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Software Engineer — Free Cover Letter Template
Download our free software engineer cover letter template in MS Word format.
Download NowSoftware Engineer Cover Letter Example:
[Full name]
[Physical address]
[Contact number]
[Email address]
[LinkedIn profile/website link]
[Date]
Re: Application for the position of software engineer at [company name].
Dear [recipient’s title and last name],
After recently discovering your job posting [in/on] [source] for a qualified software engineer to join your IT department, I was excited to apply for the position as I believe I meet all the requirements to excel in this role. I am an experienced, qualified, and motivated software engineer who will be a great addition to your team.
I graduated from [university/college name] in [year] with a [qualification type] in [computer science/related fields] and currently hold a certificate in [specify]. With over [number of years] years of software engineering and full-stack web development experience, I have been able to master my [skill 1], [skill 2], and [skill 3] skills.
In my [current/previous] position at [specify], I was responsible for modifying software, identifying and correcting errors, directing software programming, and preparing reports on programming blueprints. This experience exposed me to the entire software engineering process, earning me recognition in [year] when I [add a career achievement].
As an experienced software engineer, I am impressed with [mention notable characteristics or milestones you appreciate about the company] and feel that my [summarize core competencies, for example, extensive knowledge of the software engineering life-cycle, paired with excellent technical skills], will make me the ideal candidate. Please find my resume attached.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions you would like to discuss. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
[Your full name]
How to Write a Software Engineer Cover Letter:
A step-by-step guide to writing the perfect software engineer cover letter.
Address your letter.
Address the hiring manager directly.
Address your letter directly to the hiring manager, recruiter, employee, or whoever the person is that put out the job posting.
Avoid generic greetings.
If a contact name is supplied or if it is possible to find out a name, avoid using a general greeting such as "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam." Use the relevant title before the person's last name — for example, "Ms. Miller" or "Mr. Jones."
Write an introduction paragraph.
Keep your introduction brief.
In no more than three sentences, tell the person why you are writing and what position you are applying for.
Highlight that you meet the stated job requirements.
Your writing should reflect the exact job title and you should briefly mention key job advertisement requirements that you meet, for example, that you have five years' experience as a software engineer.
Indicate that feel you are the best fit for the job.
Use one sentence to point out that you feel you are a great candidate for the software engineer position.
Showcase your qualifications and competencies.
Briefly outline your qualifications.
Back your introduction up with tangible evidence. Scrutinize the job advertisement and directly address the stated requirements. Write a few sentences on your qualifications and training as a software engineer and where you studied.
For a software engineer position, employers usually look for at least a Bachelor's degree in software engineering, computer science, or similar. Related coursework or qualifications in, for example, business or project management will be beneficial, so don't neglect to mention it, if relevant.
Align your core skills to those mentioned in the job ad.
Lead into your list of skills by matching prominently featured duties and responsibilities mentioned in the job ad with core competencies from your resume. For example, if the job ad mentions full-stack web development, point out the extent of your proficiency in that regard.
Offer some insight into other relevant skills to give the hiring manager or recruiter a better idea of your abilities. This might include skills related to developing software system validation and testing methods, leading software engineering projects, and more.
Discuss your work experience.
Highlight your years of experience.
Mention how many years you've worked as a software engineer. Briefly go through your work history, naming only the most relevant roles. Keep this to a single sentence as you will be discussing your exact duties and work experience next.
Outline your most recent job.
In a few sentences, talk about your most recent role. Revisit the job description to ensure that you align your responsibilities with the key competencies they require.
Showcase major achievements in your previous role.
Highlight your biggest accomplishments in your previous job, for example, successfully integrating software systems for a merger and acquisition company, developing a call center application to track calls and capture metadata, etc. Don't neglect to name the websites or apps you designed or contributed to.
Add metrics to your job achievement descriptions.
If possible, include metrics to emphasize the impact of your contributions on the projects assigned to you, for example, creating a prediction model that resulted in an increase of 37 percent in website traffic, driving a 15 percent reduction in downtime, etc. The more specific you are, the better.
Celebrate the organization and add a call to action.
Point out a few things you know about the company.
Highlight two or three specific things that show your enthusiasm and admiration for the organization, for example, their accomplishments, corporate culture, reputation, community involvement, or positive employee feedback.
Reinforce that you would be a perfect fit for the job by adding desirable character traits, such as being a detail-oriented problem-solver with exceptional collaboration skills. Mention that you are eager to join their team.
Discuss the reasons why you want to work there.
Explain why being a software engineer at their organization appeals to you. This would typically include referring to their line of business and how you envisage adding value to their products or services.
End with a call to action.
Refer the reader to your attached resume and any additional documents that may have been requested. Encourage them to look at an online portfolio, your LinkedIn profile, websites, or apps that showcase your software engineering projects.
Invite them to contact you via email or phone should they need additional information. Let them know that you look forward to hearing from them and thank them for their time and consideration. End your letter by adding "sincerely" or an acceptable synonym and sign off with your full name.
