How to Write a Cover Letter for a Graduate Scheme

Graduate scheme applications at major employers are among the most competitive hiring processes in the market. Thousands of applicants compete for a small number of places. The cover letter is your first opportunity to differentiate yourself from other candidates with very similar academic backgrounds.

What Graduate Scheme Selectors Are Looking For

Graduate scheme selectors have seen thousands of cover letters. What they are filtering for, beyond basic writing quality, is:

• Genuine understanding of and interest in the organisation (not generic enthusiasm for the sector)
• Evidence of relevant skills and qualities — whether from academic, extracurricular, or professional experience
• Self-awareness and a clear sense of why this scheme suits you specifically
• Good written communication skills (most graduate roles require them)

The Specificity Test

For a graduate scheme application, generic is fatal. "I have always been passionate about consulting" could have been written by any of the other 5,000 applicants. "I am applying to [Firm's] strategy consulting practice because the work your infrastructure team published on [specific topic] is exactly the type of problem I want to be working on" cannot be copy-pasted.

Before you write, do the research. Know the firm well enough to write one sentence that could only apply to them.

Structure for Graduate Scheme Cover Letters

Many graduate scheme applications involve a formal application form with character-limited text boxes rather than a traditional cover letter. The same principles apply in both formats.

Why this organisation (not just this sector): Specific, researched, genuine.

What you bring: Lead with your strongest example. Graduate selectors often use the cover letter to assess whether you can identify your own relevant experience and articulate it clearly. A single well-framed STAR example is better than a list of claims.

Why you are a good fit for this type of career: Brief — what is it about this specific work that suits you, and what evidence do you have that you will succeed?

Close: Professional, brief.

Word Limits and Application Forms

Many graduate applications impose word limits on cover letter sections (often 250-500 words per question). This discipline is part of the assessment — follow it precisely.

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