How to create an effective human resources cover letter

Human resources professionals specialize in dealing with staff members and their workplace relationships – from recruiting and interviewing to managing workplace conflicts. To earn a position as a human resources professional, you will need to write an effective cover letter that showcases your talents.

In this guide, we will teach you 5 simple steps for writing a human resources cover letter. Keep reading to learn how to:

Structure your human resources cover letter with a header and headline
Personalize the greeting and content of your human resources cover letter
Write a compelling introduction on your human resources cover letter
Highlight your best professional attributes in human resources
Finish your human resources cover letter with a memorable conclusion

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1. Structure your human resources cover letter with a header and headline

Unlike a resume, a cover letter does not have a set structure with separate sections. This makes it crucial to give your letter structure and visual flow via a header and headline.

A cover letter header is the first detail an employer will see and should provide necessary information such as:

Your name and professional title
Your professional contact information
The name of the company you are applying to (& the department name)
The address of the company (optional – most commonly included for printed cover letters)

Here is an example of a well-structured human resources header

Jane Allen, Human Resources Manager
(123) 456-7890 | janeallen@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jane-allen

To: Regent Markets, Inc.
Human Resources Department
1234 Street Address
Miami, FL, 33101

Once the header is in place, you can move on to creating your cover letter headline – a short title statement used for hooking the employer’s attention with the most compelling details from your letter.

In your headline, aim to include a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.

Here is an example of an effective human resources headline, followed by a breakdown of its key components

My Successful 3-Step Approach to Human Resources & How I Will Apply It at Your Company

Trigger Word/Number: 3-Step Approach
Keyword: Human Resources
Adjective/Verb: Successful, Apply
Promise: Your Company – by including this type of detail at the end of your headline, you inform the employer that you will speak directly about how your skills and experience can benefit their company.

2. Personalize the greeting and content of your human resources cover letter

Cover letters can be an immensely helpful tool when applying to jobs when they are tailored for the specific job you are applying to.

To personalize your cover letter for the job, you will need to research the company thoroughly before applying. During this research, look for information such as:

The employee who is most likely to review your cover letter and application
Projects the company is currently involved in (and how your skills can be used for this project’s purposes)
Values and goals the company has publicly stated (this information reveals key language the company uses that you can reflect in your letter)

You will also want to create a personalized greeting that addresses a specific person by name. Including this type of greeting helps to immediately show your attention to detail and the level of research completed.

Here are 3 examples of personalized cover letter greetings

Dear Mr. John Doe,
Dear Hiring Manager John Doe,
Dear John Doe & the Human Resources Team,

3. Write a compelling introduction on your human resources cover letter

After your greeting is written, the next piece of your cover letter to focus on is the introduction. A human resources introduction should be between 2 to 3 sentences in length and include:

A concise overview of your professional history (years of experience, area of expertise, etc.)
A statement on why you are applying for the position
A mutual acquaintance (when possible) – including mutual acquaintances is incredibly useful and impactful for your cover letter. If you lack a reliable mutual acquaintance, try using social platforms like LinkedIn to grow your professional network

Here is an example of a well-written human resources introduction

Dear Mr. John Doe,

I am a human resources professional with more than 5 years of experience working in a C-suite level corporate environment. My professional acquaintance, Jack King, is a manager in your communications department and highly recommended I apply for this opening. I have chosen to take Mr. King’s advice as I believe my skill set is a perfect match for your company’s current needs.

4. Highlight your best professional attributes in human resources

Next up are the body paragraphs of your cover letter. This is the bulkiest section, offering answers to key questions such as:

What relevant skills, accomplishments, and qualifications do you possess?
How can you apply your skills and qualifications within this position?
What can you contribute to the company’s current projects and goals?

As you describe your various professional attributes, make sure to include quantifiable details and specific examples whenever possible. Remember that these paragraphs are where you can showcase the professional value you have to offer, so make the most of this space.

Here are 6 examples of human resources skills to describe in a cover letter

Employee onboarding processes (recruitment, interviewing, hiring, etc.)
Developing employee training programs
Complaint investigation and conflict management
Employee retention strategies
Empathetic and active listening
Collaborative leadership

Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a human resources cover letter

As the human resources assistant for [Former Employer], I helped to develop and deploy a new employee training program that increased the productivity rate of new employees by 25%. Additionally, this program introduced new employee outreach initiatives that raised overall employee satisfaction by 30%.

5. Finish your human resources cover letter with a memorable conclusion

The final step to writing an effective human resources cover letter is to end with a memorable closing statement. This conclusion should include:

An enthusiastic statement about the position and your plans to follow up
When you plan to reach back out and how the employer can best reach you
A formal sign-off

Here is an example of a strong closing statement from a human resources cover letter

Thank you for taking the time to review my cover letter and application. I am incredibly eager to learn more about this position and look forward to hearing from you within the next week. The best time to reach me is any weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (123) 456-7890. If I have not heard back by next Friday, I will reach out regarding the status of my application.

Appreciatively,

[Applicant Name]

If you have ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two.

Published on April 21, 2022

Milan Šaržík, CPRW

Certified Professional Résumé Writer

Milan’s work-life has been centered around job search for the past three years. He is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW™) as well as an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches (PARWCC™). Milan holds a record for creating the most career document samples for our help center – until today, he has written more than 500 resumes and cover letters for positions across various industries. On top of that, Milan has completed studies at multiple well-known institutions, including Harvard University, University of Glasgow, and Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.