Embarking on your job search, you've hit a snag: the cover letter. It's a hurdle, especially without a degree to highlight. This letter isn't a resume echo but a spotlight on your proudest professional moment, told with passion and precision. Straying from clichés and keeping it to a single page, you’ll learn to craft a cover letter that holds attention without overstepping formal boundaries. Let’s dive into writing a no degree cover letter that stands out, just like your unique skills.
- Including all the must-have paragraphs in your structure for an excellent first impression;
- Learning how to write individual sections from industry-leading cover letter examples;
- Selecting the best accomplishment to tell an interesting and authority-building professional story;
- Introducing your profile with personality, while meeting industry standards.
And, if you want to save some time, drag and drop your no degree resume into Enhancv's AI, which will assess your profile and write your job-winning cover letter for you.
If the no degree isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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No Degree cover letter example
MARCUS HALL
Symbolic City, State
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Reference to specific experience that aligns with the company's values (e.g., experience at Tesla related to sustainable practices).
- Quantifiable achievements that demonstrate impact on efficiency and profitability (e.g., enhancing efficiency by 25%, increasing revenue by $300,000).
- Highlighting specialized methodologies and certifications (e.g., Lean Six Sigma) that are relevant to the role.
- Mention of adaptability and leadership skills (e.g., spearheading cross-functional initiatives) to demonstrate the capability to drive projects.
Five tips on formatting your no degree cover letter
Do you want to make a good impression on recruiters and, at the same time, follow the best industry advice on writing your no degree cover letter?
Make sure to include the following:
- Header and Salutation;
- Introductory paragraph;
- Body paragraph;
- Closing paragraph;
- Signature (this one is up to you).
Remember to use the same modern, simple font for your no degree cover letter as you did for your resume (e.g. Lato, Rubik, etc.)
Ensure your no degree cover letter is single-spaced and is wrapped around a one-inch margin, like in our cover letter templates.
Once completed, use our cover letter builder to export your no degree cover letter in the best format to keep your information intact - PDF.
At the end of the day, your no degree cover letter won't be assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) software, but by the recruiters. Your information should thus be legible, organized, and follow a structured logic.
The top sections on a no degree cover letter
Header: This section includes your contact information and the date, which is essential for the recruiter to know who you are and how to reach you for further discussions or to schedule an interview.
Greeting: A personalized greeting addresses the hiring manager or the recruitment team directly, showing that you have done your research and are genuinely interested in the position.
Opening Paragraph: Your opening should capture the recruiter's attention by conveying enthusiasm for the role and briefly highlighting your most relevant skills or experiences that compensate for the lack of a degree.
Body: In the body of your cover letter, expand on your relevant skills, accomplishments, and work experiences, providing concrete examples that demonstrate your suitability and potential value to the organization despite not having a formal degree.
Closing: Your closing paragraph is the opportunity to reiterate your interest in the role, thank the recruiter for considering your application, and include a call to action, such as expressing your desire for a personal interview or discussing how you can contribute to the company.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
Since you didn't specify a job title, I'll provide a general list. Please provide a job title for a more targeted list.
- Relevant work experience: Demonstrates practical skills and knowledge acquired through hands-on roles.
- Transferable skills: Highlights abilities such as communication, leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork.
- Continual learning: Shows commitment to self-improvement and professional development despite the absence of formal education.
- Industry knowledge: Exemplifies awareness and understanding of the sector or field pertinent to the job.
- Work ethic: Emphasizes dedication, reliability, and the willingness to go above and beyond in previous roles.
- Adaptability: Indicates the ability to quickly learn and effectively respond to changing work environments or demands.
How to address hiring managers in your no degree cover letter greeting
Goodbye, "Dear Sir/Madam" or "To whom it may concern!"
The salutation of your no degree cover letter is how you kick off your professional communication with the hiring managers.
And you want it to start off a bit more personalized and tailored, to catch the recruiters' attention.
Take the time to find out who's recruiting for the role (via LinkedIn or the company page).
If you have previously chatted or emailed the hiring managers, address them on a first or last name basis.
The alternative is a "Dear HR team" or "Dear Hiring Manger", but remember that a "Dear Ms. Simmons" or "Dear Simon," could get you farther ahead than an impersonal greeting.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Specific Department] Team,
- Dear [Company Name] Recruiter,
- Dear [Mr./Ms./Dr.] [Last Name],
- Dear Search Committee,
- Dear Talent Acquisition Team,
Introducing your profile to catch recruiters' attention in no more than two sentences
The introduction of your no degree cover letter is a whole Catch 22 .
You have an allocated space of no more than just a paragraph (of up to two sentences). With your introduction, you have to stand out and show why you're the best candidate out there.
Set out on a journey with your no degree cover letter by focusing on why you're passionate about the job. Match your personal skills and interests to the role.
Another option for your no degree cover letter introduction is to show you're the ideal candidate. Write about how your achievements and skills are precisely what the company is looking for.
However you decide to start your no degree cover letter, always remember to write about the value you'd bring about. Making it both tangible (with your metrics of success) and highly sought out.
What to write in the body of your no degree cover letter
Now that you've got your intro covered, here comes the heart and soul of your no degree cover letter.
It's time to write the middle or body paragraphs. This is the space where you talk about your relevant talent in terms of hard skills (or technologies) and soft (or people and communication) skills.
Keep in mind that the cover letter has a different purpose from your no degree resume.
Yes, you still have to be able to show recruiters what makes your experience unique (and applicable) to the role.
But, instead of just listing skills, aim to tell a story of your one, greatest accomplishment.
Select your achievement that:
- covers job-crucial skills;
- can be measured with tangible metrics;
- shows you in the best light.
Use the next three to six paragraphs to detail what this success has taught you, and also to sell your profile.
Closing paragraph basics: choose between a promise and a call to action
You've done all the hard work - congratulations! You've almost reached the end of your no degree cover letter.
But how do you ensure recruiters, who have read your application this far, remember you?
Most no degree professionals end their cover letter with a promise - hinting at their potential and what they plan on achieving if they're hired.
Another option would be to include a call for follow-up, where you remind recruiters that you're very interested in the opportunity (and look forward to hearing from them, soon).
Choose to close your no degree cover letter in the way that best fits your personality.
What could you write about in your no degree cover letter when you have no experience
Candidates with zero professional experience often struggle to write their no degree cover letter.
You may lack experience, but your application could still be impressive when you focus on your strengths.
Consider your most relevant talents (and/or one achievement) that align with the role and help you stand out.
Perhaps you spent every summer volunteering at your local dog pound - think of the job-relevant skills this experience taught you.
Sharing your tangible career goals is another good strategy to stand out.
Key takeaways
Writing your no degree cover letter doesn't need to turn into an endless quest, but instead:
- Create an individual no degree cover letter for each role you apply to, based on job criteria (use our builder to transform your resume into a cover letter, which you could edit to match the job);
- Stick with the same font you've used in your resume (e.g. Raleway) and ensure your no degree cover letter is single-spaced and has a one-inch margin all around;
- Introduce your enthusiasm for the role or the company at the beginning of your no degree cover letter to make a good first impression;
- Align what matters most to the company by selecting just one achievement from your experience, that has taught you valuable skills and knowledge for the job;
- End your no degree cover letter like any good story - with a promise for greatness or follow-up for an interview.
