The ulitmate guide to writing a job-winning carpenter cover letter
Carpenters play many important roles within the construction industry including designing, installing, and repairing various structures. To become a carpenter, you will not only need a resume that highlights your relevant experience but also a cover letter that showcases your professional drive and commitment.
In this guide, we will teach you 5 essential steps to writing a cover letter as a carpenter. Keep reading to learn:
- How to format your carpenter cover letter header & headline
- Why to include personalized greeting on your cover letter
- How to write a compelling carpenter cover letter introduction
- Ways to showcase your professional value as a carpenter
- What to say in the closing statement of your carpenter cover letter
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1. How to format your carpenter cover letter header & headline effectively
The first step to creating an effective cover letter is to write a well-formatted header and headline.
A cover letter header is a small block of text – typically found in the top-left corner of the document – that includes the identifying information about the letter sender (the applicant) and the letter recipient (the employer).
As for the cover letter headline, this is a brief title statement that focuses on the most important information found within the letter to help hook an employer’s attention.
Below, we have included more in-depth explanations and examples for each of these cover letter elements:
Formatting the header
Your cover letter header is not bound by a strict set of formatting rules – however, it should always contain between 3 to 4 lines of text that include:
- The name of the company you are applying to (& the department, when applicable)
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information (phone number, email address, LinkedIn, etc.)
Here is an example of what a well-written carpenter cover letter header may look like
To: Morgan Construction Associates, Carpentry Department
From: Jack Smith, Professional Carpenter
(123) 456-7890 | jacksmith@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jack-smith
Writing the headline
When writing the headline of your cover letter, you should always use 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 a well-written headline on a carpenter cover letter
My 3 Carpentry Successes & How I Can Achieve Them at Your Company
Trigger Word/Number: 3 Successes
Keyword: Carpentry
Adjective/Verb: Achieve
Promise: At Your Company – the addition of this promise statement at the end of the headline shows the employer you will relate your skills and qualifications directly to the needs of their company.
2. Ho to include a personalized greeting on your carpenter cover letter
Immediately following the headline of your cover letter is your formal greeting. You have two options when writing this element: either a generalized greeting or a personalized greeting.
We tend to recommend staying away from generalized greetings – such as “To Whom It May Concern” – as they do not help with hooking the employer or showing your attention to detail.
Personalized greetings, on the other hand, address a specific person or department by name. This shows employers you have taken the time to research their company and know exactly who you are speaking to.
If you are unable to pinpoint an exact person or department who will review your cover letter, try one of the following alternatives:
To the [Company Name] Team
Or
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager
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3. How to write a compelling carpenter cover letter introduction
Next up on your carpenter cover letter is the introductory paragraph. While your headline and greeting help to initially grab an employer’s attention, your introduction should compel them to continue reading by including:
- A brief overview of your professional history and goals
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Here is an example to help demonstrate how to write a carpenter cover letter introduction
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,
I am a professional Carpenter with more than 3 years of experience working in Cabinet Carpentry. Recently, I worked under contract for your company’s Head of Communications – Jane Doe – for a home remodel project. Ms. Doe was highly satisfied with my quality of work and recommended I apply for a full-time position at your company.
4. How to showcase your professional value as a carpenter
Now that you have the attention of the employer secured, your next step is to write the body paragraphs of your cover letter. Generally, a strong cover letter will contain between 2 to 4 body paragraphs that offer in-depth answers to the following questions:
- What excites you about working at this company?
- What do you hope to learn from working at this company?
- What accomplishments or qualifications make you stand out as an applicant?
- What key skills do you possess that are relevant to the position?
Including accomplishments is particularly crucial within these body paragraphs, as they help to demonstrate to employers the real-life value you can bring to a business.
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a carpenter cover letter
As a Journeyman Carpenter for [Former Employer], I assembled and installed the foundation components for more than 400 buildings over a 2-year timespan. Additionally, I assisted in the development of new onsite safety protocols that reduced personnel injuries by 55%.
5. How to craft a closing statement of your carpenter cover letter
The final step to writing a cover letter as a carpenter is to create a powerful closing statement that includes:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of an effective closing statement from a carpenter cover letter
I greatly look forward to meeting with you directly to further discuss this opportunity and my qualifications for the position. I am available to schedule a meeting time Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the best way to reach me is at (123)456-7890.
Appreciatively,
[Applicant Name]
Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success.
