cover letter for technical writing job

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How to Write a Job Application Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter is essential when applying for jobs. This is the perfect way to express how your specific skills are relevant to the open position. Wow your future employer with this simple cover letter example format.

Write a First Draft

Writing a first draft makes your letter concise and professional, states The Balance Careers. Organize your thoughts by making a list of what you’re trying to convey. Make sure you prioritize certain aspects like your previous job experience and why you would be a good fit for the position. Clearly state what position you’re interested in and why. Think about why you’re applying and what caught your eye about this specific position. Your cover letter will be easier to write after your thoughts are collected and organized.

Customize Your Salutation

When writing a salutation, make sure you know who you are writing to. Is this person the owner of the company or a Human Resources administrator? If you’re not sure, research the company to find out. Addressing your cover letter to a specific person shows initiative and attention to detail. After your salutation, start your letter with a short introduction of yourself. This gives future employers insight into who you are and the purpose of your cover letter.

Write Intentionally

Your cover letter should be no more than one page, so keep your points brief. Clearly state what position you are interested in and why. Explain why you are a good fit for the company because of your past job experience. If you have no similar job experience, let the employer know why you are changing career paths. Expand on your skills and give specific examples of how that skill set helped you at your last position. Name projects you’ve worked on and show results.

Close Your Letter

End your cover letter with a brief sentence and sign off. Thank the employer for their time and express your interest towards the job again. Let them know you’ll follow up with them if you do not hear back within a week and leave your contact information. Sign off with a professional farewell and leave room for a signature if sending a hard copy.

Edit and Proofread

As you finish writing your cover letter, make sure you take time to edit and proofread your document. Make sure it’s structured in a professional format with the company’s information, the salutation and introduction, the body of the letter, a brief closing sentence and farewell. Check for spelling and grammar mistakes to ensure a formal result. Make sure all names are spelled correctly, as well.

How to Write a Technical Writer Cover Letter

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Technical Writer HQ’s career guides help you step forward into a technical writing career. This article contains the best method to create a compelling technical writer’s cover letter. In the end, you will find some examples and a template for you to start.

What is a Technical Writer Cover Letter?

A technical writer’s cover letter is a fundamental tool that strengthens your overall job application. It’s a precise but to-the-point document that showcases your most relevant expertise and skills as a technical writer.

Don’t replicate the same content from your resume/application. The cover letter should contain your technical writing experience, tools, and expertise related to the job description. Use it to show the hiring manager that you are the best fit for the technical writer position and can add more value to the company.

A Comprehensive Guide to Crafting a Technical Writer Cover Letter

Follow these guidelines and flow to curate an outstanding technical writer’s cover letter. You can increase your chances of becoming a technical writer in ABC Company by:

Research the Company

Researching the company helps you gain insights into job requirements and the company’s work culture. As a result, you can effectively tailor your cover letter and add the most relevant experiences and expertise that make you the best fit for a technical writer position.

Customize Your Cover Letter

You should customize your cover letter following the job description. Don’t use the same cover letter for different job applications. This will make the recruiter think of you as an amateur candidate for the position and turn off the recruiter from further looking into your resume and documents.

In addition, customization includes adding the most relevant expertise that the hiring manager will find interesting.

Keep it to the Point

Your cover letter should not exceed one page and must be simple. For example, use a clear/plain background, the font color must be black, and the font size and style must be standardized (Style: Calibri, Times New Roman – Size: 12). Avoid using fancy colors or fonts in your cover letter, as this will make you appear like a non-professional candidate.

Add Relevant Skills & Experience

Focus on adding your most relevant skills to the cover letter. Add the exact skills and experiences that excite the recruiter and complement the job description. If you don’t have professional experience in technical writing but have the required skill set, highlight your credentials, certifications, and internship experiences to make your cover letter valuable.

Proofread and Edit

Be careful while finalizing your cover letter. Before submission, ensure to edit any grammar, spelling, or structural issues you encounter in your cover letter. This is an essential step as your cover’s structural and language perfection will highlight your attention to detail quality to the hiring manager.

You can seek help from your friends, family, or colleagues to proofread your cover letter, or you can use online tools such as Grammarly to double-check your work.

What is the Objective of a Technical Writer Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a fundamental document that guides the recruiter in shortlisting the best candidates for the interviews. In addition, a strong cover letter will encourage the hiring manager to review your complete application, including your resume, which increases your chances of selection.

Your cover letter must be professional and showcase your technical writing skills and expertise. A professional and relevant to the job description cover letter interests the hiring manager to move your application further to the next round. Put your writing genius at work and curate a cover letter that tells a mesmerizing story about yourself.

