Crafting a standout freelance software developer cover letter can be daunting, especially after realizing it's a requirement in the job application scramble. It’s not just an echo of your resume; it’s your chance to weave a compelling narrative about your crowning professional achievement. It should blend formality with originality, steering clear of overused phrases, while keeping it concise to just one page. Let's guide you through articulating your unique story, ensuring your cover letter resonates with potential clients.
- Some inspiration from other professionals' job-winning cover letters;
- The best structure and format for your freelance software developer cover letter;
- Insights on how to write about your best achievement to stand out;
- A creative twist on your freelance software developer cover letter intro.
Upload your freelance software developer resume to Enhancv's AI, which will quickly scan and prepare a job-winning cover letter for you.
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Freelance Software Developer cover letter example
John Walker
Denver, Colorado
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Highlighting relevant and quantifiable accomplishments, like the revitalization of the financial processing system and the 18% throughput boost, directly showcases the candidate's impact and expertise.
- Expressing a passion for technology and specifically aligning it with the innovative spirit of the hiring company helps to establish a common ground and shows cultural fit.
- Emphasizing leadership experience in leading agile teams and improving system performance to demonstrate readiness for a more senior role and the ability to handle complex projects is essential.
The must-have sections and format of your freelance software developer cover letter
When writing your freelance software developer 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 freelance software developer cover letter, refer to one of our templates, which automatically takes care of the spacing and margins.
Choose the same font for your freelance software developer 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 freelance software developer cover letter from our builder in PDF to keep the same formatting and image quality.
The top sections on a freelance software developer cover letter
- Header: This includes your contact information and the date, and it sets a professional tone for your cover letter by identifying who you are and how you can be reached.
- Greeting: Address the recruiter or hiring manager by name if possible, as it personalizes the letter and shows that you've taken the time to research who will be reading your application.
- Introduction: Clearly state the freelance software development position you are applying for and give a compelling reason why you are interested in the opportunity, which helps to capture the reader's attention.
- Professional Experience and Technical Skills: Highlight your relevant software development skills, specific languages you're proficient in, and particular projects that demonstrate your expertise, as this showcases your suitability for the role.
- Closing and Call to Action: End your cover letter with a polite closing, reiterate your interest, and invite the recipient to contact you for an interview, effectively prompting further communication.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Proficiency in relevant programming languages and technologies: Demonstrates the technical capability to tackle the projects being offered.
- Previous successful freelance projects: Highlights experience in managing tasks autonomously and delivering results to clients.
- Strong communication skills: Essential for understanding client requirements and maintaining clear and regular correspondence throughout projects.
- Time management and the ability to meet deadlines: Shows potential clients that you can handle their projects efficiently and deliver on time.
- Problem-solving abilities: Indicative of how you handle challenges and develop innovative solutions, which is crucial for software development tasks.
- Portfolio of completed projects with testimonials: Offers concrete evidence of your skills and the satisfaction of past clients, building trust with potential new clients.
How to greet recruiters in your freelance software developer cover letter salutation
As the saying goes, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression."
Write your freelance software developer cover letter salutation to be more personalized to the actual hiring manager, who is set to assess your profile by:
- greeting them on a first-name basis, if you have previously communicated with them (e.g. "Dear Sam,");
- using their last name, if you have more formal communication or haven't spoken to them (e.g. "Dear Mr. Harrows" or "Dear Ms. Marshall");
- writing "Dear HR Team" or "Dear Hiring Manager", if you have no clue about who's recruiting for the role.
Search on LinkedIn, Google, or the company website to find information as to the recruiter's name.
In any case, avoid the impersonal "Dear Sir or Madam".
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Company Name] Team,
- Dear [Recipient's Name],
- Dear [Department] Team,
- Dear Talent Acquisition Team,
- Dear [Job Title] Search Committee,
Get creative with your freelance software developer cover letter introduction
Recruiters are going to assess plenty of candidate profiles for the role. Thus, anything you do to stand out will win you brownie points.
Use your freelance software developer cover letter introduction to share something memorable about your experience.
But before you go down the rabbit hole of creativity and humor, align your message with the company culture.
For example, if you are applying for a role in some startup, use those first two sentences to tell a funny story (about your experience) to quickly connect with the recruiter.
What to write in the body of your freelance software developer cover letter
Now that you've got your intro covered, here comes the heart and soul of your freelance software developer cover letter.
It's time to write the middle or body paragraphs. This is the space where you talk about your relevant talent in terms of hard skills (or technologies) and soft (or people and communication) skills.
Keep in mind that the cover letter has a different purpose from your freelance software developer resume.
Yes, you still have to be able to show recruiters what makes your experience unique (and applicable) to the role.
But, instead of just listing skills, aim to tell a story of your one, greatest accomplishment.
Select your achievement that:
- covers job-crucial skills;
- can be measured with tangible metrics;
- shows you in the best light.
Use the next three to six paragraphs to detail what this success has taught you, and also to sell your profile.
Time to wrap up your freelance software developer cover letter
Writing the closing paragraph of your freelance software developer cover letter is just as important as the salutation.
You have to make it personalized to the job advert and recruiter.
Experienced professionals advise candidates to end with a request or reminder for follow-up. Write that you're grateful for the opportunity, and, at the same time, hint that you're available for the next steps of the process.
Otherwise, you could also conclude your freelance software developer cover letter by facing the future. How do you see yourself, as part of the team? In particular, how would you settle in your new role in the first six months to a year?
Lacking experience: here's how to write your freelance software developer cover letter
As a candidate with no experience, it's important to be honest from the get-go of your application.
Use your freelance software developer cover letter to sell your unique talents. Choose an accomplishment from your academic background or your volunteer work to show the skills that are relevant to the role.
Focus on your career objectives and how you see the job to align with them. Be specific and, at the same time, realistic about where you picture yourself in five years.
Key takeaways
Winning at your job application game starts with a clear and concise freelance software developer cover letter that:
- Has single-spaced paragraphs, is wrapped in a one-inch margin, and uses the same font as the freelance software developer 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.
