High School Cover Letter: 6 Examples With No Experience

By Mustafa Tarabya, founder of CVBooster · Published 2026-10-25 · Updated 2026-10-25

8 min read

A high school cover letter is a one-page letter of three or four short paragraphs that names the job, proves you are reliable with examples from school, sports, volunteering or family responsibilities, and says when you can work. The one constraint is proof, because without a job history every claim needs a real example behind it. Purdue's Online Writing Lab, in its quick tips for cover letters, says to "Give specific examples to prove where you got these skills and how you have used them before." Below are the structure and six complete letters for first jobs. Written by Mustafa Tarabya, who hired for his own company, read every application himself and now writes CVBooster's guides.

The ad for a weekend bagger asks for "excellent communication skills and a proven track record." You are fifteen. Your track record is algebra. The store will settle for someone who shows up on Saturday, and this letter's job is to prove you will.

A high school cover letter, complete

A sophomore applying to a grocery store: the job, two proofs, availability, a polite close.

High school: grocery store bagger and cart attendant, complete example, 130 words

High school: grocery store bagger and cart attendant (130 words)

Dear Ms. Patel,

I am applying for the part-time courtesy clerk position at Green Valley Market on Elm Street. I am a sophomore at Westfield High School.

I am reliable. I have not missed a JV soccer practice this season, and I get to school by 7:15 every morning for zero period. I also watch my two younger brothers three afternoons a week.

I am also good with people. As a volunteer at our church food drive, I bagged and carried groceries for families and older neighbors, and I learned to ask before I lifted anything fragile.

I can work Friday evenings and weekends during the school year. Thank you for considering me. I would be glad to come in and meet you.

Sincerely, Ethan Brooks (555) 210-4471 | ethan.brooks@email.com

Tailor my CV to this job

The four parts of a high school cover letter

The job and who you are. Name the position, the store or organization, your grade and your school. One or two sentences.
Your first proof. One quality the job needs, such as reliability, with one real example: attendance, a team, a family duty.
Your second proof. Another quality, such as working with people or handling money, with an example from volunteering, a club or a class.
Availability and close. The days and hours you can work, and a thank-you.

Harvard's career office gives the rule for the middle paragraphs: "Give examples that support your skills and qualifications." The Harvard guide is written for college students, but the rule fits a first job too.

NACE lists professionalism among its career readiness competencies and includes this behavior: "Demonstrate dependability (e.g., report consistently for work or meetings)." For a first job, that is the whole letter.

Example 2: Summer camp counselor

Camp directors want patience and safety. Coaching and babysitting are your experience.

Complete High school: summer day camp counselor example, 125 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

High school: summer day camp counselor (125 words)

Dear Mr. Alvarez,

I would like to apply for the junior counselor position at Lakeside Day Camp for this summer. I am a junior at Roosevelt High School, and I was a Lakeside camper for four summers.

I have worked with kids for two years. I help coach my sister's under-8 soccer team on Saturdays and run the warm-up games. I also completed the Red Cross babysitting course last spring.

I am responsible with safety. I swim on our school team, know pool rules well and am working toward my lifeguard certification.

I am available full-time from June 15 to August 14. Thank you for your time, and I hope to talk with you about the position.

Best regards, Maya Johnson (555) 381-0927 | maya.johnson@email.com

Example 3: Fast food crew member

Restaurants hire for speed and teamwork, and sports prove both.

Complete High school: fast food crew member, first job example, 128 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

High school: fast food crew member, first job (128 words)

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am applying for the crew member position at the Burger Barn on Route 9. I am 16, a junior at Central High School, and I am looking for my first job.

I work well on a fast team. I play shortstop on our varsity baseball team, and I help run the snack bar at home games, taking orders and making change between innings.

I follow instructions carefully. In my culinary arts class I passed the food safety unit and cooked for our school's open house dinner for 80 guests.

I can work weekday evenings after 4 p.m. and weekend shifts. I would be happy to come in for an interview at any time that suits you.

Thank you, Jordan Lee (555) 902-1188 | jordan.lee@email.com

Example 4: Library page

Libraries want accuracy and order, and clubs carry this letter.

