Home Economist Cover letter template
Economist cover letter template
A structured letter with example content specific to this role. Replace the bracketed placeholders and adjust the details to the job you're actually applying for.
How to structure it
Opening
Name the role and, in one line, the strongest reason you're a fit. Skip the throat-clearing.
Middle
One or two paragraphs of real, specific evidence: what you did, and the result. This is where most letters go generic. Yours shouldn't.
Why this employer
One genuine, specific reason you want this job at this company, not any company. Vague enthusiasm reads as a template that wasn't customised.
Close
Thank them, note your resume is attached, and make it easy to reach you.
Re: Application for Economist
I'm writing to apply for the Economist role at [Company Name]. My work sits at the intersection of economic modelling and policy evaluation, and I'm used to producing forecasts and briefings that hold up under scrutiny from both technical and non-technical audiences.
In a recent piece of analysis, I evaluated the likely impact of a proposed regulatory change on market behaviour, building a model in Stata to test a range of scenarios and writing up the findings as a policy paper. The recommendation was adopted, and the underlying model became the template for later reviews. That project is a fair example of what I'd bring to this role: rigour in the modelling, and a report that decision-makers can actually use.
What draws me to [Company Name] specifically is [add one genuine, specific reason: a project, value, or market position you can point to]. Economic research only matters if it's aimed at real decisions, and that's the kind of work I want to keep doing.
Thank you for considering my application. I've attached my resume and would welcome the chance to discuss the role further.
Getting it right
- Keep it to one page. A hiring manager spends seconds on this before deciding whether to read your resume.
- Address a named person where you can find one, rather than "To Whom It May Concern".
- Don't repeat your resume line for line. Use the letter to add context a bullet point can't: why this role, why now, why here.
- Match the tone of the job ad. A formal listing calls for a formal letter; a casual one gives you room to write more like yourself.
This is a starting point, not a guarantee of interviews. Make it specific to the actual employer before you send it.