The Ideal Cover Letter So how do you actually write a solid cover letter?

Follow the tips below, and then copy the investment banking cover letter template once youve figured out what youre going to say. The Information at the Top Nothing too fancy here. Your name and contact information could go on the right side, and the recruiters / firms name and contact information could go on the left. If you dont have a name, dont panic just use the company name and address instead. Yes, its better to have a real name and send it to a real person, but its not a deal-breaker. Similarly, Dear so-and-so works better if the so-and-so is someones name but if you dont have it, Dear Sir or Madam is acceptable. Paragraph 1: Introduction Heres where you say who you are and how you learned of the opportunity from networking, from an event, from a friend or however else you found out. Then you say what attracts you to the company and the specific position. Keep this short 2 to 3 sentences is best. Paragraph 2: Your Background This is usually your longest paragraph. Start out by writing what youre currently doing, and then give the relevant internships/jobs youve had. Focus on useful skills (e.g. financial analysis) and whatever you did thats applicable to banking, trading, or whatever youre applying for. A reverse chronological structure works well because most of the time, your most relevant experience will also be the most recent. I would use no more than 5 sentences for this one. Paragraph 3: Why Youre a Good Fit This is a shorter paragraph. You should explain why your skills / experiences match whatever youre applying for and re-iterate what makes you interested. If you have anything unique (for example, youre applying to a middle-market private equity firm after having run your own middle-market company), you may also want to mention it here as another selling point.

Paragraph 4: Conclusion Remind them that your resume is enclosed, give your contact information and say that you look forward to hearing from them soon. Keep this to a few short sentences. Exceptions Sometimes this exact structure doesnt work if youve had more extensive experience (i.e. youre not just out of undergraduate or business school) or have unusual circumstances, you may want to write something slightly different. Lets say youre applying to investment management firms in China and you grew up there, having moved abroad when you were 10 in that case you probably want to use 1 paragraph for your finance experience and another paragraph for your China experience rather than just writing 1 background paragraph. No matter what your background, though, keep your cover letter brief, logical and relevant. Otherwise you look like a fool.

[Your Name] [Your Address] [Your Phone Number] [Your Email Address] [Date] [Name of Recruiter] [Title] [Name of Bank] [Recruiters Address] Dear Mr. / Ms. [Recruiters Name], My name is [Your Name] and I am currently [a Year in School and Major / Business School Student at [School Name]] / [Working at Company Name in Division Name]. 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 am interested in pursuing an [Investment Banking Analyst / Associate] position at your firm, and have enclosed my resume and background information below. I have previously [Completed Internships In / Worked Full-Time In]. Through this experience [Working on Transactions / Leading Teams and Managing Projects / Performing Quantitative Analysis], I have gained [Go Into Anything Relevant to Banking, Such As Analytical / Leadership / Teamwork / Finance / Accounting] skills and honed my [Any Other Relevant Skills]. I also had the opportunity to work on [High-Impact Project], which [Describe Results]. Given my background in [Summarize Internships / Work Experience] and my [Summarize Skills] skills, I am a particularly good fit for the [Position Name] position at your firm. I am impressed by your track record of [Transactions / Clients] at [Firm Name] and the significant responsibilities given to [Position Name], and I look forward to joining and contributing to your firm. 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 [Firm Name] at your earliest convenience. I can be reached at [Phone Number] or via email at [Email Address]. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Signature] Enclosure: Resume

Richard Anderson, 1234, West 67 Street, Carlisle, MA 01741, (123)-456 7890. Date: 15th July, 2009. Mr. John Smith, National Bank, 257, Park Avenue South, New York, NY 12345-6789. Dear Mr. John Smith During my several working years I deal with many people in different professional settings and now I am seeking to influence my work in a customer service position in the banking field at branch level. And because of that I was so egger to know that your branch is presently looking for a customer service representative. If possible this post will let me to utilize my previous experience as an assistant manager at Chai Time Books. I managed this store in sales generation, customer relations, reporting, workflow management, banking, staff supervision and training, and resolution of problems. I have attached my resume for your reference. Just go through it and if you have any doubts or any question regarding my work or anything you are free to call me at (123) 456-7890. But I would like to participate in a personal interview to answer any of your questions. I look forward to meet you in person. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, [Signature] Richard Anderson. Enclosures: