morgan stanley cover letter example

At Morgan Stanley, we lead with exceptional ideas. Across all our businesses, we offer keen insight on today's most critical issues.

Personal Finance

Learn from our industry leaders about how to manage your wealth and help meet your personal financial goals.

Market Trends

From volatility and geopolitics to economic trends and investment outlooks, stay informed on the key developments shaping today's markets.

Technology & Disruption

Whether it’s hardware, software or age-old businesses, everything today is ripe for disruption. Stay abreast of the latest trends and developments.

Sustainability

Our insightful research, advisory and investing capabilities give us unique and broad perspective on sustainability topics.

Diversity & Inclusion

Multicultural and women entrepreneurs are the cutting-edge leaders of businesses that power markets. Hear their stories and learn about how they are redefining the terms of success.

Wealth Management

Investment Banking & Capital Markets

Sales & Trading

Investment Management

Morgan Stanley at Work

Sustainable Investing

Inclusive Ventures Group

Morgan Stanley helps people, institutions and governments raise, manage and distribute the capital they need to achieve their goals.

We help people, businesses and institutions build, preserve and manage wealth so they can pursue their financial goals.

We have global expertise in market analysis and in advisory and capital-raising services for corporations, institutions and governments.

Global institutions, leading hedge funds and industry innovators turn to Morgan Stanley for sales, trading and market-making services.

We offer timely, integrated analysis of companies, sectors, markets and economies, helping clients with their most critical decisions.

We deliver active investment strategies across public and private markets and custom solutions to institutional and individual investors.

We provide comprehensive workplace financial solutions for organizations and their employees, combining personalized advice with modern technology.

We offer scalable investment products, foster innovative solutions and provide actionable insights across sustainability issues.

From our startup lab to our cutting-edge research, we broaden access to capital for diverse entrepreneurs and spotlight their success.

Core Values

Giving Back

Sponsorships

Since our founding in 1935, Morgan Stanley has consistently delivered first-class business in a first-class way. Underpinning all that we do are five core values.

Everything we do at Morgan Stanley is guided by our five core values: Do the right thing, put clients first, lead with exceptional ideas, commit to diversity and inclusion, and give back.

Morgan Stanley leadership is dedicated to conducting first-class business in a first-class way. Our board of directors and senior executives hold the belief that capital can and should benefit all of society.

From our origins as a small Wall Street partnership to becoming a global firm of more than 80,000 employees today, Morgan Stanley has been committed to clients and communities for 87 years.

The global presence that Morgan Stanley maintains is key to our clients' success, giving us keen insight across regions and markets, and allowing us to make a difference around the world.

Morgan Stanley is differentiated by the caliber of our diverse team. Our culture of access and inclusion has built our legacy and shapes our future, helping to strengthen our business and bring value to clients.

Our firm's commitment to sustainability informs our operations, governance, risk management, diversity efforts, philanthropy and research.

At Morgan Stanley, giving back is a core value—a central part of our culture globally. We live that commitment through long-lasting partnerships, community-based delivery and engaging our best asset—Morgan Stanley employees.

As a global financial services firm, Morgan Stanley is committed to technological innovation. We rely on our technologists around the world to create leading-edge, secure platforms for all our businesses.

At Morgan Stanley, we believe creating a more equitable society begins with investing in access, knowledge and resources to foster potential for all. We are committed to supporting the next generation of leaders and ensuring that they reflect the diversity of the world they inherit.

Why Morgan Stanley

How We Can Help

Building a Future We Believe In

Get Started

Stay in the Know

For 87 years, we’ve had a passion for what’s possible. We leverage the full resources of our firm to help individuals, families and institutions reach their financial goals.

At Morgan Stanley, we focus the expertise of the entire firm—our advice, data, strategies and insights—on creating solutions for our clients, large and small.

We have the experience and agility to partner with clients from individual investors to global CEOs. See how we can help you work toward your goals—even as they evolve over years or generations.

At Morgan Stanley, we put our beliefs to work. We lead with exceptional ideas, prioritize diversity and inclusion and find meaningful ways to give back—all to contribute to a future that benefits our clients and communities.

Meet one of our Financial Advisors and see how we can help you.

Get the latest insights, analyses and market trends in our newsletter, podcasts and videos.

• Opportunities
• Technology Professionals

Experienced Financial Advisors

We believe our greatest asset is our people. We value our commitment to diverse perspectives and a culture of inclusion across the firm. Discover who we are and the right opportunity for you.

Students & Graduates

A career at Morgan Stanley means belonging to an ideas-driven culture that embraces new perspectives to solve complex problems. See how you can make meaningful contributions as a student or recent graduate at Morgan Stanley.

Experienced Professionals

At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find trusted colleagues, committed mentors and a culture that values diverse perspectives, individual intellect and cross-collaboration. See how you can continue your career journey at Morgan Stanley.

At Morgan Stanley, our premier brand, robust resources and market leadership can offer you a new opportunity to grow your practice and continue to fulfill on your commitment to deliver tailored wealth management advice that helps your clients reach their financial goals.

