College Psychology Job Cover Letter Example

As a college student, finding a job that is at your level of experience, but still interesting, can be a challenge. Fortunately, employers who specifically hire college students generally understand that students may not have an extensive professional work history. 

That means it's important to include other relevant information in the cover letter, including your major/minor, volunteer experience, internship experience, and personal skills that pertain to the position. Here's more insight into what to include in your cover letter, along with how to format it and a sample letter that you can use for inspiration while writing your own. 

What to Include in Your Cover Letter 

Since you're applying for a psychology job, you'll want to emphasize any experience that you may have in the field. That may include internships, volunteer work, and part-time jobs. 

Another way to show you are a good candidate for the role at hand is to describe your relevant skills. You'll want to emphasize that you have the skills mentioned in the job description. Some of the key skills that are often required for roles in the field of psychology include: 

• Communication skills: Nearly every role requires strong communication skills, but of course, the ability to listen to patients/clients is particularly important for psychology-related roles. If you're working with minors, you'll need to communicate details and recommendations with guardians. 
• Strong time management: People in this field may find themselves needing to manage time during client sessions as well as balance meeting clients and tackling paperwork in a timely fashion. 
• An affinity for the details: Given the paperwork mentioned above, you'll need to feel comfortable filling out forms, calling up insurance companies, and fulfilling similar detail-focused tasks. 
• Analytical skills: People in the field of psychology need to be able to understand theory, and also apply it to individuals. Since people are complex, this may require developing many potential solutions, and working patiently to uncover what works for each individual. Psychologists need to use observational skills and critical thinking as well as problemsolving skills and more.

Tips for Writing Your Cover Letter

Here's what to keep in mind as you write a cover letter: 

• Formatting matters: There are fairly set guidelines for how to format your cover letter, so make sure to structure your cover letter so it meets hiring managers' expectations. 
• Showcase your relevant skills, experience, and ability: As you're reviewing the job description, keep an eye out for what the employee is looking for in candidates. When you have those qualities/experience, make sure to mention it. 
• Sell yourself: Hiring managers don't care about how much you want to land the job. They're interested in how you'll be able to fulfill the job description and help out the company. With that in mind, emphasize how you're a good fit along with ways you'll add value to the company in the role. 
• Don't forget to proofread: Small errors can make you appear unprofessional. Before sending off your cover letter, thoroughly read through it, removing typos or grammar errors. Keep your message brief and use language that is easy to understand. If you find it hard to catch errors, you can ask for help from friends. 

Email Cover Letter Example

How to Send an Email Cover Letter

More cover letters are sent via email than through snail mail these days. Nearly everything remains the same if you're emailing a cover letter, but you'll need to make the following adjustments to the format: 

• Write a strong email subject line: You'll want to include both your name and the job title in the subject line. That way, you'll get the hiring manager's attention and avoid the message looking like spam. Here's an example subject line: Jane Jones — Assistant to Counseling Department Position 
• Skip the employer contact information: Instead, start your email message with a salutation. 
• Include an email signature: Below the body of your email and your closing, you'll want to include your email signature, which lists your full typed name, contact information, address, phone, and email address.