Mechanical Engineering
Cover Letter Example

With one of the highest annual rates of growth of any job, mechanical engineers are in demand these days.

But that doesn’t mean securing a good job is easy. As one of the most diverse engineering disciplines, employers are looking for highly qualified mechanical engineers to design and develop systems and machinery.

Show them that you’re the right person for the job by highlighting your skills with an exceptional cover letter.

Here are three tips for writing a strong mechanical engineer cover letter that will help your application stand out:

Highlight mechanical engineering skills

Mechanical engineers require an excellent grasp of engineering science to do their jobs well. So employers are always looking for candidates who have a wide breadth of technical knowledge.

Show them you have the right expertise by including these hard skills on your mechanical engineer cover letter:

• Knowledge of design principles (blueprints, drawings, models)
• MathWorks MATLAB
• Minitab
• Autodesk Revit
• Bentley MicroStation
• C++; Python; G-code
• Microsoft Visual Basic; Verilog; National Instruments LabVIEW

Additionally, employers like to see that you’re a well-rounded candidate. Show them you have more than just technical skills to offer by including these soft skills on your cover letter:

• Time management skills
• Organizational skills
• Decision-making
• Leadership skills
• Project management
• Analytical and critical thinking skills
• Communication skills
• Teamwork

Open with a strong introduction

Companies hiring mechanical engineers often have hundreds of applications to sift through, making it difficult to stand out from the competition.

That’s why your ability to communicate your value with a concise cover letter introduction will help you stand out.

Here are some ways to write a stronger introduction for your mechanical engineer cover letter:

• Lead with an impressive accomplishment that’ll emphasize essential mechanical engineering skills.
• Convey your enthusiasm for the industry or role to show employers that you not only have the skills, but also the passion to perform well.
• Research the company so you can position your talents in alignment with what they’re looking for. Recent headlines are also useful. If there are any challenges they’re currently facing, you can address them in your cover letter.

Provide examples of your achievements (with numbers)

Whether it’s maximizing production capacity or reducing mechanical errors, the success of a great mechanical engineer is always measured in numbers.

To show employers what you’re capable of and that you’re results-driven, back up the accomplishments on your cover letter with data.

Here are some ways that you can quantify mechanical engineering skills on your cover letter:

• Completed all projects according to specifications and at 15% under budget
• Helped plan workforce use and equipment layouts to optimize workflow, leading to a 6% increase in production capacity over 1 year
• Maintained a production error rate consistently below 3% through precise attention to detail and expert care