How To Nail Your Human Resources Cover Letter (+ Samples & Tips)

The human resources department is critical for the operation of any company and oversees the recruiting, hiring, management, and firing of employees. In many ways, HR is the backbone of an organization, with its representatives being the first point of contact between a company and its employees. 

Although evaluating cover letters may be a core task in your HR career, having the introspection to develop one of your own may prove to be quite challenging. Luckily for you, writing your own human resources cover letter provides a great opportunity to hone your critical analysis skills of a successful cover letter and demonstrates your proficiency in HR-related duties. 

The perfect HR cover letter will demonstrate your added value to achieving company missions and values through your qualifications, hard and soft skills, and experience. Cover letters should not only aim to display your proficiency but should be tailored specifically to the position AND company you are applying to. 

Use these samples and tips to craft your own perfect human resources cover letter!

Everyone starts somewhere. These sample cover letters for various HR jobs will provide a guide on the ways that you can craft your own:

In terms of content, a cover letter for an experienced HR executive position will be different from a cover letter for an HR assistant with no experience. That said, the root format will be the same. Now that you’ve seen several HR cover letter examples and gotten the gist of what an HR cover letter requires, let's break it down.

Part 1: The HR cover letter formatting

Start strong. The first thing a hiring manager will see when looking at your HR cover letter (aside from the content itself) is the layout of the letter itself.

Apart from the technical specifications, it is also noteworthy to distinguish between an HR application letter and an HR cover letter. 

An HR application letter will contain more detailed information on work and professional experiences. On the other hand, an HR cover letter is always accompanied by a CV and, therefore, focuses less information on professional experience and instead describes an applicant’s skill set and personality as being the right fit for the job. 

Remember to ascertain which type of letter is required or would suit your needs better before writing!

Part 2: Cover letter header

An HR cover letter header is divided into three parts: your contact information, the date, and your recruiter/hiring manager’s contact information. Contact information includes your full name, current position (if applicable), address (optional), phone number, and e-mail address. The letterhead should be in left alignment.

Part 3: Salutation

Try to avoid generic and overused greetings.

Personalizing your HR cover letter with individually addressed greetings such as “Dear [hiring manager’s name]” comes across more pleasantly and less like the copy-pasted “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Hiring Manager” that many people use.

Taking the time to address your cover letter individually portrays a sense of respect and shows the hiring manager that you care enough about the position to craft a cover letter that is tailored to the company you are applying to. 

Part 4: Content

This section is where you sell yourself. The content of your HR cover letter should be direct and not too long – around 200-400 words is best. To sell yourself in the best way possible, try to include action verbs when describing yourself and your accomplishments.

Action verbs are powerful verbs that serve to amplify a sentence by directly affirming your experience and qualifications. The following are the paragraphs that your HR cover letter should be divided into:

• Self-introduction – This is the opening of your cover letter, so making a good impression is crucial. An HR cover letter, like any other, must include the motivation for your application.

• Qualifications – This is the most important section of your HR cover letter. You should include technical and transferable skills and your RELEVANT work experience, soft and hard skills, and academic achievements.

• Supplementary information – This part of your HR cover letter could include your non-HR-related experience and is particularly useful for writing an HR cover letter for an internship or with no HR experience. 

Part 5: Call to action

End strongly and confidently. Thank the hiring manager for reading your application and cover letter, and ensure that you portray yourself as being open to further communication with the company. 

Part 6: Complimentary close and signature

End your HR cover letter with a complimentary closing that is appropriate for the occasion. Avoid casual closings such as “Cheers” or “Best”, and opt for something more formal such as “Yours Sincerely” or “Respectfully”. A comma directly follows the closing salutation. Finally, finish your HR cover letter with your signature directly below the closing. 

And there you have it! A well-crafted human resources cover letter takes time but is definitely worth it in the long run. Remember to consider the company’s needs as well as your own to better market yourself as the ideal candidate. 

Now, it's your turn. Use this HR cover letter template as a guide to developing one of your own!

💡 Emphasize your relevant HR skills.

In an HR cover letter, hiring managers generally look for quick learners that have strong organizational, interpersonal communication, and management skills. Here are a few strong examples of technical and transferable skills that you can add to your HR cover letter:

• Interviewing skills
• Data analysis 
• Adaptability
• Confidence
• Punctuality
• Proficiency in computer skills
• Detail-focused
• Strong interpersonal communication
• Problem-solving
• Discretion
• Strong writing skills
• Organizational skills
• Management skills

💡 Demonstrate a willingness to learn.

No experience? No problem! The primary objective of HR cover letters with no experience is to absorb as much first-hand experience as possible.

For example, to qualify, an HR intern cover letter should demonstrate that you have the potential to succeed in the company and that you would be able to actually learn something from the experience and usefully apply it in your future. 

💡 Call on previous educational qualifications and work experience (if any).

Entry-level positions are generally filled by fresh graduates with little to no experience in the field they wish to enter. Entry-level HR cover letters should lean on your educational qualifications and existing expertise to validate your eligibility for the position you are seeking to fill.

HR cover letters with no experience should aim to replace experience with a willingness to grow and develop alongside the company, which will show employers that investing in a (relatively) inexperienced applicant will pay off in the long term. 

💡 Include substantial proof of seniority in the HR field.

When applying to more senior HR positions, experience is mandatory. For example, Human Resource Manager (HRM) cover letters require you to substantiate your ability to coordinate employment and ensure that the logistical flow of the hiring process, from recruitment to onboarding, is smooth and expedient.

Unlike the previous examples, your HR cover letter must include experience, as this position demands about 5 years of HR-related experience.

💡 Let experience and technical knowledge speak for themselves.

Your HR cover letter should lean heavily on empirical data that exemplifies your technical and transferable skills, and include a skillset that aligns with your ability to manage and lead a team.

For example, when writing an HR executive cover letter, strong leadership and organizational skills, as well as proven technical experience are good examples of qualities that hiring managers look for. 

--- Originally written by Alexander Coye ---