35+ Successful Cover Letter Tips & Advice (With Examples)
Cover letter writing tips—sure to turn any boring letter into something employers want to read.
Getting hired as an HR generalist is tricky. You must prove skills in recruitment, retention, health & safety, communication, and employment law. Even more important, a good human resource generalist cover letter catches the hiring manager’s eye.
In just a few minutes, you’ll learn how to write one.
This guide will show you how to write your own great cover letter for HR generalist jobs.
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 samples and create your cover letter here.
Even the best HR generalist cover letter is worthless without a great HR generalist resume alongside. Read this guide to make sure yours is ready: Human Resources Generalist Resume Sample & Writing Guide.
Here are a few other cover letter examples to consider related to HR jobs:
- Recruiter Cover Letter Sample
- Marketing Cover Letter Sample
- Marketing Manager Cover Letter Sample
- Public Relations Cover Letter Sample
- Customer Success Manager Cover Letter Sample
- Product Manager Cover Letter Sample
- Sales Associate Cover Letter Sample
- Sales Cover Letter Sample
- Sales Representative Cover Letter Sample
Want to explore your options further? See our full selection of cover letter examples for every career: Cover Letter Examples
Here is a phenomenal HR generalist cover letter example:
Sample Cover Letter for HR Generalist
Rhonda Kelsch
HR Generalist
3278 West Street
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508
616-634-4541
rhonda.q.kelsch@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/rhondaqkelsch
4/22/19
Dean Roman
CEO
Arctander Group
888 Twin Oaks Drive
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
Dear Mr. Roman,
I’m writing today about your HR Generalist opening. Working as an HR Generalist at Arctander Group would be a dream come true for me. I’ve been a big fan of your employee-focused culture since I read your article in Forbes. Since then I’ve followed your LinkedIn posts with growing excitement.
I believe my two years as an HR generalist and payroll administrator at ABC Global have given me the right qualities for this role. Your posting lists key responsibilities of improving manager performance, managing employee engagement programs, and training managers. At ABC, I led a project that improved manager performance 23%. I created a program that won 100% engagement for employees in our new Scrum system. I also trained seven managers in effective managerial best practices.
I know Arctander is looking for an HR generalist who can grow along with your employee-focused culture. That makes this job the perfect fit for me, since I’ve long been a proponent and student of that style of corporate governance.
Could we set up a meeting to discuss how my experience with employee engagement and improvement can help further Arctander’s workforce excellence goals?
Sincerely,
Rhonda Kelsch, HR Generalist
616-634-4541
rhonda.q.kelsch@gmail.com
That’s a well-groomed HR generalist cover letter. Now let’s write your version. But—
Every great cover letter for HR generalist jobs needs a resume. See our guide here: How to Write a Professional Resume [Sample & Tips]
Check out our sister guide for HR cover letters: Human Resources Cover Letter Sample & Guide
HR Generalist Cover Letter Template
Here’s how to write a human resource generalist cover letter that shines:
1. Use the right HR generalist cover letter format
- Arial or Cambria font
- 11pt or 12pt font
- 1” margins
- 1 or 1.15 line-spacing
Read more: The Only Proper Cover Letter Format
2. Start with a professional cover letter header
In your HR generalist cover letter header, list:
- Name (top left)
- Address
- Email & phone
- Date of letter
- Employer address
Not sure about the hiring official’s name? Call the company, check the staff page, or use LinkedIn to find it.
Read more: How to Address a Cover Letter
3. Start with a hook
- Use “Dear,” and the hiring official’s last name.
- Use “Ms” with female managers.
- State the position you’re applying for.
- Say why you’re so excited to apply.
Read more: How to Start a Cover Letter the Right Way
5. Show you’re the right HR generalist for the job
- Talk up 2–3 big achievements from past jobs.
- Make them count by showing they leveraged skills the job wants.
- Find those skills by carefully investigating the job offer and company.
- Make them more impressive with numbers like “23%” or “seven managers.”
What’s the right HR generalist cover letter length? The Perfect Cover Letter Length
6. Make an offer
To end your cover letter for HR generalist jobs:
- Suggest a call or meeting.
- Keep your reader interested with a promise to expand on how you’ll help.
Read more: The Best Cover Letter Ending Examples
7. End with a professional signature
- Wrap up with, “Sincerely,” your full name, and your title.
- In an email cover letter, include your digital signature.
- Finish with phone and email.
Writing an entry-level HR generalist cover letter? Entry-Level Cover Letter with No Experience
Don’t ghost after you send a human resource generalist cover letter. Job Application Follow-Up: Examples, Dos, & Don’ts
A good HR generalist cover letter can ramp up your human capital. Complement it with the perfect resume.
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start by picking a resume template here.
When you’re done, our professional resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.
Thanks for reading! Now it’s your turn. What’s been toughest for you about writing a cover letter for HR generalist jobs? Tell us your least favorite part of applying for HR generalist jobs. We’d love to hear from you!
About Zety’s Editorial Process
This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.
