Cover Letter Question- How to show interest in finance/markets?
Hi,
I couldn't find a forum for cover letters so I hope I'm in the right place.
I keep hearing that my cover letter should show interest in the markets and that I read the news... I will be soon applying for IB and S&T analyst positions.
How do you draw the reader's attention by showing interest in the markets?
I had 1 internship in BB risk, my degrees are directly related to finance... but I don't think showing interest in finance/ the markets are related to these (my internship is obviously mentioned on the cover letter).
Any suggestions?
You found the right form, congrats!
But really, a cover letter shouldn't be like your resume. It is supposed to say what your resume can't, at least in the 1 page you have to write it. So you shouldn't worry about overly stressing your degrees or your internships, but rather showing your genuine interest in the markets/finance. Sure, mention your internships/degrees but then use those as a catalyst to express your personal interests in finance.
You have to short, succinct, and captivating. If the employer actually does read it, he won't want to spend that much time reading it. Do you have a story to tell that got you interested in finance? Or even interested in the company? What do you find enticing about finance?
Just write something up and bring it back to the forums. People will more than likely help out more.
that's my problem, I'm not sure how to make this connection. I don't want to write stuff like " oh I think you company is awesome" or "s&t or IB is so great and a lot of fun". My problem is that I am not sure how to put such this that show interest on the cover letter. Right now my cover letter has 300 words that highlights my work experiences ( nothing really on education) and how they added value and developed my skills (e.g. ccommunication, teamwork, problem solving, etc.).
How would you connect your interest in finance in there?
If you don't mind me asking, how did you show interest when you applied for jobs in finance?
Thanks.
If I was reading a cover letter, I would know the person is interest in finance cause he's applying for this position and has degrees that are indicative of finance. So I would be looking for why this applicant wants to be at this company and not at a different one.
As an example, I applied to a company that had fairly large hand in defense/armed forces/whatever you wanna call it industry. And then I talked about how my father was a history professor and I grew up fascinated by these large warships, submarines, etc... and how I wanted to work for them because their involvement in that field drew me in.
Conveying Enthusiam in Cover Letters (Originally Posted: 05/18/2010)
How To Convey Enthusiasm in Cover Letters - Without Sounding like a Phony:
The key is not to say that you are enthusiastic; that can sound phony. Instead, let your enthusiasm show through your description of past achievements.
Phony: "I would really love to work for your company. I know that I will excel in its fast pace environment, and if given the chance, I will do a great job".
Genuine: "During my summer internship, I very much enjoyed answering calls and helping solve customer problems. The experience was fascinating; it honed my communication skills and taught me to think on my feet."
Well, yeah.
I was never a fan of the word "fascinating" though.
Never been a fan of cover letters. Always tried to send a resume and a short email to someone who could push me, figured the interview is where I would sell myself.
Pruf, fair point.
Interesting that a word like "fascinating" seems more genuine if you back it up, no?
On a real cover letter, you are right: it would be more efficient to drop it.
AnthonyD1982, that's great!
Not many people know (or can access) the right combination to get that to work, but it is a fine method.
Also, nitpick: "fast-paced" instead of "fast pace"
Some firms require cover letters, by the way. Also, in the original example, the second quotation doesn't seem to convey enthusiasm about the job very much; it's basically saying, "yeah, I really liked my summer internship!" It's important to tie it to the position you're applying for, and turn it into "I really liked my summer internship, and this job/internship would expand on that existing skill set, blah blah"..
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