High School Cover Letter Examples & Writing Tips
Written By Lauren MastroniCareer Expert & Digital Content Writer
Reviewed By Conrad BenzContent Manager & Hiring Manager
Lauren Mastroni is a Digital Content Writer dedicated to creating engaging content and providing actionable advice that empowers people in their job searches. An enthusiastic contributor to the Resume Genius...
Model your cover letter on our examples and follow our writing tips to make a cover letter that helps you get a job, even if you don't have work experience yet.
High school cover letter examples by experience
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High school cover letter template
Copy-paste high school cover letter (text format)
- High school cover letter (no experience)
- High school cover letter
- High school graduate cover letter
FIRST AND LAST NAME
Email: your.email@email.com
Phone: (123) 456-7891
Address: Street, City, State
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile
[Today’s Date]
[Hiring Manager’s Name]
123 Company Address
Company’s City, State, Zip Code
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
hiring.manager@gmail.com
Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Last Name],
I’m excited to apply for the Cashier position at Forever 21. I’m a student at Chapel Hill High School and looking for a part-time job where I can gain new skills while contributing my friendly attitude and strong work ethic to the team.
Through my volunteer work at a local animal shelter, I developed my customer service skills by helping and talking with visitors. I also worked with other volunteers on a project to clean up a park by planting flowers and picking up trash. These experiences taught me the importance of teamwork, staying on task, and helping the community.
In school, I’ve taken on leadership roles, like being the captain of the basketball team and participating in the debate team. These activities have helped me become better at communication, time management, and problem-solving.
I’m a quick learner and would love the opportunity to pick up tips and tricks from more experienced employees at your store. Thank you for your time and consideration. I can be reached at 9123) 456-7890 or your.name@gmail.com
Sincerely,
Your Name
[Today’s Date]
[Hiring Manager’s Name]
123 Company Address
Company’s City, State, Zip Code
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
hiring.manager@gmail.com
Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Last Name],
I’m excited to apply for the Youth Development Summer Internship at [Company Name]. As a high school student with a 3.8 GPA, I’m eager to use my skills in tutoring and helping others. I believe my experience working as a math tutor and volunteering with foster children has prepared me to contribute to your team and support the youth in your program.
In my role as a Virtual Math Tutor with EnCorps, Inc., I have helped students improve their math skills through online tutoring sessions, and I’ve seen an average 18% improvement in their test scores. My time as a volunteer at The Academy Project also taught me how to mentor and assist children with their reading skills. These experiences have strengthened my communication skills and my ability to connect with young people in different ways.
I’m particularly drawn to [Company Name] because I admire how you support youth and help them succeed. I would love the chance to be part of your team and apply my skills to help make a difference. Thank you for considering my application. I hope to discuss how I can contribute further during an interview.
Sincerely,
Your Name
[Today’s Date]
[Hiring Manager’s Name]
123 Company Address
Company’s City, State, Zip Code
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
hiring.manager@gmail.com
Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Last Name],
I’m writing regarding my application for the Administrative Assistant position at Houston Paper Supply Company. As a recent graduate of Memorial High School with experience in administration, event planning, and financial management, I’m confident I can contribute effectively to your team.
At the Houston Food Bank, I worked as a Volunteer Administrative Assistant, where I handled data entry, filing, and managed deliveries for 35 volunteers. I also answered more than 15 calls per shift, providing prompt and accurate responses. Additionally, I completed a personal event planning project, helping organize a community fundraiser that raised $1,000 for charity. I managed logistics, vendor coordination, and marketing, gaining over 3,000 impressions through social media.
Through my role as Treasurer of the Memorial High Business Club, I tracked finances, created budgets, and helped organize networking events. These experiences have honed my skills in time management, problem-solving, and teamwork, all of which will help me succeed at Houston Paper Supply Company.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to your team, please feel free to contact me at (713) 123-4567 or your.name@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Your Name
High school cover letter examples for different jobs
Writing an effective cover letter means showing employers why you’re excited about the opportunity and what makes you qualified. The examples below demonstrate how high school students can confidently share their skills and experiences.
Daycare cover letter
Here’s a cover letter that a high school student wrote when applying for a role as a daycare worker.
Food service cover letter
This high school student demonstrates their enthusiasm for a cashier/counter staff position at a frozen yogurt store.
Hotel front desk cover letter
In this cover letter example, a high school student explains how their skills from school can transfer over to a front desk position at a hotel.
