how to write application letter as a supervisor

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Cover Letter Example For a Supervisor Position: Example + Tips

You’ve gained respect for your competence in your field. Coworkers admire you, and you’ve already played the role of trainer, mentor, and informal leader. Now, it’s time to make things formal. You’ve decided that you are ready to move up the career ladder. If that’s the case, your next goal may be to become a supervisor.

That’s a big leap, but it is definitely something that can be accomplished. However, you will need a new resume and cover letter to best present yourself to potential employers. Even if you are gearing up for an internal position.

To help with that, we have a sample cover letter for a supervisor position. Scroll to the bottom for extra helpful writing tips!

Supervisor Cover Letter Sample (Word version)

Download this sample (.docx)

Cover Letter Example For a Supervisor Position (text version)

Dear Ellen James,

My name is Nicole Hartmann and I am writing to express my sincere interest in pursuing your open position for 2nd Shift Production Supervisor. I have more than three years of experience working in automotive manufacturing, have successfully taken on many leadership roles, and am confident I am an ideal candidate for this position.

At present, I am employed at Automag Industries as a second shift line leader. My job involves supervising the other workers on my line, providing them with training and guidance, and ensuring that production quotas are met. I’m also responsible for recording breaks and lunches, training new employees, and conducting quality checks. Additionally, I have my own production responsibilities as well. I’m proud to say that my line meets or exceeds quotas 100% of the time. We’ve also been accident and injury-free for more than one year.

The employees on my line have ranked my performance as superb or excellent in their annual assessments. I have a low turnover rate and am very proud that many of the workers who began under me have also become line leaders.

In addition to working in the manufacturing industry, I am also a student at the University of Washington. I’m pursuing my BS in Manufacturing Management. Because of this, I am particularly excited about the opportunity to take the next step into a supervisory position.

If you have time next week, I’d like to meet for an interview. I plan to reach out again via email to see if we can set something up. I look forward to learning more about your company, and how I might be of service.

Sincerely, Nicole Hartmann

How to Write a Cover Letter For A Supervisor Position

Now, here are some excellent tips to really produce an attention-grabbing cover letter for yourself. Remember to follow the standard business letter structure — introduction, body, closing paragraph. Aim for 3-4 paragraphs.

Verify That You Have Permission To Apply

Many people apply for their first supervisor position at their current place of employment. If you are pursuing an internal position, there are some extra steps you should take. First, get clearance from your current department head before you apply. That’s a matter of professionalism. Next, when you write your cover letter , add a quick note that you have the approval to pursue the position. By doing this, you ensure that there are no conflicts or unpleasant surprises.

Focus On Results

The key to proving your capabilities as a supervisor is to show that you can get results. Focus on details such as quotas, productivity metrics, team attendance rates, low turnover, accuracy, and quality. If possible, quantify your achievements. Limit mentions of administrative tasks to those that indicate you have mastered the required skills.

For example, you can write something like:

As a senior warehouse associate, I was responsible for ensuring high order fulfillment accuracy rates. I’ve helped some of the junior staff to better understand the labeling process and subsequently, order fulfillment accuracy rates increased by 15% within a month.

Make Your Skills Relevant

What if you are applying for your first position as a supervisor? Remember that even if you haven’t held the job title, there are skills you have, and experience you have gained, that will likely help you succeed as a supervisor.

Consider your current experience, and list anything that showcases leadership ability, working independently, training others, or otherwise taking on additional responsibilities. Mention these in your cover letter to highlight your potential as a supervisor.

Regardless of the type of supervisor position you are applying for, the position will require you to ensure instructions are followed and tasks are completed. You will want to cover specifics in your cover letter about your ability to inspire others while communicating with a variety of people.

Debi Douma-Herren HR Consultant & Career Strategist LinkedIn

Prove You Can Lead

Supervisors must command respect, motivate people under them to be productive, and provide mentoring to help their team members pursue their own career goals. To do this, you must have a strong sense of empathy, great communication skills, and the ability to provide coaching. Include examples of these things in your cover letter.

Edit The Letter Carefully

Supervisors must pay attention to detail, and produce results that are free from error. The first place to show that you are capable of these things is in your cover letter. Double-check your writing, and fix any errors you find. Then, have a friend read to verify that you are communicating your thoughts clearly and accurately.

