The choice to make a career change can help set individuals on their desired employment paths. Simply sending a resume can confuse the hiring manager and lead to the dismissal of your application. Writing a career change cover letter will enable you to outline qualifications, experiences, and transferable skills that make them perfect for the positions they hope to transition to.
You should only use half a page to provide the details to ensure that the career change cover is brief. It should have 3 to 4 paragraphs of between 200 to 400 words. A career change cover letter should contain a header, a greeting, an opening paragraph, a body, closing lines, a sign-off, and a signature.
Guide to Write It Efficiently
When writing a career change cover letter, you should adhere to a well-out-lined step-by-step process.
The following is a guide on how to write an effective career change cover letter:
1. Header
A career change cover letter should start with a header. The header should only be indicated in a physical copy and should not be included when an email is sent. The header must contain your full name, address, phone number, email, and date, while it should end with the hiring manager’s name, job title, and the company’s address.
For example:
Brian Smith
123 Main Street
567-537-6882
[email protected]
July 13, 2020
Lucy Black
Executive Manager
Green Stone Company
452 Miller Street
San Francisco CA,45378
2. Greeting
Next, you should indicate a greeting that directly addresses the hiring manager by first and last name. The hiring manager’s name can be obtained from the company’s website, linked in page, or the job posting. For example:
Dear Creative Director hiring team,
Dear Ms. Alan Green,
3. Introduction
The introductory paragraph of a career change cover letter provides you with an opportunity to impress the hiring manager from the onset and to make an excellent first impression.
The following details should be outlined in the introduction:
3.1. Introduce yourself
The introduction of a career change cover letter should explain who you are and why the letter has been written. The letter should also contain a statement explaining why you are the perfect candidate for the job by highlighting your valuable skills, experiences, or achievements.
For example:
My name is Brian Smith, and I am writing to express my interest in the position of Creative Director at Greens Stone Company. My experiences as an art director at Bright Light LLC make me a competitive candidate for the position.
3.2. Get the reader’s attention
You should strive to write a statement that draws the reader in. Writing a captivating statement will help grab the hiring manager’s attention. You can achieve this by highlighting an experience that is relevant to the job.
For example:
Building a brand image that customers can trust has been a big part of my job. It has helped ensure customer loyalty and familiarity with our brand. However, I want to be part of the bigger picture when it comes to brand identity. I believe that working as a Creative Director at Greenstone will allow me to do that.
3.3. Show your excitement
You should also express excitement in the introductory paragraph of the career change cover letter. Expressing enthusiasm about the position helps show the hiring manager that you value the role and the company. When expressing excitement., you should include admirable details about the company such as its mission, values, reputation, or product.
For example:
I am excited to be applying to a company that puts its customer first. Greenstone company products are known and trusted because the customer’s experiences are taken into consideration. This, for me, is important as I always strive to ensure that the customer’s voice is part of the brand image.
4. Body of the cover letter
The career change cover letter’s body enables you to provide compelling information on why you feel you are perfect for the job by outlining the following information.
The details provided in the body paragraphs provide more insight into your capabilities are:
4.1. Why do you want to change your career?
The body should begin by explaining why you are interested in making a career change. The explanation provided enables the hiring manager to understand your decision to make the change. The hiring manager will, therefore, be able to look past your unconventional background.
My decision to make this significant career change was prompted by a recent campaign that I was a part of. While working on the project, I realized what little input my team and I had on the final product. This realization prompted me to consider an even high position that would allow me to take a holistic approach to my work.
4.2. Emphasize your transferable skills
The career change cover letter should then highlight skills possessed by you that can easily be transferred to the new position. The skills identified should match those of the previous role. Both hard skills like computer literacy and soft skill like time management, and attention to detail, among others, can be indicated in the cover letter. At least three to five transferable skills should be briefly explained.
For example:
A creative director should be able to implement the company’s vision. My many years as an art director have allowed me to hone this skill. I am also no stranger to delivering work on schedule. I am accustomed to teamwork and department coordination to help achieve the goal of the campaign.
4.3. Highlight your extraordinary performance
You should also highlight relevant achievements from the previous position that help show the hiring manager that you can be a valuable asset to the company. Finally, you should relate the achievements mentioned to the new position. The incorporation of figures when describing the impact of the achievements helps strengthen the example provided.
For example:
Last year Bright Light LLC recognized my contribution to its product rebranding campaign. As a result, I was placed in charge of the company’s rebranding campaign temporarily. A survey conducted by the company showed that the work done by my team and I helped increase our customer base by 45%. This only shows that I can adapt to the role to yield desirable results when placed in a higher, more influential position.
4.4. Show passion
Showing passion for the company or industry can help set you apart from other qualified applicants by explaining why they are excited about the opportunity to work with the company. In addition, a personal explanation of where the passion comes from and how it will impact the duties and responsibilities of the role should be provided.
For example:
My passion lies in providing a holistic campaign that caters to both the company and its clients. Working in a company and position that enables me to do this will help unleash my full potential. I believe that Greenstone is the perfect place to do this.
4.5. Prove you understand the company
You should identify the company’s values by conducting online research or speaking to an individual who works in the company. The focus should be placed on employees who occupy a similar role to what you are applying for.
For example:
Your corporate vision of ‘Focusing on customer experience’ resonates with me. Like creative directing, art is a customer-centered career path though it may at times seem aesthetic-based. Centering my work around the company’s clients helps inform my work.
