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Excited about applying for that lucrative tech job? You're going to need a cover letter. Here’s how to write the best IT cover letter the CTO has ever seen.
You’re preparing an IT cover letter to attach to your tech job application.
Whether it’s the incredible perks, the unparalleled technology, or the cachet of the startup’s name, you’re excited, and rightfully so.
However—
Writing an okay IT cover letter won’t cut it.
Rather, you need an awesome information technology cover letter that grabs the IT manager’s attention like they just announced an IPO and they’re all gazillionaires.
Well, you’ve come to the right place.
This IT cover letter guide will show you:
Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from 20+ professional cover letter templates that match your CV. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.
Sample Cover Letter for a CV—See more cover letter templates and create your cover letter here.
And don’t forget that a cover letter is nothing without a good CV. When you’re finished, take a look at this guide: 25+ Information Technology (IT) CV Examples
Looking for advice for other careers? We’ve got you covered:
First, here’s a professional IT cover letter sample:
Hannah Wagner
21A New Farm Place
London
N3 5RT
2nd February 2021
Joseph Simmons
Human Resources Manager
Matterhorn Tech Solutions
10 Newton Street
London
W1A 1DB
Dear Joseph,
Having recently completed a 2-year contract in software engineering after completing my Computer Science BSc, I am keen to take on new challenges. So, I was delighted when I came across your job post in search of candidates for your software development team. With both my professional experience and educational attainments giving me detailed knowledge of the entire software development life cycle, I believe I have the skills to be an ideal candidate for Matterhorn Tech.
As an IT specialist dedicated to delivering outstanding results in software development, I know I have what it takes to be a reliable contributor to the Matterhorn team. With a full stack of both front-end and back-end development skills, my abilities are wide-ranging and well-practised. In my prior post, my top accomplishments include:
I am genuinely passionate about information technology, particularly software development, and I’m constantly honing my IT skills, even in my spare time. I fully intend to bring that same energy and motivation over to your dev team.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to the chance to be able to discuss Matterhorn’s business goals with you. I’d love to share how my skills and achievements can contribute to your impressive reputation for reliable products.
Yours sincerely,
Hannah Wagner
P.S. Perhaps we could book some time for a Zoom chat? I’d love to show you how I could help boost development speed at Matterhorn as I did with Snowshoe Systems.
That was our take on the perfect sample cover letter for IT jobs.
Now here’s how to write an IT cover letter that’ll let you be just as impressive:
IT employers want good UX.
That’s true on any application letter for IT, too—
Whether it’s an entry-level IT cover letter or an IT director cover letter, format it right before you begin writing.
Here’s the right IT application letter layout to follow to make them happy:
If you want to learn more about the various cover letter sections in detail, see our complete guide: What Things to Include in a Cover Letter?
If you really want to grab the hiring manager’s attention you’ve got to find a way to get them hooked right from the start. And the easiest way to do that is to personalise your IT cover letter. Using the hiring manager’s name is a sure-fire way to get them to pay attention.
WRONG |
---|
To Whom It May Concern,
Dear Sir or Madam, |
RIGHT |
---|
Dear Ms Fitzpatrick,
Dear Joanne, |
See the difference?
The salutation on a cover letter for IT jobs is the easiest part to write, but it’s also the easiest area to get wrong.
Why use a name?
According to brain scans and imaging science which your tech background will allow you to understand better than I ever could, people love hearing their own names.
That means—
Flex your tech muscle, and find their name. Search LinkedIn or crawl through the company’s about page to find the name of the hiring manager or CIO.
Can’t find their name after looking everywhere?
Don’t worry.
Use something like Dear Hiring Manager. It’s neutral and still way more effective than To Whom It May Concern.
Pro Tip: Top tech companies often hire IT recruiters to scout for talent such as yourself. In that case, you’ll address the IT recruiter, not someone at the company to which you’re applying.
Next up is the introductory statement.
It’s a crucial paragraph to get just right, as it introduces you and your aspirations for an IT career with them.
Like successful user retention, it hopefully earns their interest so they’ll read the entire thing.
Here’s how to start a cover letter in a way that makes a great first impression:
RIGHT |
---|
Dear Joseph,
Having recently completed a 2-year contract in software engineering after completing my Computer Science BSc, I am keen to take on new challenges. So, I was delighted when I came across your job post in search of candidates for your software development team. With both my professional experience and educational attainments giving me detailed knowledge of the entire software development life cycle, I believe I have the skills to be an ideal candidate for Matterhorn Tech. |
WRONG |
---|
Hello there, my name is Lindsay and I am applying for the open position at your company. I have a wide variety of IT skills, and I possess a strong work ethic and great attention span. |
Aside from length, spot the differences?