Try answering these questions to create a cover letter that makes your stand apart from other candidates.

Do you think you are eligible for the technical writing position?
Do you have a passion for technical writing?
Does the prospecting company interest you?

Technical Writer Cover Letter Outline

Following is a general outline that will help you curate your technical writer’s cover letter.

Recruiter’s details
Introductory paragraph

Technical Writer Cover Letter Sections Explained

Start the cover letter with your details, such as name, contact number, and address. In addition, you can add your LinkedIn, portfolio websites, and digital profile(s).

Recruiter’s Details

Include the recruiter’s details, including name, designation, and company details, in this section.

It’s ideal to address the recruiter by name. To do this read the job description carefully or search the company website. If you can’t find the recruiter’s name, you can address the recruiter using Dear Sir, Respected Sir, Respected HR Manager, or Dear Mr/Ms.

Introductory Paragraph

This section highlights your cover letter and should include an engaging “hook” to catch the recruiter’s attention right from the beginning. An engaging hook includes your top skills, key competencies, and years of experience working in the same or relevant role. A winning hook encourages the recruiter to read your complete resume and application.

This section contains most of the content from your cover letter. It includes your relevant strengths, competencies, and accomplishments for the technical writer role. Ensure that this section doesn’t exceed 2-3 short paragraphs. Focus on adding the most relevant information in this section.

You can add examples of your accomplishments, including statistics and metrics, to add more authority to your cover letter. Ensure to add the experiences you think will add value to the job description and the company.

Share the “call to action” for the recruiter in this section, including your contact number. This helps the recruiter get in touch with you to discuss the requirements.

Include “Best Regards,” a digital signature, and your name at the end. You can sign the cover letter by hand if you are sending the job application in hard copy format.

Technical Writer Cover Letter Examples

Example # 1.

Example # 2

Technical Writer Cover Letter Template

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4 Technical Writer Cover Letter Examples and Writing Tips

4 Technical Writer cover letter examples for your job search inspiration. Copy, edit, and modify to stand out and land that technical writing job!

Technical Writer Cover Letter is a piece of writing task to convince the employer of your writing skills.

Although, with your writing skills you’ll benefit from specifying what type of technical content you write. It is recommended that you provide links to your best piece of work and make your application easy to shortlist.

Since you’ll be writing at least 3 paragraphs in your letter which is enough to allow the recruiter to evaluate you, while also providing work sample links, you should focus on displaying the additional knowledge that makes you better at your work than your competitors.

Write your letter in about 150-200 words .

Make sure you elaborate on your technical skills and finally close your cover letter with a mention of how you’ll follow up on your application.

Below are some examples to take inspiration from while writing your cover letter.

Technical Writer Cover Letter Example

This is Riaz, I’ve been working as a Technical Writer for an IT company for the past 2 years where I collaborated with the engineering team, project managers, and IT managers to document the entire development process from the ground up. I understand from the posting on Dice.com that you’re looking for someone with experience like mine. I’m thrilled to be applying for this vacancy at Sunrise.

Process Documentation for technical development is a very interesting journey to be on. To me, it is almost like playing all the roles that come with the process of software development and living it while I write it. It is new every day and provides an enormous opportunity to be a person of many talents which personally motivates me to diversify and explore more every day. Working with the engineers and management I have learned and gathered a great deal of technical vocabulary which makes me capable of exploring far through industrial jargon.

Here is some of the communication work that I’m proud of; it conveys the process of development for the onboarding of trainee engineers. Link below:

www.example.com/processcommunication/
www.example.com/projectonboarding/
www.example.com/featuredocumentation/

I’ll appreciate an opportunity to meet you in person and discuss where I can contribute through my technical understanding and linguistic skills.

You can reach me via phone or email to set up an appointment or I’ll get in touch with you in the next 3 days to see how we can move forward on my application.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely, Riaz Wooldrof

Technical Writer Cover Letter No Experience Example

Dear Miltz,

I would love to be considered for the Technical Writer position advertised on your website for fresh graduates. I have recently completed my Masters in Technical Writing which has had me doing part-time writing for tech teams in IT, mechanical, and manufacturing sectors. This makes me fairly confident to apply at Philips.

Since I worked as a remote writer with rare visits to the companies I worked for, I had little interaction with the team to gain any background knowledge about my work. However, that gave me an ample amount of time to do a lot of industry-specific research on the topics provided to me. I grew a wider scope of vocabulary around industrial terms which in turn made me more efficient in asking the right questions and utilizing my few meetings to produce quality material that rarely came back for any edits.

I take pride in how accurately I can reproduce the messages for a company in an easy-to-grasp manner for its consumers. My ability to translate abstract ideas into comprehensive material is my way of solving complex business problems and being an active player in the dynamics of the company.

