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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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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 Banking Cover Letter Template

Free cover letter template to help you break into Investment Banking (IB)

Mr. Arora is an experienced private equity investment professional, with experience working across multiple markets. Rohan has a focus in particular on consumer and business services transactions and operational growth. Rohan has also worked at Evercore, where he also spent time in private equity advisory.

Rohan holds a BA (Hons., Scholar) in Economics and Management from Oxford University.

Chris currently works as an investment associate with Ascension Ventures, a strategic healthcare venture fund that invests on behalf of thirteen of the nation's leading health systems with $88 billion in combined operating revenue. Previously, Chris served as an investment analyst with New Holland Capital, a hedge fund-of-funds  asset management  firm with $20 billion under management, and as an investment banking analyst in  SunTrust Robinson Humphrey 's Financial Sponsor Group.

Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and earned a Master of Finance (MSF) from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis.

• Investment Banking Cover Letter Template: Advice From The WSO Community

Why Do Cover Letters Matter?

• Less Is More For Cover Letters

The Hail Mary Cover Letter

• WSO Cover Letter Template

Attached at the bottom of this post is the FREE investment banking cover letter template that is sometimes used for WSO cover letter review clients.

We have decided to make it free to help those of you that can't afford a more tailored service .

This cover letter template uses bullets to keep the points succinct and format easy to read .

You'll also notice that the header matches the WSO  investment banking resume template format.

Investment Banking Cover Letter Template: Advice from the WSO Community

Here's what you need to know about the IB cover letters from our community.

CompBanker: The cover letter holds almost no weight, other than to put you at risk for being dinged. Make it very simple, very bland, and just say all the usual things. If you have mistakes in it or make outrageous claims, your cover letter will be circulated and laughed at.

Like @CompBanker said, you won't get the interview with your cover letter .

Your goal for the cover letter isn't to single-handedly land you an interview with your eloquence and grandiose; it's to check the box and make sure it's proper enough that it doesn't get you dinged .

The Only Program You Need to Land in High Finance Careers

The most comprehensive curriculum and support network to break into high finance.

Less Is More for Cover Letters

Our users shared great input on why 'less is more' when it comes to cover letters.

bkm125: What you really want people to be looking at is the resume. The longer your cover letter is the larger the chance that you'll have a typo or say something stupid. Just tell them what job you're applying for, who you've been in touch with at the firm, and maybe a few sentences about your qualifications and lock up the deal with a solid resume.

K.I.S.S: Keep It Simple Stupid.

Mention who you've talked to at the firm , your interest in the job, your qualifications , and briefly (very briefly) explain any gaps in your resume .

Avoid excuses , more on this later.

Two or three paragraphs is all you need for that. Any more than that , and you're giving them potential reasons to ding you .

Here's some great advice from @blackice".

blackice: The best thing you can do is name drop people you have talked to. That way I know you have done your homework, and I can ask the person you talked to how your chat was. I think cover letters are better when they are focused on your past work experience as opposed to general and arbitrary sentiments about how you are a "hard worker and team player with a strict attention to detail".

If you've talked to someone at the firm and they'd remember you, DO namedrop them in your cover letter.

Common Cover Letter Mistakes

Here are some of the usual mistakes candidates make in their cover letter as mentioned by our member @qonnect.me.

This is an example of an excuse in a cover letter:

"I realize I have more professional experience in technology than in finance. I believe that was just due to bad luck due to graduating from my MBA program at the height of the 'Great Recession '. However, I am 100% committed and motivated to prove myself in a finance position."

Bad luck? No, it's the shitty and difficult-to-read resume , cover letter , and 'research reports' that are the issue .

What goes on in the recruiters head: I'm almost certain you would be a terrible employee just by the quality of the work you sent me in a cold email . You graduated from college 10 years ago, by the way. I remember at least a few of those as being pretty good years. If you were halfway decent, you could have squeaked in the industry in more than a few of those years.

Please do not pin all of your circumstance on luck , especially in a cover letter .

Even if the reader is a big believer in luck , you're telling him you're unlucky .

Who wants to hire someone who's unlucky? It seems the bad luck streak started in utero, if you ask us.

Revealing Your Ignorance:

Even worse than just plain ignorance, is the below quote from an attached research report that a candidate had written. Since he thought it was worth including, I assume the report was something he was proud of, but it was cringe-worthy.

"I am placing a STRONG BUY recommendation on [company]. ("ticker") and believe that [the company], at the current price of $10.00, trades at a 123% discount to my estimated fair market value of $22.30" (Both made up numbers to scale to the actual numbers listed in the 'report')

The report should have never been attached .

It made a weak applicant look even worse . He's clearly never done anything but 'book learn' on these subjects. It's painfully obvious by reading the report. He uses four valuation methodologies on the stock with the sole intention of showing that he knows more than one valuation method .

If you're thinking of including a research report on a company when you're cold emailing people, it's a high-risk strategy. Your research probably sucks unless you've been doing it professionally. If there is any doubt at all about including a 'research report', do not do it.

Side note: The research report had a lot of opinions and not a lot of facts, and it lacked connections between really basic facts about the current state of the business to the 'projections'.

If you don't think you have a chance to get the job, you can toss a Hail Mary with your cover letter .

Here's a cover letter an audacious undergrad used in an effort to stand out and grab the attention of its reader .

A big swing that's either a hit or miss . We don't recommend using this cover letter unless you lack the slightest chance of getting the interview in the first place.

Dear BLOCKED, My name is (BLOCKED), and I am an undergraduate finance student at (BLOCKED). I met you the summer before last at Smith & Wollensky's in New York when I was touring the east coast with my uncle, (BLOCKED). I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to talk with me that night. I am writing to inquire about a possible summer internship in your office. I am aware it is highly unusual for undergraduates from average universities like (BLOCKED) to intern at (BLOCKED), but nevertheless, I was hoping you might make an exception. I am extremely interested in investment banking and would love nothing more than to learn under your tutelage. I have no qualms about fetching coffee, shining shoes, or picking up laundry, and will work for next to nothing. In all honesty, I just want to be around professionals in the industry and gain as much knowledge as I can. I won't waste your time inflating my credentials, throwing around exaggerated job titles, or feeding you a line of crap (sic) about how my past experiences and skill set align perfectly for an investment banking internship . The truth is I have no unbelievably special skills or genius eccentricities, but I do have a near perfect GPA and will work hard for you. I've interned for Merrill Lynch in the Wealth Management Division and taken an investment banking class at (BLOCKED), for whatever that is worth. I am currently awaiting admission results for (BLOCKED) Masters of Science in Accountancy program, which I would begin this fall if admitted. I am also planning on attending law school after my master's program, which we spoke about in New York. I apologize for the blunt nature of my letter, but I hope you seriously consider taking me under your wing this summer. I have attached my resume for your review. Feel free to call me at (BLOCKED) or email at (BLOCKED). Thank you for your time. Sincerely, BLOCKED.

Interested in Investment Banking - Breaking In

If you want to break into investment banking, you need to be well-prepared for the technical aspects of the interview. We advise you to check out our  Free Investment Banking Interview Guide  first, before investing in  our paid course , so that you have an idea of what to expect.

Two common mistakes that candidates make while recruiting for IB: 

• Using phrasing like "After my summer analyst stint, I learned the entire deal execution process...", "I am extremely proficient in Excel and financial modeling ...", etc. You get the idea. Be confident, but don't over-emphasize anything out of the scope of your ability to speak to it.
• Not enough emphasis on teamwork. This is important. People should know that you are able to work with others. This is easy to incorporate, just give a brief two sentence overview of what your team structure was and why it made sense.

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3 Investment Banking Cover Letter Examples Made in 2024 

• Investment Banking Cover Letter
• Investment Banking Internship Cover Letter
• Investment Banking Analyst Cover Letter
• Write Your Investment Banking Cover Letter

Identifying investment opportunities is where you shine. Risk and return profiles are identified, valuations are completed, and acquisitions are performed successfully with you on the job.

But have you invested enough time writing a cover letter that complements your investment banking resume and helps land your next job?

We’ll help you get started with our investment banking cover letter examples . They’ll provide an easy template for success and, when coupled with our AI cover letter generator, will ensure you stand out in this results-driven field.

Investment Banking Cover Letter Example

USE THIS TEMPLATE

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Block Format

Copy this text for your investment banking cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue New Orleans, LA 70112 (123) 456-7890

October 01, 2023

Ethan Davis Capital One Securities 123 Fictional Lane New Orleans, LA 70112

Dear Mr. Davis:

As a fervent believer in the power of data-driven decision making in my professional career and personal investment endeavors, I spend my evenings studying financial market trends and identifying potential opportunities when I’m not engrossed in aiding clients in reaching their financial goals. Pairing my passion for finance with my keen understanding of various industry nuances, I am excited to join Capital One Securities as an investment banking associate.

During my tenure at UBS, I honed my expertise in data analysis, using advanced tools like Python and Excel to sort through vast amounts of information. I successfully identified vital investment opportunities that contributed to the growth and diversification of portfolios, thereby increasing the company’s average annual return on investment by 8.2%.

