investment manager cover letter

Investment Manager cover letter examples

Are you looking for your next role as an investment manager?

Then you need to show the recruiter why they should invest in you with an engaging cover letter that highlights your most impressive experience in the field.

In this detailed guide, we’ll share our expert advice on how to write an impressive application, along with some investment manager cover letter examples.

CV templates 

Investment Manager cover letter example 1

Investment Manager cover letter example 2

Investment Manager cover letter example 3

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

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

How to write an Investment Manager cover letter

Here’s a simple process to write your own interview-winning cover letter.

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

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

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

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

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

Start with a friendly greeting

Start you cover letter with a greeting that is professional but friendly.

This will build rapport with the recruiter whilst showing your professionalism.

• Hi, hope you’re well
• Hi [insert recruiter name]
• Hi [insert department/team name]

Avoid overly formal greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very traditional companies.

How to find the contact’s name?

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

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

Identify the role you are applying for

Once you have opened the cover letter with a warm greeting, you need to explain which role you are interested in.

Sometimes a recruitment consultant could be managing over 10 vacancies, so it’s crucial to pinpoint exactly which one you are interested in.

Highlight the department/area if possible and look for any reference numbers you can quote.

These are some examples you can add..

• I am interested in applying for the role of Investment Manager with your company.
• I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 40f57393)
• I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
• I saw your advert for an IT project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

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

Highlight your suitability

The bulk of your cover letter should be focused around highlighting your suitability for the job you are applying to.

Doing this will show the recruiter that you are suitable candidate and encourage them to open your CV.

The best way to do this, is by studying the job advert you are applying to, and find out what the most important skills and knowledge are.

Once you know the most important requirements, you then need to highlight your matching skills to the recruiter. In a few sentences, tell them exactly why you are a good fit for the job and what you can offer the company.

Keep it short and sharp

When sending a job application to a recruiter or hiring manager, it is important to remember that they will normally be very busy and pushed for time.

Therefore, you need to get you message across to them quickly (in a matter of seconds ideally). So, keep your cover letter short and to-the-point. A long waffling cover letter will overwhelm recruiters when they are running through hundreds of emails in there inbox, but a concise one will get their attention.

So, keep your cover letter to just a few sentences long, and save the extensive detail for your CV.

Sign off professionally

To round of your cover letter, add a professional signature to the bottom, giving recruiters your vital contact information.

This not only gives various means of contacting you, it also looks really professional and shows that you know how to communicate in the workplace.

Include the following points;

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

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Gerald Baker Senior Accountant 07887500404 [email protected] LinkedIn

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

What to include in your Investment Manager cover letter

Your Investment Manager cover letter will be unique to your situation, but there are certain content guidelines you should stick to for best results.

To attract and entice recruiters, stick with the following key subjects in your cover letter – adapting them to fit your profession and target jobs.

• Your professional experience – Employers will be keen to know if your experience is suitable for the job you are applying to, so provide a good summary of it in your cover letter.
• Your qualifications and education – Highlight your most relevant and high-level of qualification, especially if they are essential to the job.
• The positive impact you have made – Employers love to hear about the benefits you can bring to them, so shout about anything impressive you have done, such as saving money or improving processes.
• Your reasons for leaving – Use a few words of your cover letter to explain why you are leaving your current job and ensure you avoid any negative reasons.
• Your availability – Let recruiters know when you can start a new job . Are you immediately available, or do you have a month notice period?

Investment Manager cover letter templates

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

Good morning, Blair

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Junior Investment Manager position at Santander UK, as advertised on SimplyHired. With a recently obtained BSc in Finance from the University of London, coupled with a drive for delivering exceptional results, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my skills and enthusiasm to your esteemed firm.

Having completed a one-year internship at HSBC Bank in financial analysis, risk management, and portfolio optimisation, my skill set ensures that I can carry out investment research and asset allocation. I also played a role in managing of a £5M balanced portfolio and achieving an annualised return of 12% through outperforming the benchmark index by 3%. Additionally, I helped attain a 95% client retention rate and increase CSAT scores by 25% due to presenting insightful reports to business owners.

I am drawn to your company’s stellar reputation for delivering top-tier investment solutions and its commitment to nurturing young talent. I am excited about learning under experienced professionals.

I am available for an interview anytime next week and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss my competencies.

Kind regards

Darren Rooney

Hello Samuel

I am reaching out to you in connection to the advertised Investment Manager vacancy at Mondrian Alpha. With a strong ability to drive investment success, an understanding of financial markets, and a commitment to delivering superior results, I am excited about the opportunity to improve your team.

Throughout my 11 years working as an Associate Investment Manager for Logan Sinclair, I have consistently strategized, executed, and optimised portfolios, as well as delivered robust returns for clients, which is demonstrated by a track record of successfully diversifying holdings across various asset classes, achieving a 30% reduction in portfolio volatility, and recognising two undervalued equities that yielded a combined amount of £253M over three months. Moreover, I implemented enhanced assessment models that lowered portfolio downside risk by 26%.

As an effective leader, I can guide and collaborate with cross-functional departments by communicating complex information to colleagues and clients foster a cohesive and progressive environment.

I am happy to attend an interview at your convenience to further discuss how my skills and qualifications make me a perfect fit for the role.

Martin Underwood

I am thrilled to apply for the Senior Investment Manager position at Goodman Masson, as advertised on LinkedIn. With 20+ years of progressive experience, a distinguished ability to lead high-performing teams, and a strategic vision for optimising portfolios, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my expertise to your esteemed organisation.

I have consistently driven investment agendas that deliver exceptional returns and outperform market benchmarks, with a proven track record of overseeing portfolios valued at over £3B, as well as empowering team members, mentoring analysts, and implementing efficient processes that boosted staff productivity by 27%. Furthermore, I created custom solutions which resulted into a 60%+ increase in client assets under management with five months.

I look forward to discussing how my global investment expertise, innovative mind-set, and commitment to achieving superior outcomes that align with your vision. Thank you for taking the time to consider my application, and please do to reach out to me to schedule an interview ASAP.

Taylor Styles

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

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

Good luck with your job search!

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Investment Manager Cover Letter Example

Writing a cover letter is an important step in the job application process. It allows you to show your personality, highlight your qualifications and demonstrate why you are the ideal candidate for the role. A well-crafted cover letter can make all the difference in securing an interview and ultimately, a job as an Investment Manager. To help you create a strong and effective cover letter, this guide provides you with essential tips and an example cover letter. With this information, you can create a persuasive cover letter that will help you stand out from the competition.

If you didn’t find what you were looking for, be sure to check out our complete library of cover letter examples .

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Investment Manager Cover Letter Sample

Dear [Hiring Manager Name],

I am writing to apply for the Investment Manager position at [Company Name]. With my extensive experience in the financial services industry, I am confident that I am the ideal candidate for this role.

Having worked as an Investment Manager for the past decade, I have a proven track record of successfully managing and developing portfolios. My experience has allowed me to gain a full understanding of the process of researching, analyzing, and investing in various financial instruments. I am also highly experienced in understanding the dynamics of global markets, as well as developing and executing trading strategies for clients.

Furthermore, I have a strong understanding of financial regulations and the importance of compliance. I have a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in financial engineering. I have also obtained my Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and am currently studying for the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation.

I am an extremely organized, methods- driven individual who is able to plan, organize, and manage multiple tasks and priorities. I am also a strong communicator and have experience in building contacts with clients and other professional organizations.

I am confident that I have the right combination of skills and experience to make a success of this role. I am excited about the opportunity to join your team and help your business reach new heights.

I have attached my resume and I look forward to discussing the position in more detail. Thank you for your time and consideration.

[Your Name]

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What should a Investment Manager cover letter include?

A strong Investment Manager cover letter should emphasize the candidate’s knowledge of financial instruments, their ability to manage assets, their experience in the field, and their professional demeanor.

In addition to providing a brief overview of their qualifications, the cover letter should include specific details about the candidate’s professional experience and accomplishments. Examples could include past investments that were successful, new strategies that were implemented, or specific techniques that were used to maximize returns.

The cover letter should also demonstrate the candidate’s understanding of the Investment Manager role and why they are a good fit for the company. They can mention their understanding of the company’s strategies and goals, as well as any relevant experience they may have that would be beneficial in meeting them.

Finally, the cover letter should be personalized to the individual company, making sure to highlight any qualifications or accomplishments that relate specifically to their operations. This will demonstrate that the candidate has taken the time to research the company and is genuinely interested in the role.

Investment Manager Cover Letter Writing Tips

Writing a cover letter for an Investment Manager position can be challenging, but there are several tips to make the process easier. Here are some tips to keep in mind when creating your cover letter:

• Make sure to explain why you are a great fit for the position. Describe your strengths, skills, and qualifications that make you the ideal candidate for the job.
• Include examples of successful investments you have made in the past and how they benefited the company.
• Highlight any awards or recognition you have received in the past that demonstrate your expertise and success in the field.
• Demonstrate your knowledge of current trends in the investment world.
• Explain why you are passionate about the field and why you want to be an Investment Manager.
• Tailor your cover letter to the specific company and position you are applying for.
• Include concrete examples and avoid using overly general language.
• Maintain a professional yet friendly tone throughout the letter.
• Always remember to proofread and edit your cover letter before sending it in.

Common mistakes to avoid when writing Investment Manager Cover letter

Writing a cover letter for Investment Manager position is essential in order to make a good impression on potential employers. Unfortunately, many jobseekers make common mistakes that can hurt their chances of getting an interview. Below are some of the most common mistakes to avoid when writing a cover letter for Investment Manager position.

• Not addressing the letter to the hiring manager: When applying for a job, it is important to address the cover letter to the right person. Make sure to research the company and use the hiring manager’s name and title in the salutation.
• Not including your contact information: Make sure to include your contact information in the letter. This should include your name, address, phone number, and e- mail address.
• Not customizing the letter for each job: Sending a generic cover letter to every job you apply for is a mistake. You should always tailor the letter to each specific job you are applying for by highlighting the skills and experience that make you the ideal candidate for the job.
• Not conveying enthusiasm: It is important to show your enthusiasm for the job in your cover letter. Make sure to highlight your passion and dedication to the job and the company you are applying for.
• Not focusing on the company: Your cover letter should focus on the company and how you can be an asset to them. Make sure to research the company and include examples of how you can bring value to the company.
• Not following the instructions: Always follow the instructions provided in the job posting. Be sure to include any requested documents or information that is required in the job posting.
• Not proofreading: It is essential to proofread your cover letter before submitting it. It is important to make sure that there are no errors or typos in the letter.

Key takeaways

Cover letters are an essential part of the job application process for Investment Managers. Crafting a well- written cover letter can help you stand out from the competition and increase your chances of landing the job. Here are some key takeaways for writing an impressive cover letter for an Investment Manager position:

• Highlight your qualifications: Investment Managers need to have a keen eye for the markets and a deep understanding of the financial world. Make sure to emphasize your experience in finance and accounting, as well as any certifications or qualifications you have.
• Showcase your track record: Demonstrate your success in past roles, such as any investments you have made that were successful. Mention any awards or accolades you have received for your work.
• Showcase your research skills: Investment Managers need to have strong research skills to stay up to date on the markets. Showcase your research skills by mentioning any reports or analyses you have written.
• Demonstrate your communication skills: Investment Managers need to be able to communicate effectively with clients, so be sure to showcase your excellent communication skills in your cover letter.
• Explain why you are a good fit: Explain why you are the perfect fit for the role, such as why you are the best candidate for the position or why you would be a great addition to the team.
• End on a strong note: Close your cover letter with a call to action and make sure to thank the reader for their time.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.how do i write a cover letter for an investment manager job with no experience.

Writing a cover letter for an Investment Manager position with no experience can be daunting. However, by following a few basic tips, you can create a professional and effective cover letter that tells potential employers why you are the perfect fit for their team.

When writing your cover letter, start by introducing yourself and briefly explaining why you are interested in the position. Next, emphasize the skills and knowledge you can bring to the role, such as a strong educational background in finance, attention to detail, and excellent communication skills. Finally, emphasize your enthusiasm for the job and how you plan to contribute to the success of the organization.

2.How do I write a cover letter for an Investment Manager job experience?

When writing a cover letter for an Investment Manager position with experience, you should use it as an opportunity to showcase your accomplishments and demonstrate how you can be an asset to the organization. Start by introducing yourself and briefly explaining why you are interested in the position. Then, emphasize your relevant experience, such as prior positions you’ve held in the industry, investments you’ve managed, and projects you’ve completed. Additionally, highlight any special skills and knowledge that you can bring to the role. Finally, end your cover letter by expressing your enthusiasm for the position and how you plan to contribute to the success of the organization.

