Adding a persuasive project manager cover letter can enhance the value of your application and make it stand out from the competitors. Besides giving you extra space to include what you couldn't fit on your resume, a cover letter convinces the hiring manager that you are serious about the position. A stellar project manager cover letter has the power to intrigue the reader and urges them to look into the resume for further details. Learn how to write a project manager cover letter the right way and beat your competition!
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Project Manager Cover Letter Examples
A cover letter is a perfect chance to introduce yourself to the hiring manager more personally. However, not all cover letters serve their purpose right. To boost your chances of getting hired, you must tailor your project manager cover letter with the utmost attention.
Entry Level Project Manager Resume Cover Letter Example 1
Date
Name of the Hiring Manager
Address of the Company
City, Zip Code.
Dear (Last name of the hiring manager),
When I discovered the (exact title of the project management position) position at XYZ company, I was immediately drawn to this opportunity of working with an innovative organization. I am positive I can help with XYZ's upcoming challenges through my exceptional leadership and communication skills.
As a project management intern at ABC, I developed an MS Excel macro and standardized report templates resulting in better data collection and a 34% drop in turnaround time. I had always believed that collaboration brings forth optimized results. I recently had a chance to prove this when I collaborated with developers and the product management team, reducing the time spent per project by 40%.
I know that XYZ's current plans involve coming up with an all-new team management app. This project perfectly matches my personal and professional skills in addition to my master's in project management. I would love to leverage my knowledge of technical project management to achieve groundbreaking results with this initiative.
Looking forward to a chance to discuss your management objectives and show you how my experiences can accelerate growth for XYZ.
Your name
Email address
Contact number
Experienced Project Manager Resume Cover Letter Example 2
Date
Name of the Hiring Manager
Address of the Company
City, Zip Code.
Dear (Last name of the hiring manager),
When I discovered the (exact title of the project management position) position at XYZ company, I was immediately drawn to this opportunity of working with an innovative organization. Managing large-scale projects requires sound knowledge and proven leadership skills. With 12+ years spent on perfecting these and practicing attention to the most minute details, I gladly look forward to leveraging my experience at XYZ.
I have had the chance to oversee IT projects for almost a dozen companies, including six Fortune 500 brands. The scope and complexity of the projects have varied. I have supervised everything from basic system upgrades to creating a $1 million internal operations system for a company spanning four different countries. With each project completed on budget and exceeding client expectations, it goes without saying that time management and risk management are two of my major strengths.
In my current position at ABC, I have succeeded at expanding the company's client base by 24% post the pandemic period.
Welcoming the opportunity to discuss the position and role in person; here is my resume attached for further insights into my career and management skills.
Your name
Email address
Contact number
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Tips to Write a Project Manager Cover Letter
A good project manager resume can take you to the top, but when it is accompanied by your customized cover letter, it can move your application to the top of the stack. A cover letter is not mandatory. So, if you are including one, ensure that it is well-written and relevant to the position you are applying for. Learn how to write a project manager cover letter that gets you noticed.
Tip 1: Don't Restate Your Resume
Refrain from repeating the phrases from your project manager's resume. A cover letter is a place to highlight those additional details you could not squeeze onto the single-page resume. Unlike resume bullet points, you can be more detailed and use full sentences.
Tip 2: Don't Stick to Praising the Company
A common cover letter mistake– we begin to talk about how great the positions and the company would be for us. Remember, the hiring manager knows that part well. They are looking forward to discovering substantial information about you. Emphasizing what skills and benefits you can bring to the position and company is more important than any other detail.
Tip 3: Elaborate on Your Relevant Capabilities
Undoubtedly, all that you have accomplished so far in your career is important but what you can do in your future is more important to the recruiters. You must include their key requirements and priorities for the job to present the reviewer with significant details on what you can do to optimize their growth. If you possess several relevant capabilities, consider adding a section that says, 'Here is all that I can deliver in this role.'
Tip 4: Scan the Job Description For Discovering What's Relevant
Customizing your resume and project manager cover letter is the key to getting past ATS and humans who shortlist applications. A general cover letter or resume you would use for all job opportunities significantly declines your chances of getting hired. Here is how to tailor your application every time you apply for a new position:
- Thoroughly scan the job advertisement/description for the position you are applying for.
- Create a list of words or phrases mentioned as they must have qualifications or skills for the role.
- Include the same words/ phrases on your resume and cover letter to get past ATS and manual scans.
Tip 5: Your Skills Catch Attention
When you find a job that perfectly matches your skills, but your past experience fails to sell you as the perfect option for the position, you must highlight your relevant skills. Present your relevant skills along with action verbs wherever they fit on your cover letter.
