Program Manager Cover Letter Examples + Template [2023]

To make a risk-averse program manager cover letter, you can’t be like everybody else. After all, “everybody else” won’t get the job. That high-level company will only interview a few—the few that stand out with waterfalls of achievements that fit. 

This guide will show you:

• A program manager cover letter example better than 9 out of 10 others.
• How to write a cover letter for program managers that lands 10x more interviews.
• Why highlighting a few career successes will get you noticed.

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.

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Use this cover letter template

Sample cover letter for a resume—See more cover letter examples and create your cover letter here.

Thinking about other roles? See:

• Executive Cover Letter Example
• Manager Cover Letter Example
• Project Manager Cover Letter Example
• Project Coordinator Cover Letter Example
• IT Manager Cover Letter Example
• Operations Manager Cover Letter Example
• Construction Cover Letter Example
• Cover Letter for Internal Position or Promotion
• Best Cover Letter Examples for All Professions

This program manager cover letter template works like 3-point estimation:

Program Manager Cover Letter Example

A cover letter for program manager jobs like that could get you in at Intuit or Kimley-Horn.

Without a matching resume, your cover letter faces too many impediments. See our guide: Program Manager Resume: Sample & Complete Guide

Now, here’s how to write program manager cover letters that work:

1. Use the Right Program Manager Cover Letter Template

The operations manager can’t afford a hiring mistake. One crashed program could sink the organization. Use your cover letter layout to show you have the bandwidth to handle anything. The look and feel should show you’d fit in at Baird or Pinnacle Financial. Start with the respected 3-paragraph format.

Use this template.

Sample Program Manager Cover Letter—Checklist

• your contact info
• the organization’s info
• Dear [Manager Name],
• first paragraph: stand out from the crowd
• second paragraph: key skills that dovetail with the firm and the position
• third paragraph: a compelling call to action
• best regards, then name & title
• a P.S. with another program manager qualification

Pro Tip: What does a good cover letter look like? It’s inviting, well-laid-out, and easy to read. It’s got clear section breaks and doesn’t make the hiring manager think.

Remember about these things when designing your cover letter:

• Save your cover letter in PDF with the right cover letter title.
• The font you use for a cover letter should be easy to read and simple.
• The heading of your cover letter should match the heading of your resume.
• Line spacing for a cover letter should be 1.5 and margins 1”.

Read more: Cover Letter Format: A Complete How-To Guide

2. Start Your Program Manager Cover Letter Right

“We’ve decided to go with another candidate.” Tired of hearing that? Then take steps to make sure they read your program manager cover letter. That starts with the first few sentences of your cover letter. They’ve got to show you’re not some spammer applying to every program manager job on LinkedIn and Indeed.

See these cover letter examples for program managers:

Program Manager Cover Letter Examples [First Paragraph]

Outstanding.

Why does that cover letter for program manager jobs work?

Because it:

1. Begins with an Amex-worthy accomplishment.
2. Adds interest in the company.

But this program manager cover letter example has too many pain points:

Failure to launch.

That applicant thinks a lot of chest-pounding will get him hired. It won’t. You need to show you bring something to the conversation besides buzzwords.

But—what if you’re making a program manager cover letter with no experience?

Entry-Level Program Manager Cover Letter Example

In new program manager cover letters—

Start with your most satisfying achievement from:

• Non-program manager jobs
• Your B.S. or M.S.
• Projects you’ve managed
• Publications or awards

Or begin your cover letter for program manager jobs with:

• A fact that excites you about the company
• Something from a recent press release
• A referral from someone at the organization
• Your passion for driving programs

See these program manager cover letter examples with no experience:

Scrum-ready.

Those first lines for program manager cover letters with no experience beat, “I’m looking for a job...”

Pro Tip: There’s no such thing as a program manager with no experience. You’ve managed projects before, right? Then write a career change cover letter.

3. Link Your Program Manager Cover Letter to the Job

Getting their attention is only half the job. The rest is proving you’re the most qualified candidate on the list. That’s hard—but that’s a good thing. It means you’ll do it, but 99% of the other applicants won’t. To deliver, first learn the job requirements. Then look through your resume for evidence.

Prove:

1. Why you want the job.
2. Your understanding of the program manager job requirements in the ad.
3. Why you fit so well.

See these program manager cover letter examples:

Program Manager Cover Letter Examples [Middle]

Get ready for a phone call.

Your skills are perfect!

But—

The next of our program manager cover letter examples is high-risk:

Whoops.

That’s off-the-rack. It doesn’t understand the organization and it offers nothing they’ve asked for in their online ad.

Stay short. See our guide: How Long Should a Cover Letter Be? Sample & Guide

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Choose a resume template here.

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When you’re done, our free resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

4. End Your Program Manager Cover Letter Strong

Congratulations! The director loved your program manager cover letter. But—she had to take a phone call. When she finished, she picked up another application and forgot you. Nip that in the bud. How? With a tantalizing offer at the end of your cover letter. Make it compelling, but don’t get too detailed.

See these examples:

Cover Letter Examples for Program Manager [Ending]

Magnetic.

That applicant doesn’t just want the job. She wants to help the company succeed. And she probably knows how.

But the next of our program manager cover letter non-profit samples is constrained:

Pro Tip: Add salary requirements to your cover letter to avoid wasting time on flimsy offers. Just don’t go too low or too high. In other words, do due diligence first.

Key Takeaway

Here’s how to write a program manager cover letter:

• Use the right program manager cover letter format. Add your milestone-busting skills.
• Start your cover letter with a powerful opening line.
• For the middle, prove your grasp of the program manager job requirements, and how you fit.
• End with an offer. Promise an interesting talk about their program needs.

Not sure how to start your program manager job cover letter? Want to write a cover letter for program manager positions that makes the phone ring? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

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