Human Resource (HR) Cover Letter Examples + Tips

HR departments across organizations handle a wide range of processes. They are in charge of a variety of tasks, making this job position one of the most engaging. Therefore, your cover letter must include all the essential things to get hired as an Human Resources professional.

You might find it quite challenging if you do not have experience writing cover letters. However, with the proper instructions, you can create a professional one and increase your chances of getting hired.

All of the information you need to know about writing a cover letter for the position of Human Resources professional is provided below.

Cover Letter Examples

HR Manager Cover Letter Example 01

HR Representative Cover Letter Example

HR Generalist Cover Letter Example

HR Manager Cover Letter Example 02

HR Assistant Cover Letter Example

HR Manager Cover Letter Example 03

Responsibilities of HR Professionals

Professionals in human resources have a variety of duties that vary depending on a number of factors, including their position in the organization’s hierarchy and place on the team.

The responsibilities can range from planning and managing new recruitment and hiring to providing orientation to new employees. In addition, they oversee identifying and managing employees’ training and development needs.

They also need to develop and implement human resources policies and procedures. Before administering compensation and benefits, they must also ensure that they align with the company’s policies and legislation.

They are also in charge of benchmarking compensation and benefits and implementing and monitoring performance management systems. In addition, they are responsible for handling employee complaints, grievances, and disputes; administering employee discipline processes and conducting exit interviews.

Finally, they need to maintain knowledge of legal requirements and government reporting regulations relevant to labor laws.

Writing Steps for an HR Cover Letter

Here are the steps you need to complete to produce a compelling and professional cover letter for the human resources position:

It must be your aim to improve your letter’s readability and visual experience while ensuring that it looks professional. Its readability and appearance can be enhanced by giving it a proper structure. 

The first step is to include a professional header. The role of the header is to provide essential details about you to the potential employer. A well-structured header should contain the following:

• Your name and professional title
• Your business phone number, email address, and link to your LinkedIn profile
• Date of the letter
• The name of the company and the department you are applying to
• If you send a printed HR cover letter, include the company’s physical address.

Here is an example of a professional header:

Personalize the greetings

The next step includes making the letter more personal. To do it, you need to address the person who will be reading your letter. It sends a strong message that you are a person who pays attention to detail and is willing to do extensive research.

Personalized human resources cover letter greetings can start with “Dear,” whether a potential employer is a business acquaintance or someone you do not know.

The word ‘Dear’ has become a standard way for starting personalized and formal greetings:

• Dear Hiring Manager,
• Dear Human Resources Department Team,
• Dear Mr./Ms. [Name], (if you are uncertain of the gender, you can start with Dear [Name],)

Write a compelling introduction

Your goal is to write an introduction that can grab the employer’s attention. The letter’s introduction should be brief. It should be no longer than 2 or 3 sentences. It would be best to use it to outline your professional history and why you are applying for the opening. You should mention any mutual acquaintances.

Showcase your skills

Given that every company has unique hiring objectives and goals to improve its culture, you should highlight all the relevant skills you have. You should proceed to this section after finishing the introduction. Job-specific skills include both hard and soft skills.

Hard skills are technical skills that can give employers a better understanding of your educational background and technical competence.

Recruiters often seek the following hard skills in:

Some soft skills are critical to becoming a distinguished HR professional. Here are some job-specific soft skills that you should include in the letter:

Here’s an example of how to demonstrate your professional expertise in a casual yet professional manner:

Explain your motivation for the job

There is a reason you chose to apply for a job position with this company. You must mention your motivation right after highlighting your skills. Giving a compliment will make your letter more personal.

Giving an explanation of why you want to work for the organization will demonstrate your understanding of the values it upholds for its employees. In addition, it will help them understand why you chose to apply for this job and that your values align with the company’s goals.

Here is what it would look like in practice:

I appreciate your effort in building a supportive and diverse operational culture and creating a safe workplace. I believe that my experience and qualifications make me a suitable candidate for your HR position to help you achieve your company’s cultural goals and optimize your hiring strategies to succeed in sourcing top talent.

Close with a proper conclusion

A memorable closing statement can help your cover letter get noticed. In addition, you can leverage it to show your enthusiasm and level of professionalism.

If writing a conclusion is difficult for you, consider adding the following to help you:

• A positive statement about your position
• Your follow-up plans
• The best way for the employer to reach you
• Formal sign-off (include a digital copy of your handwritten signature if possible).

Here is what a proper conclusion should look like:

Template for a Human Resources Cover Letter

Here is a sample letter that you can use to help you write one professionally to make the process even simpler for you:

Sample Letter

Presented below is a sample cover letter for an HR position to help you understand how to write one yourself. 