Final Tip: Make Your Attractive and Professional

Your entire application package should be attractive, easy to read, and attention-getting. This will help to make your application memorable and show that you are very serious about pursuing the position of supervisor. You can accomplish this by using a professional cover letter template to ensure that your formatting and layout are attractive and exude professionalism.

Elena runs content operations at Freesumes since 2017. She works closely with copywriters, designers, and invited career experts to ensure that all content meets our highest editorial standards. Up to date, she wrote over 200 career-related pieces around resume writing, career advice... more

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Supervisor Cover Letter

The supervisor cover letter example can be customized for the particular supervisor position you are applying for.

Supervisor positions will differ from company to company but this sample cover letter can be used as a practical framework to create your own winning cover letter to send with your job application and resume.

In your cover letter highlight the type of supervisory experience, expertise and skills that you have and how they match the specific supervisor job requirements.

SAMPLE SUPERVISOR COVER LETTER

Your Name Your Address Your Contact details (phone and email)

Date Mr Mark Stevens Director for Operations ABC Company 15 South Parkway Long Island, NY 11551

Dear Mr Stevens

In response to your job posting for a Supervisor I have attached my resume for your consideration. I believe that I am an excellent candidate for this position as I have highlighted below.

• Solid experience in supervising general operations and allocating tasks and resources to meet company objectives.
• Coordination and control of activities for X departments.
• Supervision and performance management of up to X employees.
• Proven success in training and developing employees.
• Constantly met departmental/organizational targets on time and in good order.
• Accustomed to handling multiple tasks and meeting tight deadlines in a fast paced work environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills including proven competency in negotiation and conflict management.
• Excellent administrative skills.
• Wide-ranging liaison experience with all levels of management.

I would very much like to discuss with you how I could contribute to your organization. Please contact me to arrange a mutually convenient time for us to meet.

Thank you for your consideration.

Joe Jobseeker

Your supervisor resume

The sample supervisor resume will help you develop a persuasive resume.

SUPERVISOR JOB APPLICATION

Sample Supervisor Resume

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Supervisor Job Duties and Skills

How to write a winning supervisor cover letter

Write a convincing cover letter that clearly demonstrates how your skills and strengths meet the employer's requirements for the supervisor job. These pages will help you to create a job-winning cover letter.

List of supervisor job skills

List of workplace strengths

Manager Skills

Easy-to-use supervisor cover letter template 

Office Supervisor Cover Letter

Customer Service Supervisor Cover Letter

What is the role of the supervisor?

Your cover letter should show your full understanding of the role and responsibilities of the supervisor position in an organization. These pages will help you with this.

Office Supervisor Job Description

These manager job descriptions will help provide a clear understanding of the job duties and requirements.

Supervisor job interviews

Prepare for your supervisor job interview with these supervisor interview questions

You can expect questions like these management job interview questions in your supervisor interview.

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15 Supervisor Cover Letters That Will Get Hired (NOW)

Are you are looking to write a cover letter for Supervisor jobs that will impress recruiters and get you noticed by hiring managers? You need one to apply for a job, but you don’t know what to say.

Cover letters are an important tool for any job seeker, as they can provide a chance for the applicant to sell themselves without having to come into the interview. It’s also an opportunity to ensure that your qualifications are relevant, which increases your chances of being considered for the position. An effective cover letter should be about two pages long, and should include a brief summary of your experience in relation to the job, why you want it, and how you think you can make a valuable contribution.

Here are 15 amazing Supervisor cover letters that are professionally written and will help you stand out and get that job!

Supervisor Cover Letters

Each cover letter is written with a different focus. Review all of them and pick the ones that apply to your situation. Take inspiration from multiple samples and combine them to craft your unique cover letter.

