The project manager role can be hard to define: the umbrella term can cover technical project managers, construction project managers and even IT project managers. All these jobs require different industry knowledge and specialized skills.
What is certain, however, is that management roles in many sectors are growing rapidly. These jobs offer attractive salaries and the ability to shape a project from the inside out.
So how do you show employers that you’re the ideal candidate for their precious management job?
With this project manager cover letter example plus Resume.io’s collection of 320+ cover letter samples, free templates and tips, you’ve got all the necessary tools to write a great cover letter and land the perfect project manager position.
This guide, along with an effective cover letter example will:
Like any well-organized project, you should look at your job application as a series of steps that build to a new job. It all starts with the perfect resume. We’ve got you covered with our resume example for project managers, resume templates and tons of resume sample sentences. Put it all together in our resume builder and you’ll be ready to move on to the secrets of great cover letter writing.
What if the job application doesn't require a cover letter?
Sometimes job descriptions are hard to interpret. Either they’re written in HR speak or they don’t give clear instructions about what the hiring manager is actually looking for. This is often the case when it comes to cover letters. If the job posting doesn’t mention it, then what should you do?
While some job seekers might see this as an excuse to cut corners, a smart candidate knows the cover letter is a golden opportunity to stand out and convince an employer you’ve got what it takes. Unless a job application specifically asks you NOT to write a cover letter, writing a great one can only improve your chances of landing the position.
A solid project has clear organization – the same goes for your project management cover letter. Your application letter should be concise, while still containing all the necessary elements to make a great first impression and convey your most convincing experiences.
Here are the key components:
This cover letter structure remains relatively consistent between job titles and industries, so you’ll be able to follow this format no matter where your career takes you. For even more writing tips on each of these sections, check out our overall guide on cover letters.
Use this project manager cover letter sample to guide your own writing process.
Dear Mrs. Howorth,
My project management approach has two goals – the potential of every project should be realized and the headspace of all participants should be freed up to do their daily work.
When I joined Longhelm Logistics five years ago, there was a team of ninety and a business growing at 35% a year with no project management capacity. Having worked as a retail project manager previously, I put in place processes and procedures to guide my colleagues through change in an efficient, financially disciplined and organized manner.
I have managed the supply chain strategy for five Far East sourcing projects, opened a 10,000-sqaure-foot cross-dock warehouse, oversaw a change of logistics providers and carried out a full technology evaluation of our systems and processes. This final project led to a $2.5m overhaul of our entire IT provision.
My projects at Longhelm have brought $4.5m of cost savings, reduced transit time from factory gate to hub by 10%, streamlined customs procedures and consolidated a list of transport partners from 125 to 72 (with deviations improved by 28%). I have always tried to see the projects from multiple perspectives, and I won the “partner of the year” award from Hellkann Freight for our sea freight project.
My bachelor’s degree in Business Administration set me on the project management path and I have since studied remotely to receive my Certificate in Project Management, Lean qualifications and Prince2, alongside attending over 40 external courses. I am a student of continuous improvement and believe that I need to equip myself with the latest thinking if I am to get the most out of the projects teams that I manage.
I understand that this is the first time that you have appointed a Project Manager and I would love to share my experiences of how I started the function from scratch at Longhelm.
Sincerely,
Robert Smith
If you need more guidance or are considering broadening your search, investigate our related business and management cover letter examples:
Your cover letter header is likely the very first page element a hiring manager notices. This space at the top of your document should contain the necessary identifying information like your name and contact details.
If social media like LinkedIn is relevant for the specific project manager role, include it here as well. Use our cover letter examples to guide you.
The second goal of your header is to create attractive formatting for your cover letter. You can do this by choosing a color palette and design scheme that capture the right tone and look for your potential employer’s branding.
Remember that tip about tailoring your cover letter? You’ll want to tailor your formatting, too. Cover letter templates can make this much easier.
Align document styles!
If you want to make an even more professional impression, there’s one thing you can do to take your application to the next level. Align document styles by matching your cover letter and resume format. This will help to create a “personal brand” – a visual look and feel that makes you stand out from other candidates.
If you’re comfortable with graphic design, you may want to tackle this project yourself. Otherwise, you can make things much easier by using professionally designed templates and a cover letter builder, like these from Resume.io.
Your cover letter greeting helps you establish a personal connection with the employer and create a friendly and respectful tone for the rest of your cover letter. Whenever possible, you should aim to address the cover letter recipient by name.
