Writing Cover Letters for Finance Jobs

WRITING COVER LETTERS

FOR FINANCE JOBS

We know it’s not easy to write a cover letter. You spent a decade of your life in education, for some actively involved in school activities, clubs, associations and not forgetting your internship and part-time jobs. So how do you cramp all of that information in a one-page cover letter?

Though it may seem outdated, cover letters (or cover emails) still play an important role in the screening process for banking and financial services jobs! They showcase to recruiters your ability to communicate clearly and emphasise key selling points in writing – an important skill to have in this line of work.

Here are some tips on how you can write cover letters, emails, or statements that really stand out.

CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE SALUTATION

Start with an appropriate greeting. A formal salutation includes words like “Dear...” and “Hello...”, and should be used when addressing the recipient of the cover letter. Avoid terms like “Hi” or “Hey” – those are too informal. If you can’t find a specific person to address your cover letter to, you can use ‘Dear Hiring Manager’ instead.

MENTION THE JOB POSITION YOU ARE APPLYING FOR

At the beginning of your cover letter, make sure to state the position you are applying for. It’s important that you do so as it helps personalise the cover letter and directs it to a specific employer. Identify where you saw the position as well. Recruiters post jobs on multiple platforms, so telling them where you spotted the post helps them keep track. You can do this on a line by itself – for example, “I am writing to apply for the Finance Analyst position with Areca Capital, as advertised on gradmalaysia.com.”

DEMONSTRATE YOUR ENTHUSIASM

Make sure to research your potential employer, and use the information that you have gathered to briefly state why you’re applying for the position. You can talk about specific aspects of the business or their culture, and why they appeal to you. This can help employers determine your genuine interest in the job.

One way to stand out from the crowd is to mention events organised by the company that you have previously attended, or if you have visited the company’s booth at a career fair. By showing your enthusiasm through networking, you can score an advantage over other candidates.

SUMMARISE YOUR COURSEWORK, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Since you are a fresh graduate, you should emphasise your university/ college coursework, internships and other experiences that showcases your suitability for the job. Only highlight relevant courses and experiences. Recruiters don’t need to know your entire academic history — just the parts of it which show that you have the knowledge and experience needed for the job!

Also explain how your skills can be put to good use in a specific role. For instance, if you worked part-time as a waiter or barista, you can talk about how the customer service skills you gained there have prepared you for a client-facing role with a bank.

SHOW, DON’T TELL

Be succinct and avoid falling into the trap of rambling too much about your personality, skills and qualifications – recruiters can assess these for themselves when they go through your application and CV. Likewise, avoid describing yourself with words such as “passionate” and “ambitious”. That just sounds cheesy, and these qualities are better exuded in person during an interview anyway.

Whenever possible, showcase results through quantifiable numbers. Stating that you “Increased student club sponsorship revenue by 30 percent” sounds much more convincing than simply writing “Liaised with sponsors for student club events”.

SAMPLE COVER LETTER

hr@arecacapital.my

Job Application for Finance Analyst Position - Saraswati

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to apply for the Finance Analyst position with Areca Capital, as advertised on gradmalaysia.com. My conversations with current employees at a career fair in April this year reinforced my interest in your company and I am keen on starting my career with you.

Throughout my years of study at Tyler’s University College, I completed several courses including econometrics, financial investment, risk management, portfolio management and financial statement analysis. These have given me a solid base upon which I plan to build my career in the finance industry.

In addition, I participated in a three-month internship stint at Paybank where I developed a practical understanding of the local financial market. My team and I were assigned to conduct market research on investment options for a client portfolio. Our recommendations there put the portfolio on track for an average annual growth rate of 5%.

I also have additional part-time experience as a waiter at various restaurants. I am thus comfortable handling clients directly if need be. I have enclosed my resume for your review. I am keen to discuss any opportunity in person and am available for an interview at any time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely, Saraswati a/p Shanmugam