Software Engineer Cover Letter: Examples & Templates (2023)

You’ve come across the ideal job opening for a software engineer position.

It’s got it all—autonomy, challenging projects, a great company culture, and awesome colleagues to work with and help you grow.

But first—

Before you can score that IT interview, you need to write a software engineer cover letter that compels them to read your CV and call you in for a meeting.

It’s not as tough as it sounds.

In this article, you’ll get:

• Two software engineer cover letter examples: one cover letter example for fresher software engineer and one experienced example.
• Step-by-step advice on how to create a software engineer cover letter that’ll earn you more IT interviews.
• A software engineering cover letter template you’re able to edit and prepare in 15 minutes to attach alongside your software engineer CV.

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Looking for other cover letter examples for positions in IT? See:

• Computer Science Cover Letter
• IT Cover Letter
• Web Developer Cover Letter
• Engineering Cover Letter Sample

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Cover Letter Examples.

Do you still need to write a CV? These guides (with examples) may come in handy:

• Java Developer CV
• Full Stack Developer CV
• Net Developer CV
• Programmer CV
• Devops CV
• Sql Developer CV
• Engineering CV

Let’s begin with two software engineer cover letter samples:

1. Software Engineer Cover Letter Examples

In this first example, get acquainted with Zadie.

Zadie has been a software engineer for several years. Her contract has now expired, so she is on the market looking for new opportunities.

Zadie has experience in web development and mobile applications, which is exactly what MASS Gaming is looking for. They want someone with JavaScript, Django, and Python, among other things.

Let’s see Zadie knock it out of the park with this senior software engineer cover letter example:

Example #1: Cover Letter for an Experienced Software Engineer

What’d you think?

Zadie is sure to impress the IT recruiter, hiring manager, or Director of IT with this software engineering cover letter example.

Now, what if you haven’t any software engineering experience?

Don’t worry.

Meet Zadie’s twin brother, Zachary. 

Though they’re the same age, Zack doesn’t have professional software engineering job experience. During the time Zadie worked on her IT career, Zack here took a few years after university to backpack around southeast Asia.

Zack’s applying for a junior software engineer job opening at MASS Gaming, an entry-level position which will help him hone and develop his software engineering skills.

Let’s see how Zack’s cover letter for entry level software engineer still wows the CTO:

Example #2: No Experience Candidate (Software Engineer Cover Letter Entry Level)

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There you have it.

You’ve now seen two software engineer cover letter examples that will set the benchmark for other candidates and is sure to score an IT interview.

Now— 

Let’s go through each step of writing a top-performing cover letter for software engineer jobs of your own. 

If you’re feeling short on time, don’t worry. We’ll give you simple templates for every portion of your technical cover letter. All you need to do is fill in the blanks.

Is your software engineer CV not optimised? See our dedicated CV guide: Software Engineer CV Template—25+ Examples and Writing Tips

2. How to Write a Cover Letter for Software Engineer Jobs (Step-by-Step Template)

Here is how to create a software engineer cover letter sure to win an interview:

1. Follow Business Letter Formatting Rules

Were you thinking of diving right in and writing your software engineer cover letter?

Hold up a sec.

Cover letter content has a dependency relationship with the software engineering cover letter format. See, the second thing the CTO notices is your first sentence. The first thing they notice? The layout of your cover letter template.

Want a software engineer cover letter with little entropy?

Here’s how to format a cover letter effectively:

• Align everything in your cover letter for software engineering jobs to the left, and don’t justify the text.
• Use a one-inch margin on all four sides and single line spacing in the content.
• Pick an elegant font for a cover letter which is easy on the eyes.
• One page does it. Don’t let your cover letter spill onto a second sheet.

Expert Hint: A study by the University of Minnesota says that “spelling errors, poor grammar, and poor organisation” are the biggest issues when writing CVs and application letters. On top of that, one of the most important factors for a successful cover letter is listing the specific job title, so never turn in a generic cover letter.

2. Add Your Contact Deets in a Professional Cover Letter Header

A headless browser may be useful for test automation, but a headless software engineer cover letter is useless.