• Students and Graduates

How to Write a Finance Cover Letter

Not all jobs need them, but for those that do, here are some guidelines from morgan stanley’s recruiters on how to write one..

Searching the internet for tips on how to write a cover letter will produce a litany of dos and don’ts: Flex your communication skills, but don’t go over three paragraphs; don’t recite a generic list of skills, but do speak to every requirement in the job description; be professional, but also be personal…the list goes on.

Truth be told, not all jobs need cover letters, but for the times when they’re required, it needn’t be so complicated to get them right.   Our recruiters say that applicants can hit the mark as long as they follow a few basic rules,  and refrain from quoting Shakespeare or likening their job search to Fantine’s demise in Les Miserable. (It happens). 

1. Why You Need One

They provide a missing link between the living-you and the formulaic resume or CV. Your cover letter conveys three important things:

• You understand what the firm is looking for.
• You’ve got the skills.
• You’re articulate.

2. What to Include

Write it like a letter—include your address, Dear Sir/Madam (or better still, the name of the person, if you know who the interviewer is), and make sure to end it with a closing (“Yours faithfully,” etc).

• First Paragraph: An opening statement that sets out why you’re writing the letter. Begin by stating the position you’re applying for and if you became aware of it by going to a recruiting event.
• Middle Paragraphs: Two or three paragraphs to explain what attracted you to the type of work, why you’re interested in working for the company, and why you think you’d be a good fit.
• Last paragraph: Thank the employer and say you’re looking forward to receiving a response.

Wanted: Non-Finance Graduates

5 business communication skills for your career, don’t let these common interview questions trip you up, 3. beware the generic cover letter.

Cover letters  can end up being deal-breakers if  they have mistakes in them, and most mistakes are made when a generic letter is used for every application. You’d be surprised by how many times people forget to switch out the name of one firm for ours. Not only do we know you’re applying elsewhere, but it shows lack of attention to detail.

4. Strike an Authentic Tone

Another reason not to use a generic cover letter: It just doesn’t sound authentic. Writing it from scratch will create  a warmer, more engaging tone—even if it’s just a few paragraphs.

5. No Need to Repeat

Don’t use the cover letter to repeat skills that you’ve already outlined in the resume, which speak specifically to the requirements in the job description. 

6. Make the Most of Your Experiences

Do include  experiences or skills that might not be specifically called for in the job description, but you believe will add to your appeal and help you excel in the role.  Examples could be collaborative, leadership or problem-solving skills from extracurricular activities or previous jobs. Just ensure that they’re truly relevant and compelling, and not a stretch. 

7. Get a Second Opinion

Whatever you end up putting in your cover letter, make sure to check for mistakes. Get someone to proofread your letter for typos, grammatical errors, the wrong firm name, and any Broadway Musical references that might have made their way in.

Good luck! And feel free to reach out to our campus recruiting team members if you have any questions. 

Get Your Career Started At Morgan Stanley

What Do Recruiters Look For?

What makes a student stand out during campus recruiting season? Morgan Stanley asked some of its leading recruiters, and this is what they had to say.

Questions Interns Are Dying to Ask But Don’t

How do you know if you're being overly eager? Should summer analysts speak up at meetings? Here are some answers.

Will the Equity Market Rally Last?

Last week’s uptick in stock prices, driven by a pullback in bond yields and the Fed’s decision to hold rates steady, is likely to fizzle over the coming weeks.

Morgan Stanley Cover Letter Examples – The Ultimate Guide 2022

How to write a cover letter for morgan stanley.

The firm Morgan Stanley is one of the biggest multinational investment banks and financial services companies that you can find around. Headquartered in New York, Morgan Stanley is blessed with 500 offices in more than 42 countries and 60,000+ employees worldwide. If you ever wondered whether Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan shared any similarity apart from investment banking then we are here to tell you that your premonition is right. One of the principal founders of Morgan Stanley, Henry Morgan, was the grandson of J.P. Morgan. Henry founded Morgan Stanley as a standalone investment bank in 1935.

The creation came as a result of the fallout from the Glass Steagall Act of 1933 which provided that a corporation could not have investment banking and commercial banking businesses under a single holding entity. One of the entities affected by the Act was JP Morgan and it decided to take on its commercial banking business practice over its investment banking practice. As a result, Henry Morgan and Harold Stanley with other employees left to form what we know today as Morgan Stanley.

Morgan Stanley serves its clients from three major business segments. Their Institutional Securities segment provides institutions such as corporations and governments with services involving capital raising, financial advisory, M&A, restructurings, and the like. The Wealth Management segment provides financial and wealth planning solutions to individual investors and small to medium-sized institutions. Lastly, the Investment Management group works mostly with institutional investors and retail clients and provides them with asset management products and services in equity, fixed income, alternative investments, real estate investment, and private equity.

