Crafting an ATS-friendly cover letter can be a daunting step in your job hunt. You've fine-tuned your resume, only to realize the cover letter requires a different touch; it's your chance to weave a narrative around your proudest professional moment, without echoing your resume. Striking a balance between formality and originality—while staying under one page—is key. Let's tackle these challenges and pen a cover letter that stands out, not for length, but for its compelling story.
- Personalize your ats cover letter and get inspired by other professionals to tell a compelling story;
- Format and design your ats cover letter to make an excellent first impression;
- Introduce your best achievement in your ats cover letter to recruiters;
- How to make sure recruiters get in touch with you, using your ats cover letter greeting and closing paragraphs.
What is more, did you know that Enhancv's AI can write your cover letter for you? Just upload your ats resume and get ready to forward your job application in a flash.
If the ats isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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ATS cover letter example
William Davis
New York, NY, USA
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Quantifying Achievements: Mentioning specific achievements and metrics, such as leading a team of 15 and managing a $2M project portfolio, provides concrete evidence of the candidate's capabilities and past success.
- Relevant Experience: Highlighting experience that directly aligns with the job description (e.g., innovative management strategies at IBM) demonstrates that the candidate understands the demands of the role and has a proven track record in similar contexts.
- Cost-Efficiency and Efficiency Improvements: Detailing specific improvements, such as a 15% cost reduction and a 20% increase in project delivery efficiency, shows the candidate's ability to drive value and optimize performance, which are highly desirable qualities in a project management role.
- Call to Action: Ending the cover letter with an invitation to discuss the candidate's fit for the role proactively signals their eagerness to engage further and can prompt the hiring manager to take the next step in the hiring process.
The must-have sections and format of your ats cover letter
When writing your ats cover letter, keep in mind that it'll only be read by the recruiters and not the Applicant Tracker System (or software used to assess your profile). That's why you should structure your content with a/an:
- Header (apart from your contact information, include your name, the role you're applying for, and the date);
- Personalized salutation;
- Opening paragraph to win the recruiters over;
- Middle paragraph with key details;
- Closing that starts from clichés;
- Sign off (that's not mandatory).
Industry standards dictate your paragraphs to be single-spaced and to wrap your content in a one-inch margin. Designing your ats cover letter, refer to one of our templates, which automatically takes care of the spacing and margins.
Choose the same font for your ats cover letter as you did for your resume: the likes of Lato and Bitter would help you to stand out in a sea of cover letters in Arial or Times New Roman.
Export your whole ats cover letter from our builder in PDF to keep the same formatting and image quality.
The top sections on a ats cover letter
- Header: This includes your contact information, the date, and the employer's details, ensuring the ATS can correctly file your application and the recruiter knows whom to contact for follow-up.
- Salutation: Use a targeted greeting such as "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear [Company Name] Team," which demonstrates that you've personalized your cover letter and are addressing the appropriate individuals.
- Opening Paragraph: Clearly state the specific ATS role you're applying for and showcase your enthusiasm; this grabs the recruiter's attention and sets the tone for your application.
- Professional Achievements: Detail relevant accomplishments and experience with ATS systems or related technology, as recruiters are keen to see quantifiable past success and industry-specific skills.
- Closing Paragraph: Reaffirm your interest in the position, suggest a call to action such as a meeting or interview, and provide your availability, making it easy for the recruiter to take the next step.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
Since you've mentioned "ATS" (Applicant Tracking System) but not a specific job title, I'll provide a list of qualities, experiences, and traits that are generally important and often prioritized by recruiters for a wide range of roles. Recruiters using an ATS might prioritize:
- Relevant Skills: Keywords matching the specific skills required for the job, as ATS is programmed to look for these.
- Work Experience: Specific job titles and companies that align with the industry and role.
- Education and Certifications: Degrees, diplomas, or certificates that are specifically mentioned in the job description.
- Achievements: Measurable accomplishments that match the desired outcomes of the role advertised.
- Industry Keywords: Terms and phrases common in the industry that indicate familiarity and expertise.
- Job-specific Software Proficiency: Expertise in software or tools explicitly listed in the job description.
Greeting recruiters with your ats cover letter salutation
What better way to start your conversation with the hiring manager, than by greeting them?
Take the time to find out who the professional, recruiting for the role, is.
Search on LinkedIn, the company website. And for those still keen on making a fantastic first impression, you could even contact the organization, asking for the recruiter's name and more details about the job.
Address recruiters in the ats greeting by either their first name or last name. (e.g. "Dear Anthony" or "Dear Ms. Smarts").
If you're unable to discover the recruiter's name - don't go for the impersonal "To whom it may concern", but instead use "Dear HR team".
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Company Name] Team,
- Dear [Department] Department,
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Dear Dr. [Last Name],
- Dear Search Committee,
Using your ats cover letter intro to show your dedication
We know just how difficult it is to start writing your ats cover letter introduction.
There are so many great qualities you have as a professional, which one should you choose?
How about writing up to two sentences about your passion and commitment to the work you do or are set to do?
Try to describe exactly what you enjoy about the potential role.
A positive attitude from the get-go will help you stand out as a motivated ats professional.
Structuring your ats cover letter body to add more value
You've hinted at your value as a professional (this may be your passion for the job or interest in the company) in your introduction.
Next, it's time to pan out the body or middle of your ats cover letter.
When creating your resume, you've probably gone over the advert a million times to select the most relevant skills.
Well, it's time to repeat this activity. Or just copy and paste your previous list of job-crucial requirements.
Then, select one of your past accomplishments, which is relevant and would impress hiring managers.
Write between three and six paragraphs to focus on the value your professional achievement would bring to your potential, new organization.
Tell a story around your success that ultimately shows off your real value as a professional.
Closing paragraph basics: choose between a promise and a call to action
You've done all the hard work - congratulations! You've almost reached the end of your ats cover letter.
But how do you ensure recruiters, who have read your application this far, remember you?
Most ats professionals end their cover letter with a promise - hinting at their potential and what they plan on achieving if they're hired.
Another option would be to include a call for follow-up, where you remind recruiters that you're very interested in the opportunity (and look forward to hearing from them, soon).
Choose to close your ats cover letter in the way that best fits your personality.
No experience ats cover letter: making the most out of your profile
Candidates who happen to have no professional experience use their ats cover letter to stand out.
Instead of focusing on a professional achievement, aim to quantify all the relevant, transferrable skills from your life experience.
Once again, the best practice to do so would be to select an accomplishment - from your whole career history.
Another option would be to plan out your career goals and objectives: how do you see yourself growing, as a professional, in the next five years, thanks to this opportunity?
Be precise and concise about your dreams, and align them with the company vision.
Key takeaways
Winning at your job application game starts with a clear and concise ats cover letter that:
- Has single-spaced paragraphs, is wrapped in a one-inch margin, and uses the same font as the ats resume;
- Is personalized to the recruiter (using their name in the greeting) and the role (focusing on your one key achievement that answers job requirements);
- Includes an introduction that helps you stand out and show what value you'd bring to the company;
- Substitutes your lack of experience with an outside-of-work success, that has taught you valuable skills;
- Ends with a call for follow-up or hints at how you'd improve the organization, team, or role.
