Human resources business partner cover letter

Human Resources Business Partner Cover Letter (With Examples)

If someone asked, “How would your friends describe you,” what would you say? Are you an introvert or an extrovert who enjoys being around people? Are you a natural-born leader? Do you genuinely enjoy helping other people?

Working in human resources is an excellent job if you’re a people person. As the job market shifts, HR roles are quickly becoming one of the most exciting professions for former executive assistants and secretaries.

If you’re interested in this type of work, submitting a strong cover letter with your resume and application will go a long way toward helping you secure that coveted interview. See what makes a great HR cover letter with the tips and examples in this article.

What Is a Cover Letter and Why Is It Important?

A cover letter is a brief letter of introduction. It usually accompanies a resume and is a prime opportunity to introduce yourself, highlight your skills and accomplishments, lay out your goals, and explain what you hope to bring to the company if hired.

One key benefit to including a cover letter is the opportunity to elaborate and provide more in-depth information that may not be as easily conveyed in a resume’s typical bullet-point format.

Parts of a Human Resources Business Partner Cover Letter

The primary role of an HR business partner is to ensure that human resources operations align with the business’s goals. Essentially, these professionals are responsible for taking the company’s culture and HR budgets into account when providing guidance to senior staff managers and boards of directors.

Some examples of an HR business partner’s duties include identifying employee needs and implementing the necessary training programs, proposing solutions to improve productivity and employee retention, monitoring human resources trends, developing HR strategies, attending regular business meetings with senior staff, etc.

This type of role requires excellent communication skills, analytical thinking, and thorough knowledge of HR practices, which can all be demonstrated in the cover letter. Just like any standard cover letter, an HR business partner cover letter should include these key components:

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 in relation to the job requirements

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

7. Best regards, followed by name and title

With only a few paragraphs to work with on a single page, you need to make sure every sentence carries weight to make your pitch. The layout is also important; don’t be afraid to use free cover letter templates to ensure your formatting is professional and standard.

Human Resources Business Partner Cover Letter Opening

The first step is to start with the basics. It’s essential to include the contact information for both you and the company to which you are applying at the top of the letter so a hiring manager can quickly contact you.

If at all possible, address your cover 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.”

Addressing your letter to “Sir or Madam” or “to whom it may concern” isn’t likely to win originality points. The impersonal greeting feels generic and may send the wrong message that you’re using the same letter for multiple employers without taking the time to personalize each one.

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

Start your cover letter by clearly communicating that you are applying to the position, then following it with an impactful achievement. Numbers and statistics are eye-catching, so if you can quantify your accomplishment with percentages or dollar amounts, you’re off to a great start.

Note that the applicant in the example didn’t rely on market buzzwords and empty, generic claims; she gave exact numbers to demonstrate her years of experience, the number of new employees she recruited and onboarded, and the impressive cost savings for each hire. This technique is much more likely to garner attention and serves as a strong opening.

Human Resources Business Partner Cover Letter Body

You should now have a hiring manager’s undivided attention, but the trick is to keep them interested. To prove that you’re the ideal candidate for the position, you need to explain:

1. Why you want this job

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

3. Why you are the perfect fit for the position

It’s important to avoid the common blunder of following a great opening paragraph with a boring list of general skills and accomplishments that have nothing to do with the specific job listing.

You need to demonstrate that you have taken the time to research the position and company, and you fully understand what’s expected of you in this type of role. Then, highlight your most relevant skills and tie them directly to the company’s needs to prove that you are the best candidate for the job.

Note that the applicant demonstrates a clear understanding of the company’s needs and how her personal experience has prepared her to handle the demands. She breaks down her exact qualifications to meet every requirement in a concise, easy-to-read format.

Human Resources Business Partner Cover Letter Closing Lines

The pitch is looking robust and enticing, but you don’t want to lose your momentum by finishing with a weak “Thanks for your time.” Even though the ending may not feel as important as the primary pitch, you want to make sure you finish on a high note and leave a lasting impression.

A strong ending consists of a short recap and optimistic closing to remind the hiring manager why you should be called in for an interview as one of the leading candidates.

The applicant in the example successfully wrapped up her closing in a way that demonstrates her knowledge, enthusiasm, and genuine desire for the company’s short-term and long-term success.

Example of a Human Resources Business Partner 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 Human Resources Business Partner Cover Letter

• Use numbers to make a more significant impact. Instead of saying, “I helped my previous company grow its annual revenue,” give a specific number to quantify the accomplishment: “I facilitated an annual 27% growth increase.”

• Utilize referrals. Collect referrals from colleagues who can attest to your leadership, coaching, and team-building skills. You can mention a referral in your cover letter if you already have one lined up.

• Highlight relevant skills. Choose experiences that showcase your interpersonal and communication skills, as these are two of the most important qualities a hiring manager will be looking for in any HR-related role.

Final Thoughts

If you don’t have much HR experience yet, get creative with the examples you use in your cover letter. Maybe you have ideas about standardizing an out-of-office email template for the whole office to use, or you see potential in using information from exit interviews to improve employee retention. Perhaps you can reflect on the time you wrote an appreciation letter to your boss.

Remember, human resources is all about people, so consider ways to showcase your people skills in both the cover letter and the interview. If you don’t land an interview this time, don’t despair!

The HR community can be a powerful networking resource. Be professional, follow up to the rejection with an email, and keep your head up. You never know how people may be communicating within their network and what other opportunities may arise.

All you can do is put your best foot forward, starting with a well-organized resume and an effective cover letter.