Tip 6: Academic Qualification is Not Necessary
It is imperative for freshers and undergraduates to over-focus on their educational backgrounds. You must remember that the recruiter cares the most about your work experience. If you do not have a professional work history, add your volunteer or internship experience. Recruiters value them too.
Tip 7: Quantify Whenever Possible
Numbers often speak louder than words. Include statistics to illustrate your impact on the business growth of the companies you have worked for in the past. Numbers show recruiters that you speak their language.
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Tip 8: Cut Down Formal Statements
You don't want to sound robotic. Rather, it is best to choose a statement that projects you as an approachable, amiable, and wonderful-to-work-with person, especially in the project management sector. Avoid formalities like-‘I am glad to express my interest in filling the available position at your esteemed establishment.' Such a formal attitude is not appreciable. However, you must be cautious of not sounding way too casual.
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Conclusion
Create an eye-catching project manager cover letter to bag the most lucrative opportunities. Consider the shared project manager cover letter examples for inspiration. Start by making a list of qualities the job description demands and building your cover letter around them.
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FAQs
What are the 4 tips for a great cover letter? ›
- Make It Personal. To make your cover letter seem more personable, it's a good idea to address the reader directly. ...
- Past, Present, and Future. ...
- Research is Key! ...
- Keep It Brief.
Beyond that, Siegel boils down the most important things to include in a cover letter to three points. “Show enthusiasm, show you've done research, and show you want to come in there and make a contribution,” he says.
What are 4 things you should include in a cover letter? ›- Information about you.
- Date.
- Contact Person's Name, Title, Employer, and Address.
- Salutation.
- Opening Paragraph.
- Middle Paragraph.
- Second Middle Paragraph.
- Contact Information and Closing.
A Universal Method for Starting a Cover Letter
Dear [First Name], I was excited to come across the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. As a [Current Job Title] with [# of Years] years of experience, I have become competent in [Relevant Skills & Job-Related Abilities].
...
- Competence.
- Decisiveness.
- Vision.
- Communication.
- Stability.
- Open-mindedness.
- Be straightforward and succinct. They express most about what a cover letter ought to state in the first paragraphs, such as their expertise level and status, as well as how they got the position.
- Be specific about experience and impact. ...
- Include a clear call to action.
- Using a general greeting.
- Being overly friendly.
- Only focusing on what the company can do for you.
- Underselling yourself.
- Copying and pasting a template.
- Any Spelling or Grammar Errors. ...
- The Wrong Company Name or the Wrong Name of the Contact Person. ...
- Anything That Isn't True. ...
- Paragraphs That Are Too Long. ...
- Your Salary Requirements or Expectations. ...
- Negative Comments About a Current or Past Employer. ...
- Information Not Related to the Job.
Writing Your Cover Letter: Format and Structure
Keep cover letters short—three or four paragraphs and less than one page. Use the active voice, keeping your tone positive and professional. Avoid beginning too many sentences with “I”. Read your cover letter aloud to catch repetitious words and typos.
Your words should do more than restate salient details from what's already in your resume. The cover letter is where you should promote yourself, describe your ambition and express your enthusiasm for a new role and company in a way that is distinct from your resume.
What is a catchy opening sentence? ›
Start with the chase. A good hook might also be a question or a claim—anything that will elicit an emotional response from a reader. Think about it this way: a good opening sentence is the thing you don't think you can say, but you still want to say. Like, “This book will change your life.”
How can I introduce myself in cover letter? ›Introduce yourself with enthusiasm
For example, instead of starting with a dull, "I'm Jane and I'm interested in the marketing role." Try something more exciting, like, "I was intrigued by the job ad, and I believe that my skills and experience make me the candidate you've been looking for."
The opening paragraph of your cover letter should grab the hiring manager's attention and make them want to read your cover letter. Some tips to write an attention-grabbing opening paragraph include being direct, starting with a strong belief statement, or leading with a relevant achievement.
What are the 5 C's in project management? ›The 5 Cs of managing projects, Complexity, Criticality, Compliance, Culture and Compassion, tell you how much and how often to do the things we do. There are five, they fit on your hand, and they go in order. The first three, complexity, criticality and compliance, are about the work, and that's where we begin.
What are the 5 P's in project management? ›The constituents of the 5P model are: 1) Plan, 2) Process, 3) People, 4) Possessions, and 5) Profits.
What are the 7 C's of project management? ›There are seven core elements that if considered will contribute to the organization's project decision-making process. The seven elements (7 C's) are: customers, competitors, capabilities, cost, channels, communication, and coordination.
How do you write an impeccable cover letter? ›- Do Your Research. Regardless of the position you are applying to, research is the foundation for writing a powerful, convincing, and unique cover letter. ...