As a financial analyst at Valmiki 504, also based in New Orleans, I dove headfirst into financial statement analysis, scrutinizing balance sheets, cash flow, and income statements. Consequently, my analysis contributed to improvements in client portfolio performance, with a 6.7% increase in average annual returns.

Being involved in numerous Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) deals as part of the strategic financial advisory team at Dorsey & Company, I implemented a systematic approach to risk analysis and valuations. My prowess in executing due diligence and navigating financial models was instrumental in securing successful deals for the advisors. Our team collectively increased completed M&A transactions by 9.4% during my time there, benefiting clients through synergistic growth.

I am eager to leverage my enthusiasm and skillset to augment Capital One Securities’ position at the forefront of the financial sector. I look forward to discussing how my expertise can contribute to the growth and continued success of Capital One Securities and its client base. Thank you.

Liam Andersen

Enclosures: Resume Application Academic Transcript

Why this cover letter works

• Follow this with a compelling narrative of relevant work experiences , backing up impacts made in previous workplaces using numbers, percentages, and revenues. Skills such as data analysis, financial statement and risk analysis, and software Python and Excel should suffice in your piece.

Level up your cover letter game

Relax! We’ll do the heavy lifiting to write your cover letter in seconds.

Investment Banking Internship Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your investment banking internship to your cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue New York City, NY 10001 (123) 456-7890

Liam Harris JPMorgan Chase & Co. 123 Fictional Lane New York City, NY 10001

Dear Mr. Harris:

Influenced by the allure of the world of finance and its complex interplay of numbers, I spend my leisure hours tracking global economic indicators when I’m not thoroughly engrossed in my academic pursuit of finance. This fascination for finance and my keen interest in building personalized investment portfolios ignited my enthusiasm to be part of JPMorgan Chase & Co. as an investment banking valuation intern.

During my time at New York University, I honed my skills in Python to analyze complex financial datasets, proving instrumental to our team’s success in the annual Love Data Week competition. The models I developed contributed to us outperforming 52+ teams and winning by a margin of 3.2%.

As a research Intern at the NYU Stern School of Business, utilizing tools like Bloomberg Terminal and FactSet, I completed a research project on the impact of modern trade wars on international markets. The efforts culminated in a published paper that was well-received in academia.

Additionally, my coursework in statistical analysis spurred my interest in predicting financial trends. By employing these skills, I earned the second spot in the college’s annual forecast challenge, predicting S&P 500 performance with an accuracy level of 92.3%.

The idea of playing an indispensable part at the trailblazing vanguard of the finance industry exhilarates me to no end. I look forward to discussing my qualifications in detail at your earliest convenience. Thank you.

Zara Jafari

• Of course, the majority of your piece will focus on academic accomplishments. But don’t just highlight your technical know-how. Briefly narrate instances where you translated classroom knowledge into tangible impact during class projects, competitions, simulations, and possibly an internship or volunteer program.

Investment Banking Analyst Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your investment banking analyst cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue Memphis, TN 38101 (123) 456-7890

Ava Wilson First Horizon National Corporation 123 Fictional Lane Memphis, TN 38101

Dear Ms. Wilson:

Responding to First Horizon National Corporation’s compelling belief that creating new horizons is critical to client success, I am eager to join your dynamic team of innovators as your next investment banking analyst. Firmly believing in the heightened potential that emerges when diverse insights merge and align toward a shared financial goal, I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with your team of skilled analysts and finance experts.

One of my skills, Comparable Company Analysis (CCA), helped me carve a significant niche at Raymond James. By applying such in-depth analyses, I was able to implement strategies that led to an annual yield increase of 7.3% for our locally focused portfolios, demonstrating the power of well-applied industry knowledge. Moreover, proficiency in pitch book preparation has augmented my communicative prowess, allowing me to clearly convey complex financial narratives. This proficiency manifested in more than just words, driving a 16.4% growth in local investments by effectively showcasing our value propositions to Memphis clients.

My firm grasp of capital structure analysis further complements these core competencies. Using Bloomberg Terminal and FactSet, I dissected intricate financial data at NewSouth Capital Management, which eventually reduced client portfolios’ cost of capital by 14.7%.

As seen from my history of aiding Memphis-based organizations like Bluff City Coffee & Bakery and Medtronic, I am committed to building solid relationships and paving ways for clients to reach their long-term financial objectives seamlessly.

Inspired and motivated by First Horizon’s dedication to guiding its clients toward fruitful opportunities, I look forward to contributing to your mission. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to discussing how my experiences and skills could further bolster the growth of First Horizon National Corporation.

Nina Petrovic

• Go ahead and show off your professional arsenal (cue comparable company analysis, pitch book preparation, or capital structure analysis). Weaving in quantifiable wins, like an annual yield increase of 7.3%, anchors your credibility.

Related cover letter examples

• Investment banking resume
• Financial analyst
• Bank teller
• Account manager

Tips to Write a Successful Investment Banking Cover Letter

When optimizing a client’s investment portfolio, you always ensure you account for their specific needs and financial situation to get them the best results. Take a similar approach to your investment banking cover letter. 

The job description will help you succeed here. It’ll outline the company’s mission and the top investment banking skills they’re looking for so you can include them in your cover letter to stand out.

For instance, you could explain how you’ll use your negotiation skills to help an automotive company continue expanding its market while achieving its goal of bringing fair vehicle prices to consumers.

How to stand out in the greeting and intro of your investment banking cover letter

When meeting a client for the first time, you’d want to learn their name to instantly create a connection. You should do the same in your investment banking cover letter by trying to address a specific hiring manager by name, if you can find it in the job description or the company website.

Then, once you get into the opening paragraph, grab attention by referencing your passion for the company’s mission and the top skills they’re looking for, like financial modeling or using the Bloomberg Suite.

The example below will show you a cover letter that gets off to a good start but falls short when they don’t get into any specifics about the company’s investment banking needs.

Needs more details!

Dear Ms. Tyson,

I was pleased to see the investment banking opportunity your company has available. With my seven years of experience in the financial field, I believe I’ll be the right fit for your company’s needs.

An opener like the one below is a better option that relates directly to the applicant’s enthusiasm for First Horizon National Corporation’s dynamic and innovative investment banking team. 

A compelling and detailed opener!

Dear Ms. Wilson,

Optimize the body of your investment banking cover letter

Data is a crucial part of the decisions you make as an investment banker. It’s also pretty important to help you write a successful cover letter.

One of the best ways to optimize your body paragraphs is by sharing examples using metrics. For instance, you could explain how you used your market forecasting skills to help a portfolio of 125 clients grow their earnings by an average of 34% annually.

If you don’t have much work experience , you could also write about how your education in finance, accounting, or other related fields has equipped you for the role. For example, you could talk about how you analyzed statements of cash flows with 98% accuracy during your managerial accounting course.

A great body paragraph with data-driven performance!

Impactfully close out your investment banking cover letter

After you wrap up a meeting with a client, you’d want to relate back to what you covered to ensure they’re up to speed on the next steps you’ll take when optimizing their investment portfolio. You should do the same with the closing of your cover letter by relating back to the essential job skills you emphasized, like private equity and market analysis, and how you connect with the company’s mission.

It’s also best practice to thank the hiring manager for their time and close with a light call to action like “I look forward to discussing the needs of this investment banking position with you further.”

The closer below doesn’t quite hit the mark since it’s missing the call to action or any specific details about the investment banking role.

Lacking impact with this one!

I believe my skills and experience will be of great value to your company’s growing investment banking needs. Thank you for taking the time to review my application.

Isaac Martens

A better closer is the one below that directly relates to Capital One Securities’ goal to grow in the financial sector and help its client base succeed. 

An impactful closer relating to the company’s mission! 

I am eager to leverage my enthusiasm and skillset to augment Capital One Securities’ position at the forefront of the financial sector. I look forward to discussing how my expertise can contribute to the growth and continued success of Capital One Securities and its client base. Thank you.

Sincerely, 

One page is the optimal length for investment banking cover letters. If you’re struggling to shorten it, try to focus on the primary needs of each job. For instance, if you’re applying to a commercial investment banking role, your M&A and equity research abilities may be essential to emphasize. 

Your investment banking cover letter should be customized for each job. It’ll help you stand out when applying to one company that works with high-yield bonds and another that specializes in structured financial management so you can present relevant skills for both. 

The best way to make job skills stand out is to include relevant ones to each company’s needs and share metrics-based examples of how you used them successfully in previous jobs. For instance, you could explain how you used S&P Capital IQ to help companies utilize their assets 54% more efficiently. 

Investment Banking cover letter examples

Investment banking is a competitive industry, and your cover letter is your chance to give context to your CV and stand out from the crowd.

But if you want to get noticed, you need to focus on showcasing your biggest achievements in the field, and we can help.

For top tips and writing advice you can bank on, check out our comprehensive guide and investment banking cover letter examples below.

CV templates 

Investment Banking cover letter example 1

Investment Banking cover letter example 2

Investment Banking cover letter example 3

These Investment Banking cover letter examples provide you with some guidance and inspiration for writing a cover letter that gets noticed and ensures your CV will get opened.

