How to write an impressive management cover letter

Working as a manager can be a high-stakes position, with teams of people relying on your leadership to keep a business operating effectively. To write an impressive management cover letter, you must include key details about your relevant skills, accomplishments, and qualifications for the role.

In this guide, we will teach you 5 key steps for writing a management cover letter. Keep reading to learn all about:

Formatting your management cover letter header & headline
Tailoring your cover letter for a role in management
Writing an effective cover letter introduction as a manager
Featuring your management skills & accomplishments with specific details
Concluding your management cover letter persuasively

1. Formatting your management cover letter header & headline

As you begin crafting your management cover letter, the first essential step is to give your cover letter structure via two key elements: a header and a headline.

Your header and headline both need to be well-formatted and concise, as this is the first information an employer will encounter and gain an impression from.

Starting with your cover letter header, this element should include:

Your name and professional title
Your professional contact information
The name of the company & department you are applying to
The address of the company

Here is an example of a well-formatted management cover letter header

John Doe, Upper Management

(123) 456-7890 | johndoe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/john-doe

To: The Broiler Company
Management Department
1234 Street Address
San Francisco, CA, 94016

Once you have completed your header, the next step is to write a compelling cover letter headline that grabs the employer’s attention.

To write your management headline, include:

A keyword related to the position
An eye-catching number or trigger word
A powerful adjective or verb
A promise to the employer that the letter is specifically for them

Here is an example of a well-written management headline, followed by a brief breakdown of its main components

My 3-Step Approach to Leadership in Management & How I Will Use it to Support Your Team

Trigger Word/Number: 3-Step Approach
Keyword: Leadership, Management
Adjective/Verb: Support
Promise: Your Team

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2. Tailoring your cover letter for a role in management

When you apply for a position in management, employers want to see clear indications of your work ethic, commitment, and effort. The best way to showcase these right off the bat is by tailoring your cover letter to each specific job you apply to.

Tailoring a cover letter requires you to fully research the company beforehand. As you complete this research, key details to search for include:

Company values: An employer is going to comb through cover letters looking for the skills and values they prefer. To gain insight into what these values are, check out the company’s mission statement and various marketing materials, making notes of the keywords and language they use.
Current projects & associations: Being knowledgeable about a company’s current projects and professional associations is crucial, as it allows you to speak directly about the company’s needs and how you can fulfill them in your cover letter.
Specific staff members: Always take the time to identify which staff members at a company are responsible for reviewing applications and calling back qualified candidates. Using this information, you can create a personalized greeting that addresses this specific person by name.

Here are 3 examples of personalized cover letter greetings:

Dear CEO Jane Mills,
Dear Chief Manager Jack Smith,
Dear Mr. Jack Smith & the Management Department,

3. Writing an effective cover letter introduction as a manager

Once you have the necessary information for tailoring your cover letter, it’s time to dive into writing the actual content. The first paragraph you write is your introduction, which should include:

A concise summary of your professional background (years of experience, specializations, etc.)
An opening statement on why you believe you are a great fit for the position
A mutual acquaintance (when possible)

Pro Tip: Mutual acquaintances can be a golden ticket into the hearts of employers. By naming a mutual acquaintance, you immediately build rapport by offering a trusted professional reference. If you lack a mutual acquaintance, try using LinkedIn to connect with relevant professionals.

Here is an example of an effective management introduction

Dear Chief Manager Jack Smith,

I am a management professional with more than 10 years of specialized experience in financial risk management. With a proven track record of developing effective risk budgets, I know I can bring the level of expertise needed to this position. My mentor, Mr. Joe King, is a professional associate of your CEO and highly recommended I apply for this opening, as my professional personality and leadership style match perfectly with your existing workplace culture.

4. Featuring your management skills & accomplishments with specific details

After you have written a strong and effective introduction, you will move on to writing the body paragraphs of your cover letter. These body paragraphs should focus on your most relevant skills, accomplishments, and qualifications in management.

As you describe your skills and accomplishments, make sure to include information that is:

Specific: Always be as specific as possible when describing your professional attributes. For example, don’t just say you have an excellent leadership style – instead, describe your exact leadership style (authoritative, delegative, transformational, etc.) and explain how you apply it in the workplace.
Contextual: Providing context is key for making the information in your cover letter more valuable to employers. Context can include describing a former position and its responsibilities or explaining a particular project or objective you were assigned in a previous job.
Quantifiable: Whenever possible, include quantifiable facts regarding your skills and accomplishments, such as key data points or statistics. This helps show an employer the real-life value you have to offer.

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

Business development & logistics
Budget creation
Public speaking
Project management
Exceptional verbal & non-verbal communication
Staff mentoring & leadership

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

As the head manager in a corporate office at [Former Employer], one of my key responsibilities was assessing my team members’ performance each month. By utilizing a personalized approach to performance management, I achieved an average 45% increase in productivity with my assigned team.

5. Concluding your management cover letter persuasively

To conclude your management cover letter, you need a strong closing statement that persuades the employer to contact you promptly.

This closing statement should include:

How and when you can be best contacted
When you would like to hear back and when you plan to follow up
A formal sign-off

Here is an example of a persuasive closing statement from a management cover letter

I thank you for taking the time to review my application and greatly look forward to hearing from you regarding this position, ideally within the next week. If I have not heard back by next Friday morning, I plan to follow up at that time. To best reach me, call me at (123) 456-7890 any weekday between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Many Thanks,

[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 June 10, 2022

Nikoleta Žišková

Resume Writer & Editor

A journalist by trade, a writer by fate. Nikoleta went from writing for media outlets to exploring the world of content creation with Kickresume and helping people get closer to the job of their dreams. Her insights and career guides have been published by The Female Lead, College Recruiter, and ISIC, among others. When she’s not writing or (enthusiastically) pestering people with questions, you can find her traveling or sipping on a cup of coffee.