Letter template · Apprenticeship

Cover letter for an HR apprenticeship

HR people read letters all day long. Yours is therefore read by experts on the subject: make it polished, precise and free of stock phrases.

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What the recruiter is looking for

Rigour

A spelling mistake in a letter for an HR role rules you out. Read it aloud.

Discretion

HR handles personal data and sensitive matters. Show that you know it.

A clear area of work

Recruitment, personnel administration, training, payroll: say which one appeals to you and why.

The tools

An HRIS, Excel, payroll software you saw in class: name what you have really used.

Example letter

Apprenticeship application, HR assistant

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am a [Bachelor in HR] student at [school], looking for a [one-year] apprenticeship starting in [September 2026], with [one week at college and three weeks at work]. Your HR assistant role interests me because it focuses on [recruiting and onboarding new starters], the area that appeals to me most.

During my internship at [company], I screened applications for [three roles], organised [around twenty] interviews and prepared welcome packs for new hires. It taught me that successful onboarding is prepared before day one.

On my course, I have studied the basics of employment law and payroll, and I keep tracking spreadsheets up to date in Excel. I know the information I handle is confidential, and I work accordingly.

[Company name] appeals to me because of [specific reason: your growth, which means a lot of hiring, and the care you put into welcoming new employees].

I am available for an interview at your convenience.

Yours faithfully,

[First name Surname]

Replace everything in square brackets. Keep the structure, change the examples: a recruiter spots a copied letter within one line.

Keywords found in these ads

  • Recruitment
  • Sourcing
  • Onboarding
  • Personnel administration
  • HRIS
  • Payroll
  • Employment law
  • Absence management
  • Learning and development plan
  • Employer brand
  • Confidentiality
  • Excel

Reuse the exact terms from the ad, but only the ones you can back up with experience, a project or a course. A keyword you can't explain at interview costs you more than it earns you.

The same rules apply to your CV.Read the ATS CV guide

The mistakes that lose the reader

  • "I enjoy working with people": the sentence HR reads more than any other.
  • Spelling mistakes or a misspelt company name.
  • Not saying which part of HR interests you.
  • A letter identical to the one sent to ten other companies.

Frequently asked
questions

Should I mention payroll if I've only covered it in class?

Yes, as long as you say so honestly: "I studied the basics of payroll on my course". It is precise and checkable, unlike "I master payroll".

Does the letter have to be handwritten?

No. It is very rare these days, and the ad always says so if it is required.

See also

Letter templates

Apprenticeship cover letter examples by job: web developer, UX/UI designer, sales, HR, marketing, accounting. With practical tips.

Accounting

Example cover letter for an accounting apprenticeship (BTS CG, DCG) at a firm or in-house: what recruiters expect, a full letter and keywords.

AI cover letter

Generate a cover letter from your profile and the job you are after. Keywords from the ad spotted, your choice of tone, one page. Free to start.

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