But if you really want to master the art of writing a winning cover letter , then follow our step-by-step cove letter writing guide below.

How to write an Investment Banking cover letter

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

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

You should write your cover letter in the body of the email (or messaging system if sending via a job board) and never attach it as a document.

The reason for this?

You want your cover letter to start connecting with the recruiter from the moment they open your application.

If they have to open a document to read it, it will slow things down and they may not even bother to open it.

Start with a friendly greeting

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

Try to strike a balance between professional and personable.

Go with something like…

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

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

How to find the contact’s name?

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

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

Identify the role you are applying for

Once you 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 Banking position* 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 main purpose of your cover letter is to excite recruiters and make them eager to open your CV. And you achieve this by quickly demonstrating your suitability to the job you are applying for.

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

Then, when you write your cover letter, make your suitability the focal point.

Explain how you meet the candidate requirements fully, and why you are so well suited to carry out the job.

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

Keep it short and sharp

It is best to keep your cover letter brief if you want to ensure you hold the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers. A lengthy cover letter will probably not get read in full, so keep yours to around 3-6 sentences and save the real detail for your CV.

Remember the purpose of your cover letter is to quickly get recruiters to notice you and encourage them to open your CV, so it only needs to include the highlights of your experience.

Sign off professionally

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

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

The information to add should include:

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

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Jill North IT Project Manager 078837437373 [email protected] LinkedIn

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

What to include in your Investment Banking cover letter

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

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

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

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

Investment Banking cover letter templates

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

I am writing to apply for the Investment Analyst position at CitiBank. With over 5 years of experience in financial analysis, valuation, and M&A transactions at Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, I have honed my skills in creating financial models and conducting market research to deliver strategic advice and financial solutions to clients.

In my current role at Goldman Sachs, I manage a portfolio of over 50 clients with a total transactional asset value of £800million per annum. My in-depth understanding of the financial services industry has optimised business growth, resulting in a 30% client retention rate, surpassing company KPIs by 10%.

During my time at JPMorgan, I achieved investment returns of over 25% for clients by identifying undervalued commercial companies. Moreover, I improved productivity by 11% through the adaptation of the combined asset management database.

I am eager to bring my expertise in investment strategy, market research, and portfolio optimisation to CitiBank. I am available for an interview at your convenience and look forward to discussing how my skills can add value to your team.

Kind Regards,

Charlotte Froissant

I am writing to apply for the Asset Management Advisor role at JPMorgan. With a successful 20-year career as a Chartered Asset Management Advisor at leading UK banks like Morgan Stanley and Trex Bank, I possess the strategic acumen to manage a client portfolio worth over £40million.

Demonstrating my proficiency in client acquisition and revenue growth, I have grown my client portfolio by 15% in my first year at Trex Bank, generating £750K in profit for the company. In my current position, I have secured referral agreements with three third-party financial services companies, resulting in a remarkable 12% increase in local client interest. My ability to liaise with third-party organisations, combined with extensive professional networks in Madrid and New York, allows me to deliver personalised financial management plans effectively.

I am eager to discuss how my skills and achievements align with the requirements of JPMorgan. I am available for an interview at your convenience.

Stanley Dixon

I am delighted to apply for the Risk Manager position at Deutsche Bank. As a seasoned Risk Officer with 30 years of experience in the financial services sector, I have a proven track record of developing and implementing risk management strategies for leading UK commercial banks.

At Nationwide Building Society, I led the development of a liquidity risk management framework with a 92% success rate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, I successfully implemented a stress testing program at HSBC, enhancing the organisation’s ability to assess and manage credit risks during economic downturns. My expertise in enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement aligns well with the requirements of the role. Moreover, my MBA from LSE and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualification further strengthen my ability to effectively navigate complex financial landscapes.

I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute my versatile set of skills to the risk management team at Deutsche Bank. I am available for an interview from next week and look forward to discussing how my experience can add value to your organisation.

Helena Sidmore

Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing a job in Investment Banking, 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!

The Core Technicals Guide

• Recommended Reading List
• Investment Banking Email Format
• Investment Banking Presentations
• List of IBD Diversity & Early Programs
• List of Top Investment Banks
• Activist Shareholder Letters
• Hedge Fund Presentations
• Investing Videos
• Private Equity Email Format
• Top 300 Private Equity Firms
• Financial Modeling Training

Investment Banking Interview Coaching

• Private Equity & Hedge Fund Interview Coaching
• Credit Fund Interview Coaching
• Corporate Development Interview Coaching
• Summer Internship Return Offer Training (SIROT)
• Track Record
• Case Studies
• Client Testimonials

Investment Banking Cover Letter Template & Tutorial

In this article, we’ll show you how to write an investment banking cover letter. We’ll explain the importance of cover letters, give you an investment banking cover letter template, and walk you through writing your own version sentence-by-sentence. This is a hands-on exercise and you should write with us as you go. By the end of this article, you’ll have a professionally-written letter ready for applications!

How Important Are Investment Banking Cover Letters?

Let us begin by saying that for the vast majority of US investment banking jobs at the big banks, cover letters are not important .

Just in case you suspect we had a typo, let us reiterate. Cover letters are not important for US investment banking jobs.

Why do we say that? Because most bankers don’t read them. First, bankers often don’t even receive the cover letters. At some banks, HR compiles the applications and only sends the candidates’ resumes to the bankers. Second, even if bankers do receive the cover letters, most don’t want to read them.

Why don’t most bankers want to read candidates’ cover letters? Because they add no value and because they’re incredibly time consuming.

The cover letter just states what job you’re applying to and why you think you’re qualified. For the former, bankers already know what job you’re applying to. As for the latter, anyone can write that he/she is hardworking, is interested in finance, and has leadership skills. These sentences are almost meaningless.

Why is reading cover letters time consuming? Each letter takes a few minutes to read. Bankers have to evaluate hundreds of candidates. Putting two and two together, it’ll take bankers way too many hours to read these letters.

In fact, we contacted a few bankers who were members of recruiting teams and were responsible for screening candidates. None said they’ve ever read a single applicant’s cover letter…ever.

While investment banking cover letters aren’t important, they do matter in the recruiting process because banks ask for them. You may need to upload a cover letter to complete the application. Also, while bankers usually don’t read them, you should have a passable letter just in case someone reads it.

Investment Banking Cover Letter Strategy

So now we know that you need cover letters because applications ask for them, but bankers don’t usually read them. What should your strategy be?

The strategy to a successful cover letter is to treat the cover letter as a check-the-box type of item. As long as you have a passable letter, you’ve checked the box. If you don’t have a passable letter, you don’t check the box and that can potentially hurt you. Said differently, a great cover letter won’t help you while a horrendous cover letter can hurt you.

Cover letters don’t have a linear relationship where the better the cover letter, the better your candidacy. Instead of trying to write as great of a letter as possible, your focus should be to not mess up. Make sure you don’t have spelling / grammar mistakes, bank name mistakes, etc.  This also means you should write a letter that follows industry convention. That’s it! That’s all you need for cover letter.

If you have extra time, invest it in familiarizing technical questions and in your resume , which actually gets looked at. Most bankers glance (not read) over resume to decide who to interview. Therefore, you should invest your time and energy to write a compelling resume.

Investment Banking Cover Letter Template

Here’s an investment banking cover letter template. Please download this example and you can edit this letter as you read through this article.

This template is applicable to all candidates: undergraduates, MBAs, other graduates, and current professionals. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a student or a working professional. The guiding concepts and letter structure are the same.

The items inside brackets [ ] are things you should replace with your own personal information. Once you input your own information, delete the brackets. At the end, you’ll have a professional investment banking cover letter that you can submit.

Cover Letter Format & Structure

Let’s establish three basic rules for the investment banking cover letter.

First, it should always be one page. Don’t go beyond one page.

Second, it should be concise. Don’t write a lengthy essay. We recommend keeping it under 300 words.

Third, it should contain the right bank name. This is a very common mistake. Don’t send a letter addressing Goldman Sachs to Evercore.

Fourth, font size should be at least 10. Anything less than 10 is too small for the eyes of people who stare at screens all day.

Avoiding the Common Mistake

The most common mistake candidates make in investment banking cover letters is mixing up bank names.

Logistically, when you apply for investment banking summer internships (or full-time roles), you’ll be submitting applications to many banks. Because there are so many, it’s very easy to forget to swap out one bank’s name with another. The key to avoid this mistake is to limit the number of times you reference the bank’s name.

When we went through recruiting, we used another finance website’s template, which referenced bank’s name 4 times in the letter. Compounding this is the fact that the four references were spread throughout the letter. We had to diligently go through the letter once for every bank to update the name reference. That was very time-consuming and prone to mistakes.

Our template only references the name of the bank twice: first in the greeting and second in the first paragraph. Equally important, we kept the two references in close proximity so you can easily alter the bank name. This is intentionally designed to help you reduce the risk of this mistake.

With that, please open the template (Word document from the link above) and let’s start writing.

Your Contact Information

The first step is to fill in the contact information in the upper right corner.

As with any formal letters, you should include your name and contact information at the top of the letter. Notably, we recommend you to explicitly state your university so it’s easily identifiable. Physical address is optional. Please take a minute and write in your contact information.