I’m keen for an opportunity to be interviewed at Philips and discuss how I can contribute to the company’s communication system and values. If required, please feel free to assign me a writing task for further shortlisting of my profile.

Thanks for taking the time to review my application.

Sincerely, Jerry McNowells

Cover Letter for Technical Writer Example

Dear Mathew,

I found the vacancy for a Technical Writer at QuesTech in yesterday’s Washington Post newspaper. I have previous experience in working with IT teams and writing their product manuals, and development guides, which is totally transferrable to the requirements of your Technical Writer’s position making it a perfect next step for me.

My work begins with processing data around the target audience and researching market outlook for the competitor products. I always prefer to be all-knowing of the users of the product before I address them through a product manual. Working closely with the marketing team has helped me gain perspective on how the product is being sold and what the customers perceive through our advertisements. This has resulted in faster production, saving 20 hours of time writing 5000 words. The coherence of all material from marketing to end-user manuals has generated a 23% rise in positive customer feedback. Since the success of the method, the introduction of marketing and customer data to a writer has become a part of the project onboarding program for all writers at our company.

I love how marketing, tech, product research from business teams, and my writing together account for such a major impact on the outlook of the product and company image motivating me to collaborate and seek higher output.

QuesTech’s, “all employees are partners” concept pulls me in, in anticipation of working with a huge team that functions in complete harmony with all its people advancing alike in the long-term.

I would appreciate an opportunity to meet with you in person and discuss how I can bring my experience to best use for QuesTech. I’ll follow-up in the next three days to see how we can move forward on my application.

Sincerely, Siena Goetz

Example Technical Writer Cover Letter

This is to apply for the position of Technical Writer advertised on your website. I have been writing for 8years now. During this time I have explored and written variety- magazine publications, newspaper columns, educational material, Tech Marketing blogs, Social media content, landing pages, and blogs across industries. However, most of my experience is in the Software industry and due to my Computer Science background, I’m inclined to work along the lines of technology and its produce.

Some of my best works contain a detailed analysis of the use of certain technologies and how it affects the application or a comparative study of technologies aiming to help the prospects make an informed choice. My work is extensive but can be understood by non-tech clients who I target. Here are a few samples to give you an idea of what to expect from my tech writing:

www.example.com/blogs-serverless-as-a-solution/
www.example.com/blogs-migration-to-cloud/
www.example.com/blogs-react-vs-angular/

I was never so much into coding but I love researching technologies and finding their best use cases and turning them into useful information sources for our website visitors. Through my content and basic but broad understanding of SEO, I also participate in the marketing efforts of the company which makes the job even more interesting.

My understanding of technology will be an asset to Analytics and its clients as it yields concrete results and leaves a long-term impression of authority and reliance.

I would appreciate an opportunity to discuss my application in detail. Please feel free to reach me via phone or email to set-up an appointment.

Sincerely, Shehnzi Czar

Select Your Language :

Professional Technical Writer Cover Letter Example for 2023

Read for inspiration or use it as a base to improve your own Technical Writer cover letter. Just replace personal information, company application data and achievements with your own.

Professional technical writer cover letter tips to help you stand out

According to some experts, finding exciting job adverts is one of the most challenging problems job-seekers need to deal with.

But according to our own research, conveying your enthusiasm to a one-page cover letter might prove to be even more challenging.

After all, you don’t want a bland and boring cover letter to represent you, we get it.

But how can you make a strong first impression in just a few lines?

Below, you’ll find the best Technical Writer cover letter tips and examples that will help you find out.

So what’s the difference between a cover letter and a resume?

In short – the resume showcases your achievements and skills, while the cover letter focuses more on your personality and motivations.

Of course, you should mention some of your relevant skills in the cover letter as well. But make sure you’re not repeating your resume word by word.

Now let's move on to the things that make every cover letter great!

Choose the right salutation and write a strong introduction

In general, the salutation you use depends on the tone of voice you’ve decided to go for but also on the company culture.

However, it’s always a good idea to address your letter to the person responsible for the recruitment process. If you don’t know their name, try to find it out. And only if that proves to be impossible, choose a generic salutation.

Here are some phrases you can use (note that some of them require you to know the hiring manager's name):

Dear Mr. John,
Dear Ms. Petersen,
Dear Hiring Manager,
Dear Dr. Todd,
Dear Head of [team you're applying for]

Coming up with a good introduction is your chance to make the right impression and give the hiring manager a solid reason to remember you.

So instead of going for popular opening lines such as “I found your job advert on website X”, prove that you are actually passionate about the position. Share why you would like to grow in this field and what makes the company exciting.