- Always Customize. ...
- Tell a Story. ...
- Keep It Simple and Consistent.
- Dear (hiring manager name)
- Paragraph #1: introduction and a big job-fitting achievement.
- Paragraph #2: key skills and why you fit the job.
- Paragraph #3: your passion + why you want in.
- Paragraph #4: your call to action.
- Formal closing.
- Add a P.S. to add value.
Bye-bye, cover letters
Though recruiters may be more likely to read them for a more prominent role, the majority of respondents find cover letters obsolete. “The future of this historical hiring component looks grim,” Murphy says.
Focusing too much on yourself
This one is definitely an easy mistake to make, due to the fact it is your cover letter, your job application and your future. But employers really don't care about how their company fits your needs (before they hire you, at least).
What are some common cover letter mistakes? ›
- Focusing too much on yourself. ...
- Sharing all the details of every single job you've ever had. ...
- Writing about something uncomfortable. ...
- Writing a novel. ...
- Rehashing your resume. ...
- Being too trite. ...
- Being a superfan of the company. ...
- Typos.
- They need to be short. People have difficulty summarizing 10- to 20-year careers in a few cogent sentences. ...
- Few people really know what to put in a cover letter. ...
- Our egos are on the line. ...
- There's a nagging feeling that writing the letter is an exercise in futility.
Your cover letter should convey neither arrogance nor meekness. A hiring manager is looking for a candidate who can get the job done but realizes that business is a team effort and can work successfully with others. Striking the right tone in your cover letter can be challenging.
How do I impress my cover letter? ›- Address the letter to a specific person. ...
- Clearly state the purpose of your letter. ...
- Don't rehash your entire resume. ...
- Use action words and don't overuse the pronoun “I” ...
- Reiterate your enthusiasm and thank the reader. ...
- Be consistent in formatting.
The Structure of a Cover Letter
A cover letter is comprised of several sections: your contact information, a salutation, the body of the cover letter, an appropriate closing, and a signature. Review the structure of a cover letter, what to include in each part, and examples.
Specific responsibilities of the project manager
managing the production of the required deliverables. planning and monitoring the project. adopting any delegation and use of project assurance roles within agreed reporting structures. preparing and maintaining project, stage and exception plans as required.
- Plan and Develop the Project Idea. Every project starts as an idea. ...
- Create and Lead Your Dream Team. ...
- Monitor Project Progress and Set Deadlines. ...
- Solve Issues That Arise. ...
- Manage the Money. ...
- Ensure Stakeholder Satisfaction. ...
- Evaluate Project Performance.
"Of course, strong communication skills, excellent organization capabilities, and a keen ability to manage time are all crucial for being an effective and respected project manager.
What are the 3 S's of project management? ›The elements are budget/cost, time/schedule, and scope. If a change is posed to any one of these elements, something else must change.
What are the 4 C's in project management? ›To solve this problem, PBL has evolved to include a new Gold Standard that incorporates the “Four Cs” of the Partnership for 21st Century Learning: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.
What are the five 5 qualifications as a project manager? ›
- Leadership. It's first for a reason. ...
- Communication. It can be another overused term, but a project is destined to stall without clear, consistent communication between stakeholders, contractors, team members and customers. ...
- Task Management. ...
- Diplomacy. ...
- Critical Thinking.
It turns out that 90% of a project manager's job is spent on communication so it's important to make sure everybody gets the right message at the right time.
What are the four 4 pillars of project management? ›Many of the sessions I attended at the conference re-enforced what I believe to be four pillars upheld by the project manager: trust, respect, accountability and change management.
What are the 3 most important skills of a project manager and why? ›- Communication and interpersonal skills. It is often said that the primary reason projects fail is due to communication mishaps, not for technical reasons. ...
- Ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts. ...
- Building commitment within the team.
Communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills play a crucial role for an individual to become a good project manager. Moreover, he or she should be a good decision maker for the smooth maneuvering of the project journey.
What are 3 examples of weaknesses? ›- Self-criticism.
- Shyness.
- Lack of knowledge of particular software.
- Public speaking.
- Taking criticism.
- Lack of experience.
- Inability to delegate.
- Lack of confidence.
Project Manager gets motivated by two things. First --- Project manager experiences first hand transformation of team members from a group to committed team players. PM must get motivated by good work of his/her team members. Second --- Positive impact on client's business.
What are 3 things that you should definitely not do on your cover letter? ›- Focusing too much on yourself. ...
- Sharing all the details of every single job you've ever had. ...
- Writing about something uncomfortable. ...
- Writing a novel. ...
- Rehashing your resume. ...
- Being too trite. ...
- Being a superfan of the company. ...
- Typos.