How To Write A Recruiter Cover Letter (With Example)

When hiring a recruiter, employers seek candidates who understand the hiring process and can help them build a diverse talent base. A cover letter helps to showcase your work history, skills and professional accomplishments. Whether you are seeking an entry-level position in recruiting or have been in the field for a few years, knowing how to write an engaging cover letter helps you to distinguish your profile from other candidates. In this article, we explain how to write a recruiter cover letter, share a template and example and discuss a few tips to help you build an impressive one.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed.

How To Write A Recruiter Cover Letter?

Use this step-by-step guide to learn how to write a recruiter cover letter that conveys all the essential information while highlighting your suitability for the position:

1. Begin with a header

Starting the cover letter with your name and contact information makes it easy for the hiring manager to connect with you. Employers often require candidates to submit cover letters and resumes together. Following the same formatting style for the headers of both these documents can help keep your application consistent and unique. You can use free online templates to help you design a professional-looking header that matches your resume. Here are a few points to keep in mind while writing this section:

• Include your first and last name, degree and certification, if relevant, in the first line of the header.

• In the second line, specify your mobile number, email, city and state or union territory.

• Mention the date of writing the letter below the header.

• Include the name of the company you are applying to below the date.

Related: What Is A Recruiter? A Complete Guide

2. Start the letter body with a formal salutation

Address the letter directly to the hiring manager using formal language, such as Dear [First Name] [Last Name]. Read the job posting carefully to identify the hiring manager's full name. Alternatively, you can also look it up on the company website. If you cannot find the hiring manager's name, you can use a standard salutation, such as Dear [Company Name] hiring manager. Salutations such as Sir, Madam or To whom it may concern feel generic and send the message that you are reusing the same letter for multiple positions without taking the time to personalise each one.

Related: Dear Sir Or Madam: Best Use And Alternatives

3. Highlight your biggest recruiting accomplishments in the introduction

As a recruiter, you know the importance of a powerful introduction that captures the hiring manager's attention. Specify your significant professional accomplishments to gain the reader's attention immediately. For example, you can mention conducted eight job fairs in leading colleges and recruited candidates for 300+ entry-level roles in a competitive job market. You can also include one or two sentences mentioning how this role aligns with your professional goals, highlighting your suitability for the position.

Related: How To Include Accomplishments On Your Resume

4. Showcase your recruiting skills

Use the letter body to persuade the hiring manager to hire you by highlighting your relevant skills, qualifications and experiences. Include relevant keywords and phrases from the job description to match your letter with the employer's requirements. You can mention any hiring tools you use and specify the number of successful hires you have made in previous roles. Use the situation-task-action-result (STAR) methodology to explain how these skills helped you achieve the desired results for your previous employers. A few recruiting skills to highlight on your cover letter are:

• Active listening

• Attention to detail

• Candidate assessments and background checks

• Compliance

• Communication skills

• Critical thinking

• Diligence

• Employee onboarding and training

• Employment law

• Interpersonal skills

• Networking

• Negotiations

• Problem-solving

• Proficiency in applicant tracking systems (ATS)

• Relationship management

• Social media screening

• Talent acquisition

Related: What Are Recruiter Skills? (Plus How To Improve Them)

5. Include a call to action in the conclusion

Conclude the letter with a short paragraph that covers the following:

• Reiterate why you are excited about this opportunity

• Specify one or two sentences about why you are interested in the company and how you plan to use your skills as a recruiter to help the company achieve its goals

• Thank the hiring manager for taking the time to read and review your application

• End the letter with a call to action, mentioning your preferred mode of communication and availability for further interviews or discussions

Related: 14 High-Paying Recruiter Jobs (With Salaries And Skills)

Recruiter Cover Letter Template

You can build a cover letter by customising this template:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City], [State or Union territory]

[Date]

[Company Name]

Dear [Hiring manager's first name] [Hiring manager's last name],

[Express excitement for the position, including the role title and the company name.] [Introduce yourself by explaining why you are applying for the job, how the job aligns with your career goals and what specifically draws you to the company.]

[Explain your relevant experience and qualifications without repeating what is in your resume.] [Highlight one to two relevant achievements with facts and data when possible.] [Explain why you would be a good fit for the company.] [Optional: address employment gap or career transition.]

[Express gratitude]. [Summarise qualification]. [Restate interest in the role]. [Call to action + availability and preferred contact method].

[Complimentary close],
[Signature]

Related: How To Become IT Recruiter (With Salary And Qualifications)

Recruiter Cover Letter Example

You can use this example as inspiration while creating your cover letter:

Malini Chopra
987-6543210 | malini.chopra@cmail.com| Chennai, Tamil Nadu

20 January 2023

Joho Corp.

Dear Akash Gupta,

I am applying for the position of Senior Recruiter at Joho Corp. With six years of experience as a recruiting manager at Big Global Inc., I supervised and coached a team of six recruiters and HR administrators and successfully oversaw hiring 300+ employees across different teams. My skills and experiences in building a diverse and dynamic talent base can add value to Joho Corp.'s fast-growing human resources team.

In my previous position, I consistently excelled in matching candidates with the right roles based on their skills, aptitude and professional experiences. I regularly screened job applications, reviewed resumes and conducted preliminary interviews to shortlist potential candidates. Skilled at screening candidates, writing job descriptions, overseeing the hiring process and collaborating with senior executives to identify and implement goals for the human resource team. My education in human resources management helped me develop my theoretical and analytical knowledge about corporate recruiting. I also completed a technical recruiting certification, which further helped me hone my communication skills and strong work ethic.

I look forward to discussing my ideas and plans for expanding and transforming the recruiting process at Joho Corp. to help the company achieve its human resources goals for the next quarter. You can connect with me via email for any additional information or references. Thank you for taking the time to review my application and I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Sincerely,
Malini Chopra

Related: How To Write A Recruiter Resume (With Examples And Template)

Tips For Writing A Cover Letter For A Recruiter Role

Here are a few tips to impress the hiring manager with your cover letter:

• Use powerful verbs. Employers prefer candidates who are confident and exhibit leadership qualities. Use powerful verbs to demonstrate your skills and experiences and establish yourself as the perfect candidate for the role.

• Use numbers to quantify achievements. Including specific numbers and other factual data makes it easy for the hiring manager to evaluate your accomplishments in previous roles. For example, you can mention I facilitated employee retention by 25%.

• Cite references. If possible, include referrals from mentors, managers and colleagues to highlight your leadership, team-building and other workplace skills.

• Build upon the information in your resume. A cover letter complements your resume and provides additional details about you to the hiring manager. Avoid repeating the same information in both documents.

• Match the tone of voice with the corporate culture. Research the organisation to understand its corporate culture and public persona. For example, if you are applying for a start-up that values employee individuality over formality, you can use informal phrases to match your letter's tone with the company culture.

• Convey your genuine enthusiasm for the role and company. Elaborate on why you are excited about this role and explain it genuinely to make the text personal and authentic.