Link your Technical Writer soft and hard skills to your achievements

The resume is the place to list all your hard skills. The technical writer cover letter, on the other hand, is the ideal place to emphasize your soft skills and link them to your achievements.

Think about times when your skills have helped you achieve certain goals that seemed too difficult. And don’t worry about admitting some of your weak sides – this is a great way to show recruiters your potential and ability to grow, both professionally and personally.

Looking at the specific job posting requirements could also give you insight on what skills should be included in your resume by all means. This will help you pass applicant tracking systems (ATS) that screen cover letters for keywords before passing them on to recruiters.

Prove your passion about the company

Proving that you are familiar with the company, its problems, and its goals is without a doubt one of the best ways to stand out.

If you want to show your passion for the company, mention how your skills and previous achievements can help the team grow.

It’s also worth mentioning how your experience can help resolve some of the most common industry issues.

Choose the right ending

While a strong introduction makes a great first impression, a confident, yet considerate conclusion is essentially what will get you a callback.

There are different ways to end your cover letter. But remember – the closing line you choose should match the company culture.

Your safest bet would be going for traditional phrases like “Looking forward to hearing from you” or “Looking forward to your reply”. For bonus points, add a simple “Thank you for your time and consideration”.

Cover letter examples by industry

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Illustrator
Industrial Design
Brand Ambassador
Creative Marketing
Marketing Intern
Production Assistant
Market Research
Marketing Manager
Ux Designer
Marketing Assistant
Social Media Coordinator
Video Editor
Marketing Associate
Content Strategist
Email Marketing
Instructional Designer
Freelance Writer
Content Marketing
Digital Marketing Specialist
Ui Designer
Social Media Intern
Brand Manager
Digital Marketing Analyst
Digital Marketing Executive
Grant Writer
Marketing Specialist
Digital Marketing Manager
Marketing Coordinator
Ui Developer
Creative Director
Seo Manager
Telemarketing
Seo Specialist
Public Relations Specialist
Ppc Specialist
Content Writer
Digital Marketing
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Event Director
Lead Generation
Design Engineer
Market Analyst
Advertising
Director Of Communications
Marketing Director
Photographer
Growth Marketing
Product Marketing Manager
Social Media Manager
Digital Marketing Intern
Social Media Specialist
Senior Marketing Manager
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Digital Marketing Consultant
Business Manager
Freelance Translator
Social Media Marketing

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Learn from people who have succeeded in their job hunt.

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Pair your cover letter with a matching Technical Writer resume

Pairing your strong cover letter with a great resume can never be a bad idea. In fact, that’s one of the best ways to show you’re the ideal candidate for the position.

Tell your story with confidence with a job-winning Technical Writer resume template .

Still not sure what your cover letter should look like? Hire an expert to help you !

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Tips and Examples for Your First Technical Writer Cover Letter

Published on Mar 30, 2022 in writing by Yulia Gavrilova 6 minute read

Hi! My name is Yulia, and I have been working as a technical writer for the past three years. Last year, I started to write for Draft.dev , a technical marketing content agency for software startups. Draft.dev works with quite a few companies with different tech stacks and is constantly looking for talented new writers. I’ve always been interested in technology and writing, and this position helps me learn new things and improve, as well as share what I’ve learned with others.

Writing is a great way for technical specialists to get recognized in the community, share their expertise with potential employers, and improve their communication skills, especially if English isn’t their first language. In this article, I will share some tips for creating technical writer cover letters so that you can successfully kick off your writing career.

About Technical Writer Cover Letters

From my experience, being able to write a good cover letter is extremely important if you want to land a job in writing. In technical writing, formal education and other qualifications don’t matter. However, you need to know how to “sell yourself” and provide the hiring manager with the relevant information they need, such as your technical background, your writing experience, and which technologies you can write about.

Don’t just copy cover letters from the internet. Make sure that yours is unique—believe me, content editors and managers receive dozens of cover letters daily, and they’ve seen them all. Write your own authentic email in a friendly, informal fashion, and don’t be shy about showcasing your best attributes.

Developers with no technical writing experience often aren’t sure how to convince the editor that they’re a good fit. In this case, explain why you’re interested in the position and what knowledge you can bring to the table (for instance, ten years of experience in programming or experience dealing with the product and the client side). If you have more general experience with writing, you can link your social media, academic papers, or other materials that show your command of the language.

However, the best thing would be to write at least one post on Medium about a technical topic that interests you. This way, the agency can evaluate your expertise, language, and logic.