3.How can I highlight my accomplishments in Investment Manager cover letter?

When writing an Investment Manager cover letter, it’s important to highlight your accomplishments. Start by listing any relevant achievements, such as successful investments you’ve managed, projects you’ve completed, or awards you’ve received. Additionally, emphasize any special skills or knowledge you possess that are applicable to the position. Finally, draw attention to any other accomplishments or successes that have made you stand out amongst your peers.

It’s important to highlight your accomplishments when applying for a job. Start by listing any relevant achievements, such as successful investments you’ve managed, projects you’ve completed, or awards you’ve received. Additionally, emphasize any special skills or knowledge you possess that are applicable to the position. This could include programming languages, design software, foreign languages, or any other areas of expertise. You could also list any certifications or professional development courses you’ ve completed that are related to the job.

Include any relevant experiences in your cover letter for a job or internship that showcase your skills and qualifications for the role. Mention any accomplishments you’ve achieved in previous roles or during your academic career that demonstrate your work ethic and proficiency. Focus on tangible, measurable achievements and results that demonstrate your hard work and the impact it had on the projects or organizations in which you were involved.

In addition to this, be sure to check out our cover letter templates , cover letter formats ,  cover letter examples ,  job description , and  career advice  pages for more helpful tips and advice.

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8 Professional Investment Manager Cover Letter Examples for 2024

Your investment manager cover letter must immediately highlight your strategic aptitude in managing portfolios. Show that you understand diverse market conditions and can navigate them skillfully. Illustrate your track record with tangible results that underscore your competency in asset management. Emphasize your ability to integrate client goals with market opportunities to optimize returns.

All cover letter examples in this guide

Entry-Level Investment Banking

Certified Financial Planner

Investment Banking Analyst

Investment Banking Associate

Portfolio Manager

Private Equity

Real Estate Investment Banking

Cover letter guide.

Investment Manager Cover Letter Sample

Cover Letter Format

Cover Letter Salutation

Cover Letter Introduction

Cover Letter Body

Cover Letter Closing

No Experience Investment Manager Cover Letter

Key Takeaways

By Experience

Embarking on your search for the ideal investment manager role, you've polished your resume and started applying, but then you hit a snag: the cover letter. This isn't a mere echo of your resume; it's your stage to spotlight a crowning professional achievement, weaving a narrative that captures your unique value. Sidestepping clichés, your cover letter must strike a formal yet personal chord, all within the confines of a single page. Let's unlock the secrets to crafting your standout letter.

• Personalize the greeting to address the recruiter and your introduction that fits the role;
• Follow good examples for individual roles and industries from job-winning cover letters;
• Decide on your most noteworthy achievement to stand out;
• Format, download, and submit your investment manager cover letter, following the best HR practices.

Use the power of Enhancv's AI: drag and drop your investment manager resume, which will swiftly be converted into your job-winning cover letter.

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

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Investment Manager cover letter example

Jackson Thompson

San Francisco, CA

+1-(234)-555-1234

[email protected]

• Emphasize relevant experience and notable achievements: For example, mentioning the enhancement of the due diligence process and the resultant 15% uplift in portfolio efficiency shows the ability to streamline operations and add value, which is crucial for an investment manager role.
• Quantify success in previous positions: Citing specific figures such as the 10% year-over-year increase in portfolio returns demonstrates a proven track record of delivering financial results, an important aspect of the investment management field.
• Connect past experiences to the targeted role: Drawing parallels between the strategic implementation of global investment strategies in the past and the potential contribution to the new organization validates the candidate's suitability for the position.

What should your investment manager cover letter look like - formatting and organizing your information

Have you ever wondered what are the must-have sections you need to include in your investment manager cover letter? Our builder sets those up for you with:

• Header - dedicated to your contact information, the role you're applying for, and the date (don't forget to include your name);
• Greeting and opening paragraph - to create a personalized and memorable experience for recruiters;
• Body paragraph - emphasizing your skill set and knowledge that aligns with the role and helps you to stand out;
• Closing paragraph - leaving a great impression and ending with an optional signature.

Use a cover letter template to discover the best formatting for your investment manager cover letter: that is single-spaced paragraphs and wrapping your content in a one-inch margin.

Ensure that both your resume and investment manager cover letter are in the same font . Stand apart from the crowd by using modern, yet simple fonts, like Chivo and Rubik, instead of the overused Arial and Times New Roman.

Did you know that the Applicant Tracker System (or ATS) won't be assessing your investment manager cover letter? Instead, submit your profile in PDF to recruiters to keep the same formatting and the design intact.

The top sections on a investment manager cover letter

Header: This includes your name, contact information, and the date, ensuring that the recruiter knows who you are and how to contact you, and it sets a professional tone for the document.

Greeting: Address the hiring manager or team by name if possible, as personalization shows that you've done your research and are seriously interested in the role at their specific firm.

Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and express your interest in the investment manager position, giving a snapshot of your enthusiasm for the role and setting the stage for your qualifications.

Body: This section should highlight your relevant experience, key achievements in previous investment roles, and understanding of market trends, showcasing how your skills and expertise align with the job requirements.

Closing: Conclude with a compelling call to action, reiterating your interest in the position and expressing your eagerness to discuss how you can contribute to the firm's success in an interview.

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

• Strong analytical skills: Essential for conducting detailed financial analyses and evaluating investment opportunities.
• Solid understanding of financial markets and instruments: Enables assessment of market trends and selection of suitable investments for clients' portfolios.
• Proven track record of investment performance: Directly relates to the core objective of the role – achieving strong returns on investments.
• Risk management expertise: Important for protecting clients’ assets and making informed decisions under uncertainty.
• Excellent communication and client service skills: Critical for explaining complex investment strategies and building trust with clients.
• Relevant certifications and education (e.g., CFA, MBA): Indicates a professional level of investment knowledge and commitment to the field.

Personalizing your investment manager cover letter salutation

Always aim to address the recruiter from the get-go of your investment manager cover letter.

• the friendly tone (e.g. "Dear Paul" or "Dear Caroline") - if you've previously chatted up with them on social media and are on a first-name basis;
• the formal tone (e.g. "Dear Ms. Gibbs" or "Dear Ms. Swift") - if you haven't had any previous conversation with them and have discovered the name of the recruiter on LinkedIn or the company website;
• the polite tone (e.g. "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear HR Team") - at all costs aim to avoid the "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam", as both greetings are very old-school and vague.

List of salutations you can use

• Dear Hiring Manager,
• Dear [Company Name] Recruitment Team,
• Dear [Department Name] Hiring Committee,
• Dear [Mr./Ms. Last Name],
• Dear [Professional Title],

The investment manager cover letter introduction: focusing on your unique value, with a creative twist

You are not the only one wondering how to start your investment manager cover letter. Those first two sentences introduce your profile and should be memorable.

No pressure.

When beginning your investment manager cover letter , immediately point out the unique value of working with you. In other words, what you promise to bring to the role by using your past track record of success.

Start your investment manager cover letter with a creative twist by telling a joke or stating something relatable. Select this type of introduction only if it aligns with the company culture.

Structuring your investment manager cover letter body to add more value

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Closing remarks to end your investment manager cover letter

Of course, you'll have to show gratitude to the recruiters, who have assessed your profile at the end of your investment manager cover letter .

A "Thank you for the consideration" would work wonders, instead of the standard "Sincerely yours".

Do you want to make an even better impression?

Close off your investment manager cover letter by promising how you see yourself excelling in the role and the positive impact you'd bring about.

A sentence that encourages some further action on the recruiter's end could also be a good way to close off the communication (e.g. provide your availability for an interview).

Addressing limited to no experience in the investment manager cover letter

There's nothing to worry about if you lack professional experience .

Your investment manager cover letter could bridge the gaps in your professional history by focusing on what matters most to recruiters, that's either:

• skills - focusing on transferable ones you've gained, thanks to your life experience (e.g. volunteering, certificates, etc.);
• achievements - select the most relevant and noteworthy one from your history (e.g. education, projects, etc.);
• motivation - describe how you envision your professional growth in the next up to five years, thanks to this opportunity.

Key takeaways

Creating your investment manager cover letter should be a personalized experience for the role and the recruiter, where you:

• Format your cover letter using the same ATS-friendly font (e.g. Railway) as you did for your resume;
• Greet recruiters, using their name, and follow up with two sentences to introduce yourself, your interest in the role, and to stand out;
• Map out one key success from your career (or life) that has taught you job-crucial skills;
• Substitute your lack of experience with an achievement from your internships, degrees, or volunteering gigs;
• End with a promise for your potential or your availability for an interview.

Investment Manager cover letter examples

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

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Investment Manager Cover Letter: Sample & Guide [Entry Level + Senior Jobs]

Create a standout investment manager cover letter with our online platform. browse professional templates for all levels and specialties. land your dream role today.

Writing a great cover letter is an important step when applying for an investment manager role. Our guide provides the essential tips you need to craft a successful cover letter that will get you noticed and get your foot in the door. Use our advice to write a convincing and engaging cover letter that will help you land your dream job.

We will cover:

• How to write a cover letter, no matter your industry or job title.
• What to put on a cover letter to stand out.
• The top skills employers from every industry want to see.
• How to build a cover letter fast with our professional Cover Letter Builder .
• What a cover letter template is, and why you should use it.

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Investment Manager Cover Letter Sample

Dear [Hiring Manager],

I am writing to apply for the Investment Manager position at [Company Name]. With my passion for financial stability and proficiency in research, analysis, and communication, I believe I am an ideal candidate for the role.

I am a highly motivated individual with an extensive background in investment management. Currently, I am employed at [Current Company] as an Investment Manager. I have been responsible for developing and executing investment strategies for clients with a focus on risk management, asset allocation, and portfolio optimization. My experience includes researching and analyzing market trends, managing client portfolios, and providing financial advice to clients.

My qualifications include:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from [University]
• Five years of experience in investment management
• Advanced knowledge of financial markets and investment products
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in financial modeling and data analysis
• Ability to develop and execute successful investment strategies

I am confident that my qualifications and experience make me a strong candidate for this role. I am eager to contribute my knowledge and expertise to [Company Name], and I am certain that I can help you reach your investment goals.

I have enclosed my resume and look forward to discussing my candidacy further. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Why Do you Need a Investment Manager Cover Letter?

• A Investment Manager cover letter is an important tool when applying for a job in the financial services industry.
• It helps to demonstrate your qualifications, skills, and experiences that are relevant for the role.
• It can also help to highlight your qualifications and experiences that are not apparent on your resume.
• A well-crafted cover letter will help you stand out from other applicants and help to give you a better chance at securing an interview.
• It will also show the employer that you have taken the time to research the company and position, and that you are genuinely interested in the job.
• The cover letter should be tailored to each position you are applying for, as it should highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the role.
• A well-written cover letter will also give you the opportunity to explain why you are the best fit for the position, and to express your enthusiasm for the job.

A Few Important Rules To Keep In Mind

• Keep your cover letter brief and to the point; no more than one page.
• Start your cover letter with a strong opening statement that grabs the reader's attention.
• Make sure to highlight any relevant experience or qualifications you have that make you a good fit for the position.
• Include specific examples of times when you have successfully managed investments or demonstrated your financial acumen.
• Explain why you are interested in the company and the position, and why you are the best candidate for the job.
• End the letter with a call to action, such as requesting an interview.
• Proofread your cover letter carefully for any mistakes or typos.

What's The Best Structure For Investment Manager Cover Letters?

After creating an impressive Investment Manager resume , the next step is crafting a compelling cover letter to accompany your job applications. It's essential to remember that your cover letter should maintain a formal tone and follow a recommended structure. But what exactly does this structure entail, and what key elements should be included in a Investment Manager cover letter? Let's explore the guidelines and components that will make your cover letter stand out.

Key Components For Investment Manager Cover Letters:

• Your contact information, including the date of writing
• The recipient's details, such as the company's name and the name of the addressee
• A professional greeting or salutation, like "Dear Mr. Levi,"
• An attention-grabbing opening statement to captivate the reader's interest
• A concise paragraph explaining why you are an excellent fit for the role
• Another paragraph highlighting why the position aligns with your career goals and aspirations
• A closing statement that reinforces your enthusiasm and suitability for the role
• A complimentary closing, such as "Regards" or "Sincerely," followed by your name
• An optional postscript (P.S.) to add a brief, impactful note or mention any additional relevant information.

Cover Letter Header

A header in a cover letter should typically include the following information:

• Your Full Name: Begin with your first and last name, written in a clear and legible format.
• Contact Information: Include your phone number, email address, and optionally, your mailing address. Providing multiple methods of contact ensures that the hiring manager can reach you easily.
• Date: Add the date on which you are writing the cover letter. This helps establish the timeline of your application.