Supervisor Sample 1

Dear ____, I believe that I am the perfect candidate for the Supervisor position you’re looking to hire for. I come with a solid work experience in customer service and in management. I am hard-working and responsible, and your company would benefit from my skills. I look forward to hearing from you soon about when we can set up an interview appointment. Thanks in advance for considering me! Sincerely, __________

Supervisor Sample 2

I am very interested in your Supervisor position. I bring many years of experience in management, evaluation, and leadership to the table.  I have always had a keen interest in systems development and implementation; hence my expertise is implementing new strategies for improvement, restructuring programs to better meet objectives, evaluating the effectiveness of programs and initiatives. Additionally, I am adept at conducting research surveys with quantitative data collection methods that involve sampling techniques such as random digit dialing or stratified random sampling to obtain samples representative of population groups.  Finally, I am eager to learn more about your supervision requirements so that I can tailor my skillset accordingly.

Supervisor Sample 3

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am writing this letter because I am interested in the position of Supervisor at your company. I would like to tell you about myself and why I believe that I am qualified for the position. At my current job, I manage a team of four employees and have successfully supervised them for three years now. As a supervisor, I make sure that all tasks are completed timely and efficiently without errors to ensure quality assurance in the work place. My current responsibilities include budgeting, scheduling, assigning daily tasks accordingly with deadlines, tracking progress on all projects through reports submitted by my team members every work day during our morning meetings. If you are interested in my services please feel free to contact me via phone or email at any

Supervisor Sample 4

I am seeking a position as a Supervisor at ___________. I have over 10 years of experience in retail and inventory management, and can assure you that I will be able to successfully manage your company’s business operations. My resume is attached for your perusal. If you would like to schedule an interview with me, please contact my email or phone number below:

-Name -email address -Phone Number

Supervisor Sample 5

I am writing this letter to express my interest in the Supervisor position you are hiring for. I have 12 years of experience in supervising employees at various levels of responsibility and have been successful at every job I’ve held. My leadership skills and strong work ethic make me a great candidate for this role. As such, please consider me as a candidate for the Supervisor position you are hiring for. Thank you for your time and consideration, _____

Supervisor Sample 6

I am writing to express my interest in the Supervisor position at _____. I am confident that I would be an asset to your company, and genuinely interested in this opportunity. I am confident that my qualifications and experience make me a great candidate for this position, and would welcome any opportunity to learn more about this role by talking with you. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me at (202) 555-1234 or email me at [email protected]

Supervisor Sample 7

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my interest in the position of Supervisor at _____. “Qualifications” I have over 10 years of experience supervising employees within a wide range of capacities. My strong work ethic and leadership skills will be an asset to your company. Please reach out if you would like to discuss my qualifications further.

Supervisor Sample 8

I am a recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. As such, I am looking for an entry-level position in the field of human resources or management that would enable me to use my knowledge and skills. Please consider my qualifications when you are hiring for your supervisor position at _____.

Supervisor Sample 9

Dear HR Department,

I am a hardworking and motivated individual with a strong background in customer service. I have 10 years of experience working with customers, and I am excited to apply my skills in a new position. I am qualified for this Supervisor position and would welcome the opportunity to be interviewed. Thank you for your consideration.

Supervisor Sample 10

Dear [recipient],

Thank you for your consideration. I am a [insert relevant qualifications] with [insert relevant experience] and have been in the field of [insert applicable field] for over 10 years. The skills that I can bring to your company are excellent organizational skills, proven leadership abilities, and a high level of customer service skills. Please feel free to contact me by phone or email if there is anything else you would like to know about my qualifications or experience before making a decision on who will fill the Supervisor position at your company.

Sincerely,   [signature].

Supervisor Sample 11

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am applying for the supervisor position. I possess a strong work ethic and am able to meet deadlines. I am also able to work well on a team and take constructive criticism without getting defensive. I have excellent written and verbal communication skills, which would make me an asset in this position. My experience includes managing staff, scheduling employees, dealing with vendors, providing training courses for new hires, and providing customer service for clients on the phone.