How to Write Technical Writer Cover Letters

Following are some suggested steps to follow in writing your cover letter for a technical writing position:

What Your Letter Should Say

Your cover letter should contain all the necessary information about you that helps the employer make a decision. First, introduce yourself and explain why you’re writing:

My name is Dan, and I’m an Android mobile developer. I understand that you’re looking for technical writers, and I would like to apply.

Make sure that your email is structured and well-formatted. When I write cover letters, I usually structure them like this:

1. Relevant education: This includes degrees and online and offline courses. You’re not required to have a degree in computer science or engineering, but if you do, it’s worth mentioning, especially if it’s a master’s or a Ph.D. Not only is this a plus for you, but it will also help the company to offer you writing assignments that suit your expertise.

I have a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Cornell University. I’ve also acquired Google Android Developer Certification and IBM Certification.

2. Relevant work experience: This means both in tech and in writing. Talk about your programming experience and technical writing experience separately since both are important components for this job.

I have four-plus years of experience in software development. Right now, I’m working at Amazing Software Company as a middle software engineer. My team creates mobile applications for Android. Some of the projects that I’ve worked on are CoolApp1 and CoolApp2. As part of a promotion for these projects, I’ve written several blog posts that were published on HackerNoon and got a lot of positive comments. I really enjoyed writing them and would like to continue sharing my knowledge with a wider audience.

3. What you’d like to write about: Tech is big, and nobody can write about everything. Mention what programming languages, frameworks, or technologies you know best and have experience with. If you’re learning something new, include that as well.

I’m most interested in writing about Android development, UX/UI design, and project management. The programming languages that I write in are Java, Kotlin, and JavaScript. I have plenty of experience with Android Toolkit and crash analytics apps.

4. Writing samples: Writing samples are the most important factor in whether you get hired. If you’ve written posts for your own or your company’s blog, include them. If you don’t have any samples, you can create a post for your blog or post something on Medium. Not only is this helpful for employers, but it helps you find out whether you enjoy writing. You can also include links to your GitHub repositories to showcase the quality of your code.

Here are some examples of my work:

Let me know if this looks like a good fit for you.

Best wishes,

Don’t make a cover letter too long. I try to keep them to about ten sentences maximum. Let your work speak for itself.

What Your Letter Shouldn’t Say

Your cover letter should be straight to the point, so don’t include irrelevant information. For example, if you don’t have any blog posts to show, don’t mention that you have always liked writing and even wrote a couple of stories as a child. This isn’t relevant experience, and it doesn’t sound professional.

Another common mistake is to leave out the cover letter and send your resume by itself. A cover letter shows your interest in the job as well as your respect for the person who will open your email. Instead of making the editor comb through your ten-page CV trying to understand what you can do for them, give them exactly what they need. It will be appreciated.

What to Know about the Company

Writing cover letters starts with reading. Do your homework and investigate what the company does, who their clients are, and what niches they work in. If you’re a Haskell developer, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll land a job writing for mobile developers. It’s also a good idea to demonstrate in your cover letter that you have studied what the company does and you’re interested in it. Link your relevant experience or knowledge to the company’s mission, and you’re much more likely to be hired.

Less Experience vs. More Experience

For technical writing, the demand is generally higher than the supply. This means you don’t necessarily need to be a senior developer or a writer with ten years of experience to become a technical writer. If you’re a junior developer, it’s okay to say that. Different clients with different audiences need different types of content: from high-level posts to deeply technical long-read guides with code snippets.

Example of a Successful Cover Letter

As an example, below is the cover letter that landed me a technical writing job at Draft.dev:

My name is Yulia, I’m twenty-five, and I have been writing about tech for three years now.

I started as a junior software developer at [company name], where I worked on projects in the domain of machine learning and data science. Right now, I work at [company name] as a middle software developer. I mostly write in Python and JS and work with TensorFlow, Microsoft Azure, and AWS.

I am interested in working with you because I would like to share my experience with wider audiences, grow as a writer, and help great startups and companies gain more recognition.

I’m a quick learner and passionate about language and technology, especially artificial intelligence.

Link to my blog:

Hope to speak to you soon!

Have a great start to the year,

Writing a cover letter for a technical writer position is a necessary step since it allows you to show yourself in the best light and introduce the reader to how you can be useful for them. This might seem like a tricky task, but in reality, it’s simple if you follow these rules:

Keep it short and friendly.
Showcase your relevant experience, education, and skills for the position.
Provide links to your portfolio.
Write the letter in your own words.

Draft.dev is one of the best places for technical writers from different fields to share what they know and get paid for their words. It offers clear guidelines on its editing process, a convenient writer portal where you can select tasks based on your interests, and great pay rates. If you’ve been thinking about becoming a technical writer, give it a try now !

