Want to make sure your manager cover letter crushes the competition and lands you that interview? Read on to find out how you can do just that.
This is that company. Five years ago, you wouldn’t even have dared to dream of working there. And yet, here we are. So close, in with a chance, manager resume all ready to go. There’s just one last obstacle and one last opportunity in front of you—
You still need a manager cover letter. A manager cover letter better than all the others. Luckily, you’re in the right place.
In this article, you’ll get:
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Looking for other cover letter guides for managers? Check these out:
Couldn't find your examples? Check best cover letter examples for every industry
Ready to start working on your cover letter? For starters, read these two manager cover letter examples. What do you think makes them so great?
Meet James. He’s a bit of an old hand at project management. His is our first sample cover letter for a manager position.
The company to which James is applying needs a project manager that can hit the ground running. They don’t have time for an adaptation period. See how well James’ manager cover letter shows he’s the perfect candidate:
James W. Cioffi
Phone: 870-500-2606
Email: james.w.cioffi@reslab.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/1james.w.cioffi
Pine Bluff, December 20, 2021
Jane Aitchar
Head of Human Resources
Marble Lane Group
1264 Barrington Court
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Dear Jane,
Having long admired Marble Lane Group’s conservative corporate culture, I was thrilled to see an opening for a Project Manager. I am confident that my 5+ years’ experience in project management will allow me to bring MLG’s budget blowouts under control without sacrificing the tight turnaround times for which MLG is so well-known.
The job listing makes it clear that MLG is looking for a plug-and-play PM with a proven track record of delivery on time and under budget. In my current role with Grey Column Media, I leveraged the talents of my team to shorten the critical paths of seven projects by 13% on average. This left us with enough slack to absorb subcontractor delays of up to five weeks without affecting the delivery date or budget, saving Grey Column Media as much as $230,000. I expect I will be able to bring similar results to MLG.
Marble Lane Group’s data-driven decision-making processes very much appeal to me. Being part of your team and helping to drive MLG’s push into the North-West would be a long-term career goal achieved and a stimulating source of challenges for me.
I would love a chance to discuss my ideas for cost savings during a call or meeting at your convenience.
Yours sincerely,
James W. Cioffi
870-500-2606
james.w.cioffi@reslab.com
There’s no doubt James is in with a real chance. They’ll at least be sure to read his resume.
Don’t feel you can pull something like this off? Applying for a management position with little or no management experience?
You don’t have to have held a managerial position for long (or at all) to have valuable management experience.
Like Laura, for example—she’s an engineer who’s applying for her first management job, one that requires experience with challenging, against-the-odds projects, no less.
Laura’s manager cover letter shows that she’s been taking the initiative and doing the work before she had the job title.
Laura J. Elliott
408-339-7806
laura.j.elliott@reslab.com
linkedin.com/in/5laura.j.elliott
Santa Clara, December 21, 2021
Dorothy Holly
HR Manager
NKD Group
3328 Driftwood Road
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Dear Ms Holly,
As an engineer with two years’ experience in project management and a 100% sign-off rate from the head engineer, I was extremely happy to see that NKD Group was hiring for the position of Project Manager. I had the pleasure of cooperating with some of your colleagues on Kansang project and was very impressed with NKD Group’s approach.
In the job ad on LinkedIn, the ideal candidate is described as someone who has a track record of bringing challenging projects to a close on time and under budget. As the senior-most engineer working onsite on the Kansang project, I had considerably more autonomy than fellow engineers working Stateside. A record-breaking monsoon season put us in danger of failing to meet critical milestones. I was able to bring the project to a close only one week behind schedule and 5% over budget. The projected delay was 34 days at a budget blowout of 18%. I believe the skills I developed during projects like this will allow me to make significant contributions to NKD Group.
I would love an opportunity to discuss your objectives for the coming years and how my engineering and project management experience can translate into cost savings and increased quality at NKD Group.
Yours sincerely,
Laura J. Elliott
408-339-7806
laura.j.elliott@reslab.com
That makes two manager cover letter examples that cinch the deal.
You’re about to go on a step-by-step walkthrough to writing a cover letter for a manager position that’s at least as effective.
Oh, and if you haven’t finished your resume yet or you’re looking for ways to improve it, check out this guide: Manager Resume—Guide, Examples & Templates
Here’s how to write a job-winning manager cover letter:
You know the importance of first impressions and a professional veneer better than most. A cover letter for a manager position has to excel at achieving both.
