If you love working with other people, are a born leader, and like managing things, project management may be your calling. And plenty of large and small business owners agree that the demand for project managers is expected to grow more quickly than jobs in other occupations through 2024.
Project management is a term that encompasses the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to achieve specific goals and meet specific targets. It is the action of planning, organizing, and managing projects efficiently.
Project managers are responsible for planning and budgeting projects, communicating with stakeholders and team members, and ensuring that a project is completed accurately and on time.
According to the Project Management Institute report, the median annual salary for Project Managers in the United States is $115,000.
So, if you’re planning on switching careers, advancing your rank, or need a push in your job application, we provided a sample project manager cover letter that you can use as a guide and our pointers to help you land that role.
Sample Project Manager Cover Letter
John Doe
#456 Woolworth St.
Edinburgh
January 15, 2022
Ms. Reese Forester
Emerson Holdings Inc.
Dear Ms. Forester,I am writing to express my interest in the Project Manager position with Emerson Holdings Inc. Your listing on Indeed.com matches my background, skills, and experience.
Previously, I was a Project Manager at Robotech Company, where I successfully managed projects with budgets up to $50,000, achieved KPIs, and hit targets on time. My responsibilities include overseeing a team of 10 employees and ensuring that the company’s annual and quarterly goals are met. I have successfully achieved our quarterly targets by managing all aspects of our projects, including planning, scheduling, monitoring progress against all milestones, tracking expenses and work hours, and ensuring that work is completed efficiently and effectively.
I am skilled at managing and motivating teams to achieve objectives and deliver results. Over my three years in this career, I have developed strong project management skills by working on fast-paced projects with tight deadlines.
My interests, experience, and credentials make me an excellent candidate for the position. Should you require any additional information regarding my qualifications or experience, please do not hesitate to contact me at 123 456 78910 or john_doe@email.com
Thank you for considering my application for employment with Emerson Holdings Inc.
Sincerely,
John Doe
Cover letter example
To further guide you, you can study this sample cover letter for a Customer Service position in Talktech, a call center company:
Jane Doe
#123 Fields St.
Flowerville County
North Dakota, 112233February 1, 2022
Mr. John Doe
Hiring Manager
TalktechDear Mr. Doe,
As an experienced customer service representative, I am excited to apply for the Customer Service Representative position at Talktech. With my four years of experience in customer service and excellent track record in achieving yearly goals, I am confident that I will be a great addition to your team.
My current role as a Customer Service Representative at LiveTalks has allowed me to master the art of customer care and build lasting relationships with customers. During my tenure, I have increased customer satisfaction ratings by 10%, reduced customer complaints by 25%, and increased sales by 30%. I also received Employee of the Month honors for three months. My attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction is evident and demonstrated my ability to perform well under pressure and meet deadlines.
Additionally, I am well-versed in multiple computer programs, including Excel, Outlook, and Word. We also use company-owned software in answering calls. My experience handling high call volumes and difficult clients makes me confident that I will excel in this role.
I’m confident that working at ABC Corp will help me develop these skills even further. I look forward to hearing back from you. I would love to come into the office or attend a virtual interview to discuss my qualifications further.
Thank you so much for taking the time to review my application.
Sincerely,
Jane Doe
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How to write a good cover letter
When writing a cover letter, you have one main goal: to convince the person reading it that you’re the right candidate for the position. This is no easy feat since you’re competing with several other applicants for that one job opening. However, if you can present them with a concise document highlighting all your relevant skills, you’ll be well on your way to securing an interview. After all, first impressions matter, and if your cover letter is impressive and well-written, it could end up making all the difference.
Since a project manager is responsible for leading, planning, organizing, and motivating employees, your cover letter must show you have the necessary skills to perform these tasks. To write a compelling cover letter, you’ll need to demonstrate that you understand what the company does and that your experience and skills make you the right person for the job.
Project manager positions are focused on goals or KPIs and are achievement-oriented. Highlight the results of your best work and the value it brought to the company. Providing concrete details will help foster a good first impression of the hiring manager.