Supervisor Sample 12

I am applying for the Supervisors position at the company. I have extensive experience in this role, having supervised a team of 20 people on a regular basis for over 15 years. I am confident that my skills and qualifications are well suited to this role, specifically my experience overseeing staff recruitment, training, coaching, motivating staff to perform better and execution of projects. I am available for an interview any time that suits your schedule. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Supervisor Sample 13

Dear Mr. James,

I am excited to apply for the position of Supervisor at your company. I am currently completing an Associate Degree in mechanical engineering and have been working as a Mechanical Engineer for 10 years with a focus on technical and manufacturing industries. My qualifications include: · 10 years of experience working in manufacturing and technical industry; 8 of those 10 years was spent as a Mechanical Engineer who focused on automation systems, pneumatics, hydraulics and CAD design; And · I am currently enrolled in an Associate Degree program for Mechanical Engineering at Penn State Harrisburg which will be completed this coming summer. To read more about me or my qualifications please visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/cher

Supervisor Sample 14

Dear Mr. or Ms. ________,

I hope that this email finds you well and that the new year is off to a great start! I am currently seeking a supervisor position and I think my skills would be an excellent match for your company’s needs. As such, please let me know if you have any openings available at this time. I appreciate the opportunity to share my qualifications with you and look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you for taking the time to consider me as a potential candidate for your team!

Supervisor Sample 15

I am writing in response to your job posting for a Supervisor position. As the sole proprietor of my own business, I have proven time and again that I am able to handle this type of responsibility.

-My corporation’s revenue has increased by 100% in the past year alone – -I currently employ over 10 full time employees (ranging from administrative staff, marketing professionals, accountants)   -After responding to an increase in demand for our services at home and abroad, I expanded my company’s operations with an additional manufacturing facility which is now fully operational. This new chapter in my company’s growth was accomplished through careful planning and diligent execution.

Recruiters and hiring managers receive hundreds of applications for each job opening.

Use the above professionally written Supervisor cover letter samples to learn how to write a cover letter that will catch their attention and customize it for your specific situation.

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Front Office Supervisor Cover Letter Examples

Use these Front Office Supervisor cover letter examples to help you write a powerful cover letter that will separate you from the competition.

Front office supervisors are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the front desk. They need to be able to handle a variety of tasks, including answering phones, scheduling appointments, and handling customer inquiries.

In order to be a successful front office supervisor, you need to be able to work under pressure and be organized. Use these examples to write a cover letter that will show hiring managers that you’re the perfect candidate for the job.

Formal/Professional Writing Style Example

With my strong background in front office operations and exceptional leadership skills, I am confident that I am a perfect fit for this role. I eagerly submit my application for your consideration.

As a professional with over six years of experience in the hospitality industry, I have taken progressive responsibility in managing front office operations in fast-paced environments. In my most recent role as Assistant Front Office Supervisor at XYZ Hotel, I have demonstrated a commitment to guest satisfaction and efficiently managed a diverse team of front office staff. My proven track record of improving guest check-in times and reducing guests’ waiting times by streamlining front desk processes and training my team in guest relations has directly contributed to increased guest satisfaction scores.

Furthermore, my communication skills, ability to multitask and prioritize, and problem-solving abilities consistently serve me well in maintaining a high level of professionalism and efficiency. I am proficient in using hotel management software and am well-versed in Microsoft Office Suite. I am also fluent in English and Spanish, enabling me to better assist and communicate with a variety of guests.

Being a dedicated and proactive professional, I am eager to contribute to your organization’s growth and reputation for outstanding service. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further and demonstrate how my experience makes me an excellent candidate for the Front Office Supervisor position.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to your positive response and the opportunity to be a valued member of your team.

[Your Name]

Entry-Level Writing Style Example

As a recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from XYZ University, I am excited to begin my career in the hospitality industry and believe that my education and passion for providing excellent customer service make me a strong candidate for this role.

During my time at university, I completed a six-month internship at a renowned hotel, where I gained experience in front office operations, guest relations, and reservations management. My hands-on experience, combined with the practical knowledge I gained from relevant coursework in hospitality operations, marketing, and customer service management, has prepared me well for a position as a Front Office Supervisor.

In addition to my technical skills, my customer service background in the retail industry has allowed me to develop strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving abilities. I am adept at handling challenging situations with professionalism and grace, always ensuring that guest satisfaction remains a top priority.

I am particularly excited about the opportunity to join your organization due to its strong reputation for providing exceptional guest experiences and its commitment to ongoing staff development.

I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to further discuss my qualifications and demonstrate my enthusiasm for contributing to the success of your establishment. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of joining your team.

[Your Full Name]

Networking/Referral Writing Style Example

I was referred to this opportunity by a mutual connection, Jane Smith, who has spoken highly of your team and the positive work environment at your establishment. Jane and I have worked closely together for over three years at XYZ Hotel, and she strongly believes that my skills and experiences make me a perfect fit for this role.