Not only that— 

The header of your software engineer cover letter should resemble the one on your CV.

Each needs to include your first and last name and contact information. Adding your job title or a branding statement is optional.

The cover letter goes further than the software engineer CV, in that it also needs to include the date of writing and the company’s details, just as any formal letter would.

Check out this easy cover letter heading template:

Sample Software Engineer Cover Letter Template of Header Section

Easy as coding a “Hello world!” HTML page, right?

Double your impact with a matching CV and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.

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Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

3. Start Strong by Introducing Yourself & Informing Them of the Job You’re Applying For

Like a fun, perfectly coded mobile game, you want the IT manager to become immersed in your software engineering cover letter.

How?

It starts with a compelling and informative cover letter introduction.

First, address the employer by name. Recruiters, hiring managers, and IT managers love personalised cover letters, and you can easily find their names on LinkedIn or the company website.

Next, start the cover letter by informing them about the position you’re applying for and a brief look at your professional career background so far.

Here’s a fill-in-the-blanks template to copy, alter, and use for yourself:

Cover Letter Sample Software Engineer: Introduction

Mention the specific job sought, the specific job requirements that you can fulfil (taken directly from the wording in the job posting), and highlight your education, certifications, work experience, skills, abilities, interests and aspirations that directly relate to that specific job (a bullet-format often works well for these items). Remember: The employer has a ‘problem’ (i.e., a vacancy in a specific job); and you must demonstrate that you're the ‘solution’ to that problem—in terms of providing a solid ‘fit’ for that open position.

Expert Hint: Show a bit of enthusiasm! Recent research has shown a direct correlation between the happiness of a software developer and the quality of their output, so exude passion for development on your software engineer cover letter.

4. Showcase Your Software Engineering Skills & IT Competence

The middle part of your software engineer cover letter— 

This portion needs to match your IT skills, knowledge of developer duties, and past accomplishments to the software engineering role.

How?

Open the software engineer job description and find the specific responsibilities of the candidate they’re looking to hire. In your software engineer cover letter, explain how your experience and abilities have prepared you for this position.

Check out this software engineer cover letter example:

Cover Letter for a Software Engineer: Middle Paragraph

Expert Hint: Writing a cover letter for an experienced software engineer? A Microsoft study found that skills for management in software development vary greatly from leadership in other domains. Focus more on soft skills and emotional intelligence over technical skills.

5. Inform The CTO or IT Recruiter Why This Is the Place You Want to Be

Whether writing a cover letter for a software engineer internship or experienced software engineer, drop some compliments.

Why?

Yes, they’re definitely more interested in your software engineering competence, tech skills, and IT abilities. However, they also want to see that you want to be there and how well you’d fit in on the team.

Check out this example:

Cover Letter Software Engineer Example: Motivating Statement

6. End the Software Engineering Cover Letter with a Clear Call to Action & Sign-Off

To close a cover letter, ask for a meeting (don’t say interview), whether face-to-face, over the phone, or on a video chat session.

Highlight your proposition, and tell them you’re eager to talk more about how you see yourself fitting into their IT team and helping them to grow. 

Here’s a sample software engineer cover letter closing to use as a guide:

Software Engineer Cover Letter Example: Call to Action & Closing

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Key Points

Here’s how to write a software engineer cover letter as error-free as the code you deploy:

• Address your experienced or internship software engineering cover letter directly to the IT recruiter, CTO, CIO, or HR hiring manager.
• Start the application letter by introducing yourself, informing them of the specific position to which you are applying, and giving a quick overview of your background.
• Detail what makes you a particularly exceptional software engineering candidate. Use numbered achievements for more oomph.
• Explain what motivates you to join this particular startup or company on your cover letter for software engineering jobs.
• Close with a strong call-to-action, and request a phone call or meeting.
• Attach it to your software engineer CV and send it off!

Got any questions on how to talk up your software engineering skills and IT abilities? Need more templates? Check out these free MS Word Cover Letter Templates.  Need a more general guide on how to write a cover letter? Why don’t you leave a comment below, and we’ll chat. Thanks for reading!