In writing to Morgan Stanley it’s a good thing to know about their financial health. For the fiscal year of 2021, Morgan Stanley reported that its full-year net revenues were $59.8 billion compared with the $48.8 billion it had in 2020. Their financial report shows that Institutional Securities are their biggest revenue maker with record net revenues of $29.8 billion, a 13% increase from the $26.4 billion in the fiscal year of 2020. Their next biggest revenue makers are the Wealth Management and Investment Management Groups with $24.2 billion and $6.2 billion respectively. As of December 31, 2021, Morgan Stanley reported that assets under management were $1.6 trillion. In the following sections, we will talk about the four parts that make up an excellent cover letter to Morgan Stanley but if you would rather skip this, you can jump further to section five where we provide a sample of a successful cover letter to Morgan Stanley.

Section 1: Cover Letter Introduction

A great cover letter to Morgan Stanley offers you one of the best platforms and opportunities to introduce yourself as the best candidate for the role and there’s no better place to start this than with an excellent introduction. If your introduction is poor understand that the Morgan Stanley recruiter will not read on to find out about other things in the letter no matter how incredible you may be. Remember the phrase first impression matters. The first impression of the body of your cover letter is the introduction. Think about your cover letter to Morgan Stanley as a book, if you start reading a book and the first few pages are engaging – no matter the genre – you will want to keep reading on.

Thus, irrespective of the post you are applying for in Morgan Stanley, you must deliver an introductory paragraph that is substantial, effective, and engaging to the person(s) reading your letter; a letter that will satisfy their hungry brains. If you do this, you would have won an important battle – keeping the reader engaged with your application. For example, in your introduction, you should aim to provide all or most of the following information: the role being applied for, how you found the role, your academic history, a bit of your work experience, and your unique personality. If you have attended events hosted by Morgan Stanley, this is the place to mention it. If you have met any of their representatives also mention it.

Section Two: Why should Morgan Stanley choose you?

There will be hundreds of candidates applying to Morgan Stanley for the same position so you must show Morgan Stanley why they should choose you. In this part of your cover letter, you need to act as a salesman or saleswoman – you need to sell yourself (and it seems that quite a few students have an issue with this). This section is one of the most important parts that you must execute properly if you want to get the role. This is where you make the case for why you’d be an exceptional hire. You do this by differentiating yourself from the rest by showcasing your experience & qualifications and how it will benefit Morgan Stanley. We advise that this step gets at least one paragraph as it’s one of the most important sections because you need to sell your skills or abilities that you feel make you the ideal candidate for the position.

If you are finding it tough selling yourself on your cover letter, this is what you need to do. We further advise you to carry out two tasks. First, draw up a list of your experiences, skills and abilities (and any other achievements and responsibilities that you can think of). Secondly, write down an inventory of the skills or traits that Morgan Stanley desires that candidates possess in the role you are applying for. You will find these traits by researching extensively about what Morgan Stanley wants in their candidates. For example, Morgan Stanley recruiters – on record – have stated that they look for the following traits in their interns:

• A candidate that knows what he/she wants and why he/she wants it
• Stays calm and keeps listening
• Gets into the weeds
• Can show their resourcefulness
• Has an opinion
• Does not fake it

When you have carried out these tasks, the next thing to do is to look at the experiences, skills and abilities that you have that match what Morgan Stanley is looking for. These are known as relevant experiences. When you have highlighted them you then draft this section by telling them how through your previous experience or responsibility you were able to gain or apply the desired trait. When selling yourself in a cover letter the trick is to ‘show not tell. If you have experience in investment banking, private equity, venture capital, financial modelling, the legal field, forecasting, and risk management talk about it. Do share your story. Take the reader on your journey and let your personality come through on your cover letter.

Section Three: Why Morgan Stanley and not any of its Competitors

Every company that exists is unique; as such Morgan Stanley is unique. Morgan Stanley is exceptional and if you fail to show that you are in touch with their uniqueness through your cover letter, your application will fail. If you have researched Morgan Stanley then this section will not be an issue. You should use such information to show them you are in the know of what their practice areas are, what makes them unique, their reputation, and so forth. Be specific about what is it about Morgan Stanley that attracts you to them. Was it the people you met at the firm? Is it Morgan Stanley’s expertise and specialism in Consumer & Community Banking that excites you?

Essentially, you need to find the unique quality of Morgan Stanley that resonates with you and stress exactly why that means so much to you. At every single opportunity speak Morgan Stanley’s language. Morgan Stanley has provided its purpose, mission statement, key principles and beliefs on its website. Use them when talking about why want them and not another firm. If your cover letter is tailored to Morgan Stanley, the recruiter is more likely to believe that your cover letter was tailored for them. Think about it this way: if you want to go on a date with someone special do you send the person a mass text asking them out or will you tailor it to the person? For those struggling with ideas, this might be of help: there is a Morgan Stanley article titled ‘Why Work at Morgan Stanley? Here Are Four Great Reasons. That article states some of the things that Morgan Stanley believes make them different.