During my time at XYZ Hotel, I was responsible for overseeing a team of ten front office staff members and ensuring that they provided exceptional customer service to our guests. I have a strong track record of training and mentoring new employees, as well as implementing various initiatives to boost team morale and achieve high levels of guest satisfaction.

Furthermore, my in-depth understanding of hotel management software, guest reservation systems, and excellent communication skills would allow me to contribute effectively to your front office operations. Having worked with diverse clientele, I pride myself on being adaptable and sensitive to the needs of all guests, ensuring they have the best possible experience at our hotel.

I am confident that my strong work ethic, positive attitude, and passion for hospitality would make me an invaluable asset to your team. I am eager to bring my extensive experience and enthusiasm to your organization and contribute to its ongoing success.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you further about my suitability for this role.

Enthusiastic/Passionate Writing Style Example

Ever since I came across your company, I have been captivated by the incredible dedication to customer service, innovation, and the overall pursuit of excellence that it consistently exhibits. It would be an absolute honor to contribute my skills and experience to maintain and further elevate the outstanding reputation your company has built over the years.

As a highly motivated and determined individual, I have accumulated six years of experience within the hospitality industry, including significant experience supervising front office operations for world-class hotels. This has provided me with a profound understanding of the ins and outs of customer service and efficient front office management. Moreover, my natural affinity for fostering a warm and welcoming atmosphere has always been my forte and coincides perfectly with your company’s mission and values.

What truly sets me apart as a candidate for this position is my passion for ensuring exceptional customer experiences. I firmly believe that a simple smile, a kind word, and a relentless commitment to anticipating and fulfilling guests’ needs are the foundation of lasting customer relationships. I vow to bring this dedication to your organization and drive the team towards achieving even greater heights of success.

Having had the privilege to be a loyal and satisfied customer of your establishment, I am eager to contribute to the continued growth and success of your company. I am confident that with my passion, experience, and drive for excellence, I would make an invaluable addition to your organization as the Front Office Supervisor.

Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss further how my skills and experience could align with your team.

Problem-Solving Writing Style Example

Having followed your company’s growth and success closely, I understand the increasing demand for delivering exceptional customer service and managing operational efficiency to elevate the overall guest experience. In light of this, I believe my proven track record in solving organizational challenges and streamlining front desk operations make me an ideal candidate for this role.

One of the most pressing challenges in the hotel industry is ensuring customer satisfaction while maintaining operational excellence. During my previous role as a Front Office Supervisor, I successfully managed a team of 10 employees and implemented new training programs to improve customer service skills. As a result, our hotel gained a 20% increase in positive customer reviews and a 15% reduction in guest complaints within a year.

Furthermore, I recognize the importance of utilizing technology and data-driven strategies to optimize the front office’s efficiency. I have hands-on experience using Property Management Systems, online booking platforms, and analytical tools to track performance metrics. By leveraging my expertise in these areas, I can help identify bottlenecks and implement innovative solutions to streamline front desk operations and enhance employee productivity.

In addition to my technical skills, I am a strong communicator and problem-solver, adept at managing conflicts and diffusing tense situations. My ability to build rapport with guests and anticipate their needs allows me to offer impeccable service, fostering customer loyalty and driving repeat business.

I am eager to contribute to the ongoing success of your company by transforming challenges into opportunities for enhancement. Enclosed is my resume for your review, and I look forward to discussing my candidacy further in a personal interview.

Thank you for considering my application.

Storytelling/Narrative Writing Style Example

As I walked into the bustling hotel lobby on my first day as a Front Desk Agent, I was filled with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Little did I know that this experience would ignite a passion for customer service and hospitality that has only grown stronger over the years. Today, I am eager to bring my dedication and skills to your team as a Front Office Supervisor.

During a particularly memorable stay at your hotel, I witnessed firsthand the exceptional level of service and attention to detail that sets your establishment apart. The Front Office staff made every guest feel welcomed and valued, creating a warm atmosphere that I still remember fondly. It was in that moment that I knew I wanted to be part of a team that prioritizes guest satisfaction above all else.

