When writing your program manager cover letter, focus on how you can guide successful initiatives for the company that posted the job. Also, emphasize your related skills, such as strategic planning or process streamlining.
This guide will help you write a cover letter that gets you interviews for your next job as a program manager.
Program Manager Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write a Program Manager Cover Letter
A good program manager cover letter usually has five sections, outlined below. When possible, connect each section to your defining skills and the organization’s hiring needs. The following advice and examples show what to include in your cover letter so it’s optimized for each job application.
1. Heading
At the top of the page, include your resume contact header, the date, and any basic contact details you have about your recipient. To set a clear focus, add the title program manager to your contact header. You can then modify your title to align with each job posting. For instance, you could use the title IT program manager if that’s closer to the role you’re after and still accurate to your experience.
(Note: Feel free to omit this section if you send your letter by email and your contact details are part of your email signature.)
Example
Marcus Dacelin
Program Manager | 123 S Main St., Branson, MO 65616 | (417) 111-0000 | [email protected]
September 26, 2024
Ms. Lori Taylor
Hiring Manager
NZD Inc.
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
2. Salutation
Whenever you can, address your recipient by name – it’s the quickest way to signal you’re sending a job-specific letter and not a boilerplate. If you can’t find the recipient’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager” so your greeting is still tailored somewhat to each job opening.
Examples
Dear Ms. Li:
Dear PMO Manager:
Dear RZK Institute Hiring Manager:
3. “Hook” or introduction
To catch the reader’s attention, start your letter with a clear example of your success as a program manager. This example should reflect your talent for monitoring, motivating, or aligning project teams. Think in terms of how you’ve improved operations. For instance, maybe you devised a training session that gave project managers a better grasp of long-term company goals.
Example
In my current role as program manager for MetaBank, I devised a comprehensive training and professional development schedule that improved efficiency by 43% and employee satisfaction by 75%. I hope to drive similar positive results at your firm.
4. Body paragraph(s)
Use the main section of your letter to briefly explain why you’re interested in this role or employer. For example, maybe it centers on risk management, an area in which you excel. Or maybe the organization’s cause or mission resonates with you. Following this explanation, cite a few more of your key achievements or qualifications, possibly as bullet points.
Example
I’m a forward-looking, articulate IT program manager with three years of experience. I’ve met over 100% of program goals throughout my career by expertly allocating resources, streamlining operations, and unifying and motivating cross-functional teams. My work highlights and qualifications also include the following:
- Led a custom human resources (HR) software project that eliminated four meeting hours per week for 20 employees
- Broad, deep knowledge of project management office (PMO) standard tools and software as a service (SaaS) platforms
- Recently completed Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Kansas State University
- Eager to learn and grow with a team of similarly driven, passionate associates and leaders
5. Call to action
Finally, request an interview for the position. Consider restating your ability to run successful projects and initiatives – this lets you maintain your letter’s focus through the last paragraph. To end your cover letter, use a simple closing like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” and then your name.
Example
I would welcome the chance to discuss my skills with you further. Please call or email me to arrange an interview. I will follow up soon to confirm you received my resume and see if you have any initial questions. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Tonya Zimmerman
Program Manager Cover Letter Tips
1. List your work highlights
Add a short list of bullet points to show your success in key work areas for a program manager, such as cost reduction or resource allocation. Cite data reflecting how you’ve met program goals, deadlines, or budget requirements. Also, consider using this section to spell out the positive impact of similar programs or initiatives you’ve led.
Example
My work highlights and qualifications include the following:
- Monitored program milestones and outcomes and quickly solved problems, resulting in 34% faster progress toward goals in 2020
- Actively created opportunities for remote knowledge sharing and innovated new ways to spur collaboration across a wide region
- Pinpointed five key ways to improve training and performance of a remote workforce
- Excellent risk management and mitigation skills, with a talent for contingency planning to avoid foreseeable issues
2. When in doubt, brainstorm
Any time you’re stuck on a section of your cover letter, take 10 minutes to quickly jot down your thoughts on a separate document or sheet of paper. By pausing to think more creatively, you can jog your memory and find new details to include about your experience. Brainstorming also helps you figure out the best and most original way to describe that experience, giving your letter the confident tone it needs to catch a hiring manager’s attention.
3. Speak to the company's strategic goals
An effective cover letter doesn’t just give facts about your past, it also shows your excitement for the future. What direction is the hiring company headed? Does the job posting reveal its short- or long-term business goals? Speak to those goals and how you see yourself advancing them.
Example
I’m drawn to your group’s mission to lead high-impact community projects and residential programs. This has been the focus of my seven years as a program manager and volunteer for Chicago-based nonprofits.
Program Manager Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Tonya Zimmerman
Program Manager | 109 My Rd., Albany, NY 32109 | (901) 234-5678 | [email protected]
September 26, 2024
Ms. Meiling Li
Hiring Manager
RZK Institute
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
Dear Ms. Li:
In my current role as Youth Project Program Manager at the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene Incorporated, I’ve spearheaded public awareness initiatives that caused 54% more young people to access support from the crisis helpline. I hope to drive similar positive results at your organization.
I’m drawn to your group’s mission to lead high-impact community projects and residential programs. I’m drawn to your group’s mission to lead high-impact community projects and residential programs. This has been the focus of my seven years as a program manager and volunteer for Chicago-based nonprofits. I believe I can support these efforts based on my skill and experience in these areas:
- Program Management: More than seven years’ experience focused on developing and guiding programs for substance abuse treatment and mental health
- Organization: Carefully allocated and documented all program resources, leading to 100% attainment of deadlines and budget requirements
- Motivational Leadership: Guided a team to deliver training that improved educators’ confidence in discussing sensitive issues with students
- Talent Acquisition: Recruited and onboarded five new staff members in 2020
I would welcome the chance to discuss my skills with you further. Please call or email me to arrange an interview. I will follow up soon to confirm you received my resume and see if you have any initial questions. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Tonya Zimmerman
Program Manager Cover Letter Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to start a cover letter? -
With a clear example of your success in the role you’re after. The concept of “show, don’t tell” absolutely applies to your cover letter’s opening. For instance, don’t just tell the hiring manager you’re a “proactive program manager.” Show you’re proactive by citing a time you exceeded expectations or found a new way to enhance project oversight.
How do I avoid using “I” statements in a cover letter?-
There’s nothing wrong with having multiple “I” statements on your cover letter. But when you use them to start three or more sentences in a row, it can distract the hiring manager. A quick fix: Reorder details in one sentence so the “I” statement appears later. For example, say one of your sentences is: “I can advance your team’s goals, based on my six years’ experience in health care program management.” Consider switching it to: “With six years’ experience managing health care programs, I can advance your team’s goals.”
Do hiring managers still read cover letters?-
Some don’t, but many do. And all hiring managers seek fast ways to cut a large pile of applications down to just a few promising candidates. One common way they do this is by focusing on applications that include cover letters, then on cover letters that speak to their hiring needs. Send a custom cover letter with your resume, and you can be confident you’d make that select group.
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