Information technology specialist cover letter

Information Technology Specialist Cover Letter (With Examples)

Cover letters are often considered optional when it comes to job applications these days. But with the steep competition in the job market after the COVID turmoil, you can’t afford to pass up the additional opportunity presented by submitting a cover letter with your resume and application.

Does a cover letter make that big of a difference? It can. Submitting a cover letter proves that you’re serious about the job, willing to put in a little extra work, and ready to introduce yourself.

Best case scenario, it might impress a hiring manager enough to call you for an interview. Worst case, you spent an hour on a letter that was never read. Either way, submitting a letter can say a lot about your work ethic, even if it’s optional.

Parts of an Information Technology Specialist Cover Letter

Information technology specialists, also called IT specialists, are technical professionals responsible for implementing, monitoring, and maintaining IT systems. Typical tasks for an IT specialist may include network analysis, audits, database administration, system administration, system security, web administration, et cetera.

Ranking within the top ten list of high-paying civil service jobs, you can expect steep competition for the job opening, so you need to make sure your cover letter stands out.

No matter what type of cover letter you’re drafting, whether it’s an entry-level position, career change, or promotion, there are key components to a standard cover letter:

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

Your cover letter should fit on a one-sided page, which means space is limited, and you need to make sure every sentence counts. If you’re concerned about formatting your letter with a professional-looking layout, browse free cover letter templates for inspiration and exact guidelines.

Information Technology Specialist Cover Letter Opening

Start by listing the contact information for both you and the company you are applying to at the top of the letter. A hiring manager should be able to quickly and effortlessly locate this information so they can reach out for the interview.

If possible, you should 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.”

Tip: don’t start your letter with “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern.” Not only is it unoriginal, but the generic greeting may cause a hiring manager to suspect that you might be sending a mass cover letter to multiple companies without taking the time to personalize each one. It’s not a great first impression, and it’s also an immediate red flag.

Although a neutral “Dear Hiring Manager” or similar phrase is acceptable instead of a name, mentioning the company and/or department makes it a little more personalized.

Your cover letter needs to start strong right away, which means the first few sentences of your opening need to grab a hiring manager’s attention immediately.

Follow your announcement of the application with an impactful achievement, preferably one that you can back up with specific numbers. This is an eye-catching technique that elevates your letter from a generic template right off the bat, so if you can utilize statistics, percentages, or dollar amounts, your letter is much more likely to get noticed.

Note that the applicant in the example masterfully stated specific growth measurements. Doing this instead of relying on industry buzzwords and empty, generic claims about slashing costs and improving revenue is a proven technique that reliably catches attention in a good way.

Information Technology Specialist Cover Letter Body

The hook has been cast, and it’s now time for the main pitch to make the hiring manager sit back in the chair and say, “Wow.” Now that you have someone’s attention, your task is to prove why you’re the best candidate for the position. The cover letter body should 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

A common failure in many cover letters happens when applicants lose focus and start listing off all of their skills -- even if those skills aren’t specific to the job requirements. Don’t fall into that easy trap.

Instead, prove that you did your research and have a solid grasp of what would be expected of you in this job position. Then, tie your applicable skill set directly to the company’s needs.

Note how the applicant demonstrates that she knows and understands the company’s needs, then breaks down her exact qualifications to meet every requirement in a concise, easy-to-read format. This is a powerful method to personalize a cover letter, and it should make a recruitment manager eager to add this candidate to the team.

Information Technology Specialist Cover Letter Closing Lines

In order to efficiently wrap up your pitch and ensure you leave a lasting impression, you need to tie everything together with a quick recap and optimistic closing to remind the hiring manager why you are the perfect candidate for the job and deserve that interview.

Note that the applicant went a step further than simply wrapping up her closing in a way that demonstrates her knowledge and enthusiasm. She also expressed a genuine desire for the company’s success and the goal of being with this company long-term. The applicant effectively summarized her earlier pitch without repeating her talking points verbatim.

Example of an IT Specialist 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 an Information Technology Specialist Cover Letter

• Highlight your domain knowledge. This type of job typically requires specific software skills, so make sure those skills are showcased in your resume and mentioned in your cover letter if possible. List any relevant work experience to build your credibility.

• Use the power of quantifiable achievements to make a bigger impact. For example, instead of saying, “I helped my previous company grow its annual revenue,” provide a specific number: “I facilitated an annual 39% growth increase.”

• Choose your words carefully. Technical jargon can demonstrate that you know what you’re talking about, but keep in mind that a recruitment manager may not work in the same department and know the lingo if you’re trying to flex your vocabulary. Try to be knowledgeable but not indecipherable.

  Also, avoid timid words and phrases like “might have” or “possibly” that undermine your skills and instead choose absolute phrases like “I do have” or “I am confident that.” The words you choose can make a huge difference in how you are perceived from a letter.

• Choose qualified references. A recommendation letter can be a powerful and effective addition to your cover letter, especially if it comes from a current supervisor at the company.

Final Thoughts

Even if you have a great resume filled with all the right IT skills, it might not be enough to win over a recruiter. The goal is to stand out, and a cover letter helps you to introduce yourself better. Think of it as a virtual handshake as you hand your resume to the manager.

Try to be creative and personalize your letter to reflect your own voice. Even if your letter is never read, you now have great talking points prepared for an interview and should be more than ready to answer the expected request to “tell me about yourself.”

If your cover letter can match your skills to the company’s needs, then it’s a winner.