No hirer, whether for IT jobs or otherwise, wants a generic cover letter. That second one is spam, and the company you’re applying to likely has IT staff just to filter stuff like that out.
The second one though is a top-notch introduction.
It gives them a brief mention of your IT background and tech skills while also enticing them to read further if they want to learn more.
On top of that, it’s tailored to this one specific job by mentioning the company name and the exact job position.
You immediately look to them like The Next Big Thing™.
This is a standard way of writing a great information technology cover letter opening statement. But there are more! For other ideas, see our complete guide: How to Write a Cover Letter
So, we’ve </head>.
Next up, as per usual, is <body>.
You’ve intrigued them in your introduction paragraph (well done, by the way!).
Now it’s time to sell them on why you’re the best choice with an IT application letter body.
Like any app’s pricing page, this is where you detail your extensive tech skills, experience, background, and achievements.
Show them that hiring you is like getting the Ultimate Version at the Basic Version’s price.
How?
Here’s what to write about in the next few paragraphs in the IT professional cover letter body:
Now, let’s put it all together.
Here’s a sample IT cover letter body statement:
As an IT specialist dedicated to delivering outstanding results in software development, I know I have what it takes to be a reliable contributor to the Matterhorn team. With a full stack of both front-end and back-end development skills, my abilities are wide-ranging and well-practised. In my prior post, my top accomplishments include:
I am genuinely passionate about information technology, particularly software development, and I’m constantly honing my IT skills, even in my spare time. I fully intend to bring that same energy and motivation over to your dev team.
How’s that for an IT letter of application body section?
It accomplishes everything we set out to do, from talking up your impressive accomplishments using verifiable numbers to showing enthusiasm and tech passion.
Sure to get you whitelisted for the IT interview ASAP!
Pro Tip: How long should a cover letter be? Keep your IT application letter down to between a half-page and two-thirds of a page in length, which is around 200–300 words.
To really tinker with these central paragraphs until they’re optimised and ready for end users, see this guide: Top Tips for Writing a Cover Letter
As with a freshly-built computer, it’s time to put those skills to the test to tweak and overclock your cover letter for IT professionals for max performance.
So this is how to close a cover letter for information technology:
RIGHT |
---|
Thank you for your time and I look forward to the chance to be able to discuss Matterhorn’s business goals with you. I’d love to share how my skills and achievements can contribute to your impressive reputation for reliable products. |
WRONG |
---|
I look forward to your reply. |
No one likes a generic cover letter closing, especially one so dispassionate—
The IT recruiter will facepalm in frustration.
Instead, write an IT job cover letter ending which sums it all up nicely, using enthusiasm and confidence.
Unlike ROM, this IT cover letter template surely won’t be read-only!
Next up, the sign-off, and it’s the same whether you’re writing an IT support cover letter or IT technician cover letter.
Here’s what it looks like:
Yours sincerely,
Hannah Wagner
It’s that easy. Remember there’s only two options to use to sign off your cover letter. Use Yours sincerely if you’ve addressed it to a named person and Yours faithfully if not.
Finally, we’ve reached the end of the cover letter.
However, while not required, adding a P.S. after your valediction and John Hancock is a neat cover letter hack for one last chance at catching their eye.
Here’s a great IT cover letter example postscript:
P.S. Perhaps we could book some time for a Zoom chat? I’d love to show you how I could help boost development speed at Matterhorn as I did with Snowshoe Systems.
Not hard, huh?
This P.S. statement works because it transitions back out of the formality of the cover letter body, appealing to their humanity.
At the same time, it reminds them once more that you’re the best choice by slipping another numbered achievement in there.
That’s how it’s done, and now you’re done!
Just like there are many ways to impress the IT manager or recruiter, there’s no one way to close an IT cover letter. See this guide: How to End a Cover Letter
So there you have it, an information technology cover letter that’s ready to win you the IT job of your dreams.
Let’s sum it all up—
Here’s how to write the best application letter for information technology positions:
Now, get prepared for the interview!
Got any questions about writing a cover letter for IT jobs or our IT cover letter examples? Need help tweaking your IT cover letter introduction, body, or closing paragraph? Write to us below in the comments, and thanks for reading!
Ever wondered what makes a good CV good? We found the 11 things your CV needs to be the very best.
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