By Yulia Gavrilova

Yulia enjoys writing about artificial intelligence and machine learning. She is working toward her master’s degree in the study of ethical AI.

4.5 Cover Letters

This chapter focuses on the cover letter (sometimes called an application letter), which typically accompanies your resume in an employment package. In fact, your cover letter is often the potential employer’s first introduction to you.

The purpose of the cover letter is to draw a clear connection between the job you are seeking and your qualifications listed on the resume. Put another way, your cover letter should match the requirements of the job with your qualifications, emphasizing how you are right for that job.

*NOTE : The cover letter is not simply a lengthier or narrative version of your resume. The cover letter should selectively illustrate how the information contained in the resume is relevant to the position.

Common Types of Cover Letters

To begin planning your letter, decide which type of letter you need. This decision is, in part, based on the employers’ requirements and, in part, based on what your background and employment needs are. Here are the two most common cover letter types:

Objective letters : This type of letter says very little: it identifies the position being sought, indicates an interest in having an interview, and calls attention to the fact that the resume is attached. It also mentions any other special matters that are not included on the resume, such as dates and times when you are available to come in for an interview. This letter does no salesmanship and is very brief (the true meaning of a “cover” letter.)
Highlight letters : This type of letter (the type you would do in most technical writing courses), tries to summarize the key information from the resume, key information that will emphasize how you are a good candidate for the job. In other words, it selects the best information from your resume and summarizes it in the letter—this type of letter is especially designed to make the connection with the specific job.

Common Sections in Cover Letters

As for the actual content and organization of the paragraphs within the application letter (specifically for the highlight type of application letter), consider the following common approaches.

State the purpose of the letter—to apply for an employment opportunity.
Indicate the source of your information about the job—a website posting, a newspaper ad, a personal contact, or other.
State one attention-getting thing about yourself in relation to the job or to the employer that will cause the reader to want to continue.
Main body paragraphs : In the main parts of the application letter, you present your work experience, education, and training—whatever makes that connection between you and the job you are seeking. Remember that this is the most important job you have to do in this letter—to enable the reader to see the match between your qualifications and the requirements for the job.

Author Steven Graber in his article “The Basics of A Cover Letter” suggests the following points for developing your cover letter’s body paragraphs:

First (Introductory) : “State the position for which you’re applying. If you’re responding to an ad or listing, mention the source.”
Second : “Indicate what you could contribute to this company and show how your qualifications will benefit them. …discuss how your skills relate to the job’s requirements. Don’t talk about what you can’t do.”
Third: “Show how you not only meet but exceed their requirements—why you’re not just an average candidate but a superior one.”
Fourth: “Close by saying you look forward to hearing from them” and “… thank them for their consideration. Don’t ask for an interview. Don’t tell them you’ll call them.”
Closing: “Keep it simple—‘Sincerely’ followed by a comma suffices.”

There are two common ways to present this information:

Functional approach : This one presents education in one section, and work experience in the other. If there were military experience, that might go in another section. Whichever of these sections contains your “best stuff” should come first, after the introduction.
Thematic approach : This one divides experience and education into groups such as “management,” “technical,” “financial,” and so on and then discusses your work and education related to them in separate paragraphs.

Of course, the letter should not be an exhaustive or complete summary of your background—it should highlight just those aspects of your background or experience that make the connection with the job you are seeking.

Check out this video, “ Tips for Creating a Great Cover Letter ,” from GCF Global:

General Guidelines for Writing Successful Cover Letters

Explain how/where you learned of the position;
Specify what it is you want (to apply for the position, inquire about a summer internship, etc.);
Highlight key areas of your education and professional experience (volunteer work counts!);
Be as specific as possible, using examples when appropriate;
Use language that is professional and polite;
Demonstrate your enthusiasm and energy with an appropriate tone;
Use simple and direct language whenever possible, using clear subject-verb-structured sentences;
Appeal to the employer’s self-interest by showing that you have researched the company or organization;
State how you (and perhaps only you) can fulfill their needs, telling them why you’re the best candidate;
Give positive, truthful accounts of accomplishments and skills that relate directly to the field or company
Stress what you have done rather than what you haven’t and what you do have rather than what you don’t (in other words, don’t apologize for your lack of experience, expertise, or education).
Emphasize what you can and will do rather than what you cannot or will not.
Highlight what you can do specifically for the company/organization rather than why you want the job.

A cover letter can be fairly short (usually a single page, but this is not a rule). It should be long enough to provide a detailed overview of who you are and what you bring to the company.

Accentuate the positive

Your cover letters will be more successful if you focus on positive wording rather than negative, simply because most people respond more favorably to positive ideas than to negative ones. Words that affect your reader positively are more likely to produce the response you want. A positive emphasis helps persuade readers and create goodwill.

