Recruiter cover letter

Recruiter Cover Letter (With Examples)

As if writing a cover letter wasn’t enough pressure, writing one for a recruitment manager position serves as an extra job qualification test all on its own.

Your letter is more than just an introduction. You have to prove that you understand the hiring process, know what components a great cover letter should have, and know the standards and good practices of the proper layout. Your cover letter should be a paradigm.

That’s a tall order, but don’t panic — we’re here to help.

What Is a Cover Letter and Why Is It Important?

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

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

A cover letter may also be paired with a letter of intent, which is a more generalized interest toward any open position at a desirable company, not necessarily targeted toward a specific job opening.

Parts of a Recruitment Manager Cover Letter

Even though your cover letter needs to carry more weight, that doesn’t mean you need to reinvent the wheel. Regardless of whether your cover letter is geared toward an entry-level position, managerial position, or job promotion, 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 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

Every sentence needs to count. You have only one page to grab a hiring manager’s attention, so you can’t afford to waste any space. Layout is important, but if graphic design isn’t your thing, use free cover letter templates to ensure your formatting is professional and standard.

Recruitment Manager Cover Letter Opening

Your cover letter is going to be carefully scrutinized to see if you know what you’re doing, so don’t forget the basics. It’s important to include the contact information for both you and the company you are applying at the top of the letter. A hiring manager should not have to hunt for this information; make it as easy as possible to locate.

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.”

Keep in mind that addressing your letter to “Sir or Madam” isn’t likely to make a great first impression. 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 instead of a name, consider mentioning the company and/or department to make it a little more personalized.

A strong opening is imperative. If you don’t catch a hiring manager’s attention in the first couple of sentences, they aren’t likely to continue reading.

Start your cover letter by announcing your application to the position and following it with an impactful achievement. Numbers and statistics are particularly eye-catching, so if possible, quantify your accomplishment with percentages or dollar amounts.

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 size of the team she managed, and the number of new employees she recruited. This technique is much more likely to grab the reader’s attention.

Recruitment Manager Cover Letter Body

If your opening hook did its job, you now have a hiring manager’s undivided attention, but now you need to keep it. 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 not uncommon for less qualified applicants to waste their main pitch listing out their general skills and accomplishments that have nothing to do with the specifics of the job listing. Clearly, those candidates didn’t do any research on the position.

But you know better — rehashing the bullet points on your resume without providing any additional insight is not going to impress a recruitment manager.

You need to demonstrate that you fully understand what’s expected of you in this job position, then directly tie your skills to the company’s needs to prove that you are the best candidate for the job.

Note that the applicant clearly understands what would be expected of her in this role based on the job description. She breaks down her exact qualifications to meet every requirement in a concise, easy-to-read format.

Recruitment Manager Cover Letter Closing Lines

By this point, your content is looking good, but now isn’t the time to drop the ball and leave your great pitch hanging. You need to carry that momentum through the finish line with an equally strong closing to ensure that you leave a lasting impression.

Finish your letter with a concise recap and optimistic closing to remind the hiring manager why you are the perfect candidate for this job.

Note that instead of simply saying “Thanks for your time,” the applicant wrapped up her closing in a way that demonstrates her knowledge, enthusiasm, and genuine desire for the company’s success.

Example of a Recruitment Manager 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 Recruitment Manager Cover Letter

• Use confident language. This is a managerial position, not an entry-level job, so a high level of leadership and confidence is expected in a candidate. Instead of using weak words and phrases like “would” or “may” to undermine your skills, choose absolute phrases like “did” or “will.”

• Use numbers to cite quantifiable achievements. Instead of saying, “I helped my previous company’s employee retention rate,” give a specific number to make the accomplishment more impactful: “I facilitated a 12% increase in employee retention.”

• Get references. Utilize referrals from colleagues who can attest to your leadership, coaching, and team-building skills. Employers seeking to fill a management role usually search for a candidate who can upskill and mentor a team. You can mention a referral in your cover letter if you already have one.

Final Thoughts

There’s certainly an extra layer of pressure for a recruitment manager going through the job application, interview, and hiring process. Your methods will be scrutinized every step of the way and presumed to be the standard by which you will operate in the position, so there isn’t any room for error.

The cover letter is just the first hurdle — you also need to be prepared to follow up with the recruiter, respond properly to a recruiter’s email if interested, and send a “thank you for your consideration” email or note. And that’s just the first leg of the race before the interview.

If you have the experience and knowledge and take advantage of our tools, tips, and templates, there’s no reason to panic. Just remember to make your pitch utilizing the best practices you’ve observed in your own role when recruiting new applicants.