Buyer cover letter

Buyer Cover Letter (With Examples)

If writing a cover letter seems like a daunting task, you’re not alone! There’s a lot of pressure. Get it right, and you may earn a phone call for an interview. Get it wrong, and your resume will likely end up on the reject pile without getting a second glance.

The good news is there are resources and templates available to help you craft a powerful cover letter. This article provides tips and samples to help you make a strong pitch and sell your skills to your next potential employer.

What Is a Cover Letter and Why Is It Important?

A cover letter is a brief letter of introduction that usually accompanies a resume. Think of it as a low-hanging fruit opportunity to elaborate on your particular experiences and skill set in ways that may not be as easily conveyed in the typical bullet-point format of a resume.

When you submit a cover letter in addition to your resume, job application, and recommendation letter (if applicable), you have the opportunity to introduce yourself, highlight your skills, accomplishments, and goals, and explain what you hope to bring to the company if hired.

Parts of a Buyer Cover Letter

Buyers are responsible for finding and purchasing suitable products for a variety of organizations. These typical duties can include anything from performing research to hunting for the best deals, liaising with suppliers, negotiating prices, performing quality control, maintaining stock levels, delivering presentations, and many other responsibilities.

Because it’s a relatively easy job that pays well and often involves travel, which is appealing to many applicants, there’s usually a lot of competition to be hired as a buyer. When you’re competing for a millennial dream job, you need a solid cover letter to get noticed.

There are key parts of a standard cover-letter formula you need to include:

1. Your contact information

2. The organization’s information

3. Dear [Manager Name],

4. First paragraph: intent and opening hook

5. Second paragraph: main body with key skills and accomplishments concerning the job requirements

6. Third paragraph: closing lines with a compelling call to action

7. Best regards, followed by name and title

The cover letter should be confined to a single page, which means you have limited space and need to make sure every sentence counts. Proper formatting is also important. If you’re concerned about having a professional layout, take advantage of free cover letter templates.

Buyer Cover Letter Opening

Start by listing the basic contact information for both you and the company to which you are applying at the top of the letter. You want to make sure a hiring manager can quickly and easily locate your information.

If possible, you should address your letter to the hiring manager by name. If you don’t know the hiring manager’s name, use a gender-neutral greeting such as “Dear [Company Name] Recruitment Manager.”

Tip: you aren’t going to make a good impression by starting your letter with “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To whom it may concern.” This feels impersonal and may cause a hiring manager to suspect that you might be sending a mass cover letter to multiple employers without taking the time to personalize each one.

While a neutral “Dear Hiring Manager” or similar phrase is acceptable in place of a name, consider mentioning the company and/or department to make it a little more personalized.

Your cover letter needs to grab attention within the first couple of sentences. Start by announcing your application to the position and then following it with an impactful achievement. Numbers are particularly eye-catching, so if you can quantify your accomplishment with statistics, percentages, or dollar amounts, your letter is much more likely to get a full read.

Note that the applicant in the example cited specific measurements instead of relying on market buzzwords and empty, generic claims about increasing revenue and cutting costs. This proven technique makes a powerful first impression and is much more likely to garner attention.

Buyer Cover Letter Body

You have a hiring manager’s attention; now you need to keep building up the hype. To prove that you’re the best candidate for the position, you need to explain:

1. Why you want this job

2. Your skills that qualify you for the specific requirements of the job

3. Why you are the perfect fit for the position

Be cautious here — a lot of applicants drop the ball by losing focus and prattling off a list of general skills and accomplishments that have nothing to do with the specific job listing. You need to prove that you did your research and understand what’s expected of you in this role, then directly tie your skillset to the company’s exact needs in a straightforward way.

Note that the applicant breaks down her qualifications in a concise, easy-to-read format to clearly demonstrate that she understands the job description and has the experience to meet all of the company’s needs.

Buyer Cover Letter Closing Lines

A strong pitch needs powerful closing. The ending may seem less relevant in comparison, but remember that you have to leave a lasting impression if you want that interview callback.

That being said, be cautious about dragging out your closing remarks. You’ve already covered your main talking points, so now it’s time to drive your pitch home with a quick recap and optimistic closing to remind the recruitment manager why you are the right candidate for the job.

Note that the applicant didn’t waste the opportunity by leaving her strong pitch hanging with a simple “Thanks for your time.”

She wrapped up her closing in a way that demonstrates her knowledge, enthusiasm, and desire for the company’s short-term and long-term success, which would be a perfect segway into answering “Where do you see yourself in five years?” in the interview phase. She’s already setting herself up for a promising interview in her cover letter.

Example of a Buyer Cover Letter

Putting all the parts together illustrates how the ideal cover letter should start with an attention-grabber right off the bat and keep that same level of energy and competency throughout the entire pitch.

Tips for a Buyer Cover Letter

• Use confident language. Instead of using timid words and phrases like “might have” or “possibly” to undermine your skills, choose absolute phrases like “I do have” or “I am confident that.” If a company is going to entrust you with negotiating contracts, they need to know that you will be assertive.

• Cite quantifiable achievements to make a bigger impact. Instead of saying, “I helped my previous company grow its annual revenue,” give a specific number: “I facilitated an annual 36% growth increase.”

• Expand on relevant experience in your resume without repeating your resume points verbatim. A cover letter provides an opportunity to put your experience into a larger context.

• If you don’t have much work experience under your belt yet, lean on relevant coursework in your resume and cover letter, and be prepared to discuss how that coursework is applicable during the interview when a recruiting manager inevitably requests, “Walk me through your resume.”

Final Thoughts

It’s not uncommon for most job applications to specify that a cover letter is optional, but it’s a great idea to always include one. Doing so shows that you are a serious candidate willing to put in the extra work. It’s also an extra opportunity to introduce yourself and let your personality shine through.

Think about what you have to offer that’s going to interest the company. If you’re having trouble brainstorming ideas, consider what would be included about you in a new employee announcement email. Do you speak multiple languages? Do you have any fun facts about yourself? Do you have a hobby that you know ties in well with the company culture?

Mention those details if they’re relevant. Hiring managers are looking for skilled applicants, but they also want somebody who will fit in well with the culture. You never know — you may be closely tied with a candidate who has a similar background and skill set as you, but it’s your love to travel and goal of visiting all fifty states that wins you the position.

At the end of the day, the most important part of the cover letter is to highlight your experience and explain why the company needs your skills. If you can successfully do that, your chances of advancing to the interview phase are looking good.