Software Developer Cover Letter Example [+ for Entry Level]

Job ad reads you need to attach a software developer cover letter to your resume, and you think you spotted a bug? This one’s easy to fix with the below guide.

Katarzyna Furman

Career Expert

Updated 08/24/2023

As seen in:

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This guide will show you:

A software developer cover letter sample better than 9 out of 10 others.
The step-by-step plan for how to write a cover letter for software developer positions.
Tested scenarios for writing the best software developer cover letter.
How to write a software developer cover letter if you’re a fresher.

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software developer resume and cover letter set

Use this cover letter template

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

One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:

[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.

Your project plan included looking into other positions too? See different cover letter samples:

Below cover letter example will get you closer to Silicon Valley.

Software Developer Cover Letter Sample

Esther J. Steward

Software Developer

1381 Fincham Road

Palm Springs, CA 92262

313-835-4424

EstherJSteward@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/estherjsteward

Palm Springs, 3/22/2021

Lucille W. Kenyon

Head of Technology

Baey Inc.

1867 Sycamore Street

San Jose, CA 95131

Dear Lucille,

Yesterday, the application I designed and developed hit over 600K downloads on the App Store. Not only my improvements to the company's programming languages made OHi sky-rocket the revenue (+200% in six months), but they also affected the company's recognizability among tech giants. While I was reading your job posting, I'd felt from the start that with my matching skills and expertise, we could do better together.

You say you're looking for a developer proficient at designing AI applications for iOS. At OHi, my primary goal has been to oversee an iOS developers team that designs, builds, and maintains applications, ensuring a smooth and seamless user experience. My results to date:

Created a unique fix securing our client's data and preventing data leakage estimated at $2.3M.
Developed an employee identification application with a face reading scanner which keeps a 92% CSAT score—since the launch.
5 out of 5 apps developed in-house reached over 200K downloads.

What impresses me about your company the most is your dedication to fulfilling your mission statements. As a number one fan of your T33B0T and someone who strongly agrees with your vision for the future, I'm positive our KPIs already align.

When can we schedule a face-to-face meeting to discuss my contribution to your growth?

Kind regards,

Esther J. Steward, Software Developer

PS—I'd also be glad to tell you how I spotted and removed a bottleneck in our remote app building process that led to a 64% efficiency boost.

Is there something Esther can't do?

Future hiring managers will ask the same question when they see your cover letter. Let's break it down into smaller tasks, as promised.

But, if you’re still struggling with deciding whether you need a cover letter or not, read this article: Are Cover Letters Necessary

1. Design Your Software Developer Cover Letter Template

First, define requirements, such as cover letter layout and formatting.

The cover letter format technicalities include:

1-1.15 spacing.
Left-alignment.
No text justification.
1-inch cover letter margins on each side.
Legible cover letter font.
11-12pt font size.
Double-space between paragraphs.
PDF or Word file version, depending on what the job ad says.
Professional cover letter file title.

Extended code pages seem appealing, but don’t sweat it with your software developer cover letter length. One page is more than enough.

There are data structures. And there are cover letter structures. Let’s deal with the latter.

Here goes how to structure your cover letter:

Cover letter header.
Cover letter salutation (give up the idea of writing “To Whom It May Concern”).
Cover letter main body: the hook, making an offer, call to action.
Cover letter closing.

To make sure you’re doing it right, use the same template design you chose for your software developer resume.

All you need to know about what makes a cover letter great is in this guide: The Best Writing Tips For A Cover Letter

As a future software developer intern, you can dive into this one: 20+ Examples For Writing A Cover Letter For An Internship

2. Head on Straight to Your Software Developer Cover Letter Header

This task gets one point in the sprint. That’s how easy it is. But—

It doesn’t make it less important whatsoever. It’s the first thing your hiring manager sees, so don’t fail already at this point.

No-brainer checklist for writing a cover letter header:

Your full name
Job title
Home address
Phone number
Email address
LinkedIn profile

Don’t be afraid of highlighting your name and job title, using a larger font, or bolding. Just remember about balance. It’s all about balance.

Do a cross-check with the below cover letter header template or just hit Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V.

Software Developer Cover Letter Header Template

[Full Name]

[Job Title]

[Mailing Address]

[Phone Number]

[your.email@address.com]

[linkedin.com/in/yourprofileurl]

See how Esther did it:

Software Developer Cover Letter Header Sample

Esther J. Steward

Software Developer

1381 Fincham Road

Palm Springs, CA 92262

313-835-4424

EstherJSteward@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/estherjsteward

You noticed that the city, date, hiring manager, and company details are not part of the header? That’s exactly right. They belong to the salutation part of your software developer cover letter.

In case you’re submitting an email cover letter, help yourself with this guide: How To Write The Best Subject Line And Body In An Email Cover Letter

So, about that salutation part...