If you look at other cover letter templates, you’ll notice that other templates also have fields for banks’ physical address. We think that’s not only useless but also a source for confusion.

What if you apply to multiple offices (i.e. New York, San Francisco, and Chicago) in a single application? Which address are you supposed to write? What if the HR sits in New York but the banker sits in Chicago? What if one banker of your school’s recruiting team sits in San Francisco while another sits in Chicago?

Adding to this confusion, some banks have multiple offices in a single city. How do you decide which one to use? It is a nightmare trying to figure out these things out.

Banks’ physical addresses add no value whatsoever to an already low-value document. It takes away value quite frankly – it consumes your time AND it creates a source of confusion. The 10X EBITDA cover letter template has no room for useless fields.

Date & Greeting

The second step is to write the date of the letter and the greeting.

Other finance websites’ templates address the greeting to a specific person (i.e. Mr. John Doe / Ms. Jane Doe). We don’t agree with that. Who are you supposed to address it to anyways? Sometimes schools will have specific HR contacts for each position positing. But just because that’s the HR contact doesn’t mean that person is the one who will read your cover letter.

This leads to key question. How are you supposed to know who’ll be reading your letter (if it is lucky enough to get read)?

Instead, we recommend addressing the greeting to the bank’s recruiting team. For example, you can write to the “Moelis Recruiting Team” or the “Centerview Recruiting Team”.

So please head over to the Word template and update the date, bank name in the greeting and bank name in the first paragraph.

First Paragraph: Self-Introduction

The third step is to complete our first paragraph of the letter – your self-introduction.

This paragraph should accomplish a few tasks. First, it should identify your background. Second, it should identify your class year. Third, it should identify the job you’re applying to. And fourth, it should explain why you’re interested in working at the firm.

Our template has already written that for you. All you have to do is swap out your university name, major, graduation year and the program you’re applying to.

Some templates we looked at include “name-drops”, where you’d specifically mention names of the banks’ employees you’ve spoken with. It goes like the following.

“I became very interested in working at your firm after speaking with Jane Doe and Jane Smith.”

You absolutely do not have to include names of bankers you met or communicated with. We’ve always felt that’s very forced and unnatural. It doesn’t help. That’s why our template does not have such a sentence.

Second Paragraph: Interest in Investment Banking

The fourth step is to explain your interest in investment banking.

We wrote a few sentences on why investment banking. There are no brackets here so you don’t technically have to replace anything. However, you’re certainly welcome to change the wording if you’d like to better explain why you’re pursuing investment banking.

Third Paragraph: Past Experiences

The fifth step is to write about your past experiences and what you learned from them.

This entire paragraph is in brackets because everyone has a unique background. You should follow this structure and write about your own past experiences. Five to six sentences here is sufficient.

There are two main things we want to point out here.

First, be selective about which experience you write about. Don’t write about every experience. Only write about the most important and relevant experiences.

Second, don’t brag. Stay humble. Some cover letters have sentences that make us cringe. These sentences usually brag about the candidates’ skills (i.e. “given by valuation skills”, “with my strong financial modeling background”), self-declare fit (i.e. “I’m a particularly great fit for this program), and/or contain lofty titles that come across as try-hard (i.e. “As the Managing Partner of our student investment club”). To be fair, some cover letter templates come with these sentences so candidates may think that’s the norm. Our advice is to stay humble and actively avoid appearing as boastful.

Fourth Paragraph: Resume, Thank You and Signature

Finally, our last step is to remind the audience you’re also including the resume and thank them.

Please remember to change your name at the bottom of the signature.

And that’s it! With that, you have a complete investment banking cover letter ready for submission.

Investment Banking Cover Letter with No Experience

How do you write an investment banking cover letter with no prior work experience? You’d use the exact same template above and follow the exact same steps! In the third paragraph, instead of talking about past work experiences, simply talk about your extracurricular activities. But the overall structure of the letter is exactly the same.

Cover Letter FAQ

If I write an amazing cover letter, does it improve my chances of getting an interview? In general, no. You can write the most beautifully composed sentences in your cover letter. If bankers don’t want to interview you based on your resume, the cover letter isn’t going to change their mind. Chances are they won’t even know how well written your cover letter is since they don’t even read it.

If bankers don’t read cover letters, why do applications even ask for them? Two reasons. First, there are many different people involved in the recruiting process. HR runs the applications and sets the required documents. From bankers’ perspective, just because HR asked you for cover letters doesn’t mean bankers have to read them. Second, just because the Investment Banking Division doesn’t value cover letters doesn’t mean other divisions don’t read cover letters. Someone else may value cover letters. From HR and IT’s perspective, it’s just a lot easier to get you to submit the letter and let each division decide for itself.

Next Article:

About 10X EBITDA

We are a small team composed of former investment banking professionals from Goldman Sachs and investment professionals from the world’s top private equity firms and hedge funds, such as KKR, TPG, Carlyle, Warburg, D.E. Shaw, Citadel, etc. Our mission is to cultivate the next generation of top talent for Wall Street and to help candidates bring their careers to new heights. We’re based in the United States, but we have expertise across Europe and Asia as well.

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Investment Banking Analyst Cover Letter Example

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Start your Investment Banking Analyst cover letter by addressing the hiring manager directly, if possible. Then, introduce yourself and briefly mention your current role or recent graduation. Make a connection between your career goals and the company's mission or recent projects. For example, "As a finance graduate with a passion for strategic investment, I was excited to see the opportunity at [Company Name]. Your recent work in [specific area] aligns with my career goals and I believe I could bring valuable insights to your team." This shows you've done your research and are genuinely interested in the company. Remember, the opening paragraph should grab the reader's attention and make them want to learn more about you.

The best way for Investment Banking Analysts to end a cover letter is by expressing gratitude for the reader's time and consideration, reiterating their interest in the role, and indicating their eagerness to further discuss their qualifications. A strong closing might be: "Thank you for considering my application. I am highly interested in the opportunity to contribute to your team and am confident that my skills and experiences align well with your needs. I look forward to the possibility of discussing my application with you further." This ending is professional, respectful, and shows enthusiasm for the role, which is important in the competitive field of investment banking.

Investment Banking Analysts should include the following key elements in their cover letter: 1. Contact Information: Start with your name, address, phone number, and email address at the top of the letter. 2. Professional Greeting: Address the hiring manager by name if possible. If not, use a professional greeting such as "Dear Hiring Manager". 3. Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and mention the position you're applying for. You can also mention how you heard about the job opening. 4. Relevant Skills and Experience: Highlight your skills and experiences that are relevant to the job description. As an Investment Banking Analyst, you should focus on your analytical skills, financial modeling, valuation, industry research, and your ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. 5. Achievements: Mention any significant achievements in your current or previous roles that demonstrate your capabilities as an Investment Banking Analyst. This could include successful deals you've worked on, projects you've led, or any recognition you've received for your work. 6. Knowledge about the Company: Show that you've done your research about the company and express why you're interested in working there. This could include mentioning specific deals the company has worked on, its culture, or its growth strategy. 7. Closing Paragraph: Reiterate your interest in the role and the value you can bring to the company. Thank the hiring manager for considering your application and express your interest in discussing your qualifications further in an interview. 8. Professional Closing: End the letter with a professional closing such as "Sincerely" or "Best regards", followed by your name. Remember, your cover letter should complement your resume, not repeat it. It's your chance to provide a narrative about your experiences and skills, and to show your enthusiasm for the role and the company.

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Investment Banking Cover Letter

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Investment Banking Cover Letter Sample

Getting employed in investment banking isn't that hard if you can craft a winning resume and a perfect cover letter. In this guide, experts in the writing business are going to show you how to write a cover letter step by step and share an investment banking cover letter sample for inspiration.

Here, you'll find:

• cover letter sample;
• writing guide;
• formatting guide;
• additional tips. 

Are you wondering how to write a cover letter fast? Use our online resume and cover letter writing service for success: Skiilhub's writing a great cover letter that can highlight your professional background, accomplishments, and financial modeling skills. Cover Letter for an Investment Banking [Example]

In every cover letter banking, applicants have to follow the proper cover letter format to keep their letter readable and professional-looking. It is crucial that you include all the key cover letter elements that we are going to discuss later in this guide. At the same time, it is vital to demonstrate your key skills and accomplishments.

Here is a well-formatted investment banking cover letter example for your inspiration.

1220 5th Ave,

New York, NY 10029

April 7, 2022

Leann Black

Hiring Manager

767 5th Ave,

New York, NY 10153

Dear Ms. Black,

As an investment banker with broad professional experience, I was excited to see a recent opening for an investment banker role in your company. I believe I possess the abilities, knowledge, and expertise to become a top candidate for this position and help take Apple to the next level.

In my work experience record, there are a number of big-name tech companies. My passion is helping them achieve their business objectives through careful investment research and analysis. My biggest strengths include accounting, risk management, and financial modeling skills.

In my past position at Microsoft, I've had a number of notable accomplishments:

• assisted with a $10B IT firm acquisition through careful qualitative and quantitative analysis;
• closed 25+ sell- and buy-side deals in 2021, each about $1B worth.

