You’re ready to make a career change but you’re worried that your lack of relevant experience could hold you back.
The good news is, with a carefully crafted cover letter you can highlight your transferable skills, interests and achievements, proving why you’d be an excellent fit for the role.
Find out how to do just that with our step-by-step guide below, complete with career change cover letter examples to help get you started.
Contents
Career Change cover letter example 1
Career Change cover letter example 2
Career Change cover letter example 3
The Career Change cover letter examples above should give you a good idea of the type of content you need to include in your own cover letter, and how it should be structured.
But if you’re really looking to wow recruiters and get your CV in front of the very best employers, then check out our guidance on how to write your own effective cover letter below.
How to write a Career Change cover letter
A simple step-by-step guide to writing your very own winning cover letter.
Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message
When writing your Career Change cover letter, it’s best to type the content into the body of your email (or the job site messaging system) and not to attach the cover letter as a separate document.
This ensures that your cover letter gets seen as soon as a recruiter or employer opens your message.
If you attach the cover letter as a document, you’re making the reader go through an unnecessary step of opening the document before reading it.
If it’s in the body of the message itself, it will be seen instantly, which hugely increases the chances of it being read.
Start with a friendly greeting
Start you cover letter with a greeting that is professional but friendly.
This will build rapport with the recruiter whilst showing your professionalism.
- Hi, hope you’re well
- Hi [insert recruiter name]
- Hi [insert department/team name]
Avoid overly formal greetings like “Dear sir/madam” unless applying to very traditional companies.
How to find the contact’s name?
Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try these methods to find it.
- Check out the company website and look at their About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
- Head to LinkedIn, search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.
Identify the role you are applying for
After you have greeted the recruiter, it’s important to state the job you are applying to.
Recruiters are often managing multiple vacancies, so they need to know exactly which job you are referring to.
Be as specific as possible and use a reference number if you can find one.
Here are some examples you can use;
- I am interested in applying for the role of admin assistant with your organisation.
- I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 4057393)
- I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
- I saw your advertisement for a trainee project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.
See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles
Highlight your suitability
The sole objective of your cover letter is to motivate recruiters into to opening your CV. And you achieve this by quickly explaining your suitability to the roles you are applying for.
Take a look at the job descriptions you are applying to, and make note of the most important skills and qualifications being asked for.
Then, when crafting your cover letter, make your suitability the central focus.
Explain why you are the best qualified candidate, and why you are so well suited to carry out the job.
This will give recruiters all the encouragement they need to open your CV and consider you for the job.
Keep it short and sharp
A good cover letter is short and sharp, getting to the point quickly with just enough information to grab the attention of recruiters.
Ideally your cover letter should be around 4-8 sentences long – anything longer will risk losing the attention of time-strapped recruiters and hiring managers.
Essentially you need to include just enough information to persuade the reader to open up your CV, where the in-depth details will sit.
Sign off professionally
To round of your CV, you should sign off with a professional signature.
This will give your cover letter a slick appearance and also give the recruiter all of the necessary contact information they need to get in touch with you.
The information to add should include:
- A friendly sign off – e.g. “Kindest regards”
- Your full name
- Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
- Email address
Optional
- Profession title
- Professional social network – e.g. LinkedIn
Here is an example signature;
Warm regards,
Jill North
IT Project Manager
078837437373
Jill@hotmail.com
LinkedIn
Quick tip: To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate documents that you could copy in.
What to include in your Career Change cover letter
So, what type of information should you write about in your Career Change cover letter?
The specifics will obviously depend on your profession and the jobs you are applying to, but these are the key areas you should be covering.
- Your industry experience – Tell recruiters the types of companies you have been working for and the roles you have held in the past.
- Your qualifications – Highlight your most important relevant qualifications to show employers you are qualified to do the roles you are applying for.
- The impact you have made – Demonstrate the positive impact you have made for employers in previous jobs. Have you saved money? Improved processes? Made customers happy?