It's important to place the header at the top of the cover letter, aligning it to the left or center of the page. This ensures that the reader can quickly identify your contact details and know when the cover letter was written.

Cover Letter Greeting / Salutation

A greeting in a cover letter should contain the following elements:

• Personalized Salutation: Address the hiring manager or the specific recipient of the cover letter by their name. If the name is not mentioned in the job posting or you are unsure about the recipient's name, it's acceptable to use a general salutation such as "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear [Company Name] Recruiting Team."
• Professional Tone: Maintain a formal and respectful tone throughout the greeting. Avoid using overly casual language or informal expressions.
• Correct Spelling and Title: Double-check the spelling of the recipient's name and ensure that you use the appropriate title (e.g., Mr., Ms., Dr., or Professor) if applicable. This shows attention to detail and professionalism.

For example, a suitable greeting could be "Dear Ms. Johnson," or "Dear Hiring Manager," depending on the information available. It's important to tailor the greeting to the specific recipient to create a personalized and professional tone for your cover letter.

Cover Letter Introduction

An introduction for a cover letter should capture the reader's attention and provide a brief overview of your background and interest in the position. Here's how an effective introduction should look:

• Opening Statement: Start with a strong opening sentence that immediately grabs the reader's attention. Consider mentioning your enthusiasm for the job opportunity or any specific aspect of the company or organization that sparked your interest.
• Brief Introduction: Provide a concise introduction of yourself and mention the specific position you are applying for. Include any relevant background information, such as your current role, educational background, or notable achievements that are directly related to the position.
• Connection to the Company: Demonstrate your knowledge of the company or organization and establish a connection between your skills and experiences with their mission, values, or industry. Showcasing your understanding and alignment with their goals helps to emphasize your fit for the role.
• Engaging Hook: Consider including a compelling sentence or two that highlights your unique selling points or key qualifications that make you stand out from other candidates. This can be a specific accomplishment, a relevant skill, or an experience that demonstrates your value as a potential employee.
• Transition to the Body: Conclude the introduction by smoothly transitioning to the main body of the cover letter, where you will provide more detailed information about your qualifications, experiences, and how they align with the requirements of the position.

By following these guidelines, your cover letter introduction will make a strong first impression and set the stage for the rest of your application.

Cover Letter Body

As an experienced Investment Manager, I am confident that I can deliver results that exceed your expectations. With my expertise in asset management, financial analysis, and risk management, I am well-equipped to make sound decisions and manage portfolios that yield maximum returns.

I have a proven ability to match investor objectives with appropriate investments, and have a track record of success in building strong relationships with clients. I have also demonstrated success in developing strategies to increase profitability and mitigate risk.

I am highly organized and have a keen eye for detail. I am adept at managing multiple projects simultaneously and thrive in a fast-paced environment. I am also an excellent communicator, and I am able to explain complex financial concepts in an understandable way.

I am confident that I can contribute to your team in a meaningful way. I have enclosed my resume and would welcome the opportunity to discuss this position further with you.

• Extensive experience in asset management, financial analysis, and risk management
• Strong knowledge of investment strategies and financial markets
• Able to match investor objectives with appropriate investments
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and financial software

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

Complimentary Close

The conclusion and signature of a cover letter provide a final opportunity to leave a positive impression and invite further action. Here's how the conclusion and signature of a cover letter should look:

• Summary of Interest: In the conclusion paragraph, summarize your interest in the position and reiterate your enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to the organization or school. Emphasize the value you can bring to the role and briefly mention your key qualifications or unique selling points.
• Appreciation and Gratitude: Express appreciation for the reader's time and consideration in reviewing your application. Thank them for the opportunity to be considered for the position and acknowledge any additional materials or documents you have included, such as references or a portfolio.
• Call to Action: Conclude the cover letter with a clear call to action. Indicate your availability for an interview or express your interest in discussing the opportunity further. Encourage the reader to contact you to schedule a meeting or provide any additional information they may require.
• Complimentary Closing: Choose a professional and appropriate complimentary closing to end your cover letter, such as "Sincerely," "Best Regards," or "Thank you." Ensure the closing reflects the overall tone and formality of the letter.
• Signature: Below the complimentary closing, leave space for your handwritten signature. Sign your name in ink using a legible and professional style. If you are submitting a digital or typed cover letter, you can simply type your full name.
• Typed Name: Beneath your signature, type your full name in a clear and readable font. This allows for easy identification and ensures clarity in case the handwritten signature is not clear.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing an Investment Manager Cover Letter

When crafting a cover letter, it's essential to present yourself in the best possible light to potential employers. However, there are common mistakes that can hinder your chances of making a strong impression. By being aware of these pitfalls and avoiding them, you can ensure that your cover letter effectively highlights your qualifications and stands out from the competition. In this article, we will explore some of the most common mistakes to avoid when writing a cover letter, providing you with valuable insights and practical tips to help you create a compelling and impactful introduction that captures the attention of hiring managers. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career journey, understanding these mistakes will greatly enhance your chances of success in the job application process. So, let's dive in and discover how to steer clear of these common missteps and create a standout cover letter that gets you noticed by potential employers.

• Not tailoring the cover letter to the specific job opportunity.
• Not addressing the letter to a specific person.
• Using generic language that could apply to any job.
• Exaggerating skills and qualifications.
• Using overly long sentences or paragraphs.
• Leaving out important information such as contact details.
• Not proofreading for typos or grammatical errors.
• Using jargon or technical terms without explaining them.
• Failing to demonstrate enthusiasm for the role.
• Including irrelevant information.

Key Takeaways For an Investment Manager Cover Letter

• Highlight your experience in making investment decisions and managing portfolios.
• Demonstrate your knowledge of the financial markets and current investment trends.
• Showcase your ability to build relationships with clients and maintain client trust.
• Emphasize your understanding of financial regulations and compliance.
• Mention any relevant certifications or qualifications you possess.
• Underline your interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrate your ability to analyze financial data and develop strategies.
• Highlight your organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Showcase your ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

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

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

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

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

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

The Template & Tutorial

Let’s jump right in:

Investment Banking Cover Letter Template [Download]

Download Template – Word

Download Template – PDF

And here’s the video that explains everything:

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

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

Do Cover Letters Actually Matter?

At bulge bracket banks, people barely read cover letters.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 Page Only

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

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

Contact Information

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

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

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

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

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

Paragraph 1: Introduction

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

Name-drop as much as possible:

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

This first paragraph is all about grabbing their attention.

Example 1st Paragraph:

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

Paragraph 2: Your Background

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

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

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

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

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

Example 2nd Paragraph:

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

Paragraph 3: Why You’re a Good Fit

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

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

Example 3rd Paragraph:

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

Paragraph 4: Conclusion

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

Example 4th Paragraph:

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

Unusual Backgrounds

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

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

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

Email vs. Attachments

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

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

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

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

Optional Cover Letters?

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

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

Cover Letter Mistakes

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

The biggest mistakes with cover letters:

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Examples

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

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

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

• Best Cover Letters – MBA Template

More questions? Ask away.

Still Need More Help?

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

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

Specifically, here’s what you’ll get:

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

FIND OUT MORE

Other Options for Personalized Help: Wall Street Mastermind

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

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

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

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

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

About the Author

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for the write up!

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

I like it not bad

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

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

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

Same Andrew again…

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

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

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

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

Thanks so much.

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

Do we have to leave

“Enclosure: Resume”

At the bottom of the Cover Letter? Many thanks

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

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

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

Alternative A:

(Signature)

Alternative B:

The first one is slightly better.

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

Thanks! Glad to hear it. Good luck!

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

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

Thanks a lot for all the content you post.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I agree. Thanks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks a lot !

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

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

Sincerely, Frank

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yes this template works for UK applications.

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

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

Many thanks!

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

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

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

Thank you for your time!

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

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

I’d probably list this later in the letter.

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

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

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

M&A is fine I believe

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

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

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

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

What should you do in [Signature]?

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

Upload an image of your handwritten signature?

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

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

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

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

Yes you need to address why you’re switching

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can provide recommendations upon request

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

Yes you can include it. Both works.

Yo’re welcome.

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

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

Dear M&I staff,

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

Thanks in advance

Yes it does, or Dear Sir/Madam.

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

Dear Sir or Madam,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ThankX Guys!

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

Hey Nicole,

Thanks for your reply.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best Regards, Sara

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

Hey there M&I,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks very much!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks Brian,

I took your advice and mentioned specific case studies.

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

I would probably do an even split in that case.

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

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

Sure though having this line may be more convincing.

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

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

Dear Nicole,

I feel sorry not to explain it clearly.

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

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

Much thanks

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

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

Yes you can still apply online.

Hi Nicole/Brian,

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

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

Again, thanks for your continuous kind support.

Regards, Rifki

Quoting from the article:

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

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

Thanks Brian!

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

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

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

Yes – show the returns you generated

Thanks for the useful resources.

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

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

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

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

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

Sorry for this long thread, thanks for your help.

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

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

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

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

Yes, please do that!

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

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

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

Thank you so much!

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

Hi, Thank you very much for uploading the template.

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

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

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

I do have an MBA in finance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Name and contact address] —

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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

Hello, my question is regarding the introduction —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Any input would be awesome. Thanks!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you for your answer!

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

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

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

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

Not necessarily.

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

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

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

Thanks a lot! Jevira

This sounds generic.

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

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

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

Thanks in advance and sorry it becomes too long. Mostafa

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

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

Yes these templates apply to online apps too

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

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

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

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

Many thanks.

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

You should elaborate on your stock market challenges/competitions

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

Or does it sound ridiculous?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Haha yes but not free. Sure.

Thanks for your work!

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

Thanks again

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

If bilingual required?

No still submit one pager unless they ask

Thanks Nicole.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

applications for bulge brackets. thanks!

Um #2, always

Okay, thanks!

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

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

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

That’s fine

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No, no one reads cover letters anyway

Firstly thanks for the website, it’s great.

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

This is in UK by the way.

Thanks in advance.

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

Thank you for the template.

Quick questions:

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

No keep it way shorter like 2-3 sentences maybe

Dear M&I,

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

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

Thanks in advance for your help!

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

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

Can you please help me,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Great comment, made me laugh

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

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

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

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

Thanks so much in advance.

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

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

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

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

Hey M&I,

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

Thanks, Mack

Not applicable for banking

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks again in advance.

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

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

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

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

I would appreciate your advice on this.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

off-topic question:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Summer interns usually start in June

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

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

Thanks for the release of this article, much appreciated.

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

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

Thanks again, H

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

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

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

Thanks for your help.

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

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

You can add it in, yes

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

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

What about for laterals?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cheers, thanks for all the great info!

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

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

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

Go to the better name

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

Thank you for the cover letter template.

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

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

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

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

A question that is unrelated to the article:

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

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

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

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

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

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Investment Manager Cover Letter

15 investment manager cover letter templates.

How to Write the Investment Manager Cover Letter

In response to your job posting for investment manager, I am including this letter and my resume for your review.

In my previous role, I was responsible for leadership on KPIs and metrics with regards media performance, alignment & correlation with business results (in partnership with MRA), media planning, negotiations and buying.

My experience is an excellent fit for the list of requirements in this job:

• Strong academic experience and professional credentials
• Practical understanding of global capital markets and how investment managers participate within the markets
• Enhance the quality of investment marketing and investment communications delivery to key clients
• Graduate calibre with a professional accounting qualification
• The role reports to the Head of Investment Trusts UK Fund Accounting
• There will be between 4-6 direct reports into this role
• Significant current experience within a direct investments role
• Previous meaningful experience in M&A,Corporate Finance, Transaction Services

Thank you for considering me to become a member of your team.

Azariah Zieme

• Microsoft Word (.docx) .DOCX
• PDF Document (.pdf) .PDF
• Image File (.png) .PNG

Responsibilities for Investment Manager Cover Letter

Investment manager responsible for fund values and answers other securities (including variable insurance, mutual fund and annuities) product-related questions and/or questions related to investment advisory services.

Investment Manager Examples

Example of investment manager cover letter.

I would like to submit my application for the investment manager opening. Please accept this letter and the attached resume.

In my previous role, I was responsible for governance across all aspects of agencies, media value reporting, KPI analysis and measurement of agencies and media agency performance in Latam.

