Engineering Cover Letter UK: Examples & Tips

You’ve just come across the engineering job of your dreams. And— 

Whether it’s in aerospace, building services, or electronics, you know you’re an engineer skilled enough to give even Sheldon Cooper pause. But, before you get the job, you’ve got to write a cover letter that’s structurally sound and engineered to perfection.

No problemo.

In this article, you’ll get:

• Two engineering cover letter examples, one for an experienced engineer and another for an entry-level engineering internship cover letter.
• Step-by-step tips on how to write engineering cover letters that will score you more interviews.
• Engineering cover letter templates you can copy, tweak, and have ready in 15 minutes.

What does a perfect engineering cover letter look like? See below—

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Let’s start by taking a look at two engineering cover letter samples:

Looking for other cover letter examples for positions in engineering, tech, and science? See:

• Architecture Cover Letter
• Data Analyst Cover Letter
• Mechanical Engineer Cover Letter
• Engineering Internship Cover Letter
• Software Engineer Cover Letter

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Cover Letter Samples.

Engineering Cover Letter Examples

First, meet Joyce.

Joyce is about 26 years old, the oldest of two siblings, and she can kick your butt in badminton.

More importantly— 

Joyce is a skilled engineer, having a couple of years of private experience as well as a degree in mechanical engineering. Which is perfect, because the job to which she’s applying seeks an experienced engineer capable of developing thermal systems, control boxes, and other such items. 

Let’s look at Joyce’s cover letter and see how she wins over the employer:

Example #1: Mid-Level Mechanical Engineer Candidate 

How about that, right?

Joyce definitely has a cover letter for mechanical engineer jobs that’s bound to go all the way.

But what about writing an entry-level engineering cover letter?

Meet Joseph.

Joseph is the younger brother to Joyce, an Instagram foodie, and loves to assemble model cars. 

Of greater relevance is the fact that Joseph has no professional engineering experience. 

So, let’s see now how Joseph woos the hiring manager over with a top-of-the-line engineering intern cover letter:

Example #2: Entry-Level Cover Letter for Engineering Internship

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Well, there you have it— 

You’ve now seen two awesome cover letter examples which would have engineering managers begging you to attend an interview.

Now, let’s learn how to write an engineering cover letter of your own.

We’re about to give you cover letter-writing advice fitting any engineering job, be it mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, or an internship.

And, if your anxious to complete it, we have easy, fill-in-the-blanks cover letter templates to make it a breeze.

Make sure your engineering CV is as optimised as your cover letter’s about to be. Check out great engineer CV examples here:

• Engineering CV Example
• Software Engineer CV Example
• Mechanical Engineer CV Example
• Network Engineer CV Example
• Civil Engineer CV Example

Double your impact with a matching CV and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.

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Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

How to Write an Engineering Cover Letter

Here is how to make a high-performance cover letter for engineering jobs:

1. Format Engineering Cover Letters as You Would Any Formal Letter

To start a cover letter for engineering jobs, don’t go straight to writing its content.

First, you’ve got to format the cover letter.

Here are some guidelines for the engineer cover letter format:

• Choose a cover letter font which is easy for the engineering manager to read (and use the same font on your CV).
• Left-align all content in your aerospace or civil engineering cover letter, and don’t justify any of the text.
• Use a 1” margin on each of the 4 sides of your cover letter, and go with single-line spacing within the cover letter text.
• Don’t allow your chemical or mechanical engineer cover letter to be more than one page in length.

Expert Hint: Employment in engineering occupations, including aerospace, civil engineering, nuclear, biomedical, and mechanical, is expected to grow by 7% between 2016 and 2026. Almost 195,000 new jobs in engineering will be added, so your cover letter must be laid out correctly if you’re to have a shot at scoring the interview over the other candidates.

2. List Your Contact Information in the Cover Letter Header

In the header of your cover letter, just like in the engineering CV, you’re to include the general contact details.

The first portion is about you: include your name, phone number, email address, LinkedIn profile URL, and, optionally, your job title.

Next, today’s date, or the date you’ll send the application letter.

Finally, a text block for the employer’s info. Include the recruiter or hiring manager’s name, their position title, and the company address.

Use this sample template as a guide:

Engineering Cover Letter UK Template

Expert Hint: The most important aspect of an engineering cover letter heading, aside from including accurate personal information, is that it matches the design and format of the heading on your engineer CV template. 

3. Introduce Yourself and Identify the Engineering Job You’re Applying For

In the first paragraph of a cover letter for electrical engineers or automotive engineers, you’ve got to wow them.

If the opening sentences don’t catch their interest, they’ll put your cover letter aside like old technology.

So— 

Start the cover letter off by first addressing the employer by name. Then, identify the engineering position you’re applying for. Next, give a quick breakdown of your background in a way that shows that you’re an ideal candidate.

Check out this below opening statement template for your reference:

Cover Letter Examples Engineering: Introduction

4. Feature Your Most Relevant Engineering Skills & Strengths

The following portion of any environmental engineer or civil engineering cover letter needs to be customised to the engineering job description.

Open the job ad which you’re applying to, and find the job requirements. In your second paragraph, you must show them how your engineering skills, past experience, and professional background are a match to what they’re looking for.

Here’s an easy-breezy engineer cover letter example for you to use as a template:

Cover Letter Examples UK Engineering Jobs: Body Paragraph

If you have thoughts on how the organisation you're applying for can improve in X way, you can include this as a thought appetizer in your cover letter. This shows that you not only have done your homework, but also thought about how you can add value to the organisation, even before starting the job!

Expert Hint: According to a study in Physics Today, more and more science and engineering jobs are moving overseas away from the U.S. due to cost-cutting. To snatch the remaining jobs, your mechanical or electrical engineering cover letter had better be super compelling, and definitely NOT a generic cover letter. So remember to always tailor it to the position you’re applying for.

5. Explain Why You’d Like to Work at This Particular Corporation

In the next part, whether on experienced or entry-level engineering cover letters, show enthusiasm.

Of course they need to know how your engineer skills and past experience fit the role, but they’d also like a hire which matches their company culture.

So— 

Show them you’re a perfect fit by throwing in a compliment or two.

Use this sample engineering cover letter template as a guide:

Engineering Cover Letter Example: Motivation Paragraph

6. Write a Strong Call to Action to Sign Off Effectively

To close a covering letter, request a face-to-face meeting, Skype session, or a telephone call to discuss further how you could benefit their engineering endeavours.

Here’s a sample engineering cover letter template where you can just fill in the blanks:

Sample Cover Letter for Engineering Jobs: Call to Action & Formal Closing

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Key Points

Let’s have a brief summary— 

Here’s how to write an engineering cover letter:

• Before you get to writing, format the engineering cover letter template for readability.
• Address the engineering supervisor or HR manager by name in the salutation.
• Start with a personal introduction, inform them of the role to which you’re applying, and give a quick background on your professional experience and technical skills.
• Get the job ad out and show how your background and expertise in engineering match their job requirements perfectly.
• Show some enthusiasm and give them a reason for why you want to be their new hire.
• Ask for a meeting or phone call to discuss further in your call-to-action statement.

Got any questions on writing mechanical engineering cover letters or electrical engineer cover letters? Need more help writing your cover letter? Let’s talk down in the comments, and thank you for reading!

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