- Your reasons for moving – Employers will want to know why you are leaving your current/previous role, so provide them with a brief explanation here.
- Your availability – When will you be able to start a new job? Check your current contract to find out your notice period if you are in a position already.
Career Change cover letter templates
Copy and paste these Career Change cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.
Template 1
Hi Ryan,
I am writing to apply for the position of Junior Reporter at the Yorkshire Post, drawing upon my exceptional background as an A Level History teacher and my fervent passion for writing and reporting. The opportunity to transition into journalism and contribute my research and communication skills to a dynamic news outlet resonates deeply with my career aspirations.
In my current teaching role at St James’ High School, I have honed my ability to craft concise and persuasive arguments, guiding students to achieve above-average results in their A Level research projects and exams. Additionally, my proficiency in multi-channel research has been demonstrated through my reporting internship at DICE Magazine, where I wrote compelling articles on local political campaigns and events, gaining recognition with the third-highest online traffic for one particular article. Moreover, as a self-employed freelance blogger, my blog, Birds Eye View, has garnered over 2,000 weekly readers, earning accolades from both HuffPost and The Observer.
I am eager to discuss how my passion for storytelling, solid research capabilities, and NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism can contribute to the Yorkshire Post. I am available from next week for an interview and would welcome the chance to explore this opportunity further.
Kind regards,
Kaleb Azakato ¦ 07777777777 ¦ k.azakato@email.com
Template 2
Hi James,
I am writing to apply for the Software Developer position at SanTech. With 12 years of experience as a Laboratory Manager for clinical trials, my skills in data management and academic background in biology make me an ideal candidate for this exciting career transition.
In my current role at Sussex University, I have spearheaded the implementation of improved data management systems, resulting in a remarkable 22% increase in productivity and a 54% reduction in lost/mislabelled data. My experience working closely with scientists at the Sinsa Research Centre, preparing materials and assisting with data processing for clinical trials, has equipped me with the necessary technical and administrative skills required for a successful software development career. Additionally, I hold an Advanced Certificate in Clinical Health & Safety and an AAPM Master Quality Manager (MQM) certification, showcasing my commitment to ensuring safety, quality, and regulatory compliance in all projects. As a self-taught individual, I have honed my skills in Python and SQL, empowering me to efficiently develop and manage data-driven applications and databases.
Thank you for considering my application and I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience to explore this opportunity further.
Kind regards,
Jayden Baxter ¦ 07777777777 ¦ j.baxter@email.com
Template 3
Hi Simon,
I am thrilled to apply for the Social Media Manager position at Crew Clothing. My expertise in project management and data-driven strategies to drive sales, coupled with my degree in Fashion Merchandising, makes me an ideal candidate for this exciting career transition.
Throughout my tenure as a Merchandiser at Covet, I successfully managed merchandise planning, resulting in a 15% increase in sales revenue. Additionally, I have excellent project management skills, collaborating with the design team to introduce a new product line that generated £600K in sales within six months. As an Assistant Merchandiser at Taylor & Sons, I analysed sales data to identify growth opportunities which is a skill I would apply to this role. My passion for engaging audiences and my eye for detail align perfectly with the responsibilities of a Social Media Manager. By employing a strategic content plan and utilising data-driven insights, I have achieved a remarkable growth in my personal Instagram and TikTok following, increasing my Instagram followers by 50% and my TikTok followers by 75% within the past six months.
I am eager to discuss how my analytical acumen and adaptability can help enhance Crew Clothing’s social media strategy and I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience.
Kind regards,
Hyo Lee ¦ 07777777777 ¦ hyo.lee@email.com
Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing a job and changing careers all at the same time, so taking the time to perfect it is well worth while.
By following the tips and examples above you will be able to create an eye-catching cover letter that will wow recruiters and ensure your CV gets read – leading to more job interviews for you.
Good luck with your job search!