Section Four: Your Conclusion

The conclusion is probably the part that holds the less important information. If you have ‘tanked’ the other sections of your cover letter your conclusion will not make a difference. However, if you have written the other sections well, the conclusion gives you the platform to finish strong. You must not let your guard down when it gets to the conclusion as your work is not yet done as you need to deliver an excellent conclusion. To write a great conclusion, the conclusion must summarize your objective or reasons for applying to Morgan Stanley.

Thus to have a compelling conclusion, make use of action words telling the recruiter what you want. Show the recruiter that you are grateful for their time in looking at your cover letter, let them know when you are available for the next stage of the process (if it is subject to your availability) and that you are looking forward to hearing from them should be present. Something we encourage candidates to do in a cover letter is to make a promise to Morgan Stanley (or the firm you are applying to) – look at the sample of the cover letter provided below. If there’s something that you think is a flaw in your application such as a poor academic year or lack of investment banking experience, your conclusion is a good place to address it. Remember to sign off your letter as you would do in a formal letter.

Section Five: Morgan Stanley Cover Letter Example – Sales & Trading Summer Analyst

Congrapps is regarded as the number one platform for verified successful career resources! We only collect actual cover letters & interview experiences of those who made it to the most competitive graduate and entry-level jobs in Banking, Finance, Consulting and Law in the UK. Our objective is to help graduates from around the world to achieve their dreams by levelling the playing field and giving access to the same information to everyone! The following cover letter addressed to Morgan Stanley is a successful cover letter from our database of successful letters that can be found on our platform. Below is the letter:

Morgan Stanley Investment Banking Summer Analyst Morgan Stanley 25 Cabot Square, Canary Wharf London E14 4QA England 27

September 2018

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my interest in the position of an Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Morgan Stanley. I am a final-year student of BSc [Social Sciences] at [Russel Group University London] with an interest in Investment Banking.

My first insight into finance was at [Asset Manager], where I gained a deep understanding of corporate finance and accounting principles while building three-statement financial models of Consumer Staples companies. I learned company valuation techniques such as DCF and LBO; summarised conducted financial analysis including football fields; and modelled graphical outputs.

As an intern at [Strategy Consulting Firm], I was involved in four Buy-Side Due Diligence. I conducted a review of a data-centre company business plan, including churn and costs analysis; and evaluated potential M&A scenarios for a telco operator. I created extensive Excel models and presented the findings to the client. There I developed a keen interest in deal-making.

Furthermore, as a PPE student with leadership experience gained during scholarship of Government of [Country/City], I excelled in applying well-rounded analyses to problem-solving, managed resources, and run successful pitches to sponsors which raised £55,000 for [Student-run Organisation], [Event] and [Event] conferences. I am positive that this experience helped me develop skills that will be useful while preparing pitches at Morgan Stanley.

I want to join Morgan Stanley because it attracts the brightest minds, always tops the M&A and ECM rankings and is renowned for its expertise in Tech Industry. Moreover, I was impressed by the crucial role Morgan Stanley played in seeing off bids for Unilever from KraftHeinz recently. Through my association with [Name], an Investment Banking Analyst in London, I learned of the motivating and challenging work environment and steep learning curve culture which is reflected in the Core Values of Morgan Stanley.

I am confident that my extensive financial experience, passion and work ethic would positively contribute to Morgan Stanley and its clients. Yours faithfully, [Applicant’s Name]

Do not Write Generic Cover Letters

If your application involves you writing a cover letter, please and please do not write a generic letter to that firm. If you feel that you cannot tailor your letter to that particular firm we advise that you don’t bother writing to the firm as it will be of no use – this is how strongly we feel about generic letters. The drawback of writing a generic letter is that quite often it will be littered with mistakes that can make the recruiter want to bang his/her head on the table. Can you imagine writing to Morgan Stanley but you address them as JP Morgan? This is an automatic red flag and will lead to your disqualification. Furthermore, even if you don’t have such mistakes a generic letter will often be lacking in uniqueness. Instead of writing a generic cover letter why not bring out a few hours and apply the information we have provided in the above paragraphs to your cover letter? A few hours spent well on your cover letter can be the deciding factor in you getting quality years at your dream firm.

Charles is a writer, practising lawyer and personal trainer who loves learning and developing himself. He graduated from Middlesex University, London with eight first-class grades in the second and third years of his law degree, and received a postgraduate offer from Cambridge University. He loves strength training, boxing and encouraging people to succeed in their pursuits (legal ones) ——– Congrapps is the №1 Platform for Verified Successful Career Resources! We collected the actual Cover Letters & Interview Experiences of those who made it to the most competitive graduate and entry-level jobs in Banking, Finance, Consulting and Law in London. We help graduates achieve their dreams by levelling the playing field and giving access to the same information to everyone!