My experience as a Front Desk Agent has allowed me to hone my skills in customer service, problem-solving, and multitasking, all while maintaining a positive attitude and warm demeanor. In my previous role, I was responsible for overseeing a team of agents and ensuring smooth daily operations. This included monitoring guest check-ins and check-outs, handling guest complaints, training new staff members, and maintaining a high level of workplace morale.

I am confident that my passion for customer service, combined with my experience and skills, make me an ideal candidate for the Front Office Supervisor position. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team and help elevate the guest experience at your esteemed hotel.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further and demonstrate my commitment to the success of your organization.

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How to Write a Cover Letter That Will Get You a Job

I ’ve read thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of cover letters in my career. If you’re thinking that sounds like really boring reading, you’re right. What I can tell you from enduring that experience is that most cover letters are terrible — and not only that, but squandered opportunities. When a cover letter is done well, it can significantly increase your chances of getting an interview, but the vast majority fail that test.

So let’s talk about how to do cover letters right.

First, understand the point of a cover letter.

The whole idea of a cover letter is that it can help the employer see you as more than just your résumé. Managers generally aren’t hiring based solely on your work history; your experience is crucial, yes, but they’re also looking for someone who will be easy to work with, shows good judgment, communicates well, possesses strong critical thinking skills and a drive to get things done, complements their current team, and all the other things you yourself probably want from your co-workers. It’s tough to learn much about those things from job history alone, and that’s where your cover letter comes in.

Because of that …

Whatever you do, don’t just summarize your résumé.

The No. 1 mistake people make with cover letters is that they simply use them to summarize their résumé. This makes no sense — hiring managers don’t need a summary of your résumé! It’s on the very next page! They’re about to see it as soon as they scroll down. And if you think about it, your entire application is only a few pages (in most cases, a one- or two-page résumé and a one-page cover letter) — why would you squander one of those pages by repeating the content of the others? And yet, probably 95 percent of the cover letters I see don’t add anything new beyond the résumé itself (and that’s a conservative estimate).

Instead, your cover letter should go beyond your work history to talk about things that make you especially well-suited for the job. For example, if you’re applying for an assistant job that requires being highly organized and you neurotically track your household finances in a detailed, color-coded spreadsheet, most hiring managers would love to know that because it says something about the kind of attention to detail you’d bring to the job. That’s not something you could put on your résumé, but it can go in your cover letter.

Or maybe your last boss told you that you were the most accurate data processor she’d ever seen, or came to rely on you as her go-to person whenever a lightning-fast rewrite was needed. Maybe your co-workers called you “the client whisperer” because of your skill in calming upset clients. Maybe you’re regularly sought out by more senior staff to help problem-solve, or you find immense satisfaction in bringing order to chaos. Those sorts of details illustrate what you bring to the job in a different way than your résumé does, and they belong in your cover letter.

If you’re still stumped, pretend you’re writing an email to a friend about why you’d be great at the job. You probably wouldn’t do that by stiffly reciting your work history, right? You’d talk about what you’re good at and how you’d approach the work. That’s what you want here.

You don’t need a creative opening line.

If you think you need to open the letter with something creative or catchy, I am here to tell you that you don’t. Just be simple and straightforward:

• “I’m writing to apply for your X position.”

• “I’d love to be considered for your X position.”

• “I’m interested in your X position because …”

• “I’m excited to apply for your X position.”

That’s it! Straightforward is fine — better, even, if the alternative is sounding like an aggressive salesperson.

Show, don’t tell.

A lot of cover letters assert that the person who wrote it would excel at the job or announce that the applicant is a skillful engineer or a great communicator or all sorts of other subjective superlatives. That’s wasted space — the hiring manager has no reason to believe it, and so many candidates claim those things about themselves that most managers ignore that sort of self-assessment entirely. So instead of simply declaring that you’re great at X (whatever X is), your letter should demonstrate that. And the way you do that is by describing accomplishments and experiences that illustrate it.

Here’s a concrete example taken from one extraordinarily effective cover-letter makeover that I saw. The candidate had originally written, “I offer exceptional attention to detail, highly developed communication skills, and a talent for managing complex projects with a demonstrated ability to prioritize and multitask.” That’s pretty boring and not especially convincing, right? (This is also exactly how most people’s cover letters read.)

