As someone in the managerial position, your store manager cover letter needs to showcase your many critically important skills. Whether it be supporting the store’s staff or delighting customers, you're always ready to take charge.
Learn how to communicate all that with our ultimate guide, brimming with valuable writing tips, cover letter samples, inspiring examples, and templates you can adjust to your liking.
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In this guide, we discuss the key tricks to writing an excellent store manager cover letter. Keep reading to learn all about:
- Giving your store manager cover letter structure with a header & headline
- Tailoring your store manager cover letter for each individual employer
- Crafting an enticing introduction for your store manager cover letter
- Showcasing your best skills and accomplishments as a store manager
- Concluding your store manager cover letter effectively & persuasively
- Accessing top resources for job-seeking store managers
1. Give your store manager cover letter structure with a header & headline
As you begin to write your store manager cover letter, it's crucial to consider how you will give it structure. Without a well-thought-out structure, a cover letter can easily look like one big block of text that is off-putting to employers.
The best way to achieve an appealing structure is through the use of a header and headline.
Starting with a cover letter header, this is a small block of text placed in the upper left corner or top center of the page. In a header, an employer should find:
- Your name and professional title (typically in a slightly larger font)
- Your professional contact information (phone number, email address, etc.)
- The name of the company
- The address of the company
Here is an example of a good-looking header from a store manager cover letter
Julia Woods, Store Manager
(123) 456-7890 | juliawoods@email.com | linkedin.com/in/julia-woods
To: Harris Teeter Grocery Store
1234 Street Address
Wilmington, NC 28401
After you're satisfied with the appearance of your header, your next step is to write a cover letter headline. Although widely considered an optional element on a cover letter, headlines help to both provide extra structure and introduce the main point of the letter to the employer.
When writing a headline, 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 statement that lets the employer know you have written this letter specifically for them.
Here is an example of a well-written store manager cover letter headline
The 3 Essential Skills that Help Me Excel as a Store Manager & How I Plan to Apply Them at Your Store
Trigger Word/Number: 3 Essential Skills
Keyword: Store Manager
Adjective/Verb: Essential, Excel, Apply
Promise Statement: Your Store
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2. Tailor your store manager cover letter for each individual employer
As an employer reads through a cover letter, the details that will catch their eye the most are those that are highly specific to their exact wants and needs.
This is called tailoring a cover letter, a process in which you research the employer beforehand to discover key information that helps you personalize the letter’s content for that specific employer.
To successfully tailor your store manager cover letter, look for information such as:
- The company’s values and motto
- Press and media about the company that reveals their strengths
- Details on specific staff members responsible for hiring
This last piece of information is used to create a personalized greeting that addresses a specific person by name. Including this type of greeting lets the employer know you have taken the time to research and tailor your cover letter beforehand.
Here are 3 examples of personalized store manager cover letter greetings
- Dear Hiring Manager Paul Good,
- Dear Mr. Paul Good,
- Dear Store Supervisor Mariah Weaver,
3. Craft an enticing introduction for your store manager cover letter
Though a header and headline can go a long way in making a strong first impression with an employer, the true key to an employer’s heart is the cover letter introduction.
Your introduction should be enticing, highlighting your very best credentials and experience level as a store manager. After an employer reads your introduction, they should be left wanting more, convincing them to continue reading on through the rest of your letter.
To accomplish this, make sure to include:
- A concise summary of your professional history and experience as a store manager
- A statement on why you're enthusiastic about applying to this company and what makes you a qualified candidate
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Pro Tip: A mutual acquaintance can serve a dual purpose of a professional reference and a way to build rapport with the employer. If you need help growing your professional network to gain a mutual acquaintance, LinkedIn is a great platform to use for this purpose.
Here is an example of an excellent introduction from a store manager cover letter
Dear Hiring Manager Paul Good,
As a store manager with more than 5 years of specialized experience managing a gourmet grocery store, I know I have the skills needed to join your highly-rated management team. My former manager, Mr. Logan Greene, now works as your store’s Deli Manager and alerted me to this opening, encouraging me to apply given my qualifications for this opportunity.
4. Showcase your best skills and accomplishments as a store manager
Once you're happy with your introduction and believe it'll entice an employer to continue reading, you can dive into a deeper explanation of your top skills and accomplishments as a store manager.
