How to Write a Cover Letter for a Student Part-Time Job

It's all too easy to dismiss the importance of a cover letter for a part-time job because you can see it as less important than a full-time job. In fact, it's quite the opposite. You may find that by including a cover letter that you are much more likely to beat out the competition. After all, a cover letter will show just how much you want the job and that you are prepared to put in a little more effort to make yourself stand out.

First of all, do not write a letter that is more than one page. You want to be straightforward and to the point. Unnecessary fluff in your letter will not be well-received by an employer. Address the letter to a specific person to show that you have put thought into whom you are addressing. If you are unsure of whom you should address the letter to, you can always go with something along the lines of "Dear Hiring Manager" rather than "To Whom it may Concern."

The header of your letter should include your contact information of email address, telephone number, and home address and should always contain the date. The letter should be laid out in a formal way. You may want to research how a letter should be formatted if you are unsure.

It's the opening paragraph of your cover letter that will determine whether you get the job or not. If you have a generic statement or are talking about something irrelevant to the job, the employer is likely to stop reading after the first couple of sentences. Show your passion and don't be afraid to be over-the-top. After all, you want to stand out.

The body of your answer should contain the reasons why you are right for the job, such as hobbies and school attendance statistics to show your passion. It can be hard to come across passionate in the written form so draft the letter multiple times to perfect it. It should go without saying but make sure that you have spell checked your letter, since poor spelling and grammar are big faux pas to employers.

In your conclusion, make sure that you have thanked the reader for their time and sum up your interest in the job. Make sure that you leave a good impression in their mind!