In contrast, negative words may generate resistance and other unfavorable reactions. You should therefore be careful to avoid words with negative connotations. These words either deny—for example, no , do not , refuse , and stop —or convey unhappy or unpleasant associations—for example, unfortunately , unable to , cannot , mistake , problem , error , damage , loss , and failure . Be careful in your cover and/or inquiry letters of saying things like, “I know I do not have the experience or credentials you are looking for in this position…” These kinds of statements focus too much on what you don’t have rather than what you do. Also, don’t call attention to gaps in employment —let that come up in the interview.

*NOTE : Just because your resume will be attached, don’t make the all-too-common mistake of thinking that your resume should or will do all the work; if something is important, be sure to discuss it in your cover letter because there’s no guarantee that your reader will even look at your resume. Part of your task in crafting a cover letter is to keep your reader interested and engaged.

Cover Letter Examples

Early Career Cover Letter Sample

Later Career Cover Letter Sample

Additional Resources

“ Cover Letter, Letter of Transmittal ” from WritingCommons.org
“ Crafting Your Cover Letter ” from GCFGlobal.org

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Technical Writer Cover Letter

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Cover Letter

Technical Writer Cover Letter (With Examples)

With technology so prevalent in our society, it is no wonder we all need help understanding how certain processes work. From signing up for health care policies to reading computer software manuals, much of those needs is aided by complex technology. It’s impossible to understand the ins and outs of everything, which is why we need technical writers .

Technical writers help a predetermined audience understand the technological processes of products and services. Through collaboration with the designers and engineers of the product, along with thorough independent research , a technical writer makes sure that their words are completely effective with the target audience.

It is no surprise that a technical writer has to be good with words and this is an important skill to highlight during job applications. So, if you are a technical writer looking for work, then your cover letter must be exceptional . Not only does the cover letter explain why you are a qualified candidate, but how it is written will also reveal your skills to the hiring manager .

Your technical writer cover letter must show your ability to construct a clear and concise message with a logical progression. However, unlike most technical documents, your words should not be dry and impersonal . You want to craft a message that tells your story in such a way that the reader is interested in learning more about you .

Looking for a job? These position are hiring now near you:

Technical Writer
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Technical Writer Lead

Parts of a Technical Writer Cover Letter

First, break down what your cover letter should look like and how you plan to structure it. To achieve the greatest impact, make sure the parts of your cover letter build off one another to strengthen your message. A cover letter is like an elevator pitch , so yours must be tight, focused and use between 200 and 400 words.

Like most cover letters, a technical writer cover letter can be broken down into four main components. They are:

Heading. Your heading will provide your contact information as well as address the letter to the reader. Headings will change depending on the format of your letter .

Opening statement. An opening statement needs to grab the reader’s attention and pull them into your pitch. This is your first chance to distinguish yourself among the other applicants.

Body. The body of your cover letter does two things. First, it should explain how you are qualified for the position based on your skills and previous experience. Second, it should underscore your interest in the position and how you can be a meaningful member of the organization.

Closing statement. The closing statement concludes your message and leaves the door open for further inquiry. This is accomplished with a confident yet modest call to action.

Technical Writer Cover Letter Heading

Your cover letter will begin with whatever relevant contact information you can provide along with the accurate address of the reader. Your contact information can be found either in the header of your document or else at the top of the letter. Then the reader’s information will follow. However, if this is an email, disregard the contact information and begin with the greeting.

You should also do your best to address the letter to a specific person . This will help you stand out and will show that you have a vested interest in the position. Sometimes the job description will list who you are to contact, but if you cannot find it, do some research online. If you cannot find anything, address the letter to the hiring manager .

Here is an example for a technical writer cover letter heading:

Derek Wart 45 Fish Lane Tampa Bay, FL 33618 [email protected] (555) 555 - 5555 Jessice Simms Human Resource Manager Global Corp. Inc. 1 Corporate St. Tampa Bay, FL 33618 Dear Ms. Simms,

Search For Technical Writer Jobs

Technical writer cover letter opening statement.

Your cover letter needs to begin in such a way that the reader will want to learn more. As a technical writer, you should clarify what you are applying for and why you are qualified for the position. Most cover letters begin this way, however, do not be generic with words. A stale statement risks losing the interest of the reader at the very beginning.

Instead, find a way to make your case unique. You are a writer and a communicator looking for work in a profession that demands effective word choice . Pick the right words in your opening statement that balance your needs. To do so:

Be professional . Professional does not mean stiff or boring. However, it does mean a certain formality. Be respectful with your words . Depending on the company’s culture , you may need to be more conservative or should be more relaxed with your tone.

