Human Resources (HR)
Cover Letter Example

Human Resources (HR) Cover Letter Template

Average human resources generalist salaries in the US

The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data is presented based on the top states by downloads in the USA.

Human resources (HR) cover letter writing tips

You’re probably familiar with the best practices to recruit talent, but do you need help showing off your own talents in a cover letter? Catch an HR recruiter’s attention by presenting your HR skills in a well-written cover letter, and you won’t be far from landing a spot on the other side of the hiring process.

Follow these three writing tips to write your own job-winning human resources (HR) cover letter:

1. Highlight your HR skills

An outstanding HR cover letter showcases HR experience, clerical knowledge, computer literacy, and most importantly, a passion for understanding a company’s hiring objectives and improving its structural culture.

Because your duties can vary depending on your role within the department, focus on highlighting job-specific skills throughout your cover letter.

For example, if you’re applying to be an HR representative, communication skills and attention to detail are essential for providing accurate information to employees and resolving any questions about a company’s policies or benefits.

When discussing your HR background and work history in the cover letter body, include key HR technical skills to show employers you meet their basic requirements.

Here are important HR hard skills recruiters seek:

• Data analysis
• Recruiting
• Labor laws
• Applicant screening
• Performance management
• Clerical procedures (paperwork)
• Employee relations
• Employee onboarding
• Background checks
• Payroll (UKG Payroll Solutions)
• Knowledge of company policies (employee benefits, compensation, and health regulations)
• Accounting software (Intuit QuickBooks and Sage 50 Accounting)
• Human Resources Information System (HRIS)

In addition to proving you have the right skill-set, include a number of fundamental HR soft skills in your cover letter to show employers you’re a strong candidate. Here are soft skills to complement your HR expertise:

• Empathy
• Negotiation
• Discretion
• Ethics
• Interpersonal skills
• People skills
• Active listening
• Approachability
• Critical thinking
• Conflict management
• Problem-solving skills
• Collaboration

Here’s a great example of how to mention these skills in your cover letter body:

My interest in this position stems from my belief that my combination of relevant staffing experience, communication skills, and high levels of organization make me a superb candidate.

You may also emphasize your hard and soft skills in bullet points like this:

To date, I feel my strongest abilities are:

• Increasing employee retention by rigorously maintaining a positive work environment
• Developing targeted outreach recruitment programs to recruit the best talent and meet all departmental hiring requirements
• Creating user-friendly application forms and questionnaires to be used by the organization during staff recruitment and interviewing
• Arbitrating labor disputes in collaboration with the legal department

2. Use the proper cover letter format

Because you work in HR, you’re probably well aware of how competitive the job market is. To show employers you’re capable of being on the other side of the hiring process, it’s important to reflect a high level of professionalism with your cover letter. Use proper cover letter format to ensure your cover letter is neat, presentable, and optimized for easy readability.

Here’s how to correctly format your HR cover letter:

• Include a header with your full name, email address, and phone number
• Choose a conventional cover letter font and set your font size at 10.5–12 points
• Set your cover letter margins to 1”–1.5”
• Sign off with a professional cover letter closing, such as “Best Regards,” or “Sincerely,”
• If you’re applying to the job electronically, submit your job application in either PDF or DOCX format

3. Make sure your cover letter isn’t too long (or too short)

As an HR professional, it only makes sense for you to consider your job application from an HR perspective. With countless job applications to screen through, recruiters will welcome a cover letter that isn’t overly long — or short.

Avoid going into great detail with an essay-like cover letter, which may cause the hiring manager to lose interest before they finish reading through. However, a cover letter that’s too short might give off the impression you didn’t invest much time or thought into it.

To write a cover letter that appeals to employers, keep it straightforward and concise. The best cover letters are usually 250–400 words in length.

Here are ways to achieve the perfect cover letter length:

• Include relevant information only. When hiring for an HR professional, recruiters seek people who can understand their recruitment goals and help them achieve their hiring objectives. To show them you’re a perfect match, showcase job-specific skills and experience throughout your cover letter.
• When detailing your HR background and work history, focus on your achievements rather than providing a job description
• Use bullet points to list strong examples of your HR skills and achievements