I would welcome the opportunity to have an interview with you to discuss how I can translate my skills and experience to the success of Apple.

Investment Banking Cover Letter Template

In the business world, job seekers should apply certain rules to writing every part of their job application.

Here are the basic rules of a modern cover letter template.

• Font: Calibri, Georgia, Trebuchet MS, Helvetica, etc.
• Margins: 1'' per each edge
• Line Spacing: 1.15
• Structure: 3 to 4 paragraphs

Ultimate Guide on How to Write an Investment Banking Cover Letter

Mastering the art of writing takes time and patience. Not every investment banker can write like a pro, even with a cover letter sample. But our experts put together their own knowledge and experiences to help you write a cover letter that gives you an opportunity to get an interview.

Need more help? Our experts have high qualifications and can write a killer letter for you quickly!

Or, read on to see how to put together a great cover letter.

If you need professional resume help, resume writing services near me are a solution! They are in Houston, Chicago, Nyc, Dallas, Seattle, San Diego, Phoenix, Austin, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Charlotte, San Antonio, Columbus, Kansas, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Detroit. We are near you and always ready to give you a hand!

Proper Formatting for Investment Banking Cover Letter Examples

Showing recruiters your professionalism is crucial for landing the chosen position. Thus, every statement and other information you deliver must be formatted professionally.

Below is an analysis of the proper cover letter formatting for

• date & company details;
• closing paragraph.

Cover Letter Heading

The header is the first thing a hiring manager sees in your cover letter investment banking. Thus, it affects the first impression your job application makes.

In the sample below, you'll see how to format your heading to land a job in the investment banking department.

Cover Letter Sample for Investment Banking [Heading]

The cover letter header should include your contact details. Most often, the structure of elements looks as follows:

Here's a good cover letter investment banking example of a header:

Date and Company Details on Cover Letter

Under the header, indicate today's date. Then, mention the name of the hiring manager and company and the valid address.

This part of your cover letter for investment banking indicates who you are trying to contact, so it's also important.

Sample Investment Banking Cover Letter [Date and Company Details]

This section is an opportunity to indicate the company you want to apply to and its specific employees.

Cover Letter Greeting

Greeting the potential employer or recruiter in your investment banking cover letter is a formality that corresponds to basic business etiquette.

Ideally, a candidate should use ''Dear {Mr./Ms./Mx.]'' + the recruiter's last name. Also, you can use something like ''Dear Marketing Team'' instead of ''To Whom It May Concern.''

Investment Banking Sample Cover Letter [Greeting]

A good cover letter greeting can make hiring managers want to hire you. It highlights your professionalism, which can stimulate further career growth.

A perfect greeting is:

Dear Ms. Black

What to Include in an Investment Banking Cover Letter [Body]

Keep the body of your cover letter investment banking 2-3 paragraphs long. Specify the company and position you're interested in. Highlight your most significant accomplishments, skills, and areas of expertise (e.g., foreign direct investment). Then, restate your contact info.

Cover Letter Sample Investment Banking [Body]

Here's a sample body paragraph:

Closing Paragraph for Cover Letter

A generic investment banking analyst cover letter ending won't assist you in getting hired. Instead, end the cover letter in a simple but unique way. Use it as another chance to showcase your strengths and encourage the firm representative to invite you to an interview. Find a good sample below.

Investment Banking Cover Letter Example [Closing]

Here's an investment banking cover letter template for a strong ending.

Demonstrate Your Key Skills

Just like a resume, a cover letter for investment banking should also indicate your strongest skills to get your job application past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and show potential employers that you are an ideal employee for them.

To showcase your level of qualification effectively, you should include both soft and hard skills on a cover letter. Some of the key abilities to highlight include the following.

• Communication
• MS PowerPoint
• Public speaking
• Qualitative & quantitative analysis

Do Your Research

Writing your letter based on a random banking cover letter sample won't do any good. To make the most of it, you have to tailor your letter to the needs of a specific company you are applying to. Thus, you have to research it well.

When researching the company of your interest, pay special attention to its values and needs stated in the job description. The job description includes the major keywords recruiters will be looking for in applications.

Cover Letter Investment Banking Takeaway

• Always research the company.
• Stick to the right format.
• In a header, specify your contact details, today's date, and the addressee's details.
• Greet the hiring manager.
• Write 2-3 body paragraphs that communicate your level of qualification, skills, experience, and objectives.
• End with a powerful (not generic) closing.

Now you can use these tips and our investment banking cover letter sample to write yours.

Need more help? Let experts from SkillHub professional resume writing service help you land an interview with ease!

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More Cover Letter Examples

Resume Worded   |  Career Strategy

5 investment banking associate cover letters.

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

Table of contents

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

Investment Banking Associate Cover Letter Example

Why this cover letter works in 2024, quantifiable accomplishment.

This sentence highlights a specific accomplishment with a measurable outcome, making it a strong example of the candidate's ability to improve efficiency. Always include quantifiable achievements in your cover letter to showcase your impact.

Team Management & Deal Closing

By mentioning the successful management of a team and the closing of multiple deals, the candidate demonstrates their leadership skills and deal execution capabilities. This helps to establish credibility and is a great way to showcase relevant experience.

Showcase Specific Accomplishments

By detailing the specific projects you've worked on, like structuring a hefty debt offering or working on a huge M&A transaction, you illuminate your skill set in a bright, authentic light. You also give me a sense of the magnitude of responsibilities you've handled and your capability to excel in a similar role at our firm.

Highlighting Tangible Achievements

When you discuss concrete examples of your success, like improving portfolio performance by 34%, it shows you're results-driven. It also gives a clear picture of your abilities and the potential value you bring.

Directly Addressing the Potential Contribution

Stating your eagerness to bring your skills to the company and how they will benefit them, shows your intent and dedication. It's a great way to tell them you're not just looking for a job, but a place to make a difference.

Expressing Awareness of Industry Dynamics

Acknowledging the fast-paced nature of the market and the need to stay ahead demonstrates your adaptability. It shows potential employers that you're proactive and can deal with changes.

Aligning with Company Culture and Values

When you express excitement for a firm's values, like innovation and impact, it lets them know you share their mission. It helps them envision you as a cultural fit.

Signaling Intent to Add Value

Ending your cover letter expressing a desire to make a meaningful impact, shows them you're driven by purpose, not just paycheck. It adds a touch of sincerity to your application.

Senior Investment Banking Associate Cover Letter Example

Highlight your leadership experience.

When you mention leading a team that executed a complex acquisition, it's clear that you have the leadership skills required for a senior role. This isn't just about showcasing your ability to work in a team, but your capability to lead one. Plus, adding the specific outcome of the transaction - the market share increase - makes your impact tangible.

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Senior Investment Banking Analyst Cover Letter Example

Demonstrating unique initiatives.

Talking about your success in introducing a new tool that outperformed market benchmarks speaks volumes about your innovativeness and expertise. It gives them an idea of how you could enhance their operations.

Expressing Enthusiasm to Contribute

Showing excitement to bring your approach and contribute to the firm's excellence, demonstrates your determination and aligns with their need for motivated individuals.

Displaying Resilience and Strategic Perspective

Sharing your enthusiasm to bring resilience and strategic perspective to the firm, shows you're prepared for challenges and can navigate complex situations.

Recognizing the Firm’s Innovativeness

Noting your excitement about joining a team at the forefront of innovation, lets them know you recognize and appreciate the firm's trailblazing efforts.

Being Clear about Bringing Value

Asserting your intention to bring your experience, insight, and passion to contribute to the firm and clients’ prosperity, signals your commitment to making a tangible impact.

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 Banking Associate Roles

• Investment Banking Analyst Cover Letter Guide
• Investment Banking Associate Cover Letter Guide
• Investment Banking Executive Assistant Cover Letter Guide
• Investment Banking Managing Director Cover Letter Guide
• Investment Banking Vice President 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 Analyst 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

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Introduction:

Applying for a job in the banking industry can be an exciting endeavor, but it requires a well-crafted cover letter to make a lasting impression on potential employers. A great cover letter effectively highlights your skills and qualifications, making you stand out among other applicants. Here are three unique ways to write a captivating cover letter for a banking job.

