Executive positions are highly sought after, and you’ll encounter tough competition throughout the hiring process. Developing a detailed cover letter that encapsulates your top career achievements is the best way to make an impact on the hiring manager. Below, you’ll find examples and expert tips to help you craft an executive cover letter and differentiate yourself from other high-level executives during the job hunt.
Executive Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write an Executive Cover Letter
The first step in writing a great executive cover letter is to identify the needs of target employers. Take time to reflect on your career, and determine how your industry knowledge can support their long-term goals. Companies are truly looking for thought leaders who can provide invaluable thought leadership at the highest levels of an organization. Branding yourself as both a leader and an industry expert should be the primary objective of your document. Below, we’ll provide additional guidance to help you craft each section of your executive cover letter:
1. Contact information and salutation
List your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL in the header of your executive cover letter. Be sure to address the hiring manager by name — Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.” This shows you’ve taken the time to research the company before applying and conveys your genuine interest in the role.
2. Introduction
Lead with a powerful introduction at the top of your executive cover letter to leave a lasting impression on the hiring manager. Feature one of your strongest career achievements and emphasize your years of industry experience. This will create a connection in the reader’s mind for why your qualifications match the company.
As an executive, be sure to mention your background in leading diverse organizations and interfacing with the C-suite. Remember, hiring managers want to see you possess both the industry knowledge and leadership traits to help guide their organization.
Example
With over 10 years of experience within the energy industry, I’ve managed various multi-million-dollar initiatives to bring green energy solutions to the market for Clean Power Corp. My ability to create strategic partnerships with enterprise customers and C-level executives would create immense value for your company as the new senior vice president of energy.
3. Body paragraphs
The body paragraphs of your executive cover letter should feature qualifications, experience, and achievements that mirror the employer’s needs. Mention something specific about the company’s reputation, culture, or mission statement and how you can support their long-term goals. Showcase tangible examples of you transforming organizations and providing strategic leadership at the highest levels of management. This will send a clear message you’re a senior-level executive who can deliver substantial value to potential employers.
Example
As an executive within the energy space, I identify with West Coast Solar’s mission statement of driving the expansion of renewable energy to combat climate change. My extensive background in providing green energy solutions would aid in this mission based on my career accomplishments:
- Led strategic initiatives to reduce carbon emissions in energy portfolios for enterprise clients valued at up to $300 million by delivering wind, solar, and nuclear energy solutions
- Structured energy transactions valued at up to $120 million and coordinated with the CEO and executive team to identify risk factors and negotiate purchases
- Reduced carbon footprint for enterprise customers by 5% to 15%
4. Executive skills and qualifications
Hiring managers aren’t interested in reading a long-winded list of skills on your executive cover letter. They want to see how you’ve applied your industry expertise and skill sets throughout your career. As you craft your paragraphs, feature key terms from the job description where they fit naturally. This helps to further showcase how your background uniquely positions you as an ideal candidate for the position. Below, you’ll find a variety of potential skills you can highlight in your document:
| Key Skills and Qualifications | |
|---|---|
| Business development | Change management |
| Client relations | Cross-functional leadership |
| C-Suite | Data-driven decision making |
| Executive leadership | Health care management |
| Organizational development | Product management |
| Program management | Project management |
| Sales leadership | Stakeholder management |
| Strategic planning | Strategy development |
| Talent acquisition | Technical project management |
5. Closing section
Finish your executive cover letter with a call to action (CTA), such as inviting the hiring manager to bring you in for an interview or welcoming them to contact you for additional information on your background. Be sure to thank the reader for their time and consideration, as showing respect also demonstrates your professionalism.
Example
I look forward to telling you more about how my background in renewable energy can help drive the adoption of green energy solutions across your customer base. You can contact me for an interview at your convenience. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Joanne Li
Executive Cover Letter Tips
1. Feature your executive leadership experience
Executive leadership should be a focal point of your cover letter. Companies want to see you build successful teams, establish strong work cultures, and define long-term strategies for large organizations. Provide examples of you interfacing with the C-suite, as it’s important to send a clear message that you can collaborate effectively with high-ranking executives in corporate settings.
2. Quantify your career achievements
As an executive, you need to establish a sense of scope for your achievements by incorporating hard numbers, metrics, and monetary figures. For example, you might mention the size of the company or gross annual revenue figures. If you can’t quantify an achievement, focus instead on how your strategies, initiatives, and contributions positively impacted the organization.
3. Brand yourself as an industry thought leader
Companies expect executive candidates to be well-versed in their industry, providing strategic leadership to improve market positioning and drive positive business outcomes. As you craft your cover letter, emphasize your experience as a thought leader within your space. For example, if you were an executive within the energy industry, you might draw attention to your knowledge of market trends related to green and alternative energy.
Executive Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Robert Cho
Chief Executive Officer | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Boston, MA, 97201 | LinkedIn
January 1, 2024
Louis Gentile
Senior Hiring Manager
ArkTech Software Corp.
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
Dear Mr. Gentile,
As you can see from my attached resume, I have over 14 years of experience as an executive and CEO in the technology industry. Building Solaris Software from a start-up company into a $20 million business was my greatest accomplishment. My vast experience in creating scalable business models within the software space would make me a strong asset to your company in the CEO position.
ArkTech Software Corp’s impressive reputation as an industry leader in Software as a service (SaaS) solutions aligns with my background as an innovator in the software solution market. My experience as a technology executive would aid the growth of your organization based on my career achievements:
- Built, managed, and scaled a start-up software solution business into a multi-million-dollar corporation, which West Sun Software Inc. acquired for $100 million in 2020
- Developed business strategies, analyzed market trends, and drove the development, deployment, and delivery of SaaS solution products, generating $8 million in annual revenue
- Created a scalable business model to facilitate the growth of 80% to 120% year-over-year (YOY)
I would like to schedule an interview to discuss how my knowledge of the software solution market could aid your company. You can contact me at your convenience with any questions you may have. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Robert Cho
Executive Cover Letter FAQs
Why should I include an executive cover letter?-
Cover letters play a more substantial role in the hiring process for executive candidates. Companies want to gain a better sense of who you are as a professional beyond what’s already been stated on your resume. Use this opportunity to provide unique insights into your personal values and why you’re the right fit for the organization’s culture.
Should I use an artificial intelligence tool to write my cover letter?-
Using an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to start your cover letter can be a viable option, but avoid having AI write the entire document for you. Despite recent technological advancements, AI-generated documents are often generic and prone to grammatical errors. Your cover letter needs to tell your unique story, and that isn’t possible without your input.
How long should my cover letter be?-
As an executive, it’s easy to end up with a long cover letter due to your extensive work history and experience. That said, it’s normally best to keep your cover letter concise and focused, even at the executive level. Limit your document to only three or four paragraphs. This ensures your cover letter emphasizes your most impressive and relevant qualifications.
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