3. Say a Proper Hello to Your Hiring Manager

Your head must be full of what-ifs after reading this heading. No wonder.

But at some point, you also must imagine worst-case scenarios and run tests. Let’s do that then.

What if #1: What if there’s no name in contact details?

Address your cover letter with “Dear Hiring Manager.” It’s an ultimate fix because you can never go wrong with that.

What if #2: What if your resume and cover letter go first through the recruiter?

The same rule applies. After all, it’s the hiring managers who decide to hire you. And recruiters don’t take offense to it because they know it, too.

What if #3: What if you know only the team your hiring manager works in, but not their name?

If you don’t know their name, and it’s undetectable, address it to “Dear Software Developer Hiring Manager” or “To the Software Development Recruitment Team.”

Everyone loves ready-made (and working) solutions, so here’s a template for a cover letter address.

How To Address A Cover Letter Template

[Place and Date of Writing]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]

[Hiring Manager’s Professional Title]

[Company’s Name]

[Company’s Address]

Having a general idea, let’s jump right into testing.

How To Address A Cover Letter Sample

Esther J. Steward

Software Developer

1381 Fincham Road

Palm Springs, CA 92262

313-835-4424

EstherJSteward@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/estherjsteward

Palm Springs, 3/22/2021

Lucille W. Kenyon

Head of Technology

Baey Inc.

1867 Sycamore Street

San Jose, CA 95131

Dear Lucille,

Yesterday, the application I designed and developed...

Esther found her hiring manager’s name and used it in both the cover letter address and salutation.

If you need to ask at least one of those what-ifs up the page, change how you address the cover letter.

How To Address A Cover Letter Sample

Esther J. Steward

Software Developer

1381 Fincham Road

Palm Springs, CA 92262

313-835-4424

EstherJSteward@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/estherjsteward

Palm Springs, 3/22/2021

Software Developer Hiring Manager

Baey Inc.

1867 Sycamore Street

San Jose, CA 95131

Dear Software Developer Hiring Manager,

Yesterday, the application I designed and developed...

Like Esther, you also did your due diligence but found out that your hiring manager has a Doctor or Professor title, or you couldn’t work out if you should use Miss or Mrs., check this guide out to find the clues: How To Avoid Any Mistakes When Addressing A Cover Letter

4. Do Yourself a Favor and Write a Catchy Cover Letter Intro

Remember Flappy Bird? People got so hooked on playing this game, and it started to have detrimental effects.

That’s how you should code your cover letter introduction—the hook—and make the reader read on.

You should tailor your software developer cover letter to the job description, as well as your resume, so remember to use relevant keywords in your entire job application. This way, your cover letter will show that you understand the requirements of a software developer, have results that can back them up, and explain your motivation behind joining that particular team.

There are several strategies to start a cover letter:

Include your accomplishments.
Say what you can offer.
Prove your appreciation of the company.
Show your excitement and passion.
Refer to what's happening right now in the company or industry.
Refer to a shared mission, vision, or values.

Scientific minds appreciate practical solutions, so here you go:

Software Developer Cover Letter Introduction Sample

RIGHT

Yesterday, the application I designed and developed hit over 600K downloads on the App Store. Not only my improvements to the company's coding language made OHi sky-rocket the revenue (+200% in six months), but they also affected the company's recognizability among tech giants. While I was reading your job posting, I'd felt from the start that with my matching skills and expertise, we could do better together.

Let’s now take a quick look at the following example.

WRONG
I saw your job posting yesterday for a Software Developer position and thought it's a good opportunity for me to apply. I design and develop complex iOS applications in my current role, so I'm positive I'll tackle the upcoming challenges.

You're sharp. You get it.

The second intro says nothing about your achievements or strengths. If you write one of these, you'll get closer to Boring Valley, nowhere else.

The first one, though, proves the impact Esther is making at her company through cover letter power words and blinds you with enthusiasm for taking on the next challenge.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics foresees growth in software developer employment between 2019 and 2029 by 22%. The average number of devs in 2019 amassed to almost 27 million.

Do the math now. That's your competition.

Do you still want to write a blunt cover letter intro?

Nah.

If you're writing an entry-level software developer cover letter, you'll also need an advantage. Check out this sample for a grad:

Entry Level Software Developer Cover Letter Introduction Sample

RIGHT

The application you have in your hands comes from an enthusiastic software developer whose goal is to introduce innovation in app building. As a DevsClub President with a bachelor degree in Computer Science, I designed and developed a student-tutor communication application using Objective-C. My focus on making technological breakthroughs remains unchanged. I'm looking forward to making them with you.

As an aspiring junior software developer, you won't have results like Esther to boast about, but if you referred to the desired qualities and shared values, you'll be more than fine.

Now to the making-the-offer part.

5. Sell Yourself in a Software Developer Cover Letter Middle

But how?

Keep the attention you just grabbed by explaining why you’re the perfect fit.