For formal positions where you have no previous relationship with the hiring manager, “Dear” followed by a last name usually works well. If you already have a connection with the hiring manager or are sending the letter in the body of an email, “hi” or “hello” may be appropriate.
Dear Mrs. Howorth,
Your cover letter introduction is the place where you’ll grab the hiring manager’s attention and show them that your cover letter is worth their time to read.
The best way to do this is by leading with a relevant example, statistic or fact that shows you get the company and its needs. Since a hiring manager might be evaluating candidates for multiple roles within the same project, it’s a good idea to mention which of the positions you are applying to. Just make sure to keep your introduction interesting and concise.
The introduction to our cover letter example gets right to the point with a project management philosophy statement:
Dear Mr. Smith,
My project management approach has two goals – the potential of every project should be realized and the headspace of all participants should be freed up to do their daily work.
Hi Tom, I hope that this letter finds you well. I wanted to experience my interest in working as a project manager for your team. I am sure that I have the right expertise and experience for the role. When you read my application, you will be blown away by all that I have to offer.
Your cover letter body is where you’ll finally get to dive into all the unique traits and visions that make you the ideal candidate, as well as the essential skills that set you apart. Here's how you can write a winning cover letter body:
First body paragraph: Your suitability for the role (skills & experience)
In the first paragraph, you want to showcase what it is that makes you suitable for the role, i.e. your skills and experience. As we have already mentioned, you need to include results-oriented points — using the STAR method — to drive home your value.
Second body paragraph(s): Alignment with the organization
When you have outlined your skills and experience, the subsequent paragraph (or paragraphs!) need to cover how well you align with the organization at hand. How does the experience that you have work with the criteria of this new role?
Take a look at the original job advert and see what the hiring manager wants from applicants. You can include this detail in your cover letter to draw comparisons between yourself and their ideal candidate. Try to be as persuasive as possible here.
When I joined Longhelm Logistics five years ago, there was a team of ninety and a business growing at 35% a year with no project management capacity. Having worked as a retail project manager previously, I put in place processes and procedures to guide my colleagues through change in an efficient, financially disciplined and organized manner.
I have managed the supply chain strategy for five Far East sourcing projects, opened a 10,000-sqaure-foot cross-dock warehouse, oversaw a change of logistics providers and carried out a full technology evaluation of our systems and processes. This final project led to a $2.5m overhaul of our entire IT provision.
My projects at Longhelm have brought $4.5m of cost savings, reduced transit time from factory gate to hub by 10%, streamlined customs procedures and consolidated a list of transport partners from 125 to 72 (with deviations improved by 28%). I have always tried to see the projects from multiple perspectives, and I won the “partner of the year” award from Hellkann Freight for our sea freight project.
My bachelor’s degree in Business Administration set me on the project management path and I have since studied remotely to receive my Certificate in Project Management, Lean qualifications and Prince2, alongside attending over 40 external courses. I am a student of continuous improvement and believe that I need to equip myself with the latest thinking if I am to get the most out of the projects teams that I manage.
Next, it's time to summarize your cover letter. The conclusion is all about creating an ending strong enough that a hiring manager is left wanting to get in touch for more information.
You can do this effectively with a Call to Action. This sentence expresses your interest in the position and invites a hiring manager to contact you. You may also want to include your email or phone number again here.
Our cover letter example ends with "Sincerely," but there are other appropriate signatures like “Thank you,” or “Best regards.”
I understand that this is the first time that you have appointed a Project Manager and I would love to share my experiences of how I started the function from scratch at Longhelm.
Sincerely,
Robert Smith
While construction project management has some overlap with other management positions, there are unique aspects of the field that will have to be addressed in any good cover letter.
Construction management requires knowledge of all the stakeholders, team members and processes for creating a structure from start to finish. If you’ve never worked as a construction project manager before, you’ll want to have at least some experience in a related field like plumbing, electric or glass. For more specifics, see our electrician cover letter sample.
Although you may be up against other managers with years of experience specifically in construction you can still give yourself a fighting chance by adapting each of your previous experiences specifically for the construction role. You can also explain to a hiring manager why you decided to switch career directions and how your previous experience in another domain can actually give you a unique advantage in this role.
To land your project management dream job, there are a few key qualities you’ll want to convey.
Now let’s take a look at some of the most common mistakes made by candidates for project management roles.