Please consider my experience and qualifications for this position:

• ACA Qualification (First-Time Passes) or CFA Qualification Desirable
• Strong record of personal and professional achievements
• SQL background preferred
• Fully autonomous and has decision-making skills
• Leadership and organizational skills in order to closely manage team’s goals, resources needed, and to assess and develop the skills of the staff
• Knowledge of areas of investment management such as fixed income and equity (active and passive), factor based investing, alternatives (private equity and hedge funds), asset allocation and portfolio construction
• CFA/MBA highly preferred
• BS or Master's in business / economics / Finance or any business related field

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Marion Hoppe

In the previous role, I was responsible for timely support to many internal HIMCO clients, including, Portfolio Managers, Investment Sectors, Financial Reporting, Performance Measurement, and Client Reporting Teams.

Please consider my qualifications and experience:

• Strong Financial markets knowledge
• Market data vendors knowledge
• Develop requirement documents, basic programming (primarily Excel and creating complex data queries), prepare test plans, and perform testing
• Calculate, monitor and report investment data for internal and external use
• Create documentation on new processes and technical enhancements and maintain existing documentation
• Strong interpersonal skills and establish constructive and meaningful relationships with key stakeholders and be able to drive quality results with a challenging but positive and influential style
• Having an up-to-date and in-depth understanding of the Investment industry and the key challenges it faces, with previous experience within financial services being essential
• Demonstration of strong knowledge of global economics and political conditions, current affairs and competitor activity and the implication of these will be necessary for the benefit of our clients

I really appreciate you taking the time to review my application for the position of investment manager.

Dylan Wunsch

Please consider me for the investment manager opportunity. I am including my resume that lists my qualifications and experience.

Previously, I was responsible for clients with performance analysis services to evaluate the performance of various investment vehicles in the client's plans / funds.

• Having knowledge in fundamental investment and MF products
• Good communication & interpersonal sales skills
• Good negotiation and coordinating skills
• Knowledge and understanding of capital markets, portfolio management and portfolio construction
• Sound knowledge of investment disciplines and processes within the financial industry
• Superior aptitude for assessing creative and visual concepts
• Adept multi-tasker with solid project management skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills – experience working with Wealth Advisors considered an asset

Drew Baumbach

I submit this application to express my sincere interest in the investment manager position.

In my previous role, I was responsible for clients with the most complex performance analysis services to evaluate the performance of various investment vehicles in the client's plans / funds.

I reviewed the requirements of the job opening and I believe my candidacy is an excellent fit for this position. Some of the key requirements that I have extensive experience with include:

• Proficient in PC and Mac with advanced knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Bloomberg and Adobe Creative Suite
• Outstanding attention to detail, superior analytical or quant skills that allow for independent judgment and decisive reasoning while dealing with significant time constraints
• Familiarity with tax equity partnership flip structures (strongly preferred)
• Renewable energy / investment banking experience (strongly preferred)
• Ideally should not under supervision for any sub categories under FSB license of
• Absa Wealth advisory
• Has responsibility for a major accounting process or report, or for a significant, independent segment of a larger process or report that would typically require allocating resources and staff, handling operational requirements, and insuring compliance with applicable guidelines
• Resolves work-related problems and answers questions of both departmental employees and those of other organizations

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my cover letter and to review my resume.

Hayden Leuschke

Previously, I was responsible for investment recommendations throughout the year based on performance across media lines/ brand health, and current trading priorities.

• A good understanding of the industry and of the Offshore markets,, including an essential knowledge of how the competition aims to differentiate itself
• Strong financial management skills including
• Fixed income portfolio management experience and industry leading knowledge of investment strategies, various fixed income asset types (Treasuries, ABS, MBS, CLO’s, bank loans, investment grade and high yield corporates ), fixed income analytics (duration, convexity ), investment instruments, investment management firms and capital market developments
• Good understanding of swaps, futures, swaptions and other tools used for fixed income risk management, with relevant work experience
• Analytical mindset and detailed oriented
• Strongly written communication and presentation skills
• Excellent organizational skills to simultaneously manage multiple projects and assignments within scheduled deadlines
• Good MS Office skills including expertise in spreadsheets and presentation tools, working experience with industry tools (Bloomberg )

Phoenix McKenzie

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Investment Manager Cover Letter Examples

A great investment manager cover letter can help you stand out from the competition when applying for a job. Be sure to tailor your letter to the specific requirements listed in the job description, and highlight your most relevant or exceptional qualifications. The following investment manager cover letter example can give you some ideas on how to write your own letter.

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Cover Letter Example (Text)

Marcelyn Farnes

(330) 818-3245

[email protected]

Dear Ms. Mccloskey,

I am writing to express my interest in the Investment Manager position at BlackRock, as advertised. With a solid foundation of five years of experience at Vanguard Group, I have honed my skills in asset management, strategic investment planning, and client relations, which I am eager to bring to your esteemed firm.

During my tenure at Vanguard Group, I have managed diverse portfolios, consistently achieving and often surpassing performance benchmarks. My role required a deep understanding of market trends, the ability to conduct comprehensive risk assessments, and the development of innovative investment strategies tailored to our clients' unique financial goals. Through diligent research and a proactive approach to portfolio management, I have successfully navigated various market cycles, delivering robust results that have contributed to the firm's reputation for excellence.

Collaboration and communication have been key to my success. I have worked closely with cross-functional teams, providing leadership and insight that have driven our collective success. My commitment to maintaining transparent and informative relationships with clients has ensured their confidence and trust, resulting in sustained business and referrals.

BlackRock's commitment to providing cutting-edge financial solutions and its reputation for integrity align perfectly with my professional values and expertise. I am particularly drawn to your innovative approach to investment management, including the use of advanced analytics and technology to inform decision-making. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team, leveraging my experience to further enhance BlackRock's portfolio performance and client satisfaction.

I am looking forward to the opportunity to discuss how my background, skills, and enthusiasms can be in line with the ambitious goals of BlackRock. Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to offer more insights into how I can contribute to your team and help foster continued success.

Warm regards,

Related Cover Letter Examples

• Investment Banking Analyst
• Investment Banking Associate
• Investment Accountant
• Investment Advisor
• Investment Analyst
• Investment Associate

Investment Manager Cover Letter Examples and Templates

Every time a job applicant submits an application for an Investment Manager position at a new organization, they must convey their worth through various channels. Although the Investment Manager resume will likely be the most well-known component of the Investment Manager job application, the Investment Manager cover letter should also be given consideration for employment. 

Letter Template: 1

Table of Contents

Investment Manager Cover Letter

James Brown

238 Broadway

United States

The HR Manager

XYZ Company

354 F 63 rd Street

Subject- Investment Manager Cover Letter

This relates to your [Mention the date]advertisement in [Mention the name of the company] requesting applicants for the position of Investment Manager in your prestigious company. It brings me great pleasure to submit an application for the aforementioned position with one of the leading companies in this field, which has a worldwide network and is renowned for its competitive manner of operation.

I have [Mention the number] years of relevant experience with two different employers, exceeding the minimum requirements you have set for the aforementioned post.

I have managed investment portfolios with a maximum value of [Mention the amount]. From tiny retail investments to multimillion-dollar portfolios, I have worked with clients from all around the world. My area of expertise is working with retail investors, where my strong communication abilities are put to use.

I have a talent for communicating intricate details to clients in a clear and understandable manner. I am knowledgeable about all the legal ramifications of this line of work, as well as the accepted procedures for the acquisition and disposition of securities, the settlement of transactions, the filing of reports with clients and regulatory bodies, and portfolio management.

I earned a master’s in business administration after earning a finance degree from [Mention the name] university. I’ve had an excellent academic and professional career, and I intend to continue that success while working for a prestigious company like yours.

Working with you will be a real pleasure. You can reach me at the above-mentioned phone number or email address. I’m looking forward to a wonderful, win-win partnership.

My sincere thanks

[Handwriting signature]

[Mention the contact details]

[Mention here, if there is any post note to be given]

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Regarding your most recent job posting on [Mention the name of the company], I am submitting my [Mention the biodata] for the position of the investment manager. Please take a look at the included résumé and this letter before considering my application.

I currently work with [Mention the name of the company] as an investment manager and have done so for the past seven years. I am quite informed about current investing methods, the financial market, and the numerous financial products available to investors of all types of portfolios and also hold a [Mention the name of the degree] in [Mention the place of investments]. I’ve also had experience managing a group of financial advisors for the top investment tool we provide to our customers.

I am a skilled and meticulous producer with the ability to assess data with an eye on commercial implications. I can efficiently relay difficult knowledge and spread critical information throughout an organization. My management style encourages teamwork, inspiring employees to go above and beyond. I am a creative problem-solver with a great eye for process enhancements, cost savings, and maintaining operational and financial control.

I am confident that my background, training, and expertise in investments and supervising make me an excellent choice for your investment manager position. Please get in touch with me at [Mention the phone number] and [Mention the email address] to set up an interview at your earliest convenience. I appreciate you looking over my application.

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Does an investment banking cover letter matter?

How to write a cover letter for investment banking, download the free template, proofreading your investment banking cover letter, interview prep, more resources, investment banking cover letter.

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At most investment banks , cover letters that accompany resumes are barely read, if read at all.  Applications are typically screened according to your resume , with school and GPA as the first filter.  If you went to a “name” school and have a strong GPA, then your resume and cover letter are read in more detail.  To help you get through the screening process, we’ve created this guide to writing an investment banking cover letter.

Unfortunately, cover letters are often more of an opportunity to make a mistake than an opportunity to impress. Your best bet is to keep your letter short and straightforward, taking care to not say anything too daring or risky.

If you do have something unique to note, a particular value-add, then your cover letter can be a great tool for showcasing it.

Investment banking cover letters are fairly formulaic. The sections below give a breakdown of each of the areas of information that should be included and what information to put in each.

There are three main components to a standard investment banking cover letter:

• Introduction
• Experience & Fit

As we noted before, it’s a simple, straightforward (not fancy) document.

Introduction (one paragraph)

Experience & fit (two paragraphs).

Next, go on to describe whatever relevant experience you have that makes you an ideal candidate for the bank to hire.  This can include work experience, university clubs/associations, certification programs, or other activities .  Try to connect your experience back to investment banking skills such as financial modeling and valuation .

Explaining why you’re a good fit for the firm is very important.  To demonstrate fit, you have to understand the bank’s culture (i.e., the values they talk about externally, which may be different from the actual internal work atmosphere).  It’s important for the recruiter to feel confident that you’ll fit in well with the firm. Therefore, make sure you’ve done your homework and are familiar with the primary values the bank espouses in their marketing materials.

The best way for you to determine if you are a good fit with the bank is to network with people who work there and learn first-hand what the culture is like. Once you know what it’s like, you can make an honest assessment of how close a fit you actually are. In any event, whatever you’re able to glean about the company culture, try to work something into your investment banking cover letter indicating how well you’ll fit in. For example, if you determine that the company is especially focused on providing first-class customer service, you can indicate that you focus on providing the specific kind of service that each individual client wants.

Conclusion (one paragraph)

Finally, wrap things up by reiterating how keen you are to work at the bank, why you’re well-suited, and pointing out that you’ve enclosed your resume and are reachable at your contact information to discuss the opportunity. The conclusion is an almost pure formula section. No real new information should be presented there. Simply tie up everything you said in the first two sections.

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Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to writing your investment banking cover letter. Please be sure to download our free template and see our additional  (free!) resources below to help you land a job in IB:

• Investment banking resume
• Investment banking vs equity research
• Interactive career map
• Guide to financial modeling
• See all career resources
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Investment Manager Cover Letter

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Investment Advisor Cover Letter Samples & Examples That Worked in 2024

Your investment advisor cover letter matters more than you think! Sure, your resume communicates your skills and achievements through facts and figures, but what about your professional story and motivation? Well, that's what a cover letter is here for! 

Dive into our guide and discover customizable templates, samples, plenty of examples, and writing tips that will make your cover letter irresistible.

Keep reading to learn all about:

• How to format your investment advisor cover letter header & headline
• Why you need a personalized greeting on your cover letter
• What to include in your investment advisor cover letter introduction
• Ways to showcase your professional value as an investment advisor
• How to conclude your cover letter with an actionable closing statement
• Where to look for job opportunities for investment advisors

Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.

1. How to properly format your investment advisor cover letter header & headline

When beginning to write your investment advisor cover letter, the first essential step to take is to create a well-formatted header and headline.

A cover letter header is a block of text commonly found in the top-left corner of the document that details the necessary identifying information about the applicant and the company they're applying to.

As for the cover letter headline , this is similar to a title and is used to initially grab an employer’s attention and preview the information to come.

To better demonstrate how to craft each of these elements, we have included more in-depth explanations and examples below:

Formatting the header

Your cover letter header can vary in overall format and order of information depending on what style of cover letter you opt for. However, your header should always contain at least 3 to 4 lines of text that include:

• The name of the company and department you are applying to
• Your name and professional title
• Your professional contact information (phone number, email address, etc.)