Analysis

This cover letter is a useful example for readers, primarily because of its key technical features that align with best practices in job applications. First and foremost, the writer has adopted a clear and structured format, dividing the content into four distinct paragraphs. This organization makes the letter easy to read and understand, guiding applicants on how to structure their cover letters.

One of the most notable aspects of this letter is the use of specific, quantitative achievements, like a “25% reduction in time-to-hire” and a “30% improvement in employee retention rates.” This approach showcases the writer’s success in measurable terms, teaching applicants the importance of quantifying their accomplishments to make a stronger impact.

The writer mentions relevant experiences and skills that directly relate to the job description. This level of customization is a key aspect of effective cover letters, as it demonstrates the applicant’s suitability for the role and their understanding of the job’s requirements.

The writer also strategically highlights essential soft skills and values, such as fostering a positive work environment and prioritizing diversity. This is crucial in HR roles, where interpersonal skills and company culture fit are often as important as technical abilities.

Finally, the writer maintains a professional yet enthusiastic tone, especially in the concluding paragraph. This balance shows applicants how to express their interest and eagerness for the position without sacrificing professionalism. The inclusion of a personalization placeholder is a practical reminder to customize the letter, reinforcing the importance of making each application unique and relevant to the job and the company.

In summary, the sample letter is a useful guide on how to craft effective and impactful job application letters.

Some Professional Tips

You can write your human resources cover letter with the help of a few useful suggestions while maintaining professionalism and relevance.

Here are a few tips that you should follow:

Use a proper format

You should use a proper format for the letter to demonstrate your professionalism and understanding of the job requirements. An easily readable and neat letter will reflect a remarkable level of professionalism.

The most crucial formatting tips would be to use a conventional font, choose a font size between 10.5 and 12 points, and set the margins to 1–1.5 inches. You should also finish with a formal sign-off that includes words such as “Appreciatively,” “Sincerely,” and “Best Regards,” followed by a digital copy of your handwritten signature if possible.

Finally, if you are applying for a job online, convert your letter from DOCX to PDF format, to ensure that the formatting and layout are preserved. 

Personalize the content

Some applicants find it difficult to personalize official letters. However, personalizing the letter for the job is not challenging when you know what to do. The first step is to research the potential employer thoroughly. You should find the hiring manager’s name, who will most likely read your letter.

You should also research the potential employer’s projects, as they can tell you how your skill set and experience can benefit the company.

You should also read the target company’s mission, vision, values, and goals. They are often readily available on the company’s official website. This can assist you in determining what the company values and what qualities it seeks in its employees. With this information, you can modify your letter accordingly. 

Do not write a lengthy letter

Nobody wants to spend more than a few minutes reading an HR cover letter. That is why your letter should be straightforward and brief. You are not writing an essay, but rather a letter that must keep the hiring managers’ attention until the end. The most optimal letter length is between 250 and 400 words.

Include relevant information

Hiring managers want to learn only relevant information regarding the applicant’s educational background, work experience, and skills. Therefore, the best tip is to only include relevant details in your letter.

There is no need to go in-depth when talking about yourself. Instead, ensure that you include job-specific skills and experience. It will make you appear as a candidate who is aware of the recruitment goals and objectives.

Carefully proofread the letter before submitting

An HR cover letter is a professional document, so it should be free of grammar and spelling errors. Make sure to proofread your letter before finally submitting it. There are many free online tools that you can use to check your letter for errors.

Key Takeaways

• Human resources is an essential department of every company. So, when applying for a position in that department, you must draft an HR cover letter that should be professional and align with the hiring manager’s needs.
• Structure your letter by using a professional greeting, writing short paragraphs, and ending with a signoff to improve readability and enhance the visual appearance.
• Include hard and soft skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for to show that you have read and understood the job advertisement.
• Avoid including irrelevant information in your letter, as this might leave a negative impression on the hiring manager.
• Outline why you chose this company over others to send a strong message that your personal goals align with those of the company.
•  Keep the copy below 400 words and free of spelling and grammar errors to ensure you appear professional in the eyes of the recruiter.
• With these tips and templates, you can write a compelling letter and increase your chances of getting hired for the position you are applying for.

About This Article

Authored by:

Megan V.

Award-Winning Resume Writing, Cover Letters, Executive Bios, Public Relations

Megan V. is an acclaimed resume writing professional, celebrated repeatedly as one of the "Top Ten Best Resume Writers in the Bay Area," a title she proudly reclaimed in 2023. Transitioning from her extensive experience owning and steering a public relations agency since 2009, Megan has tailored her writing prowess to cater to individuals seeking standout resumes, compelling cover letters, and detailed executive bios.