• Font Awesome fontawesome.com --> 550+ Verified Successfull Cover Letters and Application Answers
• Font Awesome fontawesome.com --> 120+ deatiled Interview Testimonials
• Font Awesome fontawesome.com --> We only list the applications of those who succeeded!!
• Font Awesome fontawesome.com --> Reverse engineer successful applications to learn and identify the winning patterns
• Font Awesome fontawesome.com --> More than 2000 application from questions answered for the major corporate sectors
• Font Awesome fontawesome.com --> All you need for Law, Investment Banking, Finance and consulting
• Font Awesome fontawesome.com --> Use code LOVEAPPS for 20% off
• Accounting & Tax
• How to Succeed in Tough Industries
• Is Investment Banking the Right Career Path?
• Networking Tips for Recent Accounting Graduates
• Banking & Finance
• Private Equity Cover Letter Example
• JP Morgan Successful Cover Letter Example – The Ultimate Guide 2022
• What do Successful Consultants have in Common?
• How to Manage Time as a Consultant
• How to Answer “Why Commercial Law” in your Applications
• The Difference Between Corporate Law and Commercial Law Explained
• How to prepare for a career in the oil and gas industry
• How to budget and save money while studying in the UK
• How to make friends as an international student in the UK
• Public Office
• How to Ace an Interview for an NGO Position
• The Perfect CV and Cover Letter for an NGO Job Application

Download the Unstop app now!

Check out the latest opportunities just for you!

How to write a finance cover letter for Morgan Stanley (with a free sample!)

The internet gives us hundreds of suggestions if we ask how to write a perfect finance cover letter. It will ask us to flex our communication skills, and not write generic ones, write over three paragraphs, talk of the job description, - the list is endless. However, the point is, not all jobs require cover letters , and for those who do, writing one isn't such a complicated task. Recruiters across firms believe that applicants applying to a big firm, such as Morgan Stanley can hit the mark as long as they follow a few basic rules. 

If you are wondering whether you should add a cover letter along with your CV when you're applying to Morgan Stanley , don't forget to know the 'why'. 

Cover letters basically bridge the gap between the living 'you' and the methodical CV that you're sending. Your cover letter is meant to convey three important things to your recruiters:

• That you are articulate
• You understand what the firm is looking for, and,
• The skills you got

Finance cover letter 101

Write it like a letter- write the salutation as 'Dear Sir/Madam, or the name of the person, if you know who the interviewer is. Include your address and make sure that you end it with proper regards, for example, 'Yours Faithfully.'

The first paragraph of your Morgan Stanley cover letter should be an opening statement that sets out why you’re writing the letter. You can begin by stating the position you’re applying for and if you become aware of it by going to a recruiting event.

In the middle paragraphs, you need to explain what attracted you to the type of work, why you’re interested in working for the company, and why you think you’d be a good fit.

Finally, in the last paragraph, thank the employer and say you’re looking forward to receiving a response.

NOTE: Make the most out of your experiences. It is better if you include experiences or skills that might not be specifically required or aligned with the job description. Go for it if you believe it will add to your appeal and help you excel in the role!

Examples of such skills could be collaborative, leadership, or problem-solving skills from extracurricular activities or previous jobs. Just ensure that they’re truly relevant and compelling, and not a stretch. 

Say NO to these blunders

Don't use the same type of cover letter for each of your applications. Each job mandates a different set of skills, and your cover letter should signify that. Another reason why you must not use a generic cover letter is that it doesn't sound authentic, at all. While applying to Morgan Stanley, it is suggested that you keep the job description in your mind, and write the letter from scratch for a warmer, and more engaging tone - even if it is a few paragraphs.

Most of all, when applying to Morgan Stanley and other big firms, make sure your cover letter has no mistakes because then, it won't be a deal-breaker for you.  You’d be surprised by how many times people forget to remove the name of one firm for another! Not only do the recruiters know you’re applying elsewhere, but it shows a lack of attention to detail as well.

Proofread your letter for grammatical errors, typos, wrong references, and the wrong firm name. Here is a view of the cover letter for the Morgan Stanley internship 

Morgan Stanley cover letter sample

Finance cover letter wind-up.

To put it briefly, the cover letter presented to the recruiter should have not only a punctual use of grammar with no mistakes but the style of language should also be excellent. The structure of the same should be a top-down communication. As discussed above, the cover letter should not be created in a haphazard manner. You must introduce yourself in the first section and let the recruiter know how you were exposed to the opportunities at the firm. Your second section should reveal all your professional experiences including internships, and your past achievements. The third section must talk about the reason ‘why Morgan Stanley’, but keep in mind not to overdo it.

Formatting is the next big significant element of the cover letter. It should be written on a single page with neat font, the body of the cover letter should be half a page, which is considered ideal. To stand out of the ordinary, highlight your key skills that are in tandem with the requirements of Morgan Stanley.

Last but not least...

Cover letters can be sent in both DOCX and PDF versions. However, it is advised that you send your cover letter as a PDF file. The reason is, PDFs are compatible with most of the systems which mean it should look the same on the receiver's screen as it does on your own. 