When describing these qualifications, make sure the information your include is:
- Specific: Always avoid vagueness when writing a cover letter. For instance, rather than saying you have strong communication skills, explain your communication style and why it is well-suited for a management position.
- Relevant: Any details you include regarding your skills and accomplishments should be highly relevant to the employer and job opening. Try not to go off on tangents that are not easily relatable to the position at hand.
- Quantifiable: Whenever possible, use numbers or data points to help prove and quantify your qualifications. For example, if you helped raise a store’s Google rating, state the original rating and the new rating you helped achieve.
Here are 6 skills to describe in a store manager cover letter
- Staff supervision
- Onboarding and hiring processes
- Operational procedures
- Inventory management
- Promotional development
- Staff training
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a cover letter
In my role as a store manager at [Former Employer], I worked diligently to improve staff training processes to create a more individualized experience for customers. As a result of the training program I developed and implemented, the store saw a 25% increase in overall customer satisfaction and earned a 4.9-star rating on Google My Business.
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5. Conclude your store manager cover letter effectively & persuasively
The final task on your cover letter to-do list is to write an effective conclusion.
Your concluding statement has one central purpose — to persuade the employer to get in touch with you as soon as possible. Remember that the earlier you can hear back from the employer, the better.
To make your conclusion persuasive, include:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you're looking forward to hearing from them
- A statement saying when you would like to hear from them and when you intend to follow up
- The best method and time to contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of an effective conclusion from a store manager cover letter
I am beyond excited to learn more about this opportunity and eagerly await your response to my letter. As I would love to be considered for this position, I plan to reach back out next Tuesday if I have not yet heard from you. Please reach me at your earliest convenience at (123) 456-7890 any weekday during normal business hours.
Kind Regards,
[Applicant Name]
If you've ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two.
6. Valuable job search resources for store managers
Finding it hard to start searching for the right job? If so, you're in the right place! Because we've gathered a list of valuable resources to kick start your job hunt:
- Retail job boards: Looking for job postings targeted at your profession is the easiest with specialized platforms like retailjobs, RetailJobsWeb.com, and AllRetailJobs.
- General job search engines: Next, you can check websites that aggregate job listings from all industries and locations. For example, try out Indeed, Glassdoor, or Monster.
- LinkedIn: No matter the industry, LinkedIn is by far the most useful platform for all job seekers. Connecting with fellow professionals or potential employers has never been easier.
- Professional associations: Organizations like the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), the National Retail Federation (NRF), or the Sales Management Association (SMA) are excellent sources of industry insights, trends, and strategies.
- Retail management publications: To gain a competitive edge, consider following media like “Retail Dive,” “Retail TouchPoints,” “STORES Magazine.”
- Courses & certifications: Finally, don't rest on your laurels! Take advantage of platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, or edX and gain new skills.
The process of job hunting can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. But one that's well worth the fight! So, keep your head high and don't get discouraged by initial setbacks. Your ideal job position is waiting just around the corner!
Store Manager Cover Letter FAQ
How should I showcase my store management skills in my cover letter?
You need to start by identifying the key skills and experiences that are most relevant to the particular store manager position you're applying for. Try to use specific examples from your previous roles, such as how you successfully increased sales, improved customer satisfaction, or led a team effectively. Quantify your accomplishments with metrics where possible!
How can I make my cover letter stand out from other store managers?
To stand out from the crowd, tailor your cover letter to highlight the unique experiences and skills that align with the company’s goals and culture. To do that, you'll need to do a bit of research. In your cover letter, mention something specific about the company that resonates with you or relates to your skills and experiences. This personal touch shows that you have a genuine interest in the company!
What mistakes should I watch out for?
Be careful about being too vague, not tailoring the letter to the specific company, and grammatical or spelling errors. Also, avoid rehashing your resume; instead, use your cover letter to tell a compelling story or share specific examples that add context to your resume.
How do I demonstrate my ability to handle multiple responsibilities?
Provide specific examples that demonstrate your multitasking abilities and organizational skills. For example, you could mention a time when you managed several projects simultaneously, such as overseeing a store renovation while maintaining daily operations and achieving sales targets.
What technical skills should I include in my cover letter for a store manager position?
Depending on the nature of the store and the products sold, you might want to highlight your proficiency with point-of-sale systems, inventory management software, or e-commerce platforms. Generally speaking, you should mention any recent technology updates or software tools you have mastered that have improved store operations or enhanced customer experience.
