcock, PhD

Commentary (keyed to the paragraph numbers)

[1] Direct introduction. No beating around the bush. No ‘clever’ attempt to hook the agent. Identify the type of book it is. Briefly identify yourself and your credentials.

[2] The hook. What’s unique about this book? Why should the agent keep reading the query letter?

[3] What you’re trying to demonstrate in the body of the letter is your style, your personality, and the ‘interest factor’ of the subject itself.

[4] With carefully selected details, you can pique the interest of the agent. Agents and editors love books – that’s why they do what they do. So show them what the pay-off will be for reading this book. You are also conveying the depth of the subject and your expert handle on the material.

[5] Establish the significance of the topic and its relevance. Establish points of contact with general knowledge (the Brothers Grimm).

[6] Again, this draws out the significance and timeliness of the subject – that is, you’re trying to answer the ‘So what?’ question.

[7] Return to your credentials and qualifications as to why you're the best person to be writing this book. 

[8] End with a direct, unambiguous appeal that requests a specific follow-up action.  

How it worked

‘This letter was sent out by e-mail to agents and out of the ten I submitted to, I heard back from nine and all nine wanted to see the full proposal. Of these nine I had three agents who were interested in representing the project and one, in particular, who pursued it aggressively. This agent called me up and expressed such enthusiasm for the concept and my writing style, that I felt he was the natural choice. Even though there were better known agents who were interested in the project, I opted for the lesser known agent on the theory that he was highly motivated to sell my book. The book sold in less than a month. There were three editors who were interested in making an offer on the book; in the end it came down to two and the higher bid won out. As a side note, the book sold on the strength of the formal proposal and a single sample chapter. The book was sold in December 2003 and submitted in final form to my editor in July 2004. It was published in July 2005 by Berkley Books.’

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