Cover letters, in a way, are the siblings of your resume, that you sometimes forget! Great finance firms like Morgan Stanley require you to be precise, straightforward, and true to the role you are applying to. So, gear yourself up and get ready to write a cover letter that will increase your chances of getting hired at Morgan Stanley.

The sample letter has been provided by Mohamed Suwaid, founder of  Graduate Scope .

For more such interesting pieces, read:

• These are the 5 biggest regrets of MBA graduates (we warn you, don't make these mistakes!)
• Use this consulting cover letter to get hired at BCG (with a free sample)
• ‘Am I not worthy enough?’ Lessons from a man rejected from Goldman Sachs, LinkedIn, the Big 4, and more
• Jargon, jargon everywhere, but is it really useful in your career?
•   The highest salaries of top B-Schools fall flat | MBA placements trends (2021) that you should look out for!

to our newsletter

Blogs you need to hog!

TISS HRM & LR Summer Placements 2023: 100% Placement, Record Numbers!

TVS Credit E.P.I.C 5.0 Champions Share Learnings From Their Remarkable Journey!

XLRI Jamshedpur Team Emerges Victorious At Perfetti Confy Challenge 2023

How ‘The Trinity’ From XLRI, Jamshedpur Became National Winners Of Aditya Birla Group HeadstaRt 2023

Sample cover letter for Internship position at Morgan Stanley

Spring week, got the job yes.

I am writing to express my interest in obtaining a place on the Morgan Stanley 2015 EMEA Spring Insight Programme.

As an aspiring Economist, I am compelled to learn more about Morgan Stanley and identify potential career prospects that may be available once I have completed my Economics degree in 2017. Participation in a Spring Week would provide an invaluable insight into the workings of a successful banking institution that has demonstrated considerable success in addressing a plethora of financial, economic, political and management challenges over the past five years. Not only has Morgan Stanley been robust in its response to what was, and continues to be, a challenging economic environment, it has also generated a third quarter net revenue of $8.7 billion, significantly surpassing market expectations when compared with $8.1 billion generated in the same period last year. Results such as these demonstrate the ability to face head-on, a multitude of macro and microeconomic challenges and still deliver a superior performance. Morgan Stanley clearly has an exciting future, one that I aspire to be a part of.

Active participation in the Spring Insight Programme would not only expose me to the operational dynamics and interplay between the various functions within Morgan Stanley but would also lay the foundations for a prosperous career in banking. An area that particularly interests me is the role of the financial analyst working in areas such as asset and risk management, M&A and Global Capital Markets. I am keen to further develop my understanding of how analysts utilise sophisticated modelling and financial tools to interpret complex data. This is particularly relevant given the harsh economic conditions that Morgan Stanley had to navigate in the recent unpredictable economic climate.

I consider myself to be an astute and accomplished communicator with strong presentation skills and experience in managing and motivating teams in a variety of scenarios. Having gained a black belt in Taekwondo by the age of 16, this achievement has instilled in me a sense of discipline, stamina and an inner drive. I believe that all these skills are transferable to the professional workplace.

A copy of my CV has been attached for your reference. I would be grateful if you would consider me for a placement on the Morgan Stanley EMEA Spring Insight Programme.

• Skip to content

Morgan Stanley cover letter and CV advice: telling your story

targetjobs editorial team

Last updated: 25 Oct 2023, 09:21

Your Morgan Stanley cover letter and CV need to tell your personal narrative. Read on for guidance on how to ensure this and impress recruiters at this early stage of the firm’s application process.

Jump to: Crafting your Morgan Stanley CV | Perfecting your Morgan Stanley cover letter

Morgan Stanley is keen to find out your personal story, but don’t wait until the interview stage to share it. At targetjobs, we think that it’s a good idea to build this narrative in your Morgan Stanley cover letter and CV to impress the firm’s recruiters. Along with helping your application to stand out from other candidates’, this will also allow you to develop and hone your story from the get-go.

Telling your story is important as it shows recruiters that you have:

• made a careful and considered choice to apply for Morgan Stanley’s graduate and internship programmes
• the skills and requirements necessary for the specific graduate and internship schemes
• demonstrated skills that will be critical for the role that you are applying for.

Here are some pointers to make use of the experience you already have to tell a compelling and convincing story through your CV and cover letter.

MORGAN STANLEY CONTENT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

We’ve got more advice to help you on your journey with Morgan Stanley.

How to tell a story in your Morgan Stanley CV

Tell a convincing story by tweaking your CV to specifically suit Morgan Stanley, rather than submitting a generic CV. Look at the skills and requirements that the job or internship description asks for and build your CV around these. You can do this by grouping experiences together that demonstrate specific skills.

For example, graduate roles at Morgan Stanley tend to ask that you are a ‘team player’. Highlight this skill by grouping instances from work, extracurricular activities and your education where you have worked successfully in a team.

For each, explain how your skills and qualities have been challenged and have developed. Show recruiters that there is a clear progression in your skills to the point where you are ready to apply to Morgan Stanley.

