Engineering Cover Letter: The Complete Guide with Templates

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Table of Contents

What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a document that gives your employer a preview of what you can do and how you can help your employer's business.

The primary goal of a cover letter is not to get you hired, but to get them to open your engineer resume. Therefore, your cover letter doesn't need to have your life story in it. It's used to say briefly say who you are, why you want to work there, and a couple of impressive feats that can make them curious about what else you can contribute to a business.

Engineering Cover Letter Examples - Templates & Writing Tips

When you prepare for an engineering degree or work experience, you know the importance of preciseness. Similar accuracy is applicable in crafting the cover letter which is crucial in enhancing your resume. An effective cover letter will help you differentiate yourself from the rest of the candidates. You have a unique opportunity to show the ability to meet the requirements of the organization by demonstrating your engineering abilities to an employer. The guide contains the following information and: How should one write their Cover-Case letters? It is aimed at assisting people in their lives. Use our engineer-focused cover letter templates for an amazingly creative and informative cover letter.

Crafting a strong cover letter is not that different from engineering. You need to prioritize efficiency and conciseness. Format your cover letter like you are putting together a blue print, and fill in the details so it's customized to you.

As an engineer, you can flex your creativity when writing your cover letter. You're free to demonstrate your unique experience and knowledge within your field, and you can figure out ways to separate yourself from your competition. Having an engineering degree is the first step to being qualified for an engineering job, but you still need a way to beat other applicants who also have the same education as you.

Cake has an engineers-focused cover letter that allows you to focus on the creative elements of your cover letter, since the template organizes it for you.

How do I write a cover letter for engineering with no experience?

Tell me the easiest and quickest way to get a resume for an engineer. Investigate the business. The easiest way to create an Engineering Cover Letter is to research the firm you're putting your application in.

Writing a cover letter for your first engineering job is not easy, but certainly far from impossible. You cannot rely on your experience, so you have to show your attention to detail, drive to succeed, and that you really want to work at that company.

  • Put together a concise cover letter that clearly demonstrates the skills you have. Make sure to include some hard and soft skills, as well as any projects you've done.
  • State your goal, you don't want the company to think you're simply working there just to have a job to pay the bills. Briefly demonstrate what are some of your future goals, and what you hope to gain from your potential employer other than a job. For example, you might want to break into a certain industry, learn certain engineering skills, be mentored over a particular academic who works there, or want to work in an international company so you can leverage your language skills.
  • Show that you want an engineering position at that firm by explicitly stating facts about the company. Talk about the products that that company makes, the innovations that they've had, the reputation about their R&D, or perhaps comment on any esteemed professionals that have worked at the company.
  • Use the details in the job requirements such as the skills required. Customizing your cover letter to the job application means you'll briefly mention how you can solve your employers direct problem. Job listings are telling you directly what they want, so give them what they want.
    • A well-written cover letter can set you apart from other candidates and increase your chances of getting an interview.
    • See it as a professional greeting, this is your first interaction with your potential employers.
    • It shows that you have taken the time to research the company and tailor your job application to the specific job.
    • Hiring Managers can tell if you are sending a generic cover letter to every company. This won't reflect well on your engineering career.

Engineering Cover Letter Examples

Junior mechanical engineer cover letter example

I'm interested in applying for the Junior Mechanical Engineer position at _____ after I discovered your company at a job fair. I'm a recent graduate with a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering.

I was impressed by your company culture. Initially, I was intimidated to work in your industry, but after meeting your employees, I love the chemistry among them. I've also read about the donations and seminars your company supports to further engineering and mathematical education in the area, which aligns with my goal of one day becoming a professor.

Through my internship experience I learned that my strengths fall heavily within research. I was able to contribute effectively to a project that optimized renewable energy by analyzing its data and analyzing 2 different innovative solutions that ultimately reduced energy consumption by 3%.

I'm great with AutoCad and SolidWorks, so I'll be able to assist your team right away. I have a background in public speaking and giving seminars, so I'll be able to help with your internship program also by mentoring incoming interns in CAD.

I look forward to telling you more about what I can add to your team. You can reach back to me at this email or call me if you prefer.

Regards,

Ian Nguyen

Senior software engineer cover letter example

I'm a software engineer who has over 6 years of experience using python, react and Swift. I found your opportunity for the senior software engineer position on Indeed.com.

For my last company, I was the leader of a team of 4 developers that handled the scalability of our mobile application. Using my extensive background in react and python, our team was able to increase the usability of our app by 20% without any compromise to our system.

Your company's latest software made innovations within our industry, especially once it hit the Korean market in your latest deal. As someone of Korean descent, I want to be able to lead teams using both Korean and English. Having to travel several times a year to Korea for this position is not a con for me, but something I look forward to.

I'm grateful for your consideration and look forward to having a chance to work with you.

Sincerely,

Claire Kim

Director of Engineering cover letter example

I'm expressing interests in the position of Director of Engineering for ______ which I found on LinkedIn. I have over 9 years of leadership as an engineer and I believe my skills are exactly what you're looking for in a director.