Complete High school: public library page, shelving example, 111 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

High school: public library page, shelving (111 words)

Dear Ms. Nguyen,

I am writing to apply for the library page position at the Oak Park Public Library. I am a sophomore at Oak Park High School.

I am careful with details. I keep the records for our chess club, and I learned the Dewey Decimal System helping in my middle school library for a year.

I like quiet, steady work. I have a 3.7 GPA and I am in two honors classes, so I am used to managing my time and finishing tasks without reminders.

I am available Tuesday and Thursday after school and Saturday mornings. Thank you for considering my application.

Sincerely, Aisha Rahman (555) 447-3302 | aisha.rahman@email.com

Example 5: Summer internship

Internship letters lean on classes, projects and a reason for the field.

High school: summer internship at an engineering firm, complete example, 130 words

High school: summer internship at an engineering firm (130 words)

Dear Dr. Morgan,

I am applying for the High School Summer Internship at Brightline Engineering. I am a junior at Lincoln Technical High School, where I take AP Physics and Engineering Design, and I want to study civil engineering in college.

I have built things that had to work. On our school's robotics team, I designed the drive base for this year's robot in CAD and helped the team reach the state semifinal.

I like learning from people who know more than I do. My physics teacher, Mr. Ortiz, suggested I apply after I asked him about bridge design for my research paper on the Sixth Street Viaduct.

I can work full-time from June 22 to August 7. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, Carlos Mendes (555) 615-7720 | carlos.mendes@email.com

Example 6: Babysitting or tutoring agency

Agencies screen for trust, so references and grades in the subject do the work.

Complete High school: tutoring agency, math tutor example, 125 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

High school: tutoring agency, math tutor (125 words)

Dear Ms. Carter,

I am applying to join BrightPath Tutoring as a math tutor for middle school students. I am a senior at Jefferson High School with an A in AP Calculus, and I plan to study education in college.

I already tutor. Through our National Honor Society chapter I tutor two seventh graders in pre-algebra every Wednesday, and both raised their quiz grades this semester.

Families trust me with their children. I have babysat for four families in my neighborhood for two years, and each would be glad to give a reference.

I am available Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Warm regards, Grace Kim (555) 238-6614 | grace.kim@email.com

Tailor my CV to this job

What to write about when you have no work history

Any of these can be your proof if the example is true and specific:

School: attendance, grades in a related class, a project, an honors class
Sports and clubs: practices, team roles, offices held, results
Volunteering: food drives, church, library, animal shelter, community events
Family: babysitting siblings, helping in a family business, caring for a grandparent
Small jobs: mowing lawns, pet sitting, tutoring a neighbor

Before you list your hours, check the work hour rules for your age on the US Department of Labor's child labor pages. Then put the hours you can actually work in the last paragraph, and keep them the same on your application.

For more help, see the high school student resume to send with the letter, our short cover letter examples, the application letter for students and how to end a cover letter. If the interview asks why this place, our page on why do you want to work here has sample answers.

Frequently asked questions

Does a high school student need a cover letter?

Not always, but it helps whenever the job asks for one or the application has a message box. A short letter shows you can write clearly and that you want this job, not any job. It is often the only place to prove reliability.

How long should a high school cover letter be?

Keep it under one page, usually 150 to 250 words in three or four short paragraphs. Name the job, give two examples that prove you are reliable and good with people, state your availability and thank the reader. A manager hiring for a weekend shift reads short letters more closely than long ones.

What do I write in a cover letter with no experience?

Use school, sports, clubs, volunteering and family responsibilities as your experience. Pick two qualities the job needs, such as reliability and teamwork, and give one true example of each. Add the days and hours you can work. Specific examples matter more than strong adjectives in a first cover letter.

How do I start a cover letter for a high school student?

Open with the exact job title and the place, then your grade and school. For example: "I am applying for the cashier position at Green Valley Market. I am a junior at Westfield High School." If someone told you about the job, name them in the first sentence.

Should I mention my age in a high school cover letter?

You do not have to. Your grade already tells the reader roughly how old you are. Mention your age only if the posting sets a minimum, such as 16 and older, and you meet it. Always give accurate availability, because hour rules for workers under 18 can limit your schedule.

Looking for a worked example for your job title? Browse the resume examples by job title.

Get your free ATS score · All articles