1.Focus on Your Relevant Experience:

Ensure that your cover letter demonstrates your relevant experience in the field of finance or banking. Emphasize the skills you’ve gained throughout your career by highlighting specific instances or projects where your abilities shone. Tailor your cover letter to the role you’re seeking, demonstrating how you meet the key requirements listed in the job description. Some experiences worth mentioning are:

– Completed internships or jobs in banks or financial institutions

– Managed financial projects in previous roles

– Experience with financial software or tools

– Educational background related to finance or economics

2.Showcase Your Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills:

Banking jobs often require strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as attention to detail. In your cover letter, present examples from your past experience where you demonstrated these abilities. Discuss how you analyzed complex financial data or assisted clients in solving their financial issues. Showcase how you can apply these skills to meet the demands of the banking job you’re applying for. Some instances of these skills include:

– Identify and resolve errors in financial reports

– Provide impeccable customer service through careful problem assessment and resolution

– Analyze large data sets and discern trends

– Make effective recommendations based on thorough research and analysis

3.Highlight Your Communication and Interpersonal Skills:

Banking jobs typically involve working with clients, colleagues, and supervisors regularly. As such, effective communication is crucial for success in this industry. In your cover letter, mention specific examples of times when excellent communication and interpersonal skills were vital in achieving a positive outcome. These instances may involve:

– Presenting complex financial information to clients in simple, easy-to-understand terms

– Successfully working with a team to complete projects on time and within budget

– Addressing conflicts in your work environment without escalation

– Building strong professional relationships with clients or colleagues

Conclusion:

To create an impactful cover letter for a banking job, emphasize your relevant experience, analytical and problem-solving abilities, as well as your communication and interpersonal skills. By showcasing these qualities through specific examples from your past experience, you’ll effectively highlight why you’re the ideal candidate for the position. Your outstanding cover letter will set you apart from other applicants and pave the way to launching a rewarding career in the banking industry.

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Banking Cover Letter Example

Bankers play a crucial role in New Zealand’s financial sector by providing essential services such as managing finances, facilitating loans, and advising clients on investment decisions. As a result, it’s no surprise that there’s over 30,000 bankers across Aotearoa helping everyday Kiwis with their financial decisions. 

Before bankers can begin working, however, they’ll need to craft a convincing cover letter for banks and financial institutions. We'll help you craft a compelling banking cover letter that showcases your financial skills and helps you stand out from the crowd. 

Banking job full text-only cover letter example

Dear Mrs. Brown, 

With several years experience in the finance sector, I am writing to express my interest in the Banking Specialist role at Westpac Hamilton. I am a recent graduate from the University of Waikato, where I achieved a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Accounting. I am eager to apply the skills and knowledge I have acquired to contribute to the success of Westpac Hamilton. 

My strong foundation in accounting principles, coupled with my ability to analyse financial data, has prepared me to tackle the complex challenges of the finance industry with precision and proficiency. As illustrated in my CV, I have also completed internships with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and Heartland Bank. I believe that my professional experiences at these institutions would make me a great fit for a permanent position with Westpac. 

One of my greatest strengths is my communication skill set. I understand that the banking sector thrives on the clarity of information and the strength of relationships. Whether I am explaining complex financial concepts to clients or collaborating with team members, I take pride in ensuring information is conveyed accurately and effectively, fostering trust and facilitating informed decision-making.

Adaptability and continuous improvement have been the cornerstones of my academic and professional journey. In an ever-evolving economic landscape, I believe my ability to quickly learn and apply new information will enable me to keep pace with the changes in the banking sector and contribute innovative solutions to your team.

I am excited about the prospect of bringing my analytical skills, strong attention to detail, and passion for the banking industry to a renowned organisation like Westpac. 

I would love to discuss how my background, education, and skills would make me an excellent addition to your team. Thank you for considering my application for the Banking Specialist position, I hope to hear from you soon. 

Kind regards, 

Jordan Lowe 

Sections of a banking cover letter

Before we begin, it’s important to know what sections to include in your banking cover letter. These sections are as follows: 

• Header : In the top section of your cover letter, list the current date and essential contact information, such as your email address and phone number.
• Greeting : Choose a warm and professional greeting and when possible, address the recipient by name to help build an immediate connection.
• Introduction : Begin your cover letter with a strong opening, indicating your interest in the banking sector. Briefly mention relevant experiences and qualifications that position you as an excellent candidate for the banking role.
• Body Paragraphs : Use the body paragraphs of your cover letter to detail your banking expertise, significant professional milestones, and how your background aligns with the job requirements. Elaborate on specific skills and experiences that may help you stand out from other candidates.
• Conclusion : Close your cover letter by reiterating your main strengths and notable achievements. Conclude with a persuasive call to action statement that highlights your eagerness to bring value to the financial institution you're applying to.
• Signature : End your cover letter with a polite sign-off followed by your full name.

When drafting your banking cover letter, it's best to keep it brief , fitting all content onto a single page. Keeping your content concise ensures that you offer a clear and concise overview of your most relevant professional experience. 

If you need more inspiration, explore our cover letter templates or check out similar cover letter writing guides and examples below: 

• Accounting Cover Letter Example
• Administrative Cover Letter Example
• Executive Cover Letter Example

For more tips and advice on how to craft an engaging cover letter for banks, check out our guide on how to write a cover letter .

Introduction of a banking cover letter

When crafting the introduction for your cover letter, it's important to establish your professional persona and highlight your banking expertise and qualifications. An engaging and powerful opening is key to grabbing the attention of hiring managers, banks, and financial institutions within the financial sector.

With several years experience in the finance sector, I am writing to express my interest in the Banking Specialist role at Westpac Hamilton. I am a recent graduate from the University of Waikato, where I achieved a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Accounting. I am eager to apply the skills and knowledge I have acquired to contribute to the success of Westpac Hamilton.

Hey, I recently graduated with a Bachelor’s in Business and I think I’ve got what it takes to be a great banker at Westpac. I have some good accounting skills and I’m also pretty good with people, making me a decent fit for the role.

Before you begin your introduction, reflect upon your background as a banking professional and how your skills, experiences, and dedication to the financial industry make you an excellent fit for the role. Outline these strengths from the outset in your cover letter to make an impactful first impression on potential employers. 

Banking cover letter body

Here is the main structure your banking cover letter should follow: 

• Elaborate on any experience you've had in banking or similar financial roles
• Highlight skills that showcase your approach to financial operations
• Discuss your track record in achieving high levels of customer satisfaction and the valuable interpersonal skills you have acquired as a result

First thing’s first—-the body paragraph. 

First body paragraph: Your suitability for the role (skills & experience) 

In the first body paragraph of your cover letter, we suggest the following:

• Highlight your financial training: If you've completed specialised banking courses, have a degree in finance or a similar industry, or have received on-the-job training, use the body paragraphs to detail the financial skills and knowledge you’ve received. Include any certifications that are relevant to the industry.
• Expand upon your interpersonal skills: In the banking sector, interpersonal skills are essential. Expand on your ability to communicate effectively, solve problems efficiently, and maintain strong client relationships, describing how these capabilities have played a part in your professional journey.
• Outline your technical skills : Banks often use complex financial software and systems. Make a point of mentioning your experience with banking software, data analysis tools, or other relevant technologies.

Tailor your cover letter to the job description

Tailoring your banking cover letter to the job description helps demonstrate to potential employers that you've carefully considered how your skills and experiences align with the job requirements. It also shows your attention to detail and your genuine interest in the role, helping you stand out from other candidates who may submit generic applications. 

Second body paragraph(s): Alignment with the organisation

In the second body paragraph, discuss how your expertise and banking experience align with the bank's professional mission. It is crucial to research the institution to identify any company values that align with your professional values and goals. 

For example, here are some of ANZ’s values:

• Integrity, speaking openly and transparently
• Accountability, taking ownership, and getting things done
• Excellence, challenging ourselves, and finding ways to work differently
• Collaboration, and working together for the customer

If you're applying for a role at ANZ, we suggest highlighting instances where you've demonstrated these values during your professional career. No matter where you are applying, share how your values align with those of the financial institution you’re applying for. 

Don’t forget to customise your language to the role, demonstrating how your specific background and skills could support and reinforce the bank's ambitions and goals. 

Call to action & conclusion: A prosperous close

As you conclude your banking cover letter , remember that your ultimate goal is to convince the hiring manager that you’re a strong candidate for an interview. Express your keen interest in the banking role and convey your eagerness to elaborate on your qualifications in a detailed discussion.

Finish your cover letter on a formal and polite note, using professional farewells like "Yours sincerely" or "Ngā mihi nui,” then sign off with your full name. The purpose of the closing paragraph is to leave a lasting, positive impression that motivates employers to reach out at a later stage. 

Crafting a banking cover letter with no experience

If you’re applying for a banking position but have limited experience in the sector, consider the following points: 

• Begin by introducing yourself and expressing a strong desire to pivot into the banking world, emphasising your understanding of its impact and your aspiration to work in the banking industry. If the bank you are applying to has had a large impact on your community, discuss your understanding of this impact in your cover letter.
• Leverage any professional experiences or skills from previous roles or internships that are relevant to banking. Highlight your business acumen, project management success, or any other roles that required financial literacy.
• Focus on showcasing how your transferable skills—like effective communication, organisation, and strategic problem-solving—are directly transferable to a banking career.

Many job roles in New Zealand's finance industry, including financial advisors and investment bankers, require specific formal qualifications or certifications. Before applying, it's essential to diligently research the exact educational and professional certification requirements for the position you're interested in. This proactive approach will ensure that you are well-prepared and meet the prerequisites for a successful application.

Key takeaways: 

When applying for banking positions, remember that your cover letter must be well-formatted, error-free, and customised to the job position. Be sure to outline your skills clearly, including any interpersonal , technical , or hard skills that are relevant to the role. 

At cvapp.nz, we're committed to helping you build professional and impactful cover letters that get you noticed and hired faster. Take your banking cover letter to the next level by exploring our cover letter examples and checking out our impressive cover letter builder .