During my time as a senior engineer, I led several teams, managing up to as many as 15 engineers at once. I used my strong background in agile methodology to make my traditional company up to date in business practices and task management. In my latest project, I launched a product without going over budget, and that product has generated several millions of dollars in profit for my previous company.

After working with a rather traditional company, your business fits my work culture and strengths better. Your company is not afraid to try new technologies and innovations, and will take losses as a learning experience. I want to help lead a company into new ventures, and I want my colleagues to push me as much as I push them, which I believe matches well with what you guys historically have done.

I'm looking to join a new company by September, so do not hesitate to reach out to me. We can call for more details if it is convenient for you. Thanks for your time!

Regards,

Barry Johnson

Engineering intern cover letter example

I'm currently a junior at the University of Michigan where I am completing a degree in Computer Engineering. My mentor, Professor ____ told me about your company's R&D department, and I feel that I can learn so much from you guys during the summer.

This semester I've learned CAD software thoroughly. When I saw that I was going to get an A in the course, I reached out to that professor for resources in advancing my CAD skills, and have used it to contribute to my independent research.

I have done research with my mentor, and we have created a project that uses the same technology that your product is built from.

Recently, I became certified in MATLAB Onramp, and I can contribute to the data analysis that your company seeks.

Thank you for taking the time to read about me, and thanks for any considerations in my application.

Regards,

Peter Stotz

Mechanical engineering cover letter example

I am writing to express my interest in your opening that I found on LinkedIn in the Senior Mechanical Engineer position for your production department. With three years of experience in the semiconductor industry, I believe I can be an asset in your expansion into the United States.

Having previously lived in Asia, where your headquarters are located, I have a strong connection and admiration for the innovations in hardware your company has done. My experience working on hardware development in Asia has given me the efficient manufacturing processes and innovative engineering solutions that your company culture values.

I am skilled in utilizing advanced CAD software and thermal management, to the point where malfunctions went down by 300%. My international experience and education along with my business degree make me a valuable tool in ensuring that your American branches are up to the same standards as your Asian branches.

Thank you for considering my application. I hope we can talk more about how my skills can be used to make your production as efficient as possible.

Kindly,

John Doe

Civil engineering cover letter example

As a civil engineer with over five years of experience, I have been researching companies that focus on enhancing accessibility compliance. With family members who have physical disabilities, I am particularly passionate about making public transit more inclusive. I was impressed by your efforts to expand the city's tram system to improve accessibility for all, and I would love to contribute to such impactful projects.

In my previous role, I successfully led a team of 7 engineers and architects in designing infrastructure improvements that prioritized accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Through this endeavor, I grew significantly as a project manager and I grew an appreciation and invaluable knowledge of the framework around accessibility compliance.

I am work diligently to communicate with stakeholders to identify and address their unique and sudden challenges. The projects that I've managed not only were successful and completed punctual, but exceeded regulatory standards.

With the technology your company has innovated with making tram travel easier and my passionate for inclusivity and attention to detail in compliance, I feel that we are a great fit and can make a significant difference in the city's public transit.

Thanks for considering me as a candidate, I look forward to talking about future projects with you.

Regards,

Jane Doe

Software engineering cover letter example

I am writing to express my enthusiasm for the opportunity at _____. As a software engineer with three years of experience in mobile app development and two years in gaming development, I have been seeking independent studios that utilize the _____ engine. I believe this engine is exceptionally suited for the RPG genre, and after enjoying your previous titles, I am excited about working with a studio that has the same genuine interest and shares similar taste in gaming with me.

In my previous role, I successfully managed the porting of our game to niche platforms, including Linux. Leveraging my expertise in performance optimization and quality assurance, I developed a dynamic framework that ensured smooth performance on these platforms. Additionally, I identified and eliminated numerous bugs and inefficient code, resulting in the port running at 98% of the capacity of the original release.

I independent developed several mods using the ____ engine, which deepened my understanding of its capabilities, especially its potential for scalability. I was able to merge elements of RPGs with fighting games without suffering from any drop in framerate using minimal resources. I saw that you've raised a lot of capital on your kickstarter, and I believe that my skills can help do a lot with your new budget.

Thanks for reading, don't hesitate to reach out to me for any inquiries on my projects or work experience.

Sincerely,

Bruce Kent

IT engineering cover letter example

I'm an IT engineer who has worked in cybersecurity for 8 years, and 10 years overall in the IT industry. I discovered your company when I read a list of companies who's information was breached last May. I believe that my background in cybersecurity and network security can be used to prevent further raids on your data.

While at my current company, I've used machine learning to greatly bolster our network's security. I've implemented a network framework that created a firewall that lowered unauthorized attempts by 95%, and there hasn't been a major breach of information in the 2 years since I've taken over as the senior manager of the cybersecurity department.