Here is an example of what a well-formatted investment advisor header looks like

To: Edward Jones, Advisory Department From: John Doe , Investment Advisor (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/john-doe

Writing the headline

When writing your investment advisor headline, you should always use a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.

Here is an example of a well-written investment advisor headline

My 3 Essential Skills as an Investment Advisor & How I Can Apply Them to Benefit Your Clients

And now, let's break it down:

Trigger Word/Number : 3 Essential Skills Keyword: Investment Advisor Adjective/Verb: Essential, Apply, Benefit Promise: Your Clients – this serves as a promise because it ensures the employer you will not only describe your skills but also relate them directly to the needs of their specific clients.

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2. how to personalize greeting on your investment advisor cover letter.

Whenever possible, you should opt for a personalized greeting on your cover letter.

A personalized greeting addresses a specific person (or department) by name rather than opening with a generalized statement, such as “To Whom It May Concern.” By doing so, you show an employer you've researched their company thoroughly and have excellent attention to detail.

If you can't pinpoint the exact person or department who will review your application, try out on of the following alternatives:

Addressing a nameless recipient example

To the [Company Name] Team

To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager

3. How to make your investment advisor cover letter introduction stand out

Next up on your investment advisor cover letter checklist is to write a compelling introductory paragraph . In this introduction, you should aim to include:

• A brief overview of your professional history and goals
• A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
• A mutual acquaintance (when possible)

Here is an example to help demonstrate how to write an investment advisor introduction

To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,

I am an Investment Advisor with 6+ years of experience working in a major brokerage and working directly with high-profile investors. Our mutual acquaintance and your business partner, Jack Smith, informed me of the advisor opening at your company and encouraged me to apply.

4. How to showcase your professional value as an investment advisor

With your introduction now in place, the next step is to provide more in-depth information via the body paragraphs of your cover letter .

A strong cover letter will typically contain between 2 to 4 body paragraphs that answer the following questions in detail:

• What excites you about working at this company?
• What do you hope to learn from working at this company?
• What accomplishments or qualifications make you stand out as an applicant?
• What key skills do you possess that are relevant to the position?

Focusing on accomplishments should be one of your main priorities, as employers can get a sense of the real-life value you can offer their company by reviewing your relevant achievements.

Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in an investment advisor cover letter

As an Investment Advisor for [Former Employer], I assisted in the management of 5 high-profile investment portfolios worth more than $2M in total value each. Additionally, I developed a medium-risk investment strategy for each of these portfolios that resulted in 17% year-over-year returns on average across all 5 accounts.

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5. How to effectively conclude your investment advisor cover letter

The final step to writing your cover letter is to conclude with an actionable closing statement that includes:

• An enthusiastic sentence saying you're looking forward to hearing from them
• An additional sentence stating you'll follow up, including how you'll contact them or how they can contact you
• A formal sign-off

Here is an example of an effective closing statement from an investment advisor’s cover letter

As your new Investment Advisor, I am confident I can optimize the investment strategies of both your business and clients. I am eager to further discuss this wonderful opportunity and would like to schedule a formal meeting within the next two weeks. The best way to reach me is at (123) 456-7890 on any weekday between the times of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

With Appreciation,

[Applicant Name]

  Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success. 

6. Valuable job search resources for investment advisors 

Navigating the sea of opportunities offered by the world of investment can be tricky. But with the countless search tools now available, looking for a job online has never been easier. For example, consider kick starting your job quest with these resources: 

• Job boards for investment advisors: You shouldn't miss websites that list job postings selected especially for financial professionals like BrokerHunter , WealthManagementJobs . or eFinancialCareers .
• General job search platforms: But sites that aggregate job postings from all industries, such as Indeed , Glassdoor , SimplyHired , or Monster , can also yield compelling results. 
• Networking: Nothing beats the power of good connections. And with LinkedIn , you can reach out to fellow investment professionals or even potential employers and clients without leaving your house. 
• Professional associations: Organizations like the Investment Adviser Association (IAA), the Financial Planning Association (FPA), and the Personal Finance Society (PFS) can bring you closer to networking opportunities, industry insights, and professional development.
• Specialized publications: To gain a competitive edge, you need to stay updated on the latest market trends, findings, and strategies. And media like “ InvestmentNews ,” “ Financial Advisor Magazine ,” or “ Morningstar Magazine ” can serve as valuable sources of information. 
• Courses & certifications: To become a shrewd investment advisor, you need to keep your teeth and mind sharp! So, browse through online learning platforms like Coursera , edX , or Udemy for new challenges. 

Remember, the process of job searching is more akin to a marathon than a sprint — so pace yourself wisely to prevent burnout.

Investment Advisor Cover Letter FAQ

How important is it to mention specific investment strategies or philosophies in my cover letter.

Mentioning specific investment strategies or philosophies in your cover letter, especially if they align with the firm’s approach or the needs of the position, can very well be the thing that secures you the job interview. Not only does it show your expertise, but it also demonstrates that your professional philosophy and practices are a good fit for the company’s culture and client base.

Should I address potential gaps in my resume in my cover letter?

If there are noticeable gaps in your resume or other aspects that might raise questions, it's always wise to address them briefly in your cover letter. To frame this in a positive way, provide a straightforward explanation for the gap, focusing on growth and what you’ve learned during that time that could benefit your role as an investment advisor.

How can I highlight my people skills in my cover letter?

You can highlight your client relationship skills by providing examples of how you have successfully managed client portfolios, resolved conflicts, or how you’ve tailored investment solutions based on client-specific needs and risk profiles. Also, mention any feedback that demonstrates your commitment to client satisfaction and your ability to build trust and loyalty.

How can I make my cover letter match the tone and professionalism expected in the finance industry?

Simply by keeping your language formal and concise. Steer clear of colloquialisms and overly casual phrases. To make your cover letter well-organized, stick to a structured format that includes a professional greeting, an introductory paragraph, 2-3 body paragraphs, and a formal closing. And finally, proofread what you wrote.

How can I make my cover letter stand out from the competition?

For example, by personalizing it for each job application you send. Research the company and incorporate your knowledge about the firm into your letter. Show enthusiasm for the role and explain why you’re a great fit specifically for their team and culture. Additionally, mention any unique skills or experiences that align with the company’s goals, such as proficiency in advanced financial analysis tools.

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Investment Director Cover Letter Example

The Investment Director is a senior-level position responsible for overseeing the investment strategies, portfolio management, and financial performance of the organization’s investment activities. These professionals play a crucial role in formulating investment policies, assessing market conditions, and making decisions that can optimize returns whilst managing risks.

As an Investment Director, you are aware of how important is a cover letter, and what role it plays in the job application process, and now when you are sitting on the opposite side of the chair, you should know better what to include and what points to be covered in your cover letter. When other candidates struggle to land a personal interview, you should not be one among them. But if you are unable to draft one, you can use our Investment Director Cover Letter Samples that are incorporated with the best presentation skills and professional accomplishments to interest the prospective employer.

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The Leadership role of the Investment Director make strategic decisions, manages investment teams, and ensure the organization’s investments align with the financial goals and risk tolerance. Working in various sectors, including finance, asset management, pension funds, and institutional investment firms, these key figures are involved in investment strategies, portfolio management, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture within the investment department, and analyzing the performance of various asset classes.

What to Include in a Investment Director Cover Letter?

Roles and responsibilities.

• Developing and implementing the organization’s investment strategy aligns with its financial goals and risk appetite.
• Assessing market trends, economic indicators, and investment opportunities.
• Overseeing the management of investment portfolios, ensuring diversification, liquidity, and adherence to investment guidelines.
• Leading and managing investment teams , guiding, and mentoring.
• Implementing risk management strategies to mitigate potential losses and ensure the stability of investment portfolios.
• Conducting stress tests and scenario analyses to assess the impact of market changes.
• Evaluating the financial health, management, and growth potential of prospective investments.
• Communicating investment strategy performance updates and market insights.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant financial regulations, and legal requirements.
• Preparing and presenting performance reports to leadership, detailing investment returns .

Education & Skills

Investment director skills:.

• Extensive knowledge of financial markets, investment strategies, and portfolio management.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills.
• Leadership and team management abilities.
• Strategic thinking and decision-making prowess.
• Advanced proficiency in financial modeling and analysis.

Investment Director Education Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Finance, Business, Economics, or a related field.
• Professional certifications such as CFA or CAIA are often preferred.
• Substantial experience in investment management, with a proven track record of success in leadership roles.
• Strong industry connections and the ability to foster relationships with external partners, and investment firms.

Investment Director Cover Letter Example (Text Version)

Dear Mr./ Ms.,

I am applying for the position of Investment Director at [Investment Management Firm Name] advertised. As a successful investment management professional with demonstrated success in the implementation of strategic initiatives and dedication to producing exceptional financial outcomes, I am very excited about bringing my skills to your respected company,

In my previous position as an Investment Director at [Previous Company], I have effectively led the investment teams, designed strategies for the investments, and managed a wide range of portfolios that yielded astonishing returns to clients and stakeholders.

My major accomplishments-

• Led and managed the investment teams, ensuring a vision of reaching for them to achieve financial goals while creating an environment that favored excellence and innovation.
• Managed multimillion-dollar portfolios that achieved above-average returns through excellent asset allocation and risk management.
• Established and sustained quality relationships with institutional clients, ensuring their specialized investment objectives, risk appetite levels, and specific financial needs.
• Performs comprehensive market studies, being well-informed of the current trends and economic statistics to make several strategic investment decisions based on upcoming opportunities.
• Applicable performance optimization tactics use technology and data analytics to enhance portfolio performance while mitigating risk.
• Achieved rigorous compliance with the regulatory requirements and the highest level of ethics in all investment activities.
• Trained and nurtured investment professionals, building a culture of teamwork with high-performance standards, leading to enhanced performance capacity and also efficiency in teams.

[Investment Management Firm Name] reputation for superior investment management and its commitment to offering new but client-focused solutions piques my interest. I hope my managerial abilities, foresight, and commitment to maximize economic returns are ideal for your firm.

Attached is my resume, which offers more information about my job history and certifications. I would be delighted to discuss how my skills and experience will help the [Investment Management Firm Name] maintain its success.

Thank you for your attention to my application.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Now that you’ve read the job description, here are some things to consider when writing your cover letter for this position:

• What can you offer as an employee? What skills do you have that would make you an asset? What do people like about working with you? What kind of person are you?
• How can you help each other? What do you and the company have in common? How will you both benefit from working together?
• Why should they hire you over someone else who might be more qualified? Why should they even consider hiring someone who has less experience than us?

Once you’ve written a great cover letter, it’s time to start working on your resume. Refer to our Investment Director Resume Samples for more tips on how to write your resume and accompany it with a strong cover letter.

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How to Write a Finance Cover Letter

Not all jobs need them, but for those that do, here are some guidelines from morgan stanley’s recruiters on how to write one..

Searching the internet for tips on how to write a cover letter will produce a litany of dos and don’ts: Flex your communication skills, but don’t go over three paragraphs; don’t recite a generic list of skills, but do speak to every requirement in the job description; be professional, but also be personal…the list goes on.

Truth be told, not all jobs need cover letters, but for the times when they’re required, it needn’t be so complicated to get them right.   Our recruiters say that applicants can hit the mark as long as they follow a few basic rules,  and refrain from quoting Shakespeare or likening their job search to Fantine’s demise in Les Miserable. (It happens). 

1. Why You Need One

They provide a missing link between the living-you and the formulaic resume or CV. Your cover letter conveys three important things:

• You understand what the firm is looking for.
• You’ve got the skills.
• You’re articulate.

2. What to Include

Write it like a letter—include your address, Dear Sir/Madam (or better still, the name of the person, if you know who the interviewer is), and make sure to end it with a closing (“Yours faithfully,” etc).

• First Paragraph: An opening statement that sets out why you’re writing the letter. Begin by stating the position you’re applying for and if you became aware of it by going to a recruiting event.
• Middle Paragraphs: Two or three paragraphs to explain what attracted you to the type of work, why you’re interested in working for the company, and why you think you’d be a good fit.
• Last paragraph: Thank the employer and say you’re looking forward to receiving a response.

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5 business communication skills for your career, don’t let these common interview questions trip you up, 3. beware the generic cover letter.

Cover letters  can end up being deal-breakers if  they have mistakes in them, and most mistakes are made when a generic letter is used for every application. You’d be surprised by how many times people forget to switch out the name of one firm for ours. Not only do we know you’re applying elsewhere, but it shows lack of attention to detail.

4. Strike an Authentic Tone

Another reason not to use a generic cover letter: It just doesn’t sound authentic. Writing it from scratch will create  a warmer, more engaging tone—even if it’s just a few paragraphs.

