On National Teacher Day, meet the 2024-25 Kenan Fellows
Resume & cover letter 7 examples of fresh new ways to start your cover letter
1. RESUME & COVER LETTER: 7 EXAMPLES OF FRESH NEW WAYS TO
START YOUR COVER LETTER
It’s time to dump the old line: “Please
accept this application in response to…” If you’re still starting your cover letters with
this overused one-liner, then I implore you to stop what you’re doing, delete the line,
and spend a few minutes reading this article to discover seven new examples of how
you can catch the hiring manager’s attention with an attention-grabbing opening
line.
Entice them with the job title and some of your standout accomplishments.
As an IT Director for ABC Company, I manage IT operations for a
500+-employee organization. Recruited in 2005, my goal has been to modernize and
scale the technology landscape and drive forward initiatives to expand the
capabilities, systems, and performance across the organization. To date, the results
have been impressive, including transition to a new Storage Area Network (SAN),
Microsoft desktop environment, data warehouse, and Internet technology tools.
Further, I have captured more than $2.5 million in development and operating cost
reductions.
Keyword-rich opening lines that demonstrate fit.
I am a veteran Construction Manager with extensive experience in the
designing, planning, budgeting, staffing, and on-site supervision of new construction
and renovation projects. With 15+ years in construction and project management, I
bring to ABC Company value-added expertise in: …
As an accomplished Chief Financial Officer, I possess broad cross-functional
experience in emerging, high-growth, and well-established corporations. Unlike
2. other finance executives, my focus has not been limited to just finance but includes
strategic planning, change management, system implementations, and business
operations, as well as the performance improvement of teams. Highlights of my
career include: …
Designing, developing, and leading physical fitness training programs are my
passions and my expertise. My 11+ years of progressive leadership experience in the
U.S. Air Force, together with my upcoming ACE certification and my achievements in
fitness instruction and coaching, make me an excellent candidate for your Personal
Trainer position.
Highlight the fact you can meet their needs to keep them reading.
Cultivating relationships to deliver exceptional results is what I do best.
Whether in a start-up situation or a high-growth organization, I have consistently
increased sales and customer satisfaction through my ability to develop first-class
sales solutions and drive professional excellence. Highlights of my career that may be
of interest to you include: …
Cross-cultural communication, multi-departmental collaboration, and
producing highly detailed and dependable administrative and marketing support are
what I do best.
Delivering massive value to my clients has been the focus of my career for
the past 13 years. In my role as ___________ for ABC Company, I have unfailingly
provided my clients with strategies, action plans, and the leadership necessary to
enhance people, processes, and technologies. In addition, I have established a solid
reputation for assessing challenges, creating solutions, and responding quickly to
changing business requirements. This is the value I offer to XYZ Corporation.
Words to remember.
It’s important to remember your cover letter should be a brief introduction
that demonstrates fit and motivates the employer to read your resume. If you’re
narrating your whole life story or using the same old line that’s been written a
million times before, then you’re not really captivating the reader or communicating
the most vital information necessary to win the interview. Using these simple points
as guidelines and the cover letter samples provided above as a starting point, create
your own unique and captivating opening line that draws the reader in and keeps
them interested.