Project manager skills to highlight in your application
Project managers are the glue that keeps projects together. They ensure that resources and teams are in place, stakeholders are aligned, and everyone is working toward a common goal. It’s a big responsibility — and one that doesn’t come without its share of conflicts, roadblocks, and setbacks.
You need specific skills to become a project manager, as with any career path. While you don’t have to have them all right now (for example, you can learn a great deal on the job), having some of these skills will help make your job search easier.
If you want to be a successful project manager or you want to step up your job application, here are six skills that you need to include (and have) in your resume and cover letter:
Leadership skills
Project managers must possess strong leadership skills and motivate team members and stakeholders. Strong organizational and time management skills help project managers complete projects on time, within budget, and according to specifications.
Communication skills
Effective communication skills are essential for project managers. Successful project management requires excellent people skills, good verbal and written communication, and the ability to express yourself in an easily understood way. You also need to understand the power of active listening and know how to accept the viewpoints of others.
Analytical skills
Project managers use analytical skills when breaking down projects into smaller tasks, determining what resources are needed, making budgets and timelines, developing contingency plans, and managing risks associated with the project.
Problem-solving skills
Strong problem-solving skills are essential for project managers. Projects involve many variables like time, resources, budget, and scope. As the manager, you will often have to troubleshoot issues and solve problems to complete the project successfully.
Organizational skills
The ability to organize and manage projects while meeting deadlines is crucial to success as a project manager. Project managers plan, organize, and coordinate all aspects of the project from start to finish. They keep track of tasks through completion.
Risk Management
The ability to analyze risk factors, come up with solutions for identified risks, and implement them as required is vital for any project manager. A successful project manager must anticipate potential problems before they happen to act accordingly.
Tips when applying as a project manager
Now that you have your resume and cover letter ready, make sure to keep these other pointers in mind:
- Proofread everything before sending it out. Correct grammatical errors and make sure that the skills and qualifications listed in the job post are front and center in your resume and cover letter.
- Avoid sounding too robotic or generic. A compelling cover letter will showcase your personality while outlining your experience.
- Keep it short and concise. We know you want to highlight all the successful projects you’ve achieved, but it’s best practice to limit your cover letter to just one page.
- It’s okay to follow-up but don’t be pushy. Around 10-14 business days is ideal to follow-up if you haven’t heard back from the hiring manager. You can send an email to follow-up your application to the hiring manager but avoid repeated messages or calls.
- Whenever you need to extend your cover letter, do not exceed more than two pages. Sometimes, the one-page cover letter format is not enough to capture your essence and value as a potential hire. However, ensure that the added page does not compose of fluff content.
- Follow up with grace and respect to whoever is in charge. It is perfectly fine to call the company you applied to receive updates. In doing so, always use polite language and only contact the personnel within regular office hours.
- Create a professional-looking project manager cover letter. Aspiring project managers should always exude a high level of confidence to appear reliable and responsible. Failing to express this at any stage of a job search can be crucial.
- Only include relevant information in your submissions. There is no official project manager cover letter template that everyone should follow. Still, it helps to confine the details to information responsive to the open position’s job description and related demands.
- Always be prepared to answer why you are fit for the job and how you can add value to the company. These questions will help hiring managers choose the best applicant from the bunch.
- Expand your network whenever possible. Project managers are professionals who should know how to handle team members and coordinate with external stakeholders. Maintaining strong relationships with old and new acquaintances can provide unexpected benefits in the future.
- Do not rush hiring managers about your application. Give it at least one to two weeks after submission before reaching out to the personnel in charge. While being eager during job applications is good, it is unprofessional to bug recruiters.
- Keep on growing while the application process is ongoing. Becoming a competent and highly valued project manager begins before you take the job. Expand your professional skills and stay updated on current demands by taking project management and career development courses.
There are a lot of steps to becoming a project manager, but the main takeaways for this article can be interpreted into two things: Be ready and be persistent. The pointers and sample cover letter provided will help you significantly, but your application has to stand out.
Don’t be afraid to try out any and everything you can to get your foot in the door, and don’t let rejection hold you back from trying again. As long as you keep that up, it will get easier—and before long, you’ll likely find yourself one day looking back on your project management role with fondness.
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