5. No Need to Repeat

Don’t use the cover letter to repeat skills that you’ve already outlined in the resume, which speak specifically to the requirements in the job description. 

6. Make the Most of Your Experiences

Do include  experiences or skills that might not be specifically called for in the job description, but you believe will add to your appeal and help you excel in the role.  Examples could be collaborative, leadership or problem-solving skills from extracurricular activities or previous jobs. Just ensure that they’re truly relevant and compelling, and not a stretch. 

7. Get a Second Opinion

Whatever you end up putting in your cover letter, make sure to check for mistakes. Get someone to proofread your letter for typos, grammatical errors, the wrong firm name, and any Broadway Musical references that might have made their way in.

Good luck! And feel free to reach out to our campus recruiting team members if you have any questions. 

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Investment Analyst Cover Letter Examples

Use these Investment Analyst cover letter examples to help you write a powerful cover letter that will separate you from the competition.

Investment analysts are responsible for researching and analyzing potential investments. They make recommendations to their clients based on their findings.

To get a job as an investment analyst, you need to have a strong understanding of the financial market and be able to communicate complex information in a clear and concise way.

Use these examples to write a cover letter that will help you stand out from the competition.

Formal/Professional Writing Style Example

With a strong academic background in finance and economics, and a proven track record of exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, I am confident that I would be an excellent fit for this role and make significant contributions to your team’s success.

During my time at XYZ University, I honed my financial modeling and valuation techniques, enabling me to excel in my investment-related coursework. As a result, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a minor in Economics, earning a 3.8 GPA. Furthermore, I have passed Level I of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam.

My professional experience includes a one-year internship as a Financial Analyst at ABC Capital, where I performed fundamental and technical analysis on various equities and prepared investment recommendations for the portfolio manager. This experience has enabled me to gain in-depth knowledge of the investment industry, as well as develop strong analytical, research, Excel, and presentation skills.

Given the opportunity to join your organization as an Investment Analyst, I am confident that my skills and passion for the investment industry would make me a valuable asset to the firm. I have a strong desire to help businesses grow and succeed and believe that my experience aligns well with the requirements and objectives of this role.

I appreciate your time and consideration of my application and look forward to the opportunity to further discuss how my financial analysis skills and proactive attitude can contribute to the continued growth and success of your organization.

[Your Name]

Entry-Level Writing Style Example

As a recent graduate from XYZ University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, I am eager to begin my career in the investment industry with a firm that emphasizes integrity, innovation, and growth, such as yours.

During my time at XYZ University, I gained valuable experience as an intern in the finance department of ABC Corp. During this internship, I developed strong analytical skills by assisting with the company’s financial reports and making investment recommendations based on in-depth industry research. Additionally, I gained foundational knowledge of financial modeling and valuation techniques, which I am eager to apply to real-world investment scenarios. I am also proficient in widely-used software tools, such as Excel and Bloomberg, which would enable me to make an immediate impact within your team.

I believe my passion for finance, coupled with my strong work ethic and analytical skills, would make me a valuable addition to your team. I am excited about the possibility of working with an innovative and globally recognized firm like yours that provides ample opportunities to learn and grow as an investment analyst.

I have attached my resume highlighting my academic and professional achievements and look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further. Thank you for taking the time to review my application, and I hope to speak with you soon.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Networking/Referral Writing Style Example

I was referred to this opportunity by John Smith, who currently serves as a Senior Investment Analyst at your firm. John and I worked together at XYZ Investments, where we collaborated on various projects and realized our mutual passion and dedication towards creating successful investment strategies. He speaks highly of your team and the work culture at your organization, which has further motivated me to apply for this role.

As a highly motivated professional with a strong academic background in finance and over three years of experience in investment analysis, I am confident in my ability to make a significant contribution. My experience includes financial modeling, valuation, risk assessment, and working on diverse investment opportunities in stocks, bonds, and alternative investments. I have a proven ability to effectively communicate financial insights and recommendations to various stakeholders, which I believe will make me an asset in contributing to informed investment decisions.

John has confirmed to me that your organization values analytical skills, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic – all qualities that I possess and have showcased throughout my career. I am excited about the opportunity to become a part of your dynamic team and contribute to its growth and success.

Please find my resume attached for your review. I welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to your team and further expand on my qualifications. Thank you for considering my application.

[Your name]

Enthusiastic/Passionate Writing Style Example

Having closely followed your company’s impressive accomplishments and growth in the competitive financial sector, I have been constantly inspired by your innovative strategies and commitment to excellence. Your remarkable investment decisions have not only made a lasting impact on the industry but also have driven me towards pursuing a career as an Investment Analyst with your exceptional team.

As a recent finance graduate from XYZ University, I have consistently demonstrated my strong analytical and quantitative skills over the course of my academic career. My diligence and dedication have earned me several accolades, including top marks in subjects such as Financial Markets, Portfolio Management, and Corporate Finance. I am confident that my extensive knowledge in these areas will add significant value to your team and contribute to the success of your organization.

I have successfully completed internships where my ability to analyze complex financial data, identify risks, and propose sound investment recommendations made me a valuable member of the team. My natural curiosity and enthusiasm for financial markets motivated me to go above and beyond in conducting in-depth research on various industries and investment opportunities.

Beyond my academic and professional qualifications, it is my unquenchable passion for finance and investment that I believe truly sets me apart. I am eager to contribute my knowledge, energy, and unwavering enthusiasm to your already outstanding team of professionals. I am confident that my passion for delivering successful investment strategies will be well-harnessed by your esteemed organization.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my enthusiasm and passion can contribute to the continued growth and success of your organization.

Problem-Solving Writing Style Example

Having conducted thorough research on your company, I have identified that you are currently looking to expand your investment portfolio and strengthen your presence in emerging markets. With my educational background in finance and work experience as an investment analyst, I am uniquely positioned to contribute towards achieving these goals and providing innovative solutions to the challenges faced by your organization.

During my tenure at [Previous Company], I played a key role in analyzing and identifying lucrative investment opportunities in emerging markets such as Asia and Africa. By employing cutting-edge tools and methodologies, along with a keen understanding of geopolitical factors and market trends, I successfully helped the company diversify its investments, leading to an impressive 20% annual return on its emerging market portfolio.

My strong analytical skills and ability to leverage data-driven insights have driven my success in identifying lucrative investment opportunities. I believe that my experience in conducting comprehensive due diligence, along with my proficiency in Excel and financial modeling software, make me an excellent fit for your organization’s needs.

Serving as an Investment Analyst at your organization will allow me to tackle the unique challenge of expanding your company’s portfolio while managing risk in the dynamic landscape of emerging markets. As a highly motivated individual with a creative approach to problem-solving and a strong analytical mindset, I am confident that my skills and experience will contribute to the continued growth and success of your esteemed organization.

Thank you for considering my application for the Investment Analyst position. I am enthusiastic about the prospect of joining your team and am eager to provide innovative solutions to the challenges your organization faces. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further.

Storytelling/Narrative Writing Style Example

As a child, I would often accompany my father to the local farmers’ market, where he would teach me the art of negotiation and the importance of understanding the value of goods. Little did I know that these early lessons would spark a lifelong passion for analyzing investments and uncovering hidden opportunities in the financial world.

During my college years, I pursued a degree in finance and economics, where I excelled in my coursework and developed a strong foundation in financial analysis. I fondly recall staying up late into the night, pouring over financial statements and market data, as I tried to identify the next “big winner” for my mock investment portfolio. This passion for financial analysis eventually led me to my first internship at a leading investment firm, where I had the opportunity to work closely with seasoned professionals and witness firsthand the impact of sound investment decisions on a company’s long-term success.

As I embark on the next phase of my career, I am excited about the prospect of joining your organization as an Investment Analyst. I am confident that my strong analytical skills, coupled with my passion for uncovering hidden value in the financial markets, will make me a valuable asset to your team. I am eager to contribute my insights and collaborate with my colleagues in order to maximize the returns for your clients.

Thank you for considering my application. I am looking forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further and demonstrate my commitment to becoming a successful Investment Analyst at your organization.

Inventory Manager Cover Letter Examples

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Resume Worded   |  Career Strategy

14 investment analyst cover letters.

Approved by real hiring managers, these Investment Analyst cover letters have been proven to get people hired in 2024. A hiring manager explains why.

Table of contents

• Investment Analyst
• Senior Investment Analyst
• Equity Research Associate
• Equity Research Analyst
• Investment Research Associate
• Alternative introductions for your cover letter
• Investment Analyst resume examples

Investment Analyst Cover Letter Example

Why this cover letter works in 2024, personal connection to the company.

This cover letter starts with a personal anecdote that connects the applicant to the company. It shows genuine interest and passion for the role and the company, which is a great way to start.

Quantifiable Achievements

Highlighting specific, quantifiable accomplishments is a powerful way to demonstrate your skills and expertise. In this example, mentioning the successful management of assets and reduction of portfolio volatility provides concrete evidence of the candidate's abilities.

Enthusiasm for the Role

Expressing excitement about the position shows that the candidate is genuinely interested in the role and company, which makes them more appealing to the hiring manager. This sentence does a good job at conveying that enthusiasm.

Polite and Professional Closing

The closing paragraph is brief and expresses gratitude, while maintaining a professional tone. It leaves a positive impression on the reader and invites further discussion about the applicant's qualifications.

Expressing Company Admiration

Directly stating your admiration for the company's business approach demonstrates that you've done your research and that you resonate with the company's values. It's an effective way to show you're not just looking for any job but specifically this one.

Demonstrating Leadership

Sharing about a time you led a team to achieve a significant result is a great way to show your leadership skills. It's not just about the outcome, which is impressive, it's about showing you can guide a team towards a goal.

Relating Past Experience

Linking your past experiences directly to the role you're applying for is a smart move. It shows you understand the role and that you possess relevant, valuable skills. Plus, this shows you're already thinking about how you can contribute.

Showing Enthusiasm

Talking about your excitement for the role is a great way to show your genuine interest. It's more than just wanting a job, it's about being thrilled at the thought of contributing to the company's mission and client's success.

Highlighting Specific Achievements

When you mention a specific project you spearheaded that led to a significant portfolio increase, you're giving me a clear picture of your ability to deliver results. This makes it easier for me to picture how you could fit into our team and what you could potentially achieve.

Relevance to Company Mission

Stating your unique blend of skills and how it aligns with our mission is such a smart move! It shows me that you're not just looking for any job, but rather, you're interested in this specific job because it aligns with your career goals and personal values.

Aligning Personal Aspirations with Company Values

When you talk about our company's emphasis on empowering investors and how it speaks to your core values, it's clear to me that you've done your homework. It also suggests you'd be a good cultural fit, which is just as important as having the right skill set.

Expressing Eagerness for Further Discussion

Your eagerness to discuss this opportunity further tells me that you're truly excited about potentially joining our team. It's a small detail, but it can make a big difference in showing your genuine interest in the position.

Show your interest in the company

Explaining how a conversation sparked your interest in the company makes your application feel more personal and shows you're genuinely interested.

Highlight your track record

Talking about your ability to find undervalued investments shows you have a strong skill set. Including specific results like a 12% portfolio increase makes your experience more impressive.

Express your excitement for the role

When you say you're excited to bring your skills to the company, it shows you're not just looking for any job, but you're passionate about this particular role.

Recognize the company's values

Admiring the company's dedication to clients conveys that you share their values and are likely to fit well with their culture.

Close with a strong call to action

Ending your letter by looking forward to discussing how you can add value invites the next step in the hiring process, showing eagerness and confidence.

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Share your connection to the mission

Mentioning how a company's mission resonates with your personal philosophy helps create a deeper connection and shows you're invested in what they stand for.

Highlight financial analysis skills

Detailing your experience in financial analysis and market research positions you as a candidate who can offer valuable insights and make informed decisions.

Emphasize your analytical strengths

By showcasing your ability to derive insights from complex data, you demonstrate your potential to add value to the company’s research efforts.

Connect your passion to the company’s focus

Expressing interest in key areas like sustainable investing that align with the company’s priorities shows you’re not just a fit for the job but also passionate about the company’s direction.

Express interest in contributing

Communicating your desire to discuss how your skills align with the company’s goals shows initiative and a readiness to contribute to their success.

Connect personal passion with professional goals

Sharing a personal story of how your interest in finance developed shows me you truly care about this field. This goes beyond just having the skills; it demonstrates a lifelong dedication.

Quantify your finance achievements

Mentioning specific numbers, like a 15% outperformance, proves you can deliver real results. This is exactly what hiring managers want to see: tangible evidence of your success.

Demonstrate skill growth in investment analysis

Explaining how you've expanded your capabilities over time, especially in complex tasks like financial modeling, tells me you're someone who is always looking to improve and can handle the evolving nature of finance work.

