Economist Cover Letter Example and Template

Writing a cover letter is an excellent way to complement your resume and highlight your ability to communicate effectively with other professionals in your field. As you write your economist cover letter, read through the job description for the position you want and customize your documents to match the information in the description. This can help you show you align with the culture and needs of the organization. You can also look through resume samples to understand common qualifications for economists. In this article, we explain how to write an economist cover letter and give you an example you can use as a reference when writing your own. When you've prepared your application documents, you can upload a resume file or build an Indeed Resume to help you with your application process. Gillian Duvall
Arlington, VA
703-555-0153
gillian.duvall@email.com May 10, 2023 Dear Hiring Manager, I am excited to present this letter as part of my application for the position of Economist with the Virginia Transportation Company. As an economist with over five years of experience in the field, I believe I can add significant value to the organization by bringing my data collection and analysis skills to bear. I've always been interested in data collection, especially in economics and believe we can use this method to help create plans for the future. As an undergraduate, I developed the ability to create data collection methods and analyze data through my classes and a special internship with SMYTH Technologies. While my methods aren't novel, I believe following well-established practices yields the most accurate and complete data possible. As I was working at Flagship Financial Services, I helped bring modernized economic practices into the workplace. This includes building digital databases, using the internet to collect data and finding specialized programs to help with data analysis. During this time, I increased the accuracy of our forecasting methods, allowing the organization to grow its profits by 10%. I also received a lot of positive feedback for the changes I implemented, changes that can benefit your organization. Thank you for taking the time to read through and consider my application materials. I look forward to hearing more about the position from an insider's perspective. Kind regards, Gillian Duvall To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file.

How to write an economist cover letter

Below are steps you can follow to write your economist cover letter:

1. Format your cover letter

Formatting your cover letter is a step you can take to help you write it more easily. As you consider the format you want to use, think about how it can complement your resume or another professional document you submit as part of your applications. This includes using similar fonts and colors to create a unified set of documents that clearly belong to you. You can also think about how to make your cover letter easy to read for its recipient. This includes checking to make sure it's written logically and expands on details from your resume for your potential employer. Related: How To Write a Cover Letter: Top 3 Tips, Format & Examples [Video + Transcript]

2. Introduce yourself and greet your reader

An introduction to who you are as a professional includes your first and last names, your phone number, a professional email address and the date. A professional email address is one you can use for a job and often takes the form firstnamelastname@email.com. This information is important for a hiring manager to contact you with interview offers and other information about the role. To start your letter, write the phrase "Dear Hiring Manager" to show you know another person might read it. This also allows you to build professional credibility with the organization and a professional relationship with the recipient. Related: Is a Cover Letter Necessary? (With Other FAQs About Cover Letters)

3. Write about your economic background

You can dedicate the intro and body paragraphs of your cover letter to detailing your economic background. This includes your education and the skills you developed as you pursued it and talking about specific achievements you earned as a professional. When you consider your achievements, choose ones you can support with quantitative data such as numbers and statistics. For example, you can note how many surveys you created and performed, how the data you collect causes an organization to grow and other data you have that shows you have a tangible impact on the organizations with which you work. Related: What Does an Economist Do? Duties and Work Environment

4. Describe your relevant skills

You can also use your body paragraphs to expand on your relevant skills. These include skills you developed through education and professional experience that help you with the duties of an economist. Importantly, these skills are also the ones you plan to use if you get the position you apply to, so you can focus on how your skills can benefit the organization with which you want to work. For example, you can explain how your data collection ability can help the organization increase its profits or how your understanding of markets in the industry can help the organization plan. Related: How To Become an Economist in 5 Steps

5. Include a call to action

Your last paragraph can include a call to action for the hiring manager. This is a phrase that lets the potential employer know you want to hear more about the positions. Some examples of calls to action for cover letters are:

"I look forward to hearing more about the position"
"I'm happy to answer any questions you have about my skills at..."
"I'd be delighted to schedule an interview with you"

6. Close and sign your cover letter

Finally, close and sign your cover letter. A closing happens in the last paragraph and is often an expression of gratitude toward your potential employer, thanking them for their time and consideration. This can help you continue to build a professional connection with the hiring manager and continue to show your professionalism. After the last paragraph, you can sign your letter with a closing phrase and your signature. These include statements such as:

Sincerely
With gratitude
Best
Regard

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