HR managers play an increasingly crucial role in the corporate world, not just reacting to problems in the workplace but working proactively to shape and manage a company’s human assets. If this is your field, an outstanding HR manager cover letter is your foot in the door.
This HR manager cover letter example and writing guide will discuss how to craft this critical job-application document, including:
- The best format for an HR manager cover letter
- The six elements of a successful HR manager cover letter
- Common mistakes to avoid
For more inspiration, Resume.io has 180+ cover letter examples and writing guides for all careers
Best format for an HR manager cover letter
Cover letters should be one page only, and must include six essential elements:
- Header
- Greeting
- Introduction
- Body
- Conclusion
- Sign-off and signature
Design matters, so your letter should look as good as it reads. Pay attention to fonts, font sizes, margins, spacing and use of white space. For specific formatting advice, see our comprehensive guide to cover letter writing.
Below is an HR manager cover letter example you can use as a model for your own.
Dear Mr. Baker,
A start-up requires a particular blend of HR expertise. While much of the past 15 years have been spent in larger corporate environments, my last three years in a FinTech start-up made me catch the bug. New businesses live and die with their people, processes, and cultures. My specialty in people development ensured that we attracted and retained the best.
I understand that you already have a top-class recruitment team in place and are looking for someone to design the talent framework and people development processes. My learning and development experience ranges from setting up 100+ e-learning courses for over 3,500 financial services employees, running annual soft skills assessment centers, supporting a network of start-up mentors, and improving succession planning to the extent that we retained 35 percent more senior talent over a three-year period.
Performance management is also an important aspect of any start-up environment, with staff turnover typically being highest in the first year as strategies change and teams adjust. With tight definitions of performance expectations, terminations are smoother and team morale is less affected. Typically, start-ups lose 40 percent of their people within the first two years. Our number was 15 percent – with no cases of legal action.
I am raring to experience the buzz of carving out your own destiny and have a long list of professional recommendations from previous colleagues. I look forward to the possibility of hearing about your plans during an interview.
Sincerely,
Lisa Pendlesley
Cover letter header
The cover letter header is the space at the top of the page with your name, occupation, address, phone number and email. It may also include a link to a website that highlights your professional experience, like your LinkedIn profile.
The header should be attractively designed and laid out, with appropriate use of color and typography. A good header should make your letter look good at a glance, before anyone reads the first word.
Cover letter greeting
The cover letter greeting usually starts with the word “Dear,” followed by “Mr.” or “Ms.” and ending with the hiring manager’s last name. Always try to address your cover letter by name to the individual responsible for hiring for the job you’re seeking.
If you can’t determine the name of the hiring manager, you may need to use a more generic greeting like “Dear [Company Name] Hiring Manager.” See the greeting from our adaptable cover letter sample below.
Dear Mr. Baker,
Cover letter introduction
The cover letter introduction should make a strong opening statement about your qualifications as an HR manager. For a top-level job like this, it would be natural to mention your work experience prominently.
Lead with your strongest qualifications, and write in such a way that the hiring manager feels compelled to keep reading. See the cover letter sample introduction below.
A start-up requires a particular blend of HR expertise. While much of the past 15 years have been spent in larger corporate environments, my last three years in a FinTech start-up made me catch the bug. New businesses live and die with their people, processes, and cultures. My specialty in people development ensured that we attracted and retained the best.
Cover letter body
The body of your letter, the middle two or three paragraphs, should deliver the most convincing evidence of your skills and experience of your case, providing examples of success stories relevant to the potential employers needs.
Focus on the employment experience that prepared you for a role as an HR manager, mentioning where you’ve worked before and providing specific details about what you achieved at these jobs. Consider relating an anecdote about a vexing problem you once faced and how you resolved it.
It’s a good idea to mention the name of the company where you’re applying – giving you an opportunity to explain why you want to work there, while also demonstrating that this isn’t a copy-paste cover letter sent to dozens of other employers.
See the body of our HR manager cover letter sample below.
I understand that you already have a top-class recruitment team in place and are looking for someone to design the talent framework and people development processes. My learning and development experience ranges from setting up 100+ e-learning courses for over 3,500 financial services employees, running annual soft skills assessment centers, supporting a network of start-up mentors, and improving succession planning to the extent that we retained 35 percent more senior talent over a three-year period.
Performance management is also an important aspect of any start-up environment, with staff turnover typically being highest in the first year as strategies change and teams adjust. With tight definitions of performance expectations, terminations are smoother and team morale is less affected. Typically, start-ups lose 40 percent of their people within the first two years. Our number was 15 percent – with no cases of legal action.
Cover letter conclusion and sign-off
The cover letter conclusion should include a call to action that encourages the hiring manager to respond in some way. This might be as simple as saying that you look forward to a reply, or that you would welcome the opportunity to discuss your qualifications for the job further, in person or remotely.
Be sure your tone doesn’t sound arrogant or presumptuous, but you need to project both confidence and competence. The recipient of your letter should feel that you’ve earned the courtesy of a response.
Close with a sign-off like “Sincerely,” “Best regards” or the like, then add a space below that and type your name.
I am raring to experience the buzz of carving out your own destiny and have a long list of professional recommendations from previous colleagues. I look forward to the possibility of hearing about your plans during an interview.
Sincerely,
Lisa Pendlesley
Common mistakes to avoid
- Typos, misspellings and other writing mistakes in a one-page cover letter can totally sink your chances.
- Do not send mass-produced cover letters. Every cover letter should be original and tailored for a specific employer.
- An unattractive, poorly designed cover letter will make a bad impression before anyone even starts reading it.
You can save yourself a lot of time, and avoid formatting errors, by using a cover letter template where the design is already done for you.
Key takeaways
- As an HR manager, your cover letter will be scrutinized by your potential peers, so make sure to dedicate time to writing it.
- Don’t forget to quantify your achievements while telling a story about your successes.
- A professional tone for your cover letter (and one thats in line with the company’s image) will help show you’re the right fit.
Check out our related human resources cover letter samples for more inspiration:
Best of luck in your job search!