In her revised version, she wrote this instead:

“In addition to being flexible and responsive, I’m also a fanatic for details — particularly when it comes to presentation. One of my recent projects involved coordinating a 200-page grant proposal: I proofed and edited the narratives provided by the division head, formatted spreadsheets, and generally made sure that every line was letter-perfect and that the entire finished product conformed to the specific guidelines of the RFP. (The result? A five-year, $1.5 million grant award.) I believe in applying this same level of attention to detail to tasks as visible as prepping the materials for a top-level meeting and as mundane as making sure the copier never runs out of paper.”

That second version is so much more compelling and interesting — and makes me believe that she really is great with details.

If there’s anything unusual or confusing about your candidacy, address it in the letter.

Your cover letter is your chance to provide context for things that otherwise might seem confusing or less than ideal to a hiring manager. For example, if you’re overqualified for the position but are excited about it anyway, or if you’re a bit underqualified but have reason to think you could excel at the job, address that up front. Or if your background is in a different field but you’re actively working to move into this one, say so, talk about why, and explain how your experience will translate. Or if you’re applying for a job across the country from where you live because you’re hoping to relocate to be closer to your family, let them know that.

If you don’t provide that kind of context, it’s too easy for a hiring manager to decide you’re the wrong fit or applying to everything you see or don’t understand the job description and put you in the “no” pile. A cover letter gives you a chance to say, “No, wait — here’s why this could be a good match.”

Keep the tone warm and conversational.

While there are some industries that prize formal-sounding cover letters — like law — in most fields, yours will stand out if it’s warm and conversational. Aim for the tone you’d use if you were writing to a co-worker whom you liked a lot but didn’t know especially well. It’s okay to show some personality or even use humor; as long as you don’t go overboard, your letter will be stronger for it.

Don’t use a form letter.

You don’t need to write every cover letter completely from scratch, but if you’re not customizing it to each job, you’re doing it wrong. Form letters tend to read like form letters, and they waste the chance to speak to the specifics of what this employer is looking for and what it will take to thrive in this particular job.

If you’re applying for a lot of similar jobs, of course you’ll end up reusing language from one letter to the next. But you shouldn’t have a single cover letter that you wrote once and then use every time you apply; whatever you send should sound like you wrote it with the nuances of this one job in mind.

A good litmus test is this: Could you imagine other applicants for this job sending in the same letter? If so, that’s a sign that you haven’t made it individualized enough to you and are probably leaning too heavily on reciting your work history.

No, you don’t need to hunt down the hiring manager’s name.

If you read much job-search advice, at some point you’ll come across the idea that you need to do Woodward and Bernstein–level research to hunt down the hiring manager’s name in order to open your letter with “Dear Matilda Jones.” You don’t need to do this; no reasonable hiring manager will care. If the name is easily available, by all means, feel free to use it, but otherwise “Dear Hiring Manager” is absolutely fine. Take the hour you just freed up and do something more enjoyable with it.

Keep it under one page.

If your cover letters are longer than a page, you’re writing too much, and you risk annoying hiring managers who are likely sifting through hundreds of applications and don’t have time to read lengthy tomes. On the other hand, if you only write one paragraph, it’s unlikely that you’re making a compelling case for yourself as a candidate — not impossible, but unlikely. For most people, something close to a page is about right.

Don’t agonize over the small details.

What matters most about your cover letter is its content. You should of course ensure that it’s well-written and thoroughly proofread, but many job seekers agonize over elements of the letter that really don’t matter. I get tons of  questions from job seekers  about whether they should attach their cover letter or put it in the body of the email (answer: No one cares, but attaching it makes it easier to share and will preserve your formatting), or what to name the file (again, no one really cares as long as it’s reasonably professional, but when people are dealing with hundreds of files named “resume,” it’s courteous to name it with your full name).

Approaching your cover letter like this can make a huge difference in your job search. It can be the thing that moves your application from the “maybe” pile (or even the “no” pile) to the “yes” pile. Of course, writing cover letters like this will take more time than sending out the same templated letter summarizing your résumé — but 10 personalized, compelling cover letters are likely to get you more  interview invitations  than 50 generic ones will.

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