How to write a cover letter for a graduate scheme

Graduate schemes are among the most competitive recruitment processes in the UK — some large employers receive 100+ applications per place. Here's how to write an application that gets past the first filter.

Understand what graduate schemes are assessing

Most large graduate schemes assess candidates against a set of competencies — defined behaviours that predict success in the role. Common competencies include:

• Commercial awareness
• Leadership and initiative
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Communication
• Resilience and adaptability

Your cover letter or personal statement needs to provide evidence for the specific competencies listed in the scheme's application guidance — not generic virtues.

Commercial awareness — the one most candidates get wrong

Commercial awareness is consistently cited as the most underdeveloped area in graduate applications. It means: do you understand how businesses make money, what challenges this company faces, and how your role would contribute to business success?

The STAR method for competency examples

For each competency, use the STAR structure:

• Situation: Brief context — where, when, what was going on
• Task: What you specifically needed to do or decide
• Action: What you actually did — your choices, not the team's
• Result: What happened as a result — ideally with a number or outcome

Keep each STAR example to 3–5 sentences in a cover letter. The detail is for the interview.

Research the company — properly

Read their annual report, recent press releases, analyst coverage and any major news from the past 6 months. Know their main competitors, recent challenges and strategic priorities. One genuine insight always outweighs five lines of praise copied from the company website.

Length and format

Follow the specific instructions for each scheme — many use online application forms with character limits rather than a traditional cover letter. Where a free-form letter is expected, aim for 400–600 words. Anything longer will not be fully read in the early screening stages.

Common mistakes on graduate scheme applications

1. Generic applications that could apply to any company
2. Claiming competencies without evidence
3. Focusing on what you'll gain, not what you'll contribute
4. Poor commercial awareness — no evidence of understanding the business
5. Spelling and grammar errors — these disqualify you at large schemes where volume is high