
How to Explain Gaps in Employment (Resume & Cover Letter)
An employment gap is a period of time (months of years) when a job seeker didn't have a job. While out of work, employees use their time to have children, travel or go to school full time.
In business, writing a cover letter is expected.
It shows that you care. That you want this job, not any job.
A well-written business cover letter can make a great first impression. Show your attention to detail and knowledge of the business etiquette.
It can make a difference between who lands the interview and who gets “thanked for applying.”
So you need to have a perfect business cover letter. And you came to the right place to learn how to write one.
This guide will show you samples of business cover letters for administrative, as well as business development position, plus the best tips on how to write a formal business cover letter step-by-step.
Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from 20+ professional cover letter templates that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.
Sample cover letter for a resume—See more cover letter examples and create your cover letter here.
No matter how great your cover letter, without a pitch-perfect resume, it will get you nowhere. See our business resume writing guide here: Business Resume: Samples and Writing Guide.
Considering similar positions too? See other cover letter examples for jobs in your industry:
Want to explore your options further? See our full selection of cover letter examples for every career: Best Cover Letter Examples.
Let’s get started then.
Amanda Hess
Administrative Assistant/Executive Assistant
55 Southfield Road
Anytown, NJ 07021
551-963-4824
amanda.m.hess@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/amandahess33
Anytown, 1/30/2019
Mr. Francis Yorke
Head of Human Resources
XYZ Inc.
3015 Park Drive
New York City, NY 10923
Dear Francis,
As a long-time follower of XYZ’s business activities, I was thrilled to come across an opening for an Executive Assistant position with your organization. In my current role as an Administrative Assistant with ABC, I’ve saved $1+ million annually by creating a new call system to eliminate customer misunderstandings. I’m sure my expertise will help with XYZ’s upcoming challenges.
I know that the key project for this role in the upcoming quarters will be to optimize travel arrangements and implement time-saving solutions. While working at ABC, I’ve collaborated with other Admin Assistants to implement a travel management process based on Agile framework. We reduced travel cost waste by 28%. Later, I used the same system to improve scheduling—that saved ABC an average 6 hours per week for four executives.
The industry-famous XYZ’s emphasis on employee development is why I’m so excited about this opening. I’d love the opportunity to further my professional growth while translating the skills I develop into boosting all major KPIs for XYZ.
Can we schedule a call next week to discuss cutting costs and optimizing processes for XYZ?
Sincerely,
Amanda Hess
551-963-4824
amanda.m.hess@gmail.com
Looking for a C-level position in business development?
Most of such job postings are not advertised. People get them through networking events and internal referrals. But guess what?
A business development cover letter is still welcome. You can (and should!) use name-dropping in your opening.
See this business cover letter example for reference:
Shona Indiano
Business Development Manager
55 Anyroad
Anytown, NJ 07000
512-1625-6712
shona.indiano@me.com
linkedin.com/in/shonaindiano
Anytown, 1/30/2019
Ms Jennifer Adams
CEO
Acme Inc.
305 Madison Drive
New York City, NY 10001
Dear Jennifer,
Mark Colney suggested I apply to this position because he knows:
1. I build and managed 7 self-reliant teams of product and sales managers in 4 countries, each generating over $280,000 in revenue within the first year.
2. You’re looking for a Business Development Manager skilled in developing meaningful, long-lasting relationships with new and existing clients, which my resume demonstrates.
Since one of your upcoming tasks will be to redevelop CRM tools, you might be interested to learn that, in my current position, I’ve redesigned the CRM system resulting in 41% increase in new sales. I’m sure I can replicate these results as your new Business Development Manager.
Let me know if we can schedule a meeting to discuss solutions for skyrocketing Acme’s ROI in the upcoming months.
Thank you for your time, I look forward to hearing from you.
Shona Indiano
512-1625-6712
shona.indiano@me.com
So you’ve seen two jaw-dropping examples of a cover letter for business positions. Read on for a breakdown of how to write yours. But remember—
Here’s how to write a business cover letter for a job application:
Read more: The Only Proper Cover Letter Format
Can’t find the name of the hiring manager? Check the company’s website, do some research on LinkedIn. If all fails, call the reception and ask.
Read more: How to Address a Cover Letter
Read more: How to Start a Cover Letter the Right Way
Also, make sure you’re not making your cover letter too long: The Perfect Cover Letter Length
Read more: The Best Cover Letter Ending Examples
Once you’ve sent out your cover letter, don’t just sit and wait. Remember to follow up on your job application. Here’s how: Job Application Follow-Up: Examples, Dos, & Don’ts
As you’ve learned, a great cover letter can truly be a game-changer, but to have a shot at that dream job, you still need to write a perfect resume.
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.
Thanks for reading! Now I’d love to hear from you. What did you think of our business cover letter examples? What are your best tips for writing an outstanding business cover letter? Drop me a line in the comments. Let’s chat!
An employment gap is a period of time (months of years) when a job seeker didn't have a job. While out of work, employees use their time to have children, travel or go to school full time.
Want to send a cover letter along with your resume? You've got two options: email your cover letter as an attachment, or write an email cover letter. We'll show you how to do both.
How to write a convincing career change cover letter. See how to write a cover letter for career change with no experience plus examples, samples, and expert tips.