Video Editor Cover Letter Example and Advice from HR Pros

Now that you have your video editor resume ready, it’s time to work on your cover letter. A cover letter serves as an introduction to your resume, highlights its most important points and shows your potential new employer your passion and motivation for working in video editing.

Why should you add a cover letter to your application?

In most applications, adding a cover letter to your resume will work to your benefit. In fact, hiring managers recommend always pairing your resume with a cover letter, even though it gives them more material to go through.

A cover letter gives your employer a better understanding of who you are, a clearer vision of your goals and an insight into your personality. As a video editor, a cover letter gives you the opportunity to show your creative side, talk about the passion you have for videography and what goals you want to pursue.

Unfortunately, it’s very hard to let your personality come through on a one-page resume. Resumes tend to be dry, factual and focused on what you can do. Cover letters, on the other hand, are a great place to talk about why you want to do what you do, what drives you creatively and more. Don’t miss out on this powerful opportunity to show your employer who you are beyond the numbers on your resume.

Video Editor cover letter sample

First, let’s take a quick look at a sample cover letter for a video editing position. We will then go over the structure of the letter step by step to give you an idea how to format your application.

What sections should your cover letter include?

A cover letter should be more personal than a resume. So, you will have way more flexibility on how to structure it. However, it’s still best if it includes the following essentials:

• Header
• Greeting
• Introduction
• Call to action
• Sign-off

Let’s go over each of these sections in a bit more detail.

Cover letter header

The header of your cover letter is the part with your contact information. You can keep it short and simple and just include your name, professional credentials (if applicable), phone number and email. Or, you can use this as an opportunity to add a bit more information about yourself and pique the hiring manager’s curiosity.

If so, you can add a link to your professional social media: LinkedIn account, Facebook page, YouTube, professional website, a space with your video portfolio and so on. Before you do this, however, ensure that your professional social media are updated and present a clear picture of you that can impress your potential new employer.

Cover letter greeting

After your contact details, add a greeting. It’s best to address the hiring manager by name — if you know it. This will add a personal touch to the application and may help you set off on a good note with your potential employer.

If you don’t know the name of the person who will be reading your application, there may be a way to find it out. Try the following:

• Check the web page of the media company you are applying to work at and see if you can learn who is in charge of the hiring process.
• Take a look at the company’s social media pages. Sometimes, there may be additional information there about who works at the company.
• LinkedIn can be a good resource too. You can often see a list of the company’s employees here — search for the hiring manager, chief video editor, etc.

If none of the above has worked and you still haven’t found the name of the person who will be looking at your application, you may need to use a general greeting. In this case, we suggest going with something like “Dear Hiring Manager”. It may be best to avoid the phrases like “To Whom It May Concern”, as they may come off as old-fashioned and impersonal.

Introduction

The introduction of your cover letter is an elevator pitch to your potential future employer. Don’t waste any time on generalities here. Instead, you should jump right in with your highest qualifications and key talents. The introduction of your cover letter may also touch on the motivation behind your application, why you want to work for this specific company or on this specific project — and so on.

The rest of your cover letter as well as your resume will be backing up your introduction with factual data — showing the hiring manager how you can be an asset to the team.

Cover letter main body

The middle paragraphs of your cover letter should go into more detail about why you are the best for the job. This is the time to make your case and be specific about your past experiences and accomplishments.

You should emphasize the fact that you are well familiar with the job responsibilities of a video editor and what’s expected of you. Offer examples from your previous employment that prove your relevant abilities and skills.

Avoid abstract and general phrasing. On the contrary, you should be as specific as you can. Talk about your editing experience, the biggest projects you’ve worked on, how you developed your skills and more. It’s also good practice to refer to specific situations from your previous workplaces to illustrate your professional ability.

This is also a good place to talk about why you want this job and what you hope to accomplish in the new position. This part of your cover longer will be the longest — but try to keep to two to three paragraphs tops.

Call to action and sign-off in a cover letter

It’s best to end your cover letter with a call to action — hint that you are expecting a continuation to the discussion, a call, an email, an invitation to an interview, etc.

Phrasing a call to action may be tricky, but there are several proven ways to approach this:

• You can mention when you are ready to start in the new job and ask if this timing works for your employer.
• You can ask about the next step in the application process: should you wait for a response, will there be an interview, is there any additional information you should provide, etc.
• Finally, don’t forget to thank the hiring manager for taking the time to review your application.

In your sign-off, you can repeat your contact details: your phone number and email.

Extra tips for writing a cover letter

Here are a few more things to take into account when writing your video editor cover letter:

• Most hiring managers agree that your cover letter should be just about a page long — or less. This is why you shouldn’t include generalities, abstract information or space fillers. In fact, it’s best if your cover letter is shorter rather than longer — provided it gets the right message across.
• Try not to make your cover letter into a copy of your video editing resume. Use it as an opportunity to tell the hiring manager more about you and highlight your most important skills.
• Be specific. Make your cover letter stand out with examples from your previous work, numbers, mention keywords from the job description — and more.
• One of the most important things about writing a good cover letter to the position you are applying for. Re-using the same cover letter for multiple positions may sound like a good way to save time — but it’s actually counter-productive. The main purpose of your cover letter is to show the employer that you are interested in the job they have to offer and that you are the best candidate for this specific job. This is why it’s essential that you do your best that both your resume and cover letter are tailored for the job you are applying for.

Learn more about writing applications for creative professions in our post on Video Editor Resume Sample and Tips from HR Pros.