When writing your human resources (HR) cover letter, focus on how you can help raise staff morale and performance for the organization that posted the job. Also, emphasize your related skills like recruiting, talent development, or conflict resolution.
This guide will help you write a cover letter that gets you interviews for your next job in HR.
Human Resources Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write a Human Resources Cover Letter
An effective HR cover letter usually has five sections, outlined below. When possible, connect each section back to the organization and its stated hiring needs. The following advice and examples show how you can use this strategy to optimize your letter for each application.
1. Heading
At the top of the page, include:
- Your resume contact header, which should give your full name, address, email, phone number, and LinkedIn or other social accounts if applicable
- The date
- The recipient’s name, title, organization, and contact information (when available)
Note: Feel free to add a professional title to your contact header, as in the example below. In many cases, you can copy over the title from your resume profile summary. By including a title, you’ll set a clear focus and show hiring managers that you are among the HR applicants they’re looking for.
Example
John Smith
Human Resource Manager | [email protected] | (1654) 739-9183 | 678 Location Rd., San Antonio, TX 78206
February 9, 2024
Julie Jefferson
Senior Hiring Officer
The People Company
(346) 024-7536
[email protected]
2. Salutation
When possible, address your recipient by name – this is the quickest way to show you’re sending a job-specific letter and not a boilerplate. If you can’t find the person’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager” so your greeting is still tailored somewhat to each job opening.
For traditional job applications, end your salutation line with a colon. But consider a comma instead if you know your recipient or the employer has a casual work culture (sometimes revealed by the job posting). In rare cases, you may also trade out the standard “Dear” for a more casual “Greetings,” “Hello,” “Hi,” or even “Good morning.” Use your discretion and take any cues from the job posting or company website.
Examples
Dear Ms. Sally Peters,
Dear XYZ Corporation Hiring Manager:
3. “Hook” or introduction
Catch the reader’s attention by starting your letter with a clear example of your success in HR. What’s one key way you’ve helped elevate the employee experience in your career so far? For instance, maybe you recently launched an incentive program that increased engagement and talent retention by a high percentage. Choose a highlight you can then connect to your main strengths and overall candidacy for the advertised HR role.
Example
At ABC Company, I trained a 50-member management team on interviewing techniques, teaching best practices through coaching sessions and group workshops, resulting in successful hiring decisions. Combining my organizational skills with excellent interpersonal abilities, I became an employee leader in my company. I look forward to bringing that same work ethic to XYZ Corporation as an HR generalist.
4. Body paragraph(s)
Use the main section of your cover letter to tell why the job or employer interests you and why you feel you’re a good fit. For example, maybe the role focuses on benefits administration, an area in which you excel. Or perhaps the company values staff training and development, and you’re eager to return to that type of work culture. Consider quoting any text from the job posting that resonates with you. With a targeted approach, you can show the hiring manager you read their job posting and are responding to it directly.
Following this explanation, cite a few more of your skills or achievements, possibly as bullet points.
Example
The key factor that attracted me to the human resource officer role at The Big Company is the firm’s approach to employee well-being, which aims to improve staff retention. I could thrive in such a dedicated and high-performing environment.
If offered a role at The Big Company, I will help take your team’s success rate to even greater heights. My previous accomplishments within the sector include:
- 45% reduction in company turnover rate as a result of the introduction of employee wellness and incentive programs.
- 30% speed increase in applicant processing time.
5. Call to action
Finally, request an interview for the position. Consider briefly restating your HR skills and eagerness to advance the organization’s short- and long-term goals. To end your cover letter, use a simple closing like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” and then your name.
Example
I look forward to discussing further how my unique skills and dedication to HR can help your team, and I am available for an interview at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Kate Miller
Human Resources Cover Letter Tips
1. Keep it concise
Your cover letter should be short and focused. Even more than the resume (which may have recent non-HR work), center your cover letter on whatever details most qualify you for the job opening at hand. Limit the document to one page (or around 250 words) and resist the urge to tell your whole career story. Give just enough detail to pique hiring managers’ interest so they take a closer look at your resume.
2. Network
Whenever you can, start your letter by citing any personal or professional connections you have with the hiring manager. If someone at the organization alerted you to the job, use a line like “I was excited to hear from your colleague [Name] about [Company]’s new [title] position.” Or, if you’ve already met your recipient, mention that with a line like “It was great speaking with you at the job fair last week.”
3. Showcase your relevant strengths
Add a short list of bullet points describing your success in other key HR work areas, like new employee onboarding, cost reduction, or succession planning. Use this section to show your talent for helping an employer balance staff interests and business objectives.
Example
Some of my previous successes include:
- Identifying and implementing payroll software that cut company costs by $5,000 per month.
- Coordinating a health fair to launch a new employee wellness program and raise awareness regarding employee health.
- Helping revise new-hire orientation to include a warm welcome and provide critical company resources for onboarding employees.
Human Resources Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Kate Miller
Human Resource Officer | [email protected] | (134) 634-9789 | 234 Job St., Houston, TX 77022
February 9, 2024
Sally Peters
Senior Hiring Manager
The Big Company
(934) 304-8264
[email protected]
Dear Ms. Sally Peters,
I am a Human Resource Management graduate with seven years of experience at The Medium Company. During my time at The Medium Company, I implemented a highly successful incentive program, which resulted in a 28% improvement in employee satisfaction. I believe this is a great example of my initiative and the benefits I could bring to The Big Company team.
The key factor that attracted me to the human resource officer role at The Big Company is the firm’s approach to employee well-being, which aims to improve staff retention. I could thrive in such a dedicated and high-performing environment.
If offered a role at The Big Company, I will help take your team’s success rate to even greater heights. My previous accomplishments within the sector include:
- 45% reduction in company turnover rate as a result of the introduction of employee wellness and incentive programs.
- 30% speed increase in applicant processing time.
I look forward to discussing further how my unique skills and dedication to HR can help your team, and I am available for an interview at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Kate Miller
Human Resources Cover Letter Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the most important part of a cover letter?-
Any explanation you give for why the specific job opening or employer interests you. These details distinguish the cover letter from your resume and other application materials and can get you past applicant tracking systems. They also set the stage for a good interview discussion about how you fit the role and the office’s work culture.
What should my cover letter’s design look like? -
Your cover letter’s design should look like your resume’s design. Carry over all of that document’s basic format settings, like font style, line spacing, and page margins.
Is it OK to bold words in a cover letter?-
Yes, but only sparingly. Consider bolding the keywords or brief phrases that start each bullet point as a way to further emphasize your work highlights. But generally avoid having bold text in your body paragraphs, as it’s unnecessary and can distract the hiring manager.
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