How to build a compelling recruiter cover letter in 5 easy steps
While small businesses can handle hiring on their own, larger companies rely on the skills of professional recruiters to find the best available talent to join their teams. To earn a job as a recruiter, you need a cover letter that highlights your best abilities and accomplishments, as well as your dedication to the position.
In this guide, we will teach you 5 easy steps for writing a recruiter cover letter. Keep reading to learn all about how to:
- Create your recruiter cover letter header & headline
- Personalize the content & greeting of your recruiter cover letter
- Construct a compelling recruiter cover letter introduction
- Describe your best skills & accomplishments as a recruiter
- Write a strong conclusion for your recruiter cover letter
Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.
1. Create a proper recruiter cover letter header & headline
To begin, the very first step to writing a cover letter as a recruiter is to write a well-formatted header and headline.
A cover letter header comes first, containing all the need-to-know information about the applicant and the employer. This information 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
Ensuring your header is nicely organized helps to give your cover letter greater structure and visual appeal, so pay attention to how you list this information and make sure it is orderly.
Here is an example of a well-formatted recruiter header
Jack King, Professional Recruiter
(123) 456-7890 | jackking@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jack-king
To: Tech Gods United
HR & Recruitment Department
1234 Street Address
Philadelphia, PA, 19019
After you have crafted your recruiter header, the next step is to write an engaging cover letter headline that attracts the attention of employers.
To write this headline as a recruiter, 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 an effective recruiter headline, followed by a brief explanation of its key components
Looking for a Recruiter with a High Onboarding Success Rate? Here’s Why I am Perfect for this Role
Trigger Word/Number: Looking for, Here’s Why
Keyword: Recruiter, Onboarding Success Rate
Adjective/Verb: High, Perfect
Promise: for this Role – this part of the headline indicates to the employer that you will specifically explain why your skills are a good match for their current opening.
2. Personalize the content & greeting of your recruiter cover letter
Before you begin writing the introduction and body paragraphs of your cover letter, it is crucial to have the proper information handy to personalize the letter for a specific job.
Personalization is the process of tailoring a cover letter using precise details about a company gained from thorough research. By doing so, you not only show the employer your excellent attention to detail but also a high level of effort within your job application.
When researching a company, look for key details such as:
- What the company’s stated goals and values are – look specifically for what kind of language they use and find ways to incorporate this language into your cover letter.
- What projects or major clients the company is currently involved with – use these details to explain how your skills and experience can benefit the company’s ongoing business affairs.
- The exact person at the company who will review your letter – you will use this information to create a personalized greeting that addresses this person by name.
Here are 3 examples of personalized recruiter cover letter greetings
- Dear Ms. Mary Green,
- Dear Recruitment Manager Mary Green,
- Dear Ms. Mary Green & the Recruitment Team,
Pro Tip: Always double-check that you are using the correct honorific (Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr., etc.) for a person before submitting your cover letter. Never blindly guess – if you are unsure, remove the honorific entirely.
3. Construct a compelling recruiter cover letter introduction
Now that you know how to personalize and tailor your cover letter for the job at hand, it’s finally time to begin writing the body content – starting with your introduction.
A strong recruiter cover letter introduction will be compelling, including details such as:
- An overview of your professional history (years of experience, specializations, etc.)
- A brief explanation of why you are applying for the position
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible) – including mutual acquaintances helps you build initial rapport and credibility with an employer
Pro Tip: Having mutual acquaintances with a company you are interested in is not the most common scenario. However, you can take matters into your own hands by using a professional platform like LinkedIn to grow your network and connect with current employees and associates of companies that interest you.
Here is an example of a compelling introduction from a recruiter’s cover letter
Dear Ms. Mary Green,
I am a professional recruiter with more than 6 years of experience working in corporate consulting firms. Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting your company’s Head of HR, John Doe, at a business conference. Mr. Doe reviewed my resume and strongly recommended I apply for this position – and after speaking with him more about your company’s values and goals – I have determined I am the ideal candidate for this job.
4. Describe your best skills & accomplishments as a recruiter
With your introduction in place, it’s time to write the body paragraphs. Ideally, a recruiter’s cover letter should contain between 2 to 4 body paragraphs that offer key insights into your best professional attributes, including:
- What key skills and competencies do you possess
- What relevant accomplishments make you stand out as an applicant
- How do you plan to apply your skills and experience in the role
- What value can you contribute to the company
As you write this information, make sure the details about your skills and accomplishments are as specific and quantifiable as possible. This will make your cover letter more impactful for the employer by showcasing the value you have to offer.
Here are 6 examples of recruiter skills that are excellent to describe in a cover letter
- Creating and posting job descriptions to various platforms (Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.)
- Candidate outreach methods
- Electronic file management
- Onboarding procedures (interviewing, hiring, etc.)
- Knowledge of employment laws
- Conducting job interviews
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a recruiter cover letter
As a recruiter for [Former Employer], I helped raise the onboarding success rate by more than 20% by introducing new hiring marketing materials and a streamlined recruitment process. This process included the use of a new digital platform designed for recruitment, which I played a vital role in sourcing and implementing.
5. Write a strong conclusion for your recruiter cover letter
Finish off your recruiter cover letter strong with a well-written closing statement. Your cover letter conclusion should include:
- 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 a strong closing statement from a recruiter’s cover letter
I am greatly excited by the prospect of working for your excellent company and hope to hear from you within a week to further discuss this opportunity. I am available to meet or speak directly any weekday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. If I have not heard back by next Wednesday, I will reach out to check on my application’s status. The best way to reach me is at (123) 456-7890.
With Appreciation,
[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.