5. Conclusion
The career change cover letter should end with a firm conclusion. The concluding paragraphs are your last chance to make an impression on the hiring manager. The conclusion should include the following information:
5.1. Bring it all together
The final paragraph should be persuasive to bring all the information together to outline what you can do for the company.
For example:
I believe my skills can improve the output of your creative department.
5.2. Closing remarks
The closing remarks should express your willingness to further discuss the position with the hiring manager. You should also indicate a call to action. Finally, gratitude should be expressed for the time taken by the hiring manager to read the letter.
For example:
I look forward to the interview where we can discuss my application further in person. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. Thank you for your time and consideration.
5.3. Signatures
You should end the cover letter with an appropriate professional sign-off phrase such as ‘Sincerely,’Â ‘Regards, ‘among others. Your name should be indicated below the phrase.
For example:
Sincerely,
Brian Smith
Career Change Cover Letter Template
[Job Seeker’s Name]
Address]
Phone number
Date]
[ Hiring manager’s name]
[Job title]
[ Hiring manager’s Company Name]
[Company Address]
Dear[Hiring manager’s name]
I am witting to express my interest in the [job title] which I discovered on [ name of the job website, contact or board]. For the last [period], I have been working in a[ previous position]. As a result, I have gained many transferable skills which I believe will apply to the position.
My interest in the industry is due to[ give a reason for wanting to transition]. I have developed skills such as[indicate skills that relate to the position]which I believe apply to [ new position]. Working as a [ previous position] enabled me to [state relevant accomplishment].
I believe that my background in [ previous position] makes me a unique and valuable candidate worth considering. I look forward to discussing my qualification in person.
Sincerely,
[Job seeker’s name]
Career Change Cover Letter Samples
Following are some professionally written samples to get you an understanding of the sentence structuring and the format of the letter:
Sample 01
John Wells
456Success Av
New York, NY 26780
Phone Number:555-527-62728
Email:[email protected]
February 10, 2020
Samantha Blue
Marketing Director
Peak View Company
663Buccaneer Street
New York, NY56738
Dear Ms. Samantha Blue,
For at least two years, I have been working as a sales representative at King Company. Working closely with customers and the knowledge I have acquired from the products I sell has picked my interest in brand marketing. Therefore, when I heard there was an opening for a brand marketer at Peak view, I was very excited.
My work as a sales representative has sharpened my communication skills. It has provided with perspective on what customers really what from the brand they trust. I believe that the knowledge I have acquired will have a significant impact on your company’s output. A significant advantage of my job is that I learn everything quickly to provide customers with adequate details about the product. Therefore, I can learn and adapt to situations, especially since I have to meet clients.
I believe that my experience with customers and quick learning abilities can be valuable to your company. I would love to discuss my qualification further in person. I appreciate your consideration.
Sincerely,
John Wells
Sample 02
Dear Mr. Mark Taylor,
I have been a graphic designer at MTC company for six years. In that time, I have created several marketing materials that have contributed significantly to the company’s success. About a year ago, I was involved in a project where I was temporarily appointed as the art director. My short stint in that role was eye-opening and quite exciting. Therefore, when I heard an opening for Art Director at Hill Bright Designs, I was overjoyed.
Working in graphic design has enabled me to hone my creative vision. It has also enhanced my ability to communicate using images and messaging, which is quite helpful for an art director. Applying my skills to the art directing position will make the creative department more productive.
Working in a company that is open to creative input will enable me to reach my full potential. Hill Bright has a reputation for valuing the ideas of its workers, which is why I am so excited about the opportunity. In addition, I believe that my background in design will provide a unique perspective.
I look forward to discussing my application with you in person. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Ann Waters
555-555-5555
Downloadable Templates
You can also use these fillable templates to save your time:
Tips to Keep in Mind
Writing a compelling career change cover letter can ensure that you are viewed as a potential asset. Making specific considerations before and during the writing process will help strengthen your position.
The following tips can help enhance the effectiveness of the career change cover letter:
Research the company
Before a career change cover letter can be written, you should research the company and the requirements for the position. Conducting adequate research ensures that the information provided by you is tailored to the company and the position.
You also appear more knowledgeable about the position and company; hence are likely to appear on the hiring manager’s list of candidates for interview.
Get references
You can increase the chances of obtaining the position by having numerous reliable references. The reference letters will attest to your skills and experiences in the former position. The references should be professionals with in-depth knowledge about your career.
Your references may be former or current coworkers, managers, employers, mentors, advisors, teachers, or a report highlighting your achievements. You should indicate each reference’s name, job title, and contact information.
Explain your reasons
You should provide an apparent reason for the career change. There should also be an emphasis on your commitment to learn quickly and contribute to the company’s success. Your reason should be framed positively to keep in line with the information provided in the cover letter.
Send an email
As emails are a better mode of communication these days, so it is a good option to send your cover letter by email. When sending a career change cover letter via email, Your name and job title should be indicated in the subject line. You should then start the email message as the hiring manager’s detail are not required. The email signature should contain the applicant’s contact details.
Final Remarks
Writing a career change cover letter enables a job seeker to transition to a new position to highlight transferable skills. The cover letter and resume should be refocused to fit the applicant’s new position. It will help show the hiring manager that the job seeker can take on a new role. The hiring manager is also able to see how the job seeker stands out from the qualified applicants.
