Cover Letter Tips for the Graduate STEM Specialist

Convince employers that you are the right person for the job with an attractive cover letter.

Many STEM graduates have a fairly wide range of career options open to them, and are highly sought-after for their numerical skills and problem-solving abilities outside the STEM sectors. Within it, however, there are a wide range of fields they can choose from.

Your cover letter, therefore, is a chance to convince your prospective employer that you want to work in the industry, for their specific organisation, and in the job role advertised.

Here are some tips on how you can successfully sell yourself to recruiters with a cover letter. Careers in the STEM industries demand not just professionalism, but accuracy too, whether for communicating effectively with clients, suppliers and non-technical colleagues, or even ensuring calculations are correct.

Make sure your use of written English in your cover letter reassures recruiters that you have these qualities. If written communication is not your strong suit, refresh your knowledge of punctuation and grammar before you begin, and run draft copies of your cover letter through trusted friends or career advisers.

Research matters! Accuracy and professionalism –

The trick is to have a clear idea as to vital for graduates what the company does and what the job entails. From there, draw out evidence of your own skills, interests and experience that relate to this. At the same time, keep in mind that flattery such as “I am applying to you because you are a vibrant, international company that is a market leader in the automotive industry” will not get you anywhere.

A far better approach, however, is to: • Clearly state your career aim. • Specify what attracts you to the employer. For instance, you could mention a couple of projects the company has been involved in that piqued your interest. • Mention a work placement, project, or module you enjoyed that relates to the position you are gunning for.

Showing an understanding of the organisation in your cover letter will illustrate that you have done your research. Additionally, pick out key bits that fit in with your application and connect them to yourself.

What an ideal cover letter should include

Dear Ms Jones,

I am writing to apply for the Graduate Water Treatment Engineer vacancy (ref A123) advertised on gradsingapore.com. I graduated earlier this year with a BEng in Chemical Engineering from Singapore University. I am seeking my first role in the water industry, and enclosed is my resume for your consideration.

I am interested in the Graduate Water Treatment Engineer role at XYZ Water Consulting as I wish to apply my knowledge of the waste management industry, as well as my understanding of chemical processes and biotechnology developed during my undergraduate degree.

I wish to join a consultancy as I particularly enjoy working on projects that provide a clear business benefit and am keen to work with clients and stakeholders. To that end, during a three-month placement with BioChem, I produced a report outlining how the organisation could reduce the waste from its processes by 30%. In addition, on a sixmonth industrial placement with Western Electric, I produced a report on how by-products could be harnessed to create more energy, which is now being implemented. I have also completed an optional “Waste Management in Business” course in Singapore University, learning about business skills and functions, and have strong customer service skills developed through working as a Customer Service Assistant.

I also have a basic understanding of InfoWorks CS, strong programming ability in C# and Java and good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.

I am available for an immediate start, and am also able to attend an interview at any time.

Yours sincerely,

Benjamin Low Address the recipient by his or her title and surname. If these are not stated in the job ad, get in touch and ask. Never use “Sir or Madam” or “To whom it may concern”.

State clearly which position you are applying for. If the job ad specifies a reference number, include it. Very briefly mention your qualifications for this position.

Mention why you are applying to this specific position. Focus briefly on why you would be the right choice for the role, and that you have taken time to understand the company. Link the job requirements to your skills.

A cover letter is a chance to add clarity and detail to certain points on your resume. If you have achieved something specific in your work placements, highlight your relevant achievements here.

If you have additional, specific skills that are relevant to the job, mention them briefly as well.

State your availability for an interview, as well as when you can start work.

Sign off professionally. “Yours sincerely” is always a safe bet.