Expertly-designed, free professional templates

How to Nail your next Technical Interview

You may be missing out on a 66.5% salary hike*, nick camilleri, how many years of coding experience do you have, free course on 'sorting algorithms' by omkar deshpande (stanford phd, head of curriculum, ik).

How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internship - With Examples

Internships have been the rising trend in this decade, and it is a boon for the fresh graduates to get a glimpse of what they can be doing on a daily basis to earn a living. It gives you the freedom of choice to switch, should you not like the duties of the current position you are working for. This has also opened the door for the companies to gauge the capabilities of the intern and whether he/she is competent enough for the post.

It takes a lot of effort to build a reputation, but little to no effort to get it ruined. So, it is great career advice that if you give your best as an intern and flaunt your skills, nobody can stop you.

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. – Benjamin Franklin

That being said, you must also know how to land yourself at a place that is beneficial for your career growth. You will get a comprehensive grip on your dos and don’ts when you are searching high and low to know how to write a cover letter for internship.

Here's what we'll be covering:

- What is a cover letter ?

- Essentials to remember when you need to write an application letter for an internship

- How to write a cover letter for an internship

- How to write a good cover letter for an internship

- Things to keep in mind when you need to write an Internship cover letter

- How to write a cover letter for the FAANG Company Internship?

- Cover Letter Samples

- How should I send a cover letter ?

- How not to write a cover letter for internship

- Email Cover Letter Example

What is a cover letter ?

A cover letter is a brief description of the skills you are good at and inputs a positive impact on business operations. It must be a convincing effort with examples of your accomplishments. The more you can show off your skills without bragging, the better off you are in increasing your chances to bag the spot.  

All reliable FAANG interview preparation courses should cover this crucial aspect that can make or break your career.

Essentials to remember when you need to write an application letter of internship

Writing a cover letter is indeed a matter of skill and wordplay. The more spotlights you can manage to put on your achievements, academic brilliance, or maybe an extracurricular where you can outshine more than a few. It should be specific about your qualifications and your stream of graduation, and your specialization, if any. Deliver maximum information in minimum space.

How to write a cover letter for an internship

If you are worried about not knowing how to make a cover letter for internship , you are going to learn in the next couple of minutes. And if you already do, well, practice makes a man perfect!

• Use business letter format : It is an official document, and the company is expecting you to put the requisite efforts which it expects from its employees. Using the formal format is your primary step in constructing a convincing cover letter .
• First and foremost, introduce yourself: Introducing yourself is an absolute necessity. You must include the tailored skills for the particular internship role. Alter this with every company you apply to, depending on the required qualifications.
• Tell the position you’re applying for: Clarify the position you are applying for clearly in your cover letter and back it up with the reasons why you thought this is a good choice to kick-start your professional journey. Leave no stone unturned to make sure you are the right fit for the position.
• Express Your Intentions : Do not hold back in expressing your future intentions and how you expect this internship to help you in your career growth. Your cover letter should shed light on what you expect of yourself while being an employee of the company.
• Add background detail: Including your background details is essential to add traction to your conviction. It should encircle your educational and qualification details. There must be clarity in your description of what you have been planning to achieve throughout your learning phase.
• Show your Research: Do not shy away from providing evidence of your hard-earned achievements and tagging it along with the cover letter. Highlighting what you have done surely adds weightage to your application. Keep this in mind.
• Tell your Goal: While you are at it, also include what your future goals are and what you intend to achieve during and post-internship. Giving a concise account of what you have done till now to achieve the goals is another pro-tip for how to make a cover letter for internship.
• Add Experience Detail: Adding your previous experiences as an intern or a part-timer can also do the trick for you. Sometimes, employers look for in-office experience, and informing them of your past stints can just get you the letter of appointment.
• Use relevant keywords: Using the right keywords is essential to write a good cover letter for internship . Right words at the right places add a better creed to your cover letter and give you an edge over others. At the end of the day, isn’t it what you are striving for?

You can also hone your interview delivery skills with technical interview preparation tips . You will also get career advice in addition, which will help you to gain clarity on what you want to do.

• Put relevant coursework : Include relevant coursework that you have completed in the interim or during your other internships to convince the employer about your proven knowledge in specific sectors.
• Add relevant skills : Are you going to hire someone as an intern if you are not even sure of what his/her skills are? No, right? So, keep it in mind to flaunt your skills and highlight them in your cover letter. If you are not going to say what you are good at, who else will?
• Tell them why you are an excellent fit : Leave no stone unturned to convince them that you are an excellent fit for the post. The more persuasive you are, the more are your chances to be the difference. Letting your employer know why you are ideal for the job also emits an air of responsibility and confidence to take care of the job. Do not miss out!

You can give yourself better chances when you take some mock interviews online . Interview preparation webinars also do the trick efficiently.

• Add extracurricular experiences: Employers are not looking for someone who has little to no knowledge in various aspects of work. And how do you think you can convey what you are good at, apart from you’re your work? List your extracurricular achievements and shoot your chances of glory through the roof!
• Always have a closing statement: Like the cherry on a cake, a closing statement is essential to end your impressive cover letter with a better impact. The closing statement can be about what you want to achieve in the company or professional missions and what path would suit the best to achieve the same.
• Review your cover letter before sending: Proofreading your cover letter is a process that you need to instill to convert your odds. Employers look for minute details, which play a deciding factor ultimately in the hiring process. Keep it clean, concise, and a cohesive account of your qualification, experience, and skills. Do not overload.

Be willing to be a beginner every single morning. –Meister Eckhart

Writing the best cover letter

To make a cover letter appealing, formatting a cover letter must include showcasing your previous experiences and academic background to achieve the highest saleable value for you to the company. Unless you can convince the recruiter or employer with the cards you bring to the table, no matter the number of punches you pull, it is not going to have any impact.

Thus, a systematic and well-versed cover letter can be achieved by including specific details in the cover letter to enhance the face value of your skills. If you are in search of techniques or tips on how to start a cover letter for an internship and how to continue with it, here is a detailed list of the pointers you need to address in your next cover letter:

• Contacting you: Adding your address along with postal code is the initial step while constructing your cover letter. This is to give the company an address to write back to, and the courier to have an address to take it back to, in the case returned. Remember to add the date as well above the address to convey the validity of the information.
• Contacting the company: Now, you need to pen the whereabouts of the company to make it visible through the envelope window, and further hassle can be avoided once the envelope is sealed. Being particular while writing the address is a must. Otherwise, it will reach hands that were not exactly the destination you were looking for.
• Addressing the boss: Do not step away from referring to the manager by his/her name. It adds a touch of friendly persona and emits an endearing quality which many employers look to have in their employees.  
• Do not make it a blog: It is important to make a clear distinction in the information provided. This helps you to cover comprehensively all the pointers which you want to take care of. But remember to not drag it too long. An employer will not have the time to go through a 1000 words cover letter, even if it is breathtakingly informative.
• Paragraph #1: This is where you get to make maximum impact: It is your priority to grab the reader’s attention within the first few sentences. An achievement fits the bill ideally but including any specific work which you have handled out of your comfort zone also does the trick. Bottom-line, your experience must instigate the employer to know more about you.
• Paragraph #2: Put the spotlight on you: Nothing works better than pointing out specifically why and how you are a great fit for the company. Adding your skills and experience is the preliminary step. Point out the coursework which you have completed and your possible input as a member of the team.
• Paragraph #3: What makes this company an able fit for you: Would you prefer to hire someone who has no interest in the work your company does? Or, an employee who does not find your company a stepping stone for learning? Remember to make it a compelling account of your interest in working for the company and your passion which you want to achieve with the organization. Do not forget mentioning what makes the company highly sought-after to kick start your career. You need to make the play when the ball is in your court.
• Paragraph #4: What next:  What is the point of such a meticulous effort? Why indeed did you list your achievements and skills and send it to a company? That is exactly what you will clarify in this section, along with an option to call back for any further details.
• Salutation: It is a professional document that a manager or employer is about to read. It is a courtesy call to send your regards in such a situation to convey just the right amount of respect.
• Postscript (optional) — what more have you achieved: If you have made any notable accomplishment during your coursework or previous job, it will add enhanced weightage to your cover letter. This section is just to remind the employer that you are more than capable of being fit for the role and be a contributing factor to this company.
• Customizing depending on the role: Would it be a very good idea to wear the same outfit every day for any kind of occasion? Similarly, sending the same cover letter to every organization would not do you any good. Cover letters should be job role-specific and company-specific, tailored to meet the needs of an individual company.  
• Integrate keywords from the internship description throughout: not using the correct keywords shoots down the chances of your cover letter gaining any traction where it matters. Integrating keywords as per the internship description is an absolute necessity.  
• Scale your skills: It is no secret that services cannot be quantified. However, you can numerically rate your skills to portray a clear picture of your expertise on the subject.

