How to Write a Manager Cover Letter (with Samples)

Many people start their careers with the goal of one day applying for a management position. Managers are more highly skilled and better compensated than their colleagues, but they also have much more responsibility. While those in non-management roles take direction and work as a team to meet their goals, a manager is responsible for setting those goals and overseeing the work being done. 

It’s important to take the time to write a strong cover letter for a manager position. While your resume will list your skills and experience, your manager cover letter is an opportunity to explain why you want the role and why you would be a good fit.

📃 Cover letter for a senior manager

The following sample cover letter for a manager position works well for senior managers and highlights the applicant’s motivation in applying.

📃 General manager cover letter

 Use this general manager cover letter sample to help you craft your own application letter.

📃 Cover letter for assistant manager

This manager cover letter sample works for assistant manager positions because it emphasizes the applicant’s teamwork and communication skills. 

1. Address the hiring manager.

When you write a cover letter for a manager position, it’s important to address your letter to the appropriate person. If you don’t know who the hiring manager is, try to find them online or make inquiries. Addressing your cover letter for a supervisor position to the right person will help your manager cover letter stand out. 

Your management job cover letter should also have a consistent letterhead. Align your contact information, as well as the manager’s details, in the same position. If possible, chose a letterhead style that matches your resume.

2. Engage the reader with a self-introduction and opening.

The first paragraph of your management job cover letter should be engaging and get the hiring manager’s attention. Use the introduction of your team leader cover letter to tell the reader who you are and keep them interested. The information you include can be about your life, your career goals or background. 

Use this example introductions of a customer success manager cover letter to give you some ideas!

3. Outline your skills and qualifications.

After the introduction of your management job cover letter, use the body to profile your skills and qualifications that make you right for the job. Try not to simply list your skills and experience, but instead emphasize a few key qualities with examples. When you write a manager cover letter, follow the rule of “show, don’t tell” and demonstrate how you’ve used your skills in previous positions. 

Follow this example from a sales manager cover letter to inspire your own writing. 

4. End your cover letter with an invitation.

The last paragraph of your cover letter for a supervisor position should include a call to action. Let the hiring manager know how they can contact you and invite them to schedule an interview. Try not to sound demanding in your management job cover letter, but instead work on being confident and polite. 

Check out this business development manager cover letter to help you write your final paragraph. 

5. Sign off in a professional manner. 

When you end your manager cover letter, you should use professional sign-offs and avoid sounding too casual or familiar. Some reliable sign-offs for management job cover letters include:

• Sincerely,
• Kind Regards,
• All the Best.

Maybe you’ve already looked at some management cover letter examples and you’re itching to get started writing. Luckily, there are a few easy things you can do to elevate your team leader cover letter and get the interview you want. Before you write, try these tips to build your cover letter for a manager position. 

✅ Highlight management skills.

If you’re applying for a management position, obviously you want your manager cover letter to show that you have the skills they need. Look for ways to work some of the following skills into your management job cover letter. 

• Interpersonal 

A key thing you can demonstrate in a manager cover letter is interpersonal skills. Qualities like tact, emotional intelligence, and patience are great to highlight. To add interpersonal skills to your team leader cover letter, give examples of times you worked successfully in a team, or resolved a conflict. 

• Leadership

If you’re writing a cover letter for a manager position, it’s important to talk about leadership. This is a core skill for managers since the hiring committee will want to see that you’re comfortable leading. An easy way to illustrate this quality in a manager cover letter is by describing a time you lead a team to complete its goals. 

• Organization

Organization is often overlooked but it’s an important skill to include in a manager cover letter. Managers have a lot of responsibility and being disorganized will make everyone’s job harder. A few ways to display organization skills in a management job cover letter are organizing files, setting deadlines, and making schedules. 

• Time management

Time management is an important skill for any supervisor, so consider including this in your cover letter for a supervisor position. A few ways to incorporate time management on a manager cover letter are meeting deadlines, being punctual, and planning routines. 

• Communication 

Communication is a necessary skill to work into a manager cover letter since your primary role as a manager is to communicate with your colleagues. A good manager needs to be tactful, honest, well-spoken, and a strong writer. One way to include communication skills in your management job cover letter is to write about a time you resolved a conflict or communicated successfully with clients. 

• Empathy

The best managers are empathetic and try to understand their colleagues’ needs. Look for ways to demonstrate empathy when you write your manager cover letter. For example, if you have prior history working in or leading a team, you can describe how you built a rapport with them. 

• Critical thinking

Managers need to solve problems independently, so try to demonstrate critical thinking skills in your manager cover letter. You can describe a challenge you overcame in your last position or a project you completed without supervision. 

• Motivation

Because managers must motivate their team to work hard and meet the company’s goals, the manager must be self-motivated as well. Don’t be afraid to show your enthusiasm for the job and describe your motivations when you write your manager cover letter. 

• Teamwork

When you apply for a management role, you need to be prepared to work as part of a team. Hiring managers will want to know that you are capable of being of working well as part of a team, so consider this as your write your team leader cover letter. You can include examples of any prior teamwork you’ve done in your manager cover letter. 

• Delegation

A good leader knows how to delegate, and it’s helpful to include this skill in your manager cover letter. Try including this keyword in your management job cover letter when you describe your previous experience. 

✅ Customize your cover letter.

It’s best practice to customize an application letter, and a manager cover letter is no different. Customizing your cover letter for a supervisor position will help you stand out, and it will show the hiring manager that you gave your application some extra thought. Try to pull keywords directly from the job post when you write your management job cover letter.

✅ Proofread your cover letter.

A simple tip for a manager cover letter is to proofread your letter after you finish. You can do this yourself or ask a friend or colleague to proofread your management job cover letter for you. This final step can uncover errors and improve the quality of your manager cover letter, making your chances of landing an interview even higher.

Use this management job cover letter template by filling in your own information.

--- Originally written by Tiffany Quinn ---