Agile is flexible. You choose whatever suits your project requirements best—be it Scrum, Lean, or Kanban.

You do the same with the mid-part of your software developer cover letter.

Go through the job description, work out what’s important to your hiring manager, and match your skills and experience with their requirements.

Don’t make your cover letter long. When you’re invited for an interview, you’ll get the chance to say more. At this point, try to intrigue and interest the hiring team.

Simple, right? Right.

Say Lucille is looking for a developer who has experience building iOS apps with Artificial Intelligence (AI) features and doesn’t forget about user satisfaction and experience in the process.

Take a look at what Esther wrote in response to those requirements:

Software Developer Cover Letter Mid-Part Sample

RIGHT

You say you're looking for a developer proficient at designing an AI application for iOS. At OHi, my primary goal has been to oversee an iOS developers team that designs, builds, and maintains applications, ensuring a smooth and seamless user experience. My results to date:

Created a unique fix securing our client's data and preventing data leakage estimated at $2.3M.
Developed an employee identification application with a face reading scanner which keeps a 92% CSAT score—since the launch.
5 out of 5 apps developed in-house reached over 200K downloads.

It says it all. She acknowledges what’s desired in the future developer and proves it in various ways (over 200K downloads, application with a face reading scanner, a 92% CSAT score).

Now find out what Esther might’ve done to lose her chance of landing her dream job:

WRONG
I read you’re looking for a developer good at coding AI applications for iOS. At OHi, I led a team of iOS developers who build such apps. So far, these applications have been receiving very good reviews from our users.

And the question that came to your mind is: Have they? For real? Yeah. We think so, too.

You can notice good intentions in this sample, but that’s it. Good intentions won’t get you hired. Evidence will.

You’re almost at a deployment stage.But—

Let’s highlight your motivation. This is the third paragraph and last part of making the offer. It’d be best to tell the hiring manager why you genuinely want to join the company.

Aspire to their values, refer to their latest upgrade, show your innate drive, you name it. Just make it work.

This is what Esther typed in:

RIGHT
What impresses me about your company the most is your dedication to fulfilling your mission statements. As a number one fan of your T33B0T and someone who strongly agrees with your vision for the future, I'm positive our KPIs already align.

It kamehamehas with passion.

Esther also mentioned the latest tech Baey Inc. launched, so she again proves she knows what’s what.

As an entry-level software developer, you can use this section to your advantage. Create leverage over other candidates here. Show off your knowledge of the industry, of the company, and their values.

Make it go like this:

RIGHT
Creating technology that serves humanity has always been my number one goal. Sharing the values you praise, i.e., innovation, inclusion, and responsibility, I’m confident we could do a world of good together.

A little bird told me you’ve got the gig. Congrats!

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.

Create my resume now

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

When in doubt, double-check your outline with this guide: Career Experts Advice On A Cover Letter Outline

6. Make a Final Move in the Cover Letter Ending

When you need users to do a thing or two for you, you create a compelling CTA button.

You also need one. Finish your software developer cover letter with a call to action directed at the hiring managers.

So, let me just type the HTML code in…

</form>

Alright, we’re all set. Let’s do some quality checks and see whether it’s working.

RIGHT

When can we schedule a face-to-face meeting to discuss my contribution to your growth?

Kind regards,

Esther J. Steward, Software Developer

Yep! Esther delivered. She has a green light for sending it through.

Let’s break it down, shall we?

She’s straightforward, understands her value, and is set on bringing that value to the company.

Esther uses formal closing and repeats her job title after a comma. In the ideal world, you’ll see there a handwritten signature, too, but these sign-offs also do:

Kind regards,
With best regards,
Best regards,
Sincerely,
Thank you.

Here’s all about closing paragraphs: 20+ Examples of How To End a Cover Letter

7. Lure Hiring Managers to the End of Your Software Developer Cover Letter With This One Trick

No, no, no.

It’s not a bait-and-switch situation. They will catch the big fish. (You, that is. You’re the big fish.)

The trick is to use the “P.S.”

It’s captivating (yet optional). So don’t make the mistake of letting it go, or else your job application freezes.

Hack the process and tell one more impressive thing about your career, and sort of invite them to your interview so that you can tell them more about it.

Esther did it. See:

PS—I'd also be glad to tell you how I spotted and removed a bottleneck in our remote app building process that led to a 64% efficiency boost.

And that’s it. Eat your lunch and read what’s up on Reddit.

Here you’ll find a checklist to make sure you’ve got all covered: What Goes Where In A Cover Letter

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

How to write a software developer cover letter in a nutshell:

Create a clear format of your cover letter.
Make your achievements pop.
Support your motivation with evidence.
Finish it with a bang call to action.

Want more info on how to write a great cover letter for software developers?

Wondering how your software developer cover letter can get you noticed?

Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

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Software Developer Cover Letter Example [+ for Entry Level]

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