What is a Cover Letter and Why is it Important
Commonly known as a job application letter or motivational letter, an Accounting cover letter for a new accounting graduate is a FORMAL letter that accompanies a Curriculum Vitae or a Resume during an Accounting-related job search.
An Accounting cover letter helps to highlight your marketable Accounting skills, experiences and achievements. It also helps to get the employer’s attention easier and explain why you are the perfect candidate for the role. In other words, it works as your elevator pitch.
The goal of sending a cover letter is to get the reader interested in you and what you have to offer, increasing your chances to be selected for an interview. Struggling to create one? Don’t worry, we have compiled 5 important Accounting Cover Letter tips for you.
5 Accounting Cover Letter Tips:
1. Keep It Simple & Concise
Your Accounting cover letter should not be more than four paragraphs. Here is a breakdown of the cover letter format:
The first paragraph provides a brief self-introduction and the purpose of sending this letter.
As an Accounting graduate with little experience, the second paragraph shows your academic qualifications and highlights your majors or specialities that are relevant to the job.
The third paragraph explains your Accounting experience. If you have any accounting experience such as internships, include it if they relate to the job. Also include the relevant skills and qualities that you possess in this paragraph.
Finally, the fourth paragraph includes your contact information, a short career objective and your availability for a follow-up interview.
2. Skills & Personality
Hiring managers understand that Accounting fresh graduates will lack working experience. That is why they are looking for candidates that possess the relevant attitude and interpersonal skills.
Well, what are the skills and personalities that employers are looking for in an Accounting cover letter? Here are some of the in-demand Accounting qualities you should include:
- Exceptional communication skills
- Dependable and punctual
- Career-driven
- Independent & highly proactive
- Great leadership skills
3. Personalisation
A rule of thumb – ALL job seekers should research the job position, company and industry that they are applying for. This applies to Accounting fresh graduates as well.
Personalisation is key when it comes to standing out among thousands of Accounting job applicants. Customising your Accounting cover letter will really address the requirements for the applied role and give you an edge over your competition.
You might not have much Accounting experience, but make sure to tailor your cover letter by mentioning specific skills/experience you think are relative to the job position. If what you include satisfies their requirements, chances are they’ll read over your resume as well.
4. Watch Your Tone
Relax, we don’t mean it that way. It is just a gentle reminder for you to incorporate a suitable tone of writing in your Accounting cover letter.
The world is changing and people are wearing jeans to work, but the Accounting field is still a traditional and conservative environment. Due to the formal working culture, all communications must be formal, even in your cover letter.
Tone down, be humble and formal. Instead of writing “I’m your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman”, go for something like “I am friendly and easy to work with”. First impressions are important, so be mindful of your tone.
5. Be Meticulous
Accountants are expected to be meticulous with zero careless mistakes since they are dealing with money and finances. The same principle applies to basically everything else, including your Accounting cover letter.
Hence, grammatical mistakes and spelling errors will not be tolerated. Here are some tips to ensure that your cover letter is easy to read and free of errors.
- Use a clear font in a reasonable size
- Use spell check to eliminate spelling errors
- Read what you’ve written out loud
- Ask someone else to check and proofread your work
Accounting Cover Letter Sample
Below is a sample for an Accounting fresh graduate. There are no one-size-fits-all cover letters so tweak and customise your cover letter based on your own research and self-evaluation to best showcase your abilities.
“My name is Joyce and I am a fresh graduate from ABC University majoring in Accounting and Finance. I am applying for the Accounting Assistant position at Company XYZ.
Throughout my formal education and internship experiences in the Accounting field, I have developed a comprehensive mastery of accounting principles, knowledge of A/P, A/R, Cash Disbursements/Receipts, proficiency in MS Excel, Quickbooks, CRM, and Peachtree.
My academic qualifications and working experience cultivated a few interpersonal skills and qualities that Company XYZ will value. I am extremely meticulous, punctual and independent. Coupled with excellent communication and leadership skills, I am certain that I will bring exceptional value to the company.
It would be an honour to work for Company XYZ in order to hone my Accounting skills and further my career advancement in this field. Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Conclusion
We hope that this article is useful for Accounting fresh graduates out there who are struggling to create their Accounting cover letters. With these tips, you are one step closer to landing your dream Accounting job!
Visit our article if you still need help with cover letter formatting. Nervous about the upcoming job interviews? We have just the right guide on how to successfully pass job interviews in Malaysia.
Read the Mandarin version here: 5个会计毕业生的求职信提示（带有示例）
