Starting your student-athlete cover letter can feel like one more hurdle in the job application race. You've polished your resume, but now you must capture your proudest triumph without simply repeating your achievements list. Think of it as your chance to narrate the dedication behind that standout moment. Remember, balance formality with originality, dodging worn-out phrases, and keep it concise—your story should shine on just one page. Let's break down the steps to create a cover letter that champions your unique journey.
- Some inspiration from other professionals' job-winning cover letters;
- The best structure and format for your student athlete cover letter;
- Insights on how to write about your best achievement to stand out;
- A creative twist on your student athlete cover letter intro.
Upload your student athlete resume to Enhancv's AI, which will quickly scan and prepare a job-winning cover letter for you.
If the student athlete 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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Student Athlete cover letter example
Carla Jensen
Miami, FL
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- Emphasizing relevant leadership experience, as seen with the mention of "Team Captain for the University of Miami Hurricanes," showcases the ability to handle responsibilities and lead a team effectively which is crucial for the role being applied for.
- Quantifiable achievements, such as "a 30% increase in scoring" and "improvement in average GPAs from 2.5 to 3.2," provide concrete evidence of the candidate's impactful contributions and success in previous positions.
- Demonstrating successful mentorship, with a specific example from Florida Atlantic University, indicates the candidate's strong skills in guiding and improving the performance of team members academically, which is likely beneficial for a role that involves team development.
- Expressing eagerness to contribute to the prospective employer's program and an openness to discussing the alignment of skills and goals in an interview suggests a proactive and engaging attitude, which is attractive to hiring managers looking for enthusiastic candidates.
The must-have sections and format of your student athlete cover letter
When writing your student athlete cover letter, keep in mind that it'll only be read by the recruiters and not the Applicant Tracker System (or software used to assess your profile). That's why you should structure your content with a/an:
- Header (apart from your contact information, include your name, the role you're applying for, and the date);
- Personalized salutation;
- Opening paragraph to win the recruiters over;
- Middle paragraph with key details;
- Closing that starts from clichés;
- Sign off (that's not mandatory).
Industry standards dictate your paragraphs to be single-spaced and to wrap your content in a one-inch margin. Designing your student athlete cover letter, refer to one of our templates, which automatically takes care of the spacing and margins.
Choose the same font for your student athlete cover letter as you did for your resume: the likes of Lato and Bitter would help you to stand out in a sea of cover letters in Arial or Times New Roman.
Export your whole student athlete cover letter from our builder in PDF to keep the same formatting and image quality.
The top sections on a student athlete cover letter
- Header: Include your name, address, phone number, email, and date which ensures the recruiter can easily identify and contact you.
- Greeting: Address the coach or hiring staff directly by name to establish a personal connection and show attention to detail.
- Introduction: State your intent to apply for the athletic position, mention the sport, and give a brief overview of your athletic and academic background to provide context for your application.
- Athletic Highlights: Detail your sports achievements, training regimen, and any leadership experiences on your team to demonstrate your skills and commitment to athletics.
- Closing: Reiterate your enthusiasm for the opportunity, your willingness to contribute to the team, and a polite request for an in-person meeting or discussion to show professionalism and eagerness to engage further.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Strong time-management skills: Balancing athletics, academics, and other commitments demonstrates the ability to prioritize and handle multiple responsibilities effectively.
- Team-oriented mindset: Being a part of a sports team illustrates the capability to work collaboratively, rely on teammates, and contribute to a group goal.
- Leadership qualities: Captaining a team or taking on a leadership role indicates the capacity to motivate others, make decisions, and be a role model.
- Resilience and perseverance: Overcoming injuries, defeats, or performance slumps showcases mental toughness, dedication, and a continuous improvement attitude.
- Competitive spirit: A history of competitive athletics suggests a drive to excel, a high level of determination, and the ability to thrive in pressure situations.
- Outstanding physical fitness and health: A commitment to personal fitness and wellness is critical for the demands of collegiate athletics and suggests the endurance necessary to compete at a high level.
How to personalize your student athlete cover letter greeting
Before you start writing your student athlete cover letter, take the time to find out who is recruiting for the role.
Search for the recruiter's name on LinkedIn or the corporate website to address them personally in your student athlete cover letter salutation.
What if you can't find out who's recruiting for the role?
Always aim to avoid the very impersonal "Dear Sir/Madam" - instead, opt out for "Dear HR Team" or "Dear Hiring Manager" to make a better first impression.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear Coach [Last Name],
- Dear [Mr./Ms./Dr.] [Last Name],
- Dear Search Committee,
- Dear Members of the [Team Name] Selection Committee,
- Dear Director of Athletics,
Your student athlete cover letter intro: showing your interest in the role
On to the actual content of your student athlete cover letter and the introductory paragraph.
The intro should be no more than two sentences long and presents you in the best light possible.
Use your student athlete cover letter introduction to prove exactly what interests you in the role or organization. Is it the:
- Company culture;
- Growth opportunities;
- Projects and awards the team worked on/won in the past year;
- Specific technologies the department uses.
When writing your student athlete cover letter intro, be precise and sound enthusiastic about the role.
Your introduction should hint to recruiters that you're excited about the opportunity and that you possess an array of soft skills, e.g. motivation, determination, work ethic, etc.
What to write in the body of your student athlete cover letter
Now that you've got your intro covered, here comes the heart and soul of your student athlete 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 student athlete 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.
Ending your student athlete cover letter: a closing paragraph with a promise
If you're thinking of finishing your student athlete cover letter with a "Sincerely yours" or "Thanks for the consideration," you need to read on.
End the final paragraph of your student athlete cover letter with a twist:
- a promise - of how you'd grow as a professional, part of the company, or improve organizational metrics;
- a call to action - prompt interviewers with some follow-up actions if they are interested in your profile.
A personalized ending would surely help you to stand out by being a memorable candidate.
The zero experience student athlete cover letter: shifting the focus to your unique value
Don't worry if you have no conventional professional experience. Within your whole experience, there's plenty more you can write about in your student athlete cover letter.
Take, for example, your biggest achievement or award - dedicate your cover letter body to describe it and the job-relevant skills you've learned.
Your professional ambitions could also take center stage. Describe what you plan on achieving in the next five to ten years and the efforts you're making towards your dreams.
Key takeaways
We hope this student athlete cover letter writing guide has shown you how to:
- Format your student athlete cover letter with the mandatory sections (e.g. header, greeting, intro, body, and closing) and select the right font (P.S. It should be the same as the one you've used for your resume);
- Substitute your lack of professional experience with your most noteworthy achievement, outside of work, or your dreams and passions;
- Ensure recruiters have a more personalized experience by tailoring your cover letter not just to the role, but to them (e.g. writing their first/last name in the salutation, etc.);
- Introducing your biggest achievement and the skills it has taught you in your student athlete cover letter body;
- Write no more than two sentences in your student athlete cover letter introduction to set the right tone from the get-go.
