How to build a great professions & applied sciences student’s cover letter
Professions and applied sciences is a vast academic field that covers a variety of different disciplines and industries. For students studying professions and applied sciences, you likely focus on a specific discipline, such as civil engineering or computer science. To earn a job, internship, or other position in your chosen discipline, a well-written and compelling cover letter is required.
In this guide, we teach you five key steps for writing a cover letter as a student of professions and applied sciences. Keep reading to learn all about how to:
- Craft your cover letter header as an applied sciences student
- Personalize your professions and applied sciences cover letter
- Write an eye-catching introduction as an applied sciences student
- Showcase your best skills in professions and applied sciences
- Finish your professions and applied sciences cover letter effectively
1. Craft your cover letter header as an applied sciences student
Any great professions and applied sciences cover letter starts with a cover letter header.
A header serves to introduce you to the employer, letting them know your name and other vital information. Key details to list in your header include:
- Your name and professional title (as a student, you may not have an official professional title yet. Choose either a title that best fits the position you are applying for, or simply list that you are a student to let the employer know you are still completing your studies)
- Your professional contact information
- The name of the company you are applying to
- The address of the company
Here is an example of a well-formatted professions & applied sciences student cover letter header
John Doe, Applied Sciences & Civil Engineering Student
(123) 456-7890 | johndoe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/john-doe
To: Peabody People’s Engineering Firm
Hiring Department
1234 Street Address
Boulder, CO
2. Personalize your professions and applied sciences cover letter
Anytime you write a cover letter as a professions and applied sciences student, it is critical to personalize that letter to the specific employer you are sending it to.
Personalizing a cover letter requires you to research the company ahead of time to learn key information you can reference within your letter, such as:
- Projects or major partnerships the company is involved in
- The company’s goals, values, and long-term business objectives
- The staff member at the company responsible for hiring
Using the last piece of information, you can create a personalized greeting that addresses this person by name. This lets them right away that you have taken the time and effort to tailor your letter for them specifically.
Here are 3 examples of personalized cover letter greetings
- Dear Head of Applied Sciences Lola Logans
- Dear Ms. Lola Logans,
- Dear Hiring Manager Ashton Blake,
3. Write an eye-catching introduction as an applied sciences student
Now that you have the information you need to personalize your cover letter, you can begin writing your introductory paragraph.
Thanks to your header, the employer already knows your name and job title, saving you time and space on your letter to skip over these details. Instead, you can jump straight into the more eye-catching information about yourself, such as:
- A brief overview of your professional and academic history
- A statement on your specialized area of expertise in applied sciences
- One of your top accomplishments that makes you stand out as an applicant
Here is an example of a well-written intro from a professions and applied sciences cover letter
Dear Head of Applied Sciences Lola Logans,
I am an applied sciences student at the University of Georgia specializing in aerospace engineering. After hearing about your company during a job fair at my university, I have decided to apply for an internship. As the President of the Engineering Club on campus for more than three years, I believe I have both the leadership and teamwork skills to excel in this position.
4. Showcase your best skills in professions and applied sciences
Your introductory paragraph hooks the employer’s attention initially but, to keep them interested, you need to craft well-written body paragraphs as well.
These body paragraphs should take a deeper dive into the specifics of your most relevant skills, accomplishments, and qualifications. As an applied sciences student, you should also strive to include any real-world academic or professional experiences you have as well to set yourself apart.
Here are 6 examples of skills to include on a professions and applied sciences cover letter
- Pragmatism and problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Creativity
- Collaboration
- Leadership
- Mathematics and logic
Here is an example of an accomplishment from a professions and applied sciences cover letter
As a professions and applied sciences student, I have worked for over a year to establish an Applied Sciences Society program at my university. Resulting from my efforts, the program has grown in size by more than 40% over the past year, helping students to build connections, tutor one another, and offer various forms of support within a structured community.
5. Finish your professions and applied sciences cover letter effectively
The final task on your cover letter writing to-do list is to craft an effective conclusion.
In your conclusion, you should always include the best times, days, and methods for getting in contact with you. Additionally, you can apply subtle pressure on the employer to contact you promptly by stating when you would like to hear from them and when you plan to follow up.
Always complete your conclusion with a formal sign-off, such as “Sincerely,” or “Best Regards,”.
Here is an example of an effective conclusion from a professions and applied sciences cover letter
I extend my gratitude for taking the time out of your busy schedule to review my application. I am eager to hear from you and available to meet any day between Monday to Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You may best reach me at (123) 456-7890.
If I have not heard back within a week’s time, I plan to follow up next Tuesday morning.
Yours Truly,
[Applicant Name]