Systems Engineer Cover Letter Sample and Advice from HR Pros
A cover letter is a useful tool that helps you introduce yourself in an impressive and memorable way during an interview. Statistics show that over 26 percent of recruiters consider cover letters important in their decision to hire.
A well-crafted cover letter expands the information you’ve provided in your resume to provide the recruiter with details about your career journey and professional achievements. It allows you to provide more context about your qualifications and accomplishments in your previous workplaces.
So, how do you pique the interest of your potential employer and recruiter all while highlighting yourself in the best light?
In this guide, we cover:
- How best to structure a systems engineer cover letter
- What to include in a cover letter
- What not to include in your cover letter
- Tips to craft a successful cover letter
What Does a Cover Letter Look Like?
A cover letter is a document that serves as the first introduction to your hiring manager. Its goal is to enhance your application. That means that you must write a unique cover letter for every job you apply for.
A great cover letter should be:
- Memorable
- Creative
- Specific and organized
- Concise
A cover letter should also show genuine interest and passion for the advertised position. It gives the recruiter a clear idea of who you are and the values you will bring to the company.
The best systems engineer cover letter template contains five key elements:
- Cover letter header
- Cover letter greeting/salutation
- Cover letter introduction
- Main cover letter paragraph
- Cover letter conclusion and sign off
Our systems engineer cover letter example offers guidance and tips on how to write your own cover letter. Remember, you must visually match your resume with your cover letter. That is, the heading of your cover letter should correlate with your resume.
If you haven’t started on your resume, read our article: Systems Engineer Resume Sample and Tips from HR Pros for inspiration.
How to Format Your Cover Letter
Let's get straight to the details on how to write a successful cover letter.
Cover letter header
Alfred Wyatt
Systems Engineer
(123) 456-7890
Columbus, OH
October 6, 2022
The header of your cover letter should include the following basic information details:
- Your name
- Your job title
- Your phone number
- Your professional email address
- A link to your professional social media account, like GitHub or LinkedIn
- The date
Be sure to provide up-to-date contact information that recruiters can use to get in touch with you.
Cover letter greeting
The salutation part of the cover letter gives you a chance to catch the reader's attention. One foolproof strategy is to address them by their name. Often, when a hiring manager sees their name in the greeting, they feel like it's specifically tailored to them.
It makes the cover letter personal and might just be what they were looking for. Therefore, consider doing your research to find out the name of the hiring manager. If you're applying for a company with a more relaxed company culture, you can use the first name. If it’s corporate, it's wise to use the recruiter’s last name.
The hiring manager's name can be found on the company’s LinkedIn page or the company’s website.
What if you can't find the hiring manager’s name? Well, in that case, consider going with the standard salutation “Dear Hiring Manager”. Avoid using “Dear Sir/Madam” (unless you live in Victorian England), and definitely don’t use “To whom it may concern.”
Cover letter introduction
As a huge fan of ACME Technologies LTD., I was really excited to see an open position for a systems engineer on LinkedIn. I’m confident that with my extensive background and experience of 8+ years in the industry, I can be a valuable addition to your team. I have collaborated with a team of 12 to define and implement highly functional digital systems with budgets of up to $2M.
Now, once you're done with the salutation, it's time to get into the meaty part of the cover letter. The introduction should be captivating enough that it makes the recruiter want to read more.
To get the right attention, start strong and provide details that add value to your proposal. Don’t just state that you think you're the right fit for the job. Consider adding details that demonstrate why you're the best candidate suited for that position.
Avoid fluff. Provide only facts about your work experience, qualifications, and abilities.
Main cover letter paragraph (body)
My time at Jayden IT Consulting allowed me to hone my abilities, particularly:
- Network development and administration
- Virtualization
- Operating Systems
In my previous position at Jayden IT Consulting, I was tasked with finding out how clients’ private networks were breached and proposed security improvements to prevent future attacks. It’s this, among other challenges, that makes me believe I have what it takes to find the most efficient solution to whatever problems you present to me.
I am ready to embark on a new career path that offers more challenges and allows me to put my skills to use. It is my goal to continue to learn and grow throughout my career, which is what motivates me to work in your company. Being a highly organized, detail-oriented, and innovative individual, I can manage my time and projects with proficiency to ensure team success.
The middle section of the cover letter is where you’ll highlight your achievements and career highlights. To do that, you must know what the recruiter is really looking for. Therefore, go through the job description and structure your sentences in a way that shows you satisfy the company's needs.
Use this section to show your motivation and passion for joining the company. It would be a great advantage to use numbers and percentages here as it shows real results.
Cover letter conclusion and sign off
A cover letter ending is the final paragraph addressing the reader. Let the recruiter know that you look forward to an interview invitation to further discuss how your experience and skills will bring a positive contribution to the company.
When writing a cover letter ending, don’t use phrases that make you look needy. The recruiter knows that you need the job, so you don’t have to emphasize that here.
Lastly, avoid the cliche phrase “Thank you for your consideration.” Use a simple but effective statement like this one in our systems engineer cover letter template:
I would greatly appreciate your review of my enclosed resume. At your convenience, I am available for an interview or further discussion. As we move ahead through the recruitment process, I will be excited to share what values I bring to the team and how you will benefit from my services.
To sign off, avoid heavy jargon. Stick to “Sincerely” and follow it with your full name. Add a signature if it's required (common with formal cover letters).
Other closing salutations you can use include:
- Thank you,
- Kind regards,
- Best regards,
- With best regards,
It’s a great idea to repeat your basic information, like phone number, email, address, and LinkedIn profile below your sign-off.
For more tricks on effective cover letter closing paragraphs, be sure to read our guide:
Useful tips when writing your cover letter
- Keep it short. Nearly 70 percent of employers prefer a half-page cover letter or the ‘shorter the better’ approach. Your cover letter should not exceed 400 words. Likewise, it shouldn't be less than 200 words.
- Keep the paragraphs in your cover letter short (3-4 sentences).
- Use simple fonts like Calibri, Tahoma, and Arial.
- Stick to the standard business letter format – single or 1.15 line spacing.
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