Writing a Tech Cover Letter: Tips and Example

A technical cover letter is an introductory letter that you include with your resume when applying for a job with a technology company. It can help create a favorable first impression of you as a suitable candidate and may play a decisive role in getting you selected for a job interview.

A cover letter for a tech company should be brief and to-the-point. Along with referencing the employer’s requirements listed in the job advertisement, it should also highlight your technical credentials, skills, work experience, and accomplishments.

Here are a few ideas to help you create a technical cover letter.

1. To create a technical cover letter, find out if the company expects a print letter, a digital letter, or an email letter and follow their instructions. Most tech companies prefer email cover letters as they are time-saving and convenient.
2. Review sample cover letters for technical jobs to understand the professional format that technology companies expect from job applicants.
3. It might be a good idea to create an email cover letter template and customize it every time you send a job application.
4. Find out the title and name of the hiring manager and address the letter to them.
5. Research the technology company and include relevant information in the letter to explain your interest in the position.
6. Reread the job advertisement and make a note of the keywords and key phrases in it. Reference these and the job requirements in the technical cover letter.
7. Provide accurate information about your educational credentials, skills, training, work experience, and accomplishments.
8. Let the hiring manager know about the value you will bring to their company if they hire you.

Here are some of the things that you should include in a technical cover letter:

• Your contact information. If it is a printed letter or an upload of the printed