You've found the perfect fast food job, but there's a twist: you need to submit a cover letter—and fast! Crafting one can feel daunting; it's not just a repeat of your resume, after all. Think about your proudest professional moment—your cover letter should bring that story to life, not just list achievements. Remember to keep it professional yet unique, avoiding worn-out phrases, and stick to one page. Let's get into making your application shine without the overwhelm.
- Step your best foot forward in the fast food cover letter introduction;
- Be inspired by other professionals' certified cover letters;
- Structure your fast food cover letter to feature what matters most;
- Close off your fast food cover letter to make a memorable impression on recruiters.
But where to start writing? Upload your resume into Enhancv's AI, which will prepare your fast food cover letter (all you need to do is personalize it, and you'll be good to go).
If the fast food isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
- Fast Food resume guide and example
- Prep Cook cover letter example
- Starbucks cover letter example
- Restaurant Operations Manager cover letter example
- Bartender Server cover letter example
- Head Server cover letter example
- Reservations Manager cover letter example
- Server Bartender cover letter example
- Server cover letter example
- Nightclub Bartender cover letter example
- High Volume Bartender cover letter example
Fast food cover letter example
HARPER GARCIA
Phoenix, AZ
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Quantifiable Achievements: The cover letter successfully highlights specific, quantifiable achievements (e.g., reducing food waste by 25% and increasing sales by 20%) that effectively demonstrate the candidate's impact and expertise, which is crucial for a management role where tangible results are valued.
- Relevant Experience: It mentions targeted innovation and the introduction of new menu items at a well-known company (Burger King), showcasing experience that is directly applicable to the responsibilities expected of a food service management position.
- Alignment with Company Values: The candidate aligns personal accomplishments with the prospective employer's values (e.g., environmental commitment), making a strong case for cultural fit, which is key to succeeding in a managerial role that often requires adherence to a company's mission and practices.
- Call to Action: The cover letter concludes with an invitation for further discussion, showing proactiveness and enthusiasm for the role, which can be particularly persuasive in a service-oriented management position that values initiative and customer engagement.
The format of your fast food cover letter: structure, fonts, margins, and more
Your fast food cover letter should include a header (with your name, position, and date); a greeting and introductory paragraph; a body and closing paragraphs; and an optional signature.
Remember that you're writing your fast food cover letter for recruiters - as the Applicant Tracker System won't scan this content.
Here are a few more tips and tricks to keep in mind when formatting your fast food cover letter:
- Use the same font in your fast food cover letter and resume. We recommend modern fonts, e.g. Lato and Rubik, to help you stand out, instead of the stereotypical Arial and Times New Roman.
- Each paragraph should have single spacing, which is already set up for you in our cover letter templates.
- Our cover letter builder follows industry standards for your fast food cover letter formatting - with a one-inch margin, surrounding your content.
- Always export your fast food cover letter in PDF to ensure the image or text quality stays the same and your writing isn't moved about.
The top sections on a fast food cover letter
- Header: This should include your contact information, the date, and the employer's contact information to ensure your cover letter looks professional and is easy to navigate.
- Greeting: Use a personalized greeting to address the hiring manager by name, demonstrating that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in joining their team.
- Introduction: Quickly capture the manager's interest by expressing your enthusiasm for the fast food industry and the specific company, setting the tone for why you are the best fit for the role.
- Body: Highlight relevant experience in customer service, time management, and team collaboration, which are critical skills for a fast food employee, and provide specific examples that show your capability in a high-paced work environment.
- Closing: Reiterate your enthusiasm for the position, express your eagerness to discuss how you can contribute to the team in an interview, and thank the reader for considering your application, ensuring a polite and strong finish to your cover letter.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Proven ability to work at a rapid pace: Essential in the fast food industry where quick service is a priority.
- Excellent customer service skills: Critical for ensuring customer satisfaction and encouraging repeat business.
- Experience handling cash and operating registers: Important for managing transactions efficiently and accurately.
- Ability to work as part of a team: Fast food establishments rely on cohesive team operations to maintain workflow and productivity.
- Flexibility with work hours: The fast food sector often requires employees to work varying shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Knowledge of food safety and hygiene: A must-have to comply with health regulations and to ensure the safety of customers.
How to start your fast food cover letter: with a greeting, of course
Have you ever considered just how powerful a personalized salutation can be?
We sure have news for you! Your fast food cover letter should start with the right salutation to recruiters, nurturing a sense of respect and individuality.
Greet recruiters by using their first name (e.g. "Dear Tom" or "Dear Patricia") if you've previously established contact with them.
Otherwise, opt out for the less familiar, "Dear Ms. Peaches" or "Dear Ms Kelsey", if you've found the recruiter's name on LinkedIn or a corporate website.
"To whom it may concern" is never a good option, as it creates a sense that you've been sending out your fast food cover letter to anyone. Instead, use "Dear HR team" or "Dear (company name) recruiter" for a feeling of exclusivity.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Restaurant Name] Team,
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Dear [Position Title] Hiring Committee,
- Dear Director of Human Resources,
- Dear [Position Title] Search Committee,
What to include in those first two sentences, or your fast food cover letter introduction
Have you ever wondered what the best way is to present your profile in the fast food cover letter introduction?
There's no right or wrong answer if you're being concise and authentic to yourself.
Some professionals start their fast food cover letter by:
- congratulating the company - focusing on something impressive, whether that's an award, an industry-leading project, or a key event;
- aligning their passion for the field or industry with the job - if you're enthusiastic about what you do, you'd thus grow your skill set and value as a professional.
That one achievement in your fast food cover letter body
The lengthiest part of your fast food cover letter is the body.
Within the next three to six middle paragraphs, present yourself as the best candidate for the role.
How can you do that without retelling your whole professional resume?
Select one key achievement that covers job-crucial skills and technologies (and is memorable).
Within the body of your fast food cover letter, aim to tell the story of how you achieved your success. Also, write about how this would help out your potential team.
Ending your fast food cover letter to avoid "sincerely yours"
Yes, this sort of closing statement may work best before your signature.
But you want to give recruiters something more with your fast food cover letter ending.
Some professionals choose to go down the path of promises. In a single sentence, they map out what they'd bring about to the role (whether that's a particular technical skill set or personal traits).
Others, decide to be more concrete by thanking recruiters for their time and prompting for their next interview.
Whatever path you choose, remember to always be polite and respectful of the opportunity you've had. Good manners go a long way.
Keep this in mind when writing your zero experience fast food cover letter
Even though you may not have any professional experience, your fast food cover letter should focus on your value.
As a candidate for the particular role, what sort of skills do you bring about? Perhaps you're an apt leader and communicator, or have the ability to analyze situations from different perspectives.
Select one key achievement from your life, outside work, and narrate a story that sells your abilities in the best light.
If you really can't think of any relevant success, you could also paint the picture of how you see your professional future developing in the next five years, as part of the company.
Key takeaways
Creating your fast food cover letter should be a personalized experience for the role and the recruiter, where you:
- Format your cover letter using the same ATS-friendly font (e.g. Railway) as you did for your resume;
- Greet recruiters, using their name, and follow up with two sentences to introduce yourself, your interest in the role, and to stand out;
- Map out one key success from your career (or life) that has taught you job-crucial skills;
- Substitute your lack of experience with an achievement from your internships, degrees, or volunteering gigs;
- End with a promise for your potential or your availability for an interview.