• Discover why teamworking skills are high on graduate recruiters’ wish lists .

Do not neglect any extracurricular activities or hobbies that may also serve as evidence of your skills and values that align with what Morgan Stanley is looking for. Experiences from outside of university and ‘relevant’ work experience are helpful for incorporating these qualities into your story.

For example, Morgan Stanley says that it is looking for candidates that ‘show that [they] have a life’. Recruiters look for this as it is an indicator of your time management skills: are you able to juggle university work with outside pursuits, for instance? The firm has also emphasised how it places a great deal of importance on ‘giving back’ and charitable pursuits.

• Find out more about how extracurricular activities can help you land a graduate job .

Remember that clear and consistent CV formatting will always convey the best possible impression.

If you want to open your CV with a personal statement or profile, make sure to write a tailored profile for Morgan Stanley. Use it to set out the beginnings of your story and outline some of the experiences that have made you want to apply, which you can then build on later on in your CV.

• Read here for more information about personal statements and whether you should include one in the first place.

Build on the story with your Morgan Stanley cover letter

Use your Morgan Stanley cover letter to expand on details from your CV and provide more detail and examples that will form the backbone of your story. In order to tell a convincing story make sure your cover letter follows a logical structure.

• Find out about writing and structuring a cover letter for investment banking roles here .

Elaborate on how you first encountered Morgan Stanley. If you have taken part in an internship or spring week or have attended a careers fair, for instance, use this as a starting point for your narrative. Talk about what stood out about this employer in particular, what you learned and what made you apply for the specific graduate or internship scheme in question. Another tack could be mentioning any news articles or interviews that you had read which featured Morgan Stanley.

It is crucial that every statement you make is backed up with an appropriate example. This will help evidence your story and reinforce your argument that you are the candidate that Morgan Stanley is looking for.

Some of Morgan Stanley’s graduate opportunities specifically ask for relevant experience in investment banking or finance. By bringing these up in your CV you can reflect on what you learned and how this informed why you particularly want to work for Morgan Stanley as opposed to other investment banks. If the graduate scheme or internship doesn’t specifically ask for relevant experience, you can still talk about experience from other fields. Make sure, however, that you relate these unrelated (but not irrelevant) experiences to why you are currently applying for the specific graduate programme.

When writing your cover letter for Morgan Stanley avoid the urge to use complicated or overly elaborate language. Instead make clarity and concision your priorities, especially as you want to keep the letter brief. Vary the length of your sentences. Consider also having shorter, easy to read paragraphs. Morgan Stanley has previously specifically asked for the ‘ability to summarise complex business problems with clarity and brevity’, and a professional, legible and lucid cover letter is the ideal opportunity to show that you would be ready to interact with clients in a professional environment.

Add the finishing touches to your Morgan Stanley application by using one of our free CV and cover letter templates . Make sure to set up your free targetjobs profile to see all the opportunities that we have available with the employer.

targetjobs editorial advice

This describes editorially independent and impartial content, which has been written and edited by the targetjobs content team. Any external contributors featuring in the article are in line with our non-advertorial policy, by which we mean that we do not promote one organisation over another.

People reading this also searched for roles in these areas:

• IT graduate jobs
• IT internships
• Investment banking internships

Related careers advice

We've got you

Morgan Stanley Cover Letters and Interviews

Morgan stanley interview – global wealth management financial advisor.

Oct 19, 2022 | All Industry , All Interview Experience , All Location , First Round Interview , London , Wealth Management

Report on Morgan Stanley interview questions from a Cover Letter Library member’s experiences. This is based on Morgan Stanley Global...

Morgan Stanley Operations Internship – Summer Analyst Interview

Oct 8, 2020 | All Industry , All Interview Experience , All Location , First Round Interview , Glasgow , Middle Office

Successful Morgan Stanley Operations Internship Interview Preparation contributed by a candidate for Morgan Stanley Operations Summer...

Morgan Stanley Technology Cover Letter – User Experience Designer

Sep 4, 2020 | All Cover Letters , All Industry , All Location , Full-time Role Cover Letter , London , Technology

Successful Morgan Stanley Technology Cover Letter contributed by a Cover Letter Library member for Morgan Stanley Technology User...

All Industry , All Interview Experience , All Location , First Round Interview , London , Wealth Management

Report on Morgan Stanley interview questions. Based on Morgan Stanley Global Wealth Management Financial Advisor first round interview.

All Industry , All Interview Experience , All Location , First Round Interview , Glasgow , Middle Office

Successful Morgan Stanley Operations Interview Preparation contributed by a candidate for Morgan Stanley Operations Summer Analyst position in Glasgow.

All Cover Letters , All Industry , All Location , Full-time Role Cover Letter , London , Technology

Successful Morgan Stanley Technology Cover Letter contributed by a candidate for Morgan Stanley Technology User Experience Designer in London.