Express alignment with company values

When you highlight what excites you about the role and the company's focus, it makes me believe you will fit in well with our culture and contribute to our long-term goals.

Close with clear next steps

A strong closing, where you express eagerness for an interview, wraps up your cover letter on a proactive note, showing me you're ready and willing to discuss how you can contribute.

Senior Investment Analyst Cover Letter Example

Aligning with company values.

Expressing alignment with the company's approach and ideology is crucial. It suggests a cultural fit and shows that you appreciate the company's distinct approach to investment strategies.

Illustrating Initiative

Highlighting your initiative to redesign an important process, and its successful outcome, is a smart way to present your problem-solving abilities and leadership skills. It also shows your ability to make positive changes with lasting impact.

Blending Technical and Financial Skills

Showing your ability to blend technical know-how with financial expertise is a powerful way to display your unique skill set. It's not just about having the skills, but about showing how you've applied them to achieve results.

Enthusiasm for Contribution

Expressing excitement about the opportunity to contribute to an already successful company shows your confidence and ambition. It's about demonstrating your eagerness to add value and be part of the company's continued success.

Demonstrating Impact through Leadership

Describing how you led a team to shift a substantial amount into sustainable assets and improved performance, specifically quantifies your impact in a way that's easy to understand. It's a great way to highlight your leadership skills and your ability to make a positive, tangible impact.

Showcasing a Blend of Skills

By communicating how your experiences have honed your analytical skills, leadership capabilities, and commitment to purposeful investment, you're effectively putting a spotlight on your multifaceted skill set. It's a good reminder that a great professional isn't just about one standout skill, but a combination of many.

Expressing Excitement for Company Vision

When you express excitement about our dedication to innovative strategies that prioritize long-term value and sustainability, it assures me that our company's vision aligns with your personal and professional philosophy. This makes me more confident that you would be committed to our cause.

Identifying Specific Initiatives for Contribution

Identifying specific initiatives within our company that you're drawn to and seeing yourself contributing to, not only shows your interest but also indicates that you've spent time understanding our work and where you could add value. This kind of proactive thinking is a great quality to have.

Expressing Gratitude and Openness to Further Conversations

Your gratitude for the consideration and openness to further discussions leaves a positive impression and helps keep the door open for future conversations. It's a polite and professional way to wrap up your letter.

Initiate with a personal connection

Starting your cover letter by mentioning a discussion about the company's innovative approach makes it immediately engaging and shows your proactive interest.

Demonstrate your expertise

Detailing your experience in analysis and strategy development, especially with quantifiable achievements, positions you as a highly skilled candidate right from the start.

Convey your enthusiasm for contributing

Showing excitement about leveraging your expertise at the company demonstrates both confidence in your abilities and a strong desire to contribute to their success.

Value the company culture

Expressing eagerness to collaborate with the team highlights your appreciation for a culture of learning and improvement, which is attractive to employers.

Invite further discussion

Ending with an invitation to discuss how your skills align with the company’s needs effectively opens the door for an interview and demonstrates your initiative.

Show your passion for investment analysis

Expressing your long-term interest in a company's work can make your cover letter more personal and engaging. It shows you're not just looking for any job, but that you're excited about the specific role and company.

Highlight your achievements with numbers

When you share specific outcomes of your work, like a 25% return on an investment, it provides clear evidence of your ability to deliver results. This makes it easy for hiring managers to see your potential impact.

Illustrate your understanding of global markets

Outlining your success and knowledge in areas critical to the role demonstrates your readiness to contribute from day one. It's important to show how your skills and experiences make you a perfect fit for the team.

Connect new skills to company goals

Discussing recent learning, such as a course in machine learning, and how it can be applied to improve company processes, shows your initiative to grow and contribute innovative solutions to the team.

Express your excitement to join the team

Sharing your enthusiasm for contributing to a company's mission can help you stand out. It's a good way to end your letter on a positive note, making a memorable impression.

Define your ideal job criteria

Starting off by listing what you're looking for in a job helps me quickly understand if our position aligns with your expectations and ambitions, making it easier to see if there's a good fit.

Showcase leadership and results in finance

Detailing your experience in managing a substantial portfolio and leading a team adds depth to your application by showing you're not just capable in analytics but also in guiding others to success.

Highlight success in emerging markets

Your ability to identify profitable opportunities in complex areas like emerging markets is highly valuable. It shows you have a keen eye for growth and the skills to navigate uncertainty.

Match your expertise with company ethos

Emphasizing your appreciation for a company's approach to analysis and decision-making indicates that you've done your homework and see yourself contributing to their specific way of working.

Invite discussion on mutual benefit

Ending with an invitation to discuss how you can help the team demonstrates confidence in your ability to add value and shows you're already thinking about how you can contribute to our success.

Equity Research Associate Cover Letter Example

Connect with the company's mission.

When you express genuine admiration for a company's mission, it shows that your values align with theirs. This makes you a more appealing candidate.

Demonstrate your research impact

Highlighting your ability to conduct in-depth research and deliver results that have a real impact shows you have the skills to contribute meaningfully from the start.

Confidence in your contribution

Stating your confidence in making a meaningful contribution demonstrates self-assurance and conviction in your abilities, which is attractive to employers.

Align with the firm's core values

Expressing how your own values and work ethic match the firm’s philosophy shows you’re not just a fit for the role but also for the company culture.

Show eagerness to join the team

Ending your cover letter on a note of eagerness to discuss your potential contribution further illustrates your enthusiasm and proactive attitude.

Equity Research Analyst Cover Letter Example

Appreciate the company's research quality.

Starting with a compliment on the company's work demonstrates your genuine interest and sets a positive tone. It shows that you value their efforts and are eager to be a part of their team.

Describe your impactful analysis

Detailing a specific project where your work helped avoid losses highlights your ability to make a significant difference. It's crucial to share examples that showcase your skills and how they benefit your potential employer.

Show enthusiasm for a specific sector

Expressing a keen interest in covering a particular sector where you believe you can uncover opportunities shows your passion and readiness to contribute valuable insights to the company.

Emphasize your ethical standards

Stressing your commitment to integrity and objectivity reassures employers of your dedication to maintaining trust and quality in your work, which is fundamental in equity research roles.

Highlight your desire to contribute to the team

Conveying your eagerness to bring your skills to the team and contribute to the company's success leaves a strong closing impression on the hiring manager, enhancing your chances of being remembered.

Investment Research Associate Cover Letter Example

Show your initial interest in investment research.

Talking about how you first found your passion offers a personal touch. It makes your cover letter memorable.

Quantify your academic achievements

Numbers make your successes clear and easy to understand. Mentioning your GPA and investment returns shows you're both smart and effective.

Detail your relevant job experience

Describing your current job tasks shows you have the skills needed for the investment research associate role. It makes me believe you can do the job well.

Explain why you're drawn to the company

When you mention what you like about Fidelity, it shows you've done your homework. It suggests you are serious about wanting to work there.

Express your enthusiasm to contribute

Ending your letter by expressing a strong desire to discuss your potential contributions gives a good last impression. It makes me want to invite you for an interview.

Alternative Introductions

If you're struggling to start your cover letter, here are 6 different variations that have worked for others, along with why they worked. Use them as inspiration for your introductory paragraph.

Cover Letters For Jobs Similar To Investment Analyst Roles

• Entry Level/Junior Financial Analyst Cover Letter Guide
• Financial Analyst Cover Letter Guide
• Financial Analyst Intern Cover Letter Guide
• Investment Analyst Cover Letter Guide
• Portfolio Manager Cover Letter Guide
• Real Estate Financial Analyst Cover Letter Guide
• Senior Financial Analyst Cover Letter Guide

Other Finance Cover Letters

• Accountant Cover Letter Guide
• Auditor Cover Letter Guide
• Bookkeeper Cover Letter Guide
• Claims Adjuster Cover Letter Guide
• Cost Analyst Cover Letter Guide
• Credit Analyst Cover Letter Guide
• Finance Director Cover Letter Guide
• Finance Executive Cover Letter Guide
• Financial Advisor Cover Letter Guide
• Financial Controller Cover Letter Guide
• Loan Processor Cover Letter Guide
• Payroll Specialist Cover Letter Guide
• Purchasing Manager Cover Letter Guide
• VP of Finance Cover Letter Guide

Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

Jobscan > Cover Letter Writing Guide

How To Write A Cover Letter in 2024 (Expert Tips and Examples)

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to write a cover letter that will get you noticed by recruiters.

Trusted by:

A survey revealed that 77% of recruiters prefer candidates who send in a cover letter, even if submitting it is optional. Additionally, 90% of executives consider cover letters invaluable when assessing job candidates.

So, if you think cover letters are no longer important and necessary in 2024, think again.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you write a cover letter that effectively sells your skills and professional experience, increases your chances of getting interviews, and gets your foot in the door.

Table of Contents

What is a cover letter and do you still need one in 2024?

A cover letter is a letter of introduction accompanying your resume that paints why you are the best person for the job, what you bring to the table, and how you can help move the company forward.

Is the cover letter dead? No! In fact, a recent study by ResumeLab revealed that 64% of job vacancies still require that you include a cover letter in your application and 83% of HR pros said that cover letters are important for their hiring decision.

The bottom line is that a cover letter is still a valuable piece of your job search collateral. Nail your cover letter and you could end up getting that dream job.

So what exactly do you need to accomplish in your cover letter?

What is the purpose of a cover letter?

According to 49% of HR managers , your cover letter is the second best way to call attention to your resume and distinguish yourself from other applicants.

So the main purpose of your cover letter is to compel the recruiter to read more about you on your resume and move you to the next part of the hiring process.

Further, according to award-winning resume expert Melanie Denny , your cover letter is your value proposition letter. It proves why you are the best candidate to address the company’s needs with the professional skills and qualifications to succeed in the job.

Here’s an example of a great cover letter:

Now let’s get into the details of what your cover letter needs to include.

Cover Letter Structure Checklist

Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to include in your cover letter.

• Contact Details Name Address (or City, State with zip code) Phone number Email address
• Greeting Whenever possible, address the hiring manager by name.
• Opening Who are you? What are your relevant skills and accomplishments?
• Body (1-2 paragraphs) What do you know about the company? Why are you applying for this job? What value can you bring to the company? Include measurable results when possible.
• Closing Reiterate your interest. Add a Call to Action. Mention any attachments. Use a professional sign-off like “Best” or “Sincerely” before your full name.

Here’s an example for the visual learners out there:

Now that you know the basics of what to include in your cover letter, let’s go through the process from start to finish to see how you can write a cover letter that will make you stand out from the rest of the candidates.

How to write a cover letter in 9 steps

It can be intimidating to try to parse down all your best qualities into a few quick paragraphs for your cover letter.

Here are 9 steps you can take to make sure you’re headed in the right direction:

Step 1. Do your research

Before writing your cover letter, thoroughly read the job description and the requirements for the job.

Melanie Denny , award-winning resume expert, likens the job description to your cover letter cheat sheet. And when checking the job description, she says you need to consider the following:

• What are the company’s priorities?
• What are their goals for the role?
• What outcomes and accomplishments in your previous roles match the goals?
• What are the key phrases and verbiage the company uses?

This will help you customize your cover letter, angle yourself and your narrative to fit the role better, and impress the hiring manager.

Try reaching out to the recruiter, hiring manager, or someone working in the company if you want more in-depth information about the company and the position you are applying for.

Step 2. Customize your cover letter for every job

Make sure your cover letter matches the job you are applying for. Writing a generic cover letter is a missed opportunity as this will not appeal to the recruiter or hiring manager. According to research from ResumeGo , 81% of HR professionals value job-specific cover letters over generic ones. Jobseekers who had tailored cover letters received a 53% higher callback rate compared to those who had no cover letter.

Remember, your cover letter is your chance to prove that you are passionate about working for a given company, so take the time to write a tailored cover letter for each position . You can do this by mentioning your skills and experience that are directly related to what’s mentioned in the job description. If you’re applying for a data analyst role that requires expertise in Microsoft Power BI, cite an example of a Power BI dashboard you built and how it helped the company.

Read our full guide: How to Optimize Your Cover Letter

Step 3. Include all of your contact info

You should make it easy for the hiring manager to reach you. In your cover letter, list these three things:

• Address (including zip code– for ATS purposes )
• Phone number with area code
• Email address
• Name of the Hiring Manager
• Name of the Company
• Address of the Company

Traditionally, your contact information is included in the upper left corner of your cover letter if you’re writing in a document. If you’re writing an email, this can be included beneath your signature at the end of the message.

