If you choose to apply for a job at Ikea, your cover letter may be the key to furnishing you with a great opportunity. The first steps are to understand the recruitment process to be able to target the application appropriately and to create a cover letter that lights the way for the interview.
This cover letter guide, along with our Ikea cover letter example, will show you how to:
- Choose the best cover letter format and what paragraphs the cover letter should include
- Make the greatest impact with each cover letter paragraph (header, greeting, intro, body and conclusion)
- Use the right approach in your cover letter
- Avoid common mistakes when writing your Ikea cover letter.
This guide and our Ikea cover letter example contains everything you need to know when applying to the Swedish furniture giant but if you’re also considering other positions and companies, you can find even more insight in our library of 125+ occupation-specific cover letter examples.
Best format for an Ikea cover letter
The first step toward a great cover letter is structure and formatting. An Ikea cover letter should contain the following elements:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
The overall goal of an Ikea cover letter is to demonstrate your understanding of the company’s philosophy and culture as well as your knowledge of home furnishings and your enthusiasm for Ikea itself.
The comprehensive cover letter guide offers more general advice about cover letters, but below you will find specific advice on how to maximize each paragraph and section.
This Ikea cover letter sample is a good foundation to develop your own professional application:
Dear Mr. Karlsson,
Having worked for four years as a department manager at a DIY store and four years at a furniture store, my appreciation for the mix of inspirational display merchandising and big box retailing will serve me well for a position at IKEA.
I know that no other retailer operates as you do and although there is a strongly regimented self-serve model, I have always enjoyed the utter customer-centricity whenever I have had a question for a member of staff.
My customer satisfaction scores (and those of my team) were always in the top 10% of my DIY employer and I took a pride in offering every furniture customer the advice that I hoped I might get myself. Investing in time with customers is more valuable than any operational task as they will then keep coming back.
My knowledge of retail systems is based around the SAP Retail model, and I am experienced with managing replenishment and merchandising of the products that you stock on the shop floor. I have worked through more than a dozen large scale shopfitting changes and am equipped to manage the constant rotation of displays that your new seasons entail.
I am accustomed to managing retail customer assistant teams of 5 to 35, with the continuous training and personal development demands that come with a younger workforce in a demanding and environment. 35% of my team were promoted within two years and in my last role there was an 90% annual staff retention rate. My team have described me in their references as: efficient, detail-oriented, understanding, and fair.
As a regular visitor to your IKEA store, I would love to come along as a prospective employee rather than looking for the latest addition to my household.
Sincerely,
Natalie Bartlet
If you’re looking for additional inspiration for cover letter writing, you can check out our related retail cover letter examples:
Cover letter header
The cover letter header offers an opportunity to add a graphic element to your document while making it clear how to contact you for an interview. It contains your name, email and phone number.
Use consistent style between your Ikea cover letter and resume. Your application looks more professional, but it also makes it easy to match your documents together if they get separated during the vetting process. A free cover letter template can make it easy to add a dash of color while making sure the formatting looks professional.
The goal of the cover letter header: Make sure that hiring managers can easily reach you when they are inspired by your excellent cover letter.
Cover letter greeting
Make a good first impression by greeting your future employer professionally, but personably. That mostly means using the standard “Dear Mr./Ms. and surname…” Try to find the name of the person to whom the Ikea cover letter is directed and make sure you know the correct title and spelling.
Although you may think of Ikea as a casual environment, it’s better to avoid starting off with a “Hi.” On the opposite end of the spectrum, “To Whom It May Concern” is a bit old-fashioned but will do in a pinch. Our Ikea cover letter sample sticks with “Dear,” usually your best bet.
The goal of the cover letter greeting: Start off on a professional note and personalize the letter if possible.
Dear Mr. Karlsson,
Cover letter introduction
When customers enter an Ikea location, they want to feel welcome and drawn into the experience. The first paragraph of your Ikea cover letter needs to achieve the same thing. You want the hiring manager to know right away that you would be a great addition to the team and to entice them to read on.
Creating the staging for a consistent message that shows off your passion for Ikea’s culture and philosophy no matter what department you are applying to work in. Show that you have added value at your previous positions and how that will translate to Ikea.
The goal of the cover letter intro: Establish your message and get the hiring manager to want to read on.
Having worked for four years as a department manager at a DIY store and four years at a furniture store, my appreciation for the mix of inspirational display merchandising and big box retailing will serve me well for a position at IKEA.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The body of your Ikea cover letter is like the floor of the store: It shows off the best of what is on offer. Choose an anecdote that highlights professional achievements that are in sync with the job you seek. Your message here is “I am already doing this job and I can jump in and not only do the job, but elevate it.”
Ikea says: “Coming from all over the world, our IKEA co-workers share a special set of values and a vision to enable people to live a better, more sustainable everyday life. They come together within diverse, inclusive, open IKEA work environments, where each of them offers something unique.”
Address a paragraph of your cover letter to this statement. Then, use bullet points to focus the hiring manager on quantifiable accomplishments (and as a way to break up the text).
The goal of the cover letter body: Address Ikea’s company culture and detail how you will not only fit in, but contribute.
I know that no other retailer operates as you do and although there is a strongly regimented self-serve model, I have always enjoyed the utter customer-centricity whenever I have had a question for a member of staff.
My customer satisfaction scores (and those of my team) were always in the top 10% of my DIY employer and I took a pride in offering every furniture customer the advice that I hoped I might get myself. Investing in time with customers is more valuable than any operational task as they will then keep coming back.
My knowledge of retail systems is based around the SAP Retail model, and I am experienced with managing replenishment and merchandising of the products that you stock on the shop floor. I have worked through more than a dozen large scale shopfitting changes and am equipped to manage the constant rotation of displays that your new seasons entail.
I am accustomed to managing retail customer assistant teams of 5 to 35, with the continuous training and personal development demands that come with a younger workforce in a demanding and environment. 35% of my team were promoted within two years and in my last role there was an 90% annual staff retention rate. My team have described me in their references as: efficient, detail-oriented, understanding, and fair.
How to close an Ikea cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
Your conclusion is a summing up, but it is one that leaves the hiring manager with the impression that you know you will make a great Ikea employee without veering into boosting. Restate your message and add a personal touch, such as a story about your first Ikea purchase.
Then, politely suggest a call to action as the Ikea cover letter example below does.
The goal of the conclusion and sign-off: End with confidence and a reminder that you are eager for an interview.
As a regular visitor to your IKEA store, I would love to come along as a prospective employee rather than looking for the latest addition to my household.
Sincerely,
Natalie Bartlet
Key takeaways
- A cover letter is the best place to offer more insight into your skills and experience, while showing some of your personal style, essential for a role at Ikea.
- Make sure to create a greeting that captures the hiring manager’s attention via an anecdote, statistic or personal statement.
- Ikea prides itself on a distinct brand, so make sure your formatting hits the mark. See our cover letter sample for an idea of a great layout.