Morgan Stanley UX Designer assessment day

All Industry , All Interview Experience , All Location , Assessment Centre Interview , London , Technology

Report on Morgan Stanley interview questions from a candidate’s experience. This is based on Morgan Stanley  Technology User Experience Designer assessment day in London.

Morgan Stanley Cover Letter for IBD Spring Internship in London

All Cover Letters , All Industry , All Location , Investment Banking , London , Spring Week Cover Letter

Successful Morgan Stanley Spring Internship Cover Letter contributed by a candidate for Morgan Stanley IBD Spring Internship in London.

Morgan Stanley Summer Internship – Sales and Trading Cover Letter Example

All Cover Letters , All Industry , All Location , Internship Cover Letter , London , Sales & Trading

Successful Morgan Stanley Summer Internship Cover Letter contributed by a member for Morgan Stanley Sales and Trading Internship in London.

Morgan Stanley Internship Interview – Equity Research Summer Analyst

All Industry , All Interview Experience , All Location , Asset Management , First Round Interview , London

Morgan Stanley interview questions from a member’s experiences based on Morgan Stanley Equity Research Summer Analyst first round interview

Morgan Stanley Spring Insight Week in Institutional Securities Cover Letter

All Cover Letters , All Industry , All Location , London , Sales & Trading , Spring Week Cover Letter

Morgan Stanley Cover Letter contributed by a Cover Letter Library member from the UK for MS Institutional Securities Spring Insight Week.

Morgan Stanley Spring Week Cover Letter for IBD

Successful Morgan Stanley Spring Week Cover Letter for Investment Banking Contributed by a Cover Letter Library member from the UK

Morgan Stanley Institutional Securities Spring Internship Cover Letter

Successful Morgan Stanley Spring Internship Cover Letter for Morgan Stanley Institutional Securities Spring Internship.

Master Finance Interview Questions (Covering Several Divisions)

All Industry , All Interview Experience , All Location , Assessment Centre Interview , Final Round Interview , First Round Interview , Second Round Interview

List of Finance interview questions aggregated from a number of Cover Letter Library candidates’ experiences.

Morgan Stanley Assessment Centre – Investment Banking Division

All Industry , All Interview Experience , All Location , Assessment Centre Interview , Investment Banking , London

Morgan Stanley Assessment Centre interview questions and detailed answers contributed by a candidate from MS Assessment Centre for IBD.

Morgan Stanley Sales & Trading Assessment Centre Interview Questions

All Industry , All Interview Experience , All Location , Assessment Centre Interview , London , Sales & Trading

Morgan Stanley interview questions and details from candidates’ experiences based on MS Assessment Centre for Sales and Trading in London

Morgan Stanley First Round Telephone Interview – Sales & Trading

All Industry , All Interview Experience , All Location , First Round Interview , London , Sales & Trading

Morgan Stanley phone interview questions from candidates’ experiences based on MS first round interviews for Sales and Trading in London.

Morgan Stanley Investment Banking Assessment Centre Case Study

Morgan Stanley Investment Banking Assessment Centre interview questions and details from a Cover Letter Library member’s experiences.

Morgan Stanley Summer Internship in Real Estate Investing – Cover Letter

All Cover Letters , All Industry , All Location , Asset Management , Internship Cover Letter , London

Successful Morgan Stanley Internship Cover Letter contributed by a candidate for Real Estate Investing Summer Internship.

Morgan Stanley Sales and Trading Cover Letter for Analyst Internship

All Cover Letters , All Industry , All Location , Internship Cover Letter , Sales & Trading , Singapore

Successful Morgan Stanley Sales and Trading Cover Letter contributed by a candidate for Morgan Stanley Trading Analyst Internship 

Morgan Stanley Investment Banking Summer Internship Application Cover Letter

All Cover Letters , All Industry , All Location , Internship Cover Letter , Investment Banking , London , Singapore

Successful Morgan Stanley Internship cover letter contributed by a member for the Morgan Stanley Investment Banking Summer Internship Application.

Morgan Stanley Spring Insight Program Cover Letter

As a first year Economics undergraduate at LSE with strong academic understanding, excellent communication and research skills, I am seeking to align myself with the Research Division of Morgan Stanley. Being informed by the LSE Career Service, career fairs and Morgan Stanley employees, I am interested in applying to your Spring Insight program to gain a better understanding of your institution. 

Morgan Stanley Internship Application – London Research International Internship

All Cover Letters , All Industry , All Location , Internship Cover Letter , London

Successful Morgan Stanley Internship Application contributed by a candidate for Morgan Stanley London Research International Internship.

Trusted by thousands of job applicants

Cover Letter Library is a community of thousands of students and professionals who share their successful job applications with each other and future members to improve everyone’s chance of success.

All cover letters and interview experience are carefully screened for vadidity and accuracy

Join for free if you contribute your own material, or contribute a small one-off donation towards site maintenance, life-time access to all materials, with growing number of contributions.

Have you tried?

Our sister site of 215 financial technical books and 100+ hours of real analyst training courses.