Manager Cover Letter: Examples & Ready-To-Use Templates

This is that company—

Five years ago, you wouldn’t even have dared to dream of working there. And yet, here we are. So close, in with a chance, manager resume all ready to go. There’s just one last obstacle and one last opportunity in front of you—

You still need a manager cover letter. A manager cover letter better than all the others. Luckily, you’re in the right place.

In this article, you’ll get:

• Two sample manager cover letters: for experienced and first-time managers.
• Step-by-step tips on how to write a cover letter for manager positions that will land you more interviews.
• A manager cover letter template you can copy, adjust, and have ready in 15 minutes.

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Looking for other cover letter guides for managers? Check these out: 

• Account Manager Cover Letter Example
• Business Cover Letter Example
• Business Development Cover Letter Example
• Consulting Cover Letter Example
• Cover Letter for an Internal Position (Promotion) Example
• Event Manager Cover Letter Example
• Executive Cover Letter Example
• Marketing Manager Cover Letter Example
• McKinsey Cover Letter Example
• Office Manager Cover Letter Example
• Product Manager Cover Letter Example
• Project Manager Cover Letter Example
• Restaurant Manager Cover Letter Example

Couldn't find your examples? Check best cover letter examples for every industry

Ready to start working on your cover letter? For starters, read these two manager cover letter examples. What do you think makes them so great?

1. Manager Cover Letter Examples

Meet James. He’s a bit of an old hand at project management. His is our first sample cover letter for a manager position.

The company to which James is applying needs a project manager that can hit the ground running. They don’t have time for an adaptation period.

See how well James’ manager cover letter shows he’s the perfect candidate:

Manager Cover Letter Example #1: Experienced Candidate

There’s no doubt James is in with a real chance. They’ll at least be sure to read his resume.

Don’t feel you can pull something like this off? Applying for a management position with little or no management experience?

No problem.

You don’t have to have held a managerial position for long (or at all) to have valuable management experience.

Like Laura, for example—she’s an engineer who’s applying for her first management job, one that requires experience with challenging, against-the-odds projects, no less.

Laura’s manager cover letter shows that she’s been taking the initiative and doing the work before she had the job title.

Manager Cover Letter Example #2: First-Time Manager Candidate

That makes two manager cover letter examples that cinch the deal.

You’re about to go on a step-by-step walkthrough to writing a cover letter for a manager position that’s at least as effective.

Oh, and if you haven’t finished your resume yet or you’re looking for ways to improve it, check out this guide: Manager Resume—Guide, Examples & Templates

2. How to Write a Cover Letter for Manager Positions—Template

Here’s how to write a job-winning manager cover letter:

1. Pay Attention to Proper Business Cover Letter Formatting

You know the importance of first impressions and a professional veneer better than most. A cover letter for a manager position has to excel at achieving both.

Here are the key rules for formatting your cover letter:

• Left-align everything without using justification.
• Leave the margins at an inch all around.
• Choose an understated font like Calibri or Arial in 11–12 pt.
• Use 1–1.15x line spacing.
• Limit yourself to a single page—the best length for a cover letter is short 3–4 paragraphs.

Expert Hint: According to this report by Geneca, 80% of companies spend at least 50% of their time on rework. No wonder, then, that attention to detail is a sought-after trait across the board. Show your attention to detail from the outset with a stellar cover letter format.

2. Create a Cover Letter Header that Includes Your Contact Information

Get your header right, and it’ll quietly do its job, virtually invisible. Get it wrong, and it’ll be a glaring setback, difficult to recover from.

The header for your cover letter has to be identical to the header on your manager resume. It should include your full name, job title, and contact details.

Put the city and date of writing below your header. Write the hiring manager’s inside address below that.

Simply left-align everything if you don’t know exactly what to do in terms of layout, and exactly how to do it.

Follow this template:

Manager Cover Letter Header Template

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3. Introduce Yourself and Make it Clear You’re Not Copy-Pasting

The first paragraph of your manager cover letter has one job to do:

It has to grab the hiring manager’s attention by making it clear that it’s written specifically for them.

The most basic way to start doing this is by addressing the hiring manager by name. Wondering how to address a cover letter when you don’t know the hiring manager’s name?

Don’t, just find out what their name is. Search online, double-check the job ad, or try LinkedIn. All else fails, call them and ask—that always works.

Start your cover letter by referring specifically to the job to which you’re applying and briefly describing how you’re a perfect fit.

Here’s another paint-by-numbers template for you to use in a pinch. Just fill in the blanks with your information.

Manager Cover Letter Sample: Introduction

Expert Hint: There’s no doubt that an MBA can be a huge advantage on the labor market, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. Do your research, double-check the requirements, and play to your strengths, whether you have an MBA or not.

4. Put a Spotlight on Your Strengths

The second paragraph of your manager cover letter is where you make it clear that you both understand and fulfill the job requirements.

Pick two or three key requirements from the job description and match them with some of your recent achievements, showing that you’ve handled similar challenges before.

See this fill-in-the-blanks example.

Cover Letter for Manager Positions: Middle Paragraph

Expert Hint: It’s no secret that bad management can cause companies to fail suddenly and spectacularly. Hiring managers are sensitive to this risk and will be looking for examples of management candidates doing the opposite: cutting operating costs, stabilizing positions, and averting disasters.

5. Show You Want This Job, Not Just a Job

The third paragraph of your manager cover letter is a great opportunity to slip in a little flattery.

This isn’t as shallow a move as it might seem. Hiring managers are looking for serious, motivated applicants who are likely to not only accept an offer, but also stay on with the company longer term.

So make it clear that you want to work for this company more than any other, and explain why.

Not sure how? Use this template:

Manager Cover Letter Example: Your Motivation

6. End On a Clear Call to Action and the Right Sign-Off

End your cover letter by asking for a follow-up call or meeting. Summarize your offer. Suggest a topic for further discussion. Make it a bit of a teaser, but don’t be too coy.

Here’s a sample manager cover letter closing you can use as a reference:

Sample Cover Letter for Manager Position: Call to Action & Formal Closing

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Key Points

When writing a cover letter for manager positions, you should:

• Address the cover letter directly to the hiring manager.
• Introduce yourself, mention the position for which you’re applying, and list your key strengths in the introduction.
• Show relevant achievements that match the requirements of the job and make an offer to help your target company with their challenges.
• Explain your motivation for joining the company.
• Close with a call to action, asking for a meeting or call.

Got niggling questions in spite of all these manager cover letter examples? Or maybe some advice for new managers? Leave a comment. We’ll be sure to reply.