I feel my skills are better suited to help prevent leaks in industries that have more sensitive information, such as the credit industry, which is why your company caught my eye. I've worked closely with legal and auditing departments, and have been educated on regulatory practices that your industry may have to go through when implementing new firewall technology.

My experience in learning powerful technology, utilizing it in reducing cyber attacks, and the ability to collaborate with legal and auditing forces will make fixing any future cyber attacks for you a certainty.

If you think I am a suitable candidate, feel free to email or call me at any time. I am also open to a consultancy role, though I prefer to be more hands-on.

Thank you for your time!

Regards,

Susan Lee

Hardware engineering cover letter example

I'm a senior engineer with 4 years in robotic control systems and design optimization. As the senior engineer, I was tasked with making sure our robots were safe to use, efficiency used energy and had reliable durability.

I found your job listing on Cake, and I was familiar with your company when I read about your prototype in the Robotics Times. I believe your underwater labor units are fascinating, and I have read intensively on how they are able to stay so durable in such a stressful and unpredictable environment.

What I bring to the table is reliability and the ability to save your company money. Most recently, I've greatly reduced material costs when designing control systems by 35% and through consistent and thorough testing, have fixed the defaults that plagued my predecessor within one quarter.

I can lend my engineering expertise to your junior engineers as well, since I also have done 10 seminars per year at both in-house and business conferences within my state. I found that once I educated my diverse teams properly, being able to play to peoples strengths and create a stable, effective environment was inevitable.

If you like what you hear, then we can set up a call and talk in more detail.

Thank you for considering me.

Regards,

Anderson Liddell

6 Tips to Craft a Strong Engineering Cover Letter

1) Make Your Cover Letter Look Professional

A hiring manager's job is to look over tens if not hundreds of job applications. Make their life easy by having a format that is clear, logical and easy to read.

  • When mentioning a clutter of facts and accomplishments, use bullet points to demonstrate your key achievements.
  • Break up your paragraphs. White space is easier to read than clunks of text bundled up. Smaller paragraphs give the reader more momentum to keep reading.
  • Don't use any gimmicky fonts. This is not an art or fashion job, keep it simple with traditional fonts like Arial and Calibri.

2) Show your skills and experience

State what type of skills and job experience you had that you brought to the table. If you were a project manager, then lead off by stating just that. Briefly explain something that you accomplished to demonstrate the effectiveness of your skills.

You can show what you've done by using tangible numbers. For instance:

  • As the project manager of this security software, I managed 7 different workers from 3 different departments, and was able to launch the software a full week before the deadline.

3) Write a strong introduction

Your introduction is incredibly important. You'll want to show your energy, and make yourself impressionable in your opening paragraph.

Go the extra step and do research about the company. This means looking up who is the hiring manager that will likely see your cover letter. You can go on the company's LinkedIn or their personal site to try to find the name of the recruiting manager, and you can personally greet the hiring manager directly.

State your experience, previous job and what things you're good at. You'll want to mention the company you're applying for in the letter, and say how you found out about the job opportunity.

4) General Tips for Your Body Paragraphs

Briefly list things about the company like new projects they are working on or markets they are expanding to. Show them that you know who they are, and you're making a deliberate decision to work for them.

In addition, you're going to want to look at the job posting and use some of the keywords in the job listing in your intro to get their attention. If they are looking for a CAD Software specialist, then you can lead off in your intro with "I'm an engineer of 3 years with a specialty in CAD software....".

Demonstrate some weaknesses or gaps that the company may have, and list ways that you can fix those gaps. Company's want problem solvers, and your engineering cover letter is an opportunity for you to tell them that you can do that for them.

5) State the skills most relevant to your role that you have

  • Hard skills: As an engineer, your bread and butter are your technical skills. List which languages, frameworks, and technologies you are familiar with.
  • Soft skills: Engineers are often stereotyped to have issues with communication, thinking out the box and empathy. Highlight the skills you have that make you seem like a team player, your soft skills will separate you from other engineers.
  • Proof of your effectiveness can be done by stating your accomplishments in your job experience, but certifications are brief and to the point documents that give a baseline of your ability.

6) Show don't tell your accomplishments

  • Do not simply say "I did this" but instead list numbers that give the recruiting manager a means to grasp the scope of your engineering skills. "I optimized the architecture of our chatbot, resulting in a 20% increase in user engagement and a 50% improvement in positive user feedback."
  • If you have any awards from industrial institutions, your university, or your previous companies, state that early on in your cover letter. You want them to know that not only are you recognized by other entities as a capable engineer.

Conclusion

You should be well prepared to write an engineering cover letter. Just a quick reminder to prioritize these following tips.

  • Make your cover letter efficient. Being concise and to the point is key to keeping your readers attention.
  • Keep your language and tone professional. You are applying for an engineer position, so conduct yourself as an engineer should.
  • Look over for any mistakes in spelling, grammar and incorrect facts. As an engineer, you already will be expected to pay attention to detail and to look for mistakes. Giving an error-filled cover letter is a sure way for a hiring manager to look past your resume.

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