Cover Letter Writing Guidelines
A cover letter is an important, though not always mandatory, tool used in the job search process.
The main purpose of such a letter is to attract the employer’s attention to your application and encourage them to read your resume.
If you are just starting your career, a cover letter can increase your chances of employment. It can be used as an additional resource to present yourself and convince the employer that, despite a lack of deep experience in a certain field, you are still a candidate worth considering.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with the basic guidelines for writing a cover letter. At the moment, the GSB Career Center is not offering career consultations. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them via email at careers@hse.ru.
Structure of a Cover Letter
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Step 1: Introduction
In this section, it is important to state who you are and why you may be of interest to the employer. Most often, this is where you provide a brief description of yourself as a professional. If you do not yet have work experience, you can mention that you are a student/graduate of a particular faculty or academic program and list your key competencies and areas of knowledge. Avoid listing personal qualities — these will be assessed by the employer during the interview. The main task of this section is to make the employer want to continue reading your letter.
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Step 2: Purpose
Here it is important to clearly state which vacancy you are applying for, where you found it, and what specifically interested you in it.
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Step 3: Main Body
Think through why you are a suitable fit for this role. Study the vacancy and the company in detail — its operations, values — and reflect on how they align with your competencies and knowledge. This section should be well-argued — why you should be considered for this position.
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Step 4: Conclusion
In the conclusion, we recommend politely requesting feedback and expressing your readiness to tell more about yourself in an interview.
Sample Cover Letter
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Anna Ivanova. I am a recent graduate of the Graduate School of Business at the National Research University Higher School of Economics. My core educational program was Marketing and Market Analytics.
I am writing to express my interest in the Intern position in the Marketing Department, as advertised on your website. As a recent graduate with solid knowledge and practical skills in marketing analytics and digital marketing, I believe I am a strong candidate for a position at your company.
During my time at university, I received several awards in marketing competitions and case championships, such as [insert examples], which helped me deepen my knowledge and gain valuable hands-on experience.
In addition to graduating with a GPA of [insert GPA], I spent a semester studying at a university in London. I also have strong conversational skills in English, which I believe would be an asset, especially considering your company's close collaboration with major partners in London.
I have enclosed my resume and look forward to your feedback.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Anna Ivanova
+7 (000) 000-00-00
Recommendations
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Keep it short and to the point
Do not repeat the information from your resume or go into personal life details. A cover letter is a brief but informative message to the employer — it should generate interest, not bore the reader after the first few lines.
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Use keywords
In the main part of your letter, we recommend using keywords that connect your experience/skills with the job requirements.
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Tailor your letter to a specific vacancy
Avoid writing a universal letter — it is unlikely to be memorable to the employer and may suggest that you’re applying indiscriminately rather than targeting a specific role.
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Be positive
Avoid any hints of negative experiences.
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Don’t make spelling or grammar mistakes
Always proofread your letter before sending it.
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Use artificial intelligence
You can use AI tools to generate ideas. However, any AI-generated letter will still require your editing.