Here are the key rules for formatting your cover letter:
Expert Hint: According to this report by Geneca, 80% of companies spend at least 50% of their time on rework. No wonder, then, that attention to detail is a sought-after trait across the board. Show your attention to detail from the outset with a stellar cover letter format.
Get your header right, and it’ll quietly do its job, virtually invisible. Get it wrong, and it’ll be a glaring setback, difficult to recover from.
The header for your cover letter has to be identical to the header on your manager resume. It should include your full name, job title, and contact details.
Put the city and date of writing below your header. Write the hiring manager’s inside address below that.
Simply left-align everything if you don’t know exactly what to do in terms of layout, and exactly how to do it.
Follow this template:
[ Your Full Name]
[ Your Job Title ] (Optional)
[ Phone Number ]
[ Email Address ]
[ LinkedIn Profile ]
[ City and Date of Writing ]
[ Hiring Manager’s Full Name ]
[ Hiring Manager’s Position, e.g. HR Manager ]
[ Company Name ]
[ Company Street Address ]
[ City and Zip Code ]
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The first paragraph of your manager cover letter has one job to do:
It has to grab the hiring manager’s attention by making it clear that it’s written specifically for them.
The most basic way to start doing this is by addressing the hiring manager by name. Wondering how to address a cover letter when you don’t know the hiring manager’s name?
Don’t, just find out what their name is. Search online, double-check the job ad, or try LinkedIn. All else fails, call them and ask—that always works. Start your cover letter by referring specifically to the job to which you’re applying and briefly describing how you’re a perfect fit.
Here’s another paint-by-numbers template for you to use in a pinch. Just fill in the blanks with your information.
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I was thrilled to see that [Target Company Name] is hiring for the position of [Type of] Manager. As a [type of] manager with [number of years] years’ experience, highly skilled in [relevant skills from the job ad] I am sure I can help your team with [upcoming challenges / goals].
Expert Hint: There’s no doubt that an MBA can be a huge advantage on the labor market, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. Do your research, double-check the requirements, and play to your strengths, whether you have an MBA or not.
The second paragraph of your manager cover letter is where you make it clear that you both understand and fulfill the job requirements.
Pick two or three key requirements from the job description and match them with some of your recent achievements, showing that you’ve handled similar challenges before.
See this fill-in-the-blanks example.
In the job listing, you state that you need a [type of] manager experienced in [refer to the requirements of the job]. In my most recent position with [Name of Your Current or Most Recent Employer] I have succeeded in [duties and/or projects you’ve successfully completed, supported by metrics, wherever possible]. I strongly believe my expertise will translate into similar results for [Target Company Name].
Expert Hint: It’s no secret that bad management can cause companies to fail suddenly and spectacularly. Hiring managers are sensitive to this risk and will be looking for examples of management candidates doing the opposite: cutting operating costs, stabilizing positions, and averting disasters.
The third paragraph of your manager cover letter is a great opportunity to slip in a little flattery.
This isn’t as shallow a move as it might seem. Hiring managers are looking for serious, motivated applicants who are likely to not only accept an offer, but also stay on with the company longer term. So make it clear that you want to work for this company more than any other, and explain why.
Not sure how? Use this template:
I love the fact that, at [Target Company Name], you [something you genuinely admire about the company]. Your values and mission perfectly reflect my professional beliefs. Joining your team would be a dream opportunity for me to grow and develop my key skills while providing [relevant value] for [Target Company Name].
End your cover letter by asking for a follow-up call or meeting. Summarize your offer. Suggest a topic for further discussion. Make it a bit of a teaser, but don’t be too coy.
Here’s a sample manager cover letter closing you can use as a reference:
Can we schedule a call or meeting to discuss how my skills can help [Target Company Name] achieve [relevant goals] in the upcoming months?
Yours sincerely,
[Digital Copy of Your Handwritten Signature]
[Your Full Name]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]
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When writing a cover letter for manager positions, you should:
Got niggling questions in spite of all these manager cover letter examples? Or maybe some advice for new managers? Leave a comment. We’ll be sure to reply.
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Dominika is a job expert with a focus on career development and onboarding processes. At ResumeLab, she co-manages our team of career experts.
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