Cover Letter Header Example:

Jane Jobscan Seattle, WA 98101 (555) 555-5555 • [email protected] linkedin.com/in/jane-jobscan

February 25, 2024

Lavinia Smith Hiring Manager Media Raven, Inc. Plantersville, MS 38862

Step 4. Address your cover letter to a real person

According to Melanie Denny, resume expert and President of Resume-Evolution, addressing your cover letter to a real person and addressing them by their name feels more personal and shows recruiters and hiring managers that you took time and did the research.

You can usually find the hiring manager’s name by searching the company website or LinkedIn profile, or by calling the company and asking which hiring manager is assigned to the particular position.

Once you learn the name, a simple greeting of “John” or “Hello John” is all you need.

If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, you can use any of the following:

• Dear Hiring Manager
• Dear (Department) Team
• To whom it may concern

Read our full guide: How to Address a Cover Letter

Step 5. Write a strong opening statement

Melanie Denny suggests that you start your cover letter with a bang. This will hook the hiring manager’s interest and show them how you can be a valuable addition to the team.

Here are things you can do:

• Open with a thought-provoking question
• Make a big claim about what you can do for the company
• Say something relevant and specific to the company

For example,

“I want to bring the marketing department of Media Raven Inc. to the next level and help the company exceed goals and reach more customers as Marketing Manager.”

Step 6. Prove how your professional background and skills help the company in the body of your cover letter

Take advantage of this real estate and prove to the prospective employer how your background, values, and professional experiences position you as the best fit for what the role requires.

This is especially important if you are switching careers. Highlight your relevant accomplishments in your cover letter, showcase your transferable skills, and explain how you can help the company address its challenges and succeed.

For example:

“As the Director of Marketing at ABC Company since 2018, I directed all phases of both the creative and technical elements of marketing initiatives, including data mining, brand creation, print/web collateral development, lead generation, channel partner cultivation, customer segmentation/profiling, as well as CRM and acquisition strategies.

Perhaps most importantly, I offer a history of proven results, as evidenced by the following marketing accomplishments for my current employer:

• Captured a 28% expansion in customer base since 2018, achieved during a period of overall decline in the retail industry.
• Led national marketing campaign (comprised of trade shows, media, and PR initiatives) for my company’s newly launched technology services division
• Developed and executed SEO strategy that achieved and sustained top 3 rankings on Google (organic, nonpaid results) for key product search terms.
• Oversaw the creation of a new company logo and rebranded 100+ products to cement a cohesive corporate identity and support new company direction.”

Just like when writing a resume, your cover letter should only include the most relevant and positive information about you. To home in on the right skills and qualifications to mention, try scanning your cover letter .

Read our full guide: What Do You Put in a Cover Letter?

Step 7. Write a strong closing statement and a call to action

Use the closing of your cover letter to:

• Thank the hiring manager for their time
• Mention any attachments (resume, portfolio, samples)
• Invite to schedule an interview
• Let the hiring manager know that you will follow up

Keep the closing professional and try not to sound too eager since that can come off as desperate. You must also keep in mind the tone and personality of the company you’re communicating with.

“Given the opportunity, I’m confident I can achieve similar groundbreaking marketing results for Media Raven, Inc.

Ms. Smith, I would welcome the chance to discuss your marketing objectives and how I can help you attain them. Feel free to call me at (555) 555-5555 or email me at [email protected] to arrange a meeting. I look forward to speaking with you.”

Read our full guide: How to End a Cover Letter With a Call to Action

Step 8. End with a professional closing salutation

To finish out the closing , use a formal signature. You can use “Sincerely,” “Best,” “Regards,” “Yours,” or any other professional signoff.

Use your first and last name as your signature. If you’re sending your cover letter in the body of an email, make sure it’s your personal email account that does not list your current work signature beneath the email. Your other option is to write the cover letter in a word document, save it as a PDF, and attach it to your email.

Step 9. Optimize your cover letter for the ATS

The Applicant Tracking System or the ATS is a software that companies use to screen applications and shrink their pool of applicants. Through the ATS database, a recruiter or hiring manager can just search for specific skills and keywords and the ATS will return a list of the top candidates who match the search criteria.

To optimize your cover letter for ATS, you need to:

• Carefully read the job description
• Take note of skills and resume keywords frequently mentioned
• Incorporate these keywords into your cover letter

Read our full guide: How to Optimize Your Cover Letter to Beat the ATS

Does your cover letter pass the test?

Scan your cover letter to see how well it matches the job you're applying for. Optimize your cover letter and resume with Jobscan to get more interviews.

How to Format Your Cover Letter

A cover letter is a letter, but that doesn’t mean you should just plop everything onto the page in a stream-of-consciousness flow. After all, cover letter formats determine the order in which the hiring manager learns about you, which can significantly influence their first impression. Use the format order below as a guideline for building the structure of your cover letter.

Notice how the topics flow like a conversation? When you first meet someone, you introduce yourself, tell them your name and a little about yourself, and then leave the conversation open for future meetings.

Your cover letter is just a like having a conversation with someone for the first time. Keeping that in mind will help you to keep things simple and focus on the right information.

Below are some examples of how to format your cover letter for different types of applications.

How to format your cover letter for a job

• State your name
• Explain your work history
• Tell them what you can do for their company
• Say goodbye

How to format your cover letter for an internship

• Explain your coursework history and education
• Explain what you can gain professionally

How to format your cover letter with no experience

• Explain your skillset and character qualities that make you well-suited for the role
• Outline entry-level achievements

You can also check out our cover letter templates to help you as you write your own cover letter.

Do you want to save time and receive instant feedback on your cover letter? Check out Jobscan’s cover letter tool .

Read more : How to Write a Resume for Today’s Job Market

Cover Letter Examples

Here are some examples to help you create a cover letter that will make you stand out and give a strong first impression.

1. Internship Cover Letter Example

2. Career Change Cover Letter Example

3. Operations Manager Cover Letter Example

4. Communications Professional Cover Letter Example

5. Software Engineer Cover Letter Example

Cover Letter Do’s and Don’ts

Aside from the basic steps of how to write a cover letter, there are some things you definitely need to make sure you avoid – and things you can’t skip! Follow these do’s and don’ts for writing a cover letter, and you’ll end up with a much better result.

• Use a cover letter unless one was requested.
• Attach a cover letter directly to your resume unless requested to do so.
• Use the same boilerplate cover letter for multiple job applications.
• Over-explain your work history, employment gaps, or qualifications – save it for the interview.
• Badmouth any of your past employers.
• Use the cover letter to complain or tell about your job search journey.
• Use non-standard formatting like tables, columns, or graphics. (ATS can’t read those and your cover letter copy might not be scannable by the system.)
• Use long paragraphs.
• Customize a cover letter for every job application that asks for one.
• Incorporate the top skills or keywords from the job description in your cover letter.
• Include the company name and address, the job title, and point of contact’s name on your cover letter.
• Incorporate relevant and compelling measurable results in your cover letter.
• Explain, briefly, any dramatic shifts in a career (i.e. you are changing industries or job titles).
• Use company information to relate your interest in the job.
• Keep your cover letter concise.
• Convey WHY you are right for the position.

More Cover Letter Tips

• When emailing your cover letter, be strategic with your subject line. Never leave the subject line blank, and double-check for specific instructions in the job posting. If possible, use the email subject line to sell yourself. For example: “Experienced Software Engineer Seeks Senior Level Mobile Position.”
• Keep your cover letter brief and to the point. The hiring manager will be reading many cover letters. By carefully selecting your words and experiences to include, you can stand out from the crowd of applicants.
• Be confident. Let the hiring manager know the reasons why you deserve this position, and make yourself believe them too!
• Your cover letter should not be simply a rephrasing of your resume. Let your personality show and go into further detail about your most valuable skills and experiences.
• Do your research on the company and position before writing the cover letter. It should be customized to that specific company’s values and needs. Hiring managers can spot a generic resume from a mile away.
• Use the job posting as your guide for what topics, skills, and experience to focus on.
• The best cover letters include keywords from the job posting. Applicant tracking systems may scan your cover letter along with your resume and will be using these keywords to sort through the applicants.
• Check for spelling and grammar errors.
• Send your cover letter as a PDF to avoid readability issues and to present the most professional application package.
• Scan Your Cover Letter with Jobscan to make sure you’re checking all the boxes.

Optimize Your Cover Letter with Jobscan’s Cover Letter Scanner

In addition to resume scans, Jobscan Premium users can also scan their cover letters against a job description.

This generates a report of the top hard skills and soft skills found in the job description that should be included in your cover letter, plus additional checks for optimal length, contact information, measurable results, and more.

Here’s how it works:

Key Takeaways

Your cover letter gives recruiters, hiring managers, and prospective employers an overview of your professional qualifications and relevant accomplishments that position you as the best candidate for the job.

So you have to make your cover letter powerful and interesting enough to make the recruiter or hiring manager read your resume and move you to the next step of the hiring process.

Here are key pointers when writing your cover letter.

• Make sure you’ve read the job description and done your research about the company.
• Get to know the name of the recruiter or hiring manager so you can address your cover letter properly.
• Include relevant and measurable accomplishments in the body of your cover letter to prove to the hiring manager that you have what it takes to succeed in the job.
• Keep your cover letter short and concise.
• Your cover letter is not a substitute for your resume so don’t just copy and paste whatever is in your resume into your cover letter.

One last important reminder!

Having a strong cover letter is not enough. You also need to create a killer resume to make sure you stand out and land job interviews.

Learn more about writing a cover letter

How to Address a Cover Letter

10 Tips for Writing a Cover Letter

The Career Change Cover Letter: How to Get it Right

What Do You Put in a Cover Letter?

Is Your Cover Letter Robot-Approved?

How to End a Cover Letter with a Call to Action

Frequently asked questions, what are the different types of cover letters.

There are four types of cover letters.

• Application cover letter An application cover letter is what you send to the recruiter or hiring manager along with your resume.
• Prospecting cover letter You send this when you want to inquire prospective employers about open positions in their company or put yourself top-of-mind when they do decide to hire.
• Networking cover letter You will send this to professionals in your network in hopes of getting referrals, introductions, job search advice, and job opportunities.
• Career change cover letter This is what you send when you are switching careers or industries.

What tense should I use when writing a cover letter?

It can be appropriate to change tenses throughout your cover letter.

For example, you can explain who you are in the present tense and explain important aspects of your work history in the past tense. You can switch to future perfect tense when discussing the ways you would perform if given the position.

Think of it like this, “I am ABC, I did XYZ previously, and I look forward to doing EFG in this position.”

What to include in a cover letter

Our cover letter guidelines above explain how to write a cover letter more deeply, but in summary, you should always include your name, relevant work experience, and reasons why you are right for the job in your cover letter.

When not to include a cover letter

• When the job posting clearly states not to include a cover letter
• When you don’t have the time and energy to customize your cover letter. It’s better not to send a cover letter than to send a half-baked and mediocre one.
• When you are applying online and there is no field to upload your cover letter.
• When your cover letter has a lot of typos and errors.

What should you send first: a cover letter or a resume?

Typically, your cover letter and resume will be sent as a pair, but your cover letter is meant to be an introduction to your resume. If it is an email, use the cover letter in the body and attach your resume, otherwise, attach both.

Pro Tip: Be sure to review all instructions in the job description to follow the hiring manager’s requests.

How long should a cover letter be?

According to 70% of recruiters, a cover letter should not exceed 250 to 300 words.

Although there is no hard and fast rule about this, the ideal cover letter length should be around half a page to one full page in length to keep your message concise, clear, and easy to digest.

Should a cover letter be sent as a file attachment?

If it is not specified in the job posting, a cover letter can be sent either as an attachment (PDF is best) or in the body of an application email with your resume attached.

How to share a cover letter with a potential employer

There are several methods of sharing a cover letter with potential employers, depending on their application process.

Cover letters can be written on a document and turned into a PDF to be uploaded to a job application website or attached to an email along with your resume.

In other cases, your cover letter can simply be written in the email message to a hiring manager, with your resume attached.

How to title and save your cover letter

The key in every aspect of job applications is to make yourself an easy “yes” for your potential employer. That means making it easy for the hiring manager to keep track of your application materials for later review. With this in mind, make sure your full name and the phrase “cover letter” are included in the file label. Other helpful details might include the job title you’re applying for or the year of your application.

Here are a few examples:

• Your Name_Cover Letter_Job Title.pdf
• Cover Letter_Your Name_Job Title.pdf
• Job Title_Your Name_Cover Letter.pdf
• Your Name_Cover Letter_2024.pdf
• Cover Letter_Your Name_2024.pdf

Explore more cover letter resources

Cover Letter Formats

ATS-Optimized Cover Letter

Cover Letter Templates

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