Use the information that proves your worth. The best way to hook the reader is to state right away what makes you qualified . This could either be tangible results of a relevant experience, a statement of passion for the role or some other statement that lets the reader know you offer value to the position.

After reading the opening statement, the reader will see that you have potential as a qualified technical writer. Within just a few words, you have already shown how your writing skills can communicate an idea, in this case, why you deserve the attention of the reader.

An opening statement for a technical writer cover letter will look like this:

Dear Ms. Simms, I have been searching for the perfect Technical Writer position for a while now, so I was beyond excited when I read the job description for Global Corp’s Technical Writer open position. What really got me was the need for a writer with experience in community development. I am just coming off a two-year community development experience that included technical writing responsibilities.

Technical Writer Cover Letter Body

After you have started off with a strong lead, the reader will want to see why you are a great candidate for the technical writing position. This is where the body of your cover letter makes a case for you. The body of a technical writer cover letter will tell your story through past experience and future interest.

A body of a cover letter is essentially broken down into these two parts, generally as two separate paragraphs. The first paragraph will talk about your previous experience, while the second paragraph will focus on your interest in the new job . The second paragraph should also tie in your skills to the skills found in the job description, so use the right buzzwords .

Be careful about word length and make sure to cover the following in your body:

Tell a story with tangible results. What makes a cover letter unique is the tone and topic. Avoid platitudes and restating your resume . Instead, use your interest and past experiences to highlight your personality. As a writer, this is an opportunity to show the reader what makes you such a valuable candidate in an engaging way.

Refer to the requirements of the job listing. Make sure to connect back to the job description . This is how you help build a case for yourself. You want to show that you can provide the skills and fulfill the responsibilities required. Especially in the second body paragraph, connect your interest with that of the company.

Show passion and engagement. Keep your tone interesting through a passion for the position. The hiring manager will want someone interested in the position and the company. Write so that your words reveal yourself to be this person.

The body of your cover letter should leave no doubt that you are the best technical writer for the position. The experience and skills you share, your interest in the position and your writing itself will define you as a highly capable communicator.

An example of a body to a technical writer cover letter will look like this:

At my previous position as Program Communicator for Local Health Services, I was tasked with making sure our clients were adequately satisfied and educated about our products. This required me to write several different types of user guides. My proudest achievement is when I took our 20,000-word manual and simplified it down to a two-page document that could be easily read by the community. The result was a 25% increase in membership over the last year. Your job description requires a candidate with similar skills. I have experience with the same content management system as well as working with medical experts in simplifying language for diverse communities. Global Corp’s goal to reach a hundred thousand new members is awe-inspiring and exciting. I want to be part of such a robust team where my critical thinking skills will help me achieve this important mission.

Technical Writer Cover Letter Closing Statement

Your closing statement is the strong conclusion to the pitch, the story about yourself that defines you as the best candidate for the technical writer position.

To do so, make sure to do the following:

Restate your qualifications and interest with passion. Tie up your interest in the position and why you are a great candidate.

Provide a call to action. Leave the door open for further discussion by including a call for action to meet in the future. Be assertive but also humble in your assumption that further steps will be taken.

Finally, end with a professional sign off . Some examples include:

Best Regards

Yours Truly

An example of a technical writer cover letter closing statement would be like this:

I am ready to bring my skills and experience as a communicator to a new level with Global Corp. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my interests further. Thank you , Derek Wart

Example of a Technical Writer Cover Letter

Derek Wart 45 Fish Lane Tampa Bay, FL 33618 [email protected] (555) 555 - 5555 Jessice Simms Human Resource Manager Global Corp. Inc. 1 Corporate St. Tampa Bay, FL 33618 Dear Ms. Simms, I have been searching for the perfect Technical Writer position for a while now, so I was beyond excited when I read the job description for Global Corp’s Technical Writer open position. What really got me was the need for a writer with experience in community development. I am just coming off a two-year community development experience that included technical writing responsibilities. At my previous position as Program Communicator for Local Health Services, I was tasked with making sure our clients were adequately satisfied and educated about our products. This required me to write several different types of user guides. My proudest achievement is when I took our 20,000-word manual and simplified it down to a two-page document that could be easily read by the community. The result was a 25% increase in membership over the last year. Your job description requires a candidate with similar skills. I have experience with the same content management system as well as working with medical experts in simplifying language for diverse communities. Global Corp’s goal to reach a hundred thousand new members is awe-inspiring and exciting. I want to be part of such a robust team where my critical thinking skills will help me achieve this important mission. I am ready to bring my skills and experience as a communicator to a new level with Global Corp. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my interests further. Thank you, Derek Wart

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