Things to keep in mind when you need to write an Internship cover letter

• Use Business Letter Format: Using a business letter format is an absolute must. It is a formal application, and standard protocol is mandatory. Not only that, but a business letter format helps to deliver structured content and gives a compact outlook.
• Length: You must remember that the employer does not have all day to read your cover letter. Therefore, you must keep the length of your cover letter application moderate, neither too long nor too curt, just the right length to win over your place at the organization.
• Margins: Uniform margins on 4 edges of the application pages are elementary requisites to construct a formal cover letter. It gives an organized view of the information documented. Messing up your opportunity due to lack of margins is not something you would want to associate yourself with.
• Font: Using a formal font like Arial, Cambria, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Verdana works well for formal communication or documents. Deviating to other fonts is not the brightest idea as many companies will lose interest immediately.
• Font size: Maintaining a font size of 12 is appropriate for your cover letter and is widely accepted. This is to ensure uniformity in the text of the document and not haphazardly formatted text with irregular font size, which makes the document look tardy and unorganized.
• Color : Black is the go-to color while you are typing your cover letter for internship. Blue is also accepted depending on the context. Do not try to experiment with your cover letter. Make it formal. Make it meticulously. Make it better than the rest.  
• Alignment: Text alignment should always be ‘Justify’ to maintain parity in the document. Any other alignment creates a cluttered effect on the face value of the letter. It is all about showcasing your talent and skills and why you are a good fit, and it all goes in vain with an unformatted content alignment.
• Edit: Keep in mind to proofread your cover letter as many times as you can to give it the power of Midas touch. At the end of the day, it is all about delivering an eye-catching cover letter that can persuade the employer about your dedication and sincerity. A flawless cover letter is your first chance to make an impression. Make it count.  

How to write a cover letter for engineering internship

The first step to landing an important role in a company is having a compelling cover letter to back your resume. The letter should be a precise, compact, and error-free account of your accomplishments in regards to the requirements of the position you want to fill in as an intern. Your achievements must relate to the specific job role and must establish that you are a perfect fit for the designated work.

Conclude by expressing your sincere gratefulness for sparing the time to consider your application and how important a stepping stone this opportunity is to enter the fray.

In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different. –Coco Chanel

How to write a cover letter for the FAANG Company Internship?

The driving force, which makes you strive for excellence is what makes the deciding factor in cracking the top job at FAANG companies. While your skills and expertise play a big part, but in order to bring them in the game, you must first pen an impressive cover letter that highlights your accomplishments and gives a clear description of the qualities you bring to the table which can benefit the company. Ensure naming your file such that it is easily distinguishable among the plethora of documents hovering in the company cloud data. For instance, naming the document like “Cover-Letter-Abidal-Sarah-2020” is an efficacious path.  

If you have any doubts regarding how to write a letter for internship request , scroll below to have a look:

Cover Letter Samples:

Your full address

Your city, State zip code

Your phone number

Manager’s name

Designation

Company name

Full address

City, State zip code

Dear Sir/Ma’am (name of the person),

I am writing for the summer internship program for the Android Developer position at your company. With my prolonged knowledge acquiring perseverance, and exposure to multiple projects, I sincerely believe I am an apt fit for the role.

I have spent 4 years for my undergrads at XYZ University, during the course of which I have learned Android Architecture, OpenGL, and working with XML/JSON. It has made me adept in the android app building process and can also further add value to your application wire-framing team.

I have been involved with a start-up which is working to develop an application (name the app) which can help you track a lost mobile phone with just its IMEI. The initiative has seen immense success and is today used by local and global authorities to locate mobile phones of criminals or other offenders of the law.

My one year stint with the company has not only been instrumental in understanding the various stages of app development but also to handle multiple responsibilities simultaneously while adhering to the job requisites along with leadership. I have developed an in-depth knowledge of the market trend of applications and can add value to the developing team.

Your organization is an ideal opportunity to hone my skills and become a vital cog in your team and achieve new heights.  

I’m looking forward to your response.

Dear Sir/Ma’am,

I am writing this letter in lieu of an internship opportunity in your organization as a cyber-security intern. The position is ideal for me to not only get necessary exposure but also so much more. Working with professionals in my field will give me the opportunity to grow as a cyber-security expert .

I have completed my computer science engineering from ABC College with a GPA of 3.7/4.0 and my post-graduation on cyber security from XYZ University with 3.1/4.0 GPA, which bears testament to my keen interest and proficiency in my work.

Your company has been providing cyber security services with dedication and sincerity for nearly a decade now, and as a buddying cyber-security specialist, the authenticity of your efforts has always been a motivational factor to me, to keep improving myself.  

In the past, I have worked for an android application developing start-up and worked as a cyber-security expert and in fact, caught the glitch which was causing major data leak from one of the servers. It did raise quite a few eyebrows a couple of months back.

I want to take this opportunity to let you know that my experience and knack of attaining perfection can sometimes be a lengthy affair, but I am more than capable of delivering work on time without fail. This stint will be essential for my future endeavors with all the professionals around me to learn from, will be an immense boost for my personal growth, in regards to professional skills.

It will be amazing if we can schedule a meet to discuss what my role can be and what the scopes are.

I am interested in applying for the post of backend engineering intern in your organization. This is apt for someone who has specialized in computer science and server optimization.

I have completed my undergrads from MNO College, and further specialized in frontend development. My past experience in an MNC as an intern has given me the tools to deal with deadlines and strict adherence to client requirements is my top priority.

Moreover, at my previous company, I have contributed immensely in Mr. Jon Snow’s famous initiative of ‘digitalizing home’, and it is he who referred me to your organization because of your wonderful team which is a boost in skill development.

I hope you will consider my application and would let me be an impetus of your business growth with my innovative and out-of-box thinking and would be an able helping hand to your team.  

Your company has all the necessary scope to help develop a buddying frontend engineer, and I want to be a contributor in the ventures of the company. With my keen observational skills and quick problem-solving and decision-making ability, I am confident of bringing a positive impact on team performance.

I hope to hear from you soon so that we can set up a meeting and discuss how I can contribute to your esteemed organization.

5 pro-tips to sharpen those grammar cells

a) Read more.

b) Listen to others intently.

c) Proofread aloud.

d) Writing in leisure is a great remedy.

e) Practice “Word of the Day.”

It is a common query among the fresher engineers as, to how to write a cover letter for an internship with no experience. It is addressed below:

I am interested in applying for the Data Science internship program in your company as I am looking for exposure in the field to diversify my professional skills and experience.

I have completed my undergrads with computer science as my major and then did a coursework on Machine Learning for enhanced traction. My educational qualification meets the criteria posted for the post, and on top of that, I believe my skills can add value to your company.

Although I do not have previous internship experience, I have worked with my friend to help develop an application for senior citizen help, which has only been growing since.

I sincerely hope you would consider the position for me with my tenacity and yearning to deliver the best possible solution in the lowest possible time. And I figured, I could showcase my skills no better anywhere but your company.

I would be obliged if you can set up a meeting where we can discuss the inputs that I can provide to the team and help you make an informed decision.

How not to write a cover letter for internship

In case you are wondering how not to write a cover letter for internship , here is an instance of a weak effort at framing a cover letter for internship:

I want to apply for the position of a systems development intern in your organization as my qualifications are a perfect fit for the role. I have extensive experience in developing and pushing applications in backend systems in my past internship.

With my proficient skills, I can positively contribute to the business operations and can imbibe valuable traits from my peers to enhance my own skillset. I believe this opportunity can be of immense potential for my career growth and no place better to start off than your company.

I am hoping I have been able to rouse your interest and consider me as an able person for the role. I am looking forward to hearing back from you.

How should I send a cover letter?

• Attach your cover letter to the email : You can wonder how to write a letter of interest for an internship when an employer asks you to attach it to the mail is your right course of action. Ensuring your name is part of the document name of the letter is an absolute must.
• Paste your cover letter in the body of the email : It may so happen that the employer asks to send the cover letter in the body of the mail. In that case, copy and paste the cover letter in the mail body and the name of the person you are addressing in the cover letter.

Email Cover Letter Example:  

Subject: Applying for Front-end Engineering Intern position – Tanya Shanks

I am applying for the position of a frontend engineer in your company. I am graduating from ABC University, specializing in software and development. I believe the coursework is immensely beneficial for me to be competent for the role. Your company’s active interest in elevating society and lifestyle is what has inspired me to work for you.

Further, I worked as a front-end engineer at a local start-up which is working on cloud-based application development. It has given me vital exposure to the ins and outs of the industry. Moreover, my team and I developed an AI-based digital marketing app which is widely popular in many parts of the USA, Canada, et cetera. I played an integral role and in the frontend development, which has equipped me with the requisites to be a valuable addition to your company.

Currently, I am in the final semester of my course with an over 3.8/4.0 GPA, which meets the required criteria for the advertised position. I am skilled at SQL, Android Software Development Kit and XML as well.

I believe I would make an excellent addition to your front-end team, and I can get valuable exposure which will help me in my quest of success as well.

I have attached my resume along with this email. I am hoping to hear back from you.

An internship allows you to hone your skills and get ready for the final showdown at work. So, knowing how to write a cover letter is an absolute must in this smart era. It is all about knowing the intricacies of your industry to make a difference in the organization you are working for.

It is a world where everybody is striving to reach the top spot.

The question is, can you go the extra mile to be that difference?

Vartika Rai

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