Lifeguard cover letter
In this cover letter example, a high schooler explains how his experience on the swim team makes him qualified for a lifeguard position at a water park.
Museum volunteer cover letter
This high school student explains how their soft skills make them qualified to apply for a museum volunteer position.
Music camp cover letter
In this cover letter example, a high schooler explains how his experience in band makes him qualified to be a camp counselor at a music camp.
Pet store cover letter
This high school student mentions how his experience on the lacrosse team helped prepare him for work as a pet store associate.
Math tutor cover letter
In this cover letter for a math tutor job, this high schooler explains how his personality and experience make him a good fit.
Walmart cover letter
This cover letter example shows how a high school student’s skills and sense of personal responsibility can make up for their lack of experience applying for a cashier position at Walmart.
How to make your high school cover letter stand out
If you’re a teen with little or no work experience, finding a job can seem challenging. However, school projects, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work also count as relevant experience.=
Here are a few tips for writing an effective cover letter as a high school student:
1. Focus on the skills that matter most
Use your cover letter to highlight any relevant skills that show employers you’re qualified for the job.
Despite limited work experience, many high school students have a variety of skills that are valuable to employers.
Here are some hard and soft skills you’ve likely picked up as a high school student that you can talk about in your cover letter:
Skills to highlight on a high school student cover letter
| Time management | Organization skills |
| Communication skills | Adaptability |
| Flexibility | Interpersonal skills |
| Initiative | Leadership skills |
| Teamwork | Attention to detail |
| Open-mindedness | Patience |
| People skills | Customer service |
| Presentation skills | Being a quick learner |
| Problem-solving | Critical thinking |
| Research skills | Ability to follow instructions |
| Technical skills (Excel, Google Docs) | Graphic design (Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva) |
Be sure to provide real-life examples of your accomplishments to demonstrate your skills, like this applicant did in their cover letter:
“I helped organize my school’s yearly fundraising event in 2021, raising over $3,000 for a local charity.”
2. Show your passion for the industry and willingness to learn
Employers want to hire someone who’s going to be genuinely excited to be there. Candidates who show passion for their work are more likely to stand out to employers.
Here are some ways that you can show your passion in a cover letter:
- Don’t just say you’re interested in the job, explain why you’re interested.
- Connect a personal passion to the job to prove you’re committed to making an impact.
- Mention something about the company that made you want to apply.
Here’s an example written by a candidate applying for a tutoring position:
“I was excited to discover your job opening for the role of Writing Tutor. When I was in fifth grade, I had an excellent English tutor who inspired me to want to help others achieve their academic goals.”
This applicant comes across as enthusiastic about the job and the opportunity to support students’ academic growth.
3. Explain why you want to work for them
Explaining your specific reasons for applying shows you’re motivated and helps you stand out, especially as a high school student.
Mention something specific that you will like about the job and connect it to your strengths or what you want to learn. Connecting your interests to the role makes your cover letter feel personal and shows that the job fits your goals and personality.
Example motivation statement for a high school student (any job):
I’m interested in working at [Company Name] because I like that you’re known for being friendly and helpful to customers. I’m looking for a part-time job where I can learn responsibility, build customer service skills, and be part of a team. I’m dependable, positive, and ready to work hard, and I’d be excited to contribute while learning from your staff.
High school cover letter checklist
- Research the company and role – Look at the employer’s website/social media or the job posting to understand what they do and what they want. Mention one specific reason you want to work there.
- Use a professional greeting – If you can find a name, use it. If not, use “Dear Hiring Manager” (skip “To Whom It May Concern”).
- Open with enthusiasm – Start by saying what job you’re applying for and why you’re interested. Briefly introduce yourself as a high school student and include 1–2 strengths.
- Connect your experience to the job – Use examples from school, sports, clubs, volunteering, babysitting, or other responsibilities to show skills that match the role (teamwork, reliability, communication, etc.).
- Use specific proof – Support your claims with simple, real examples (hours volunteered, leadership roles, being on a team, handling busy situations). Only use numbers if you truly have them.
- Close with confidence – Restate your interest, thank them for their time, and say you’d appreciate the chance to interview.
- Proofread and polish – Fix typos, read it out loud, and keep formatting clean and professional.
With a well-written cover letter, you can convince employers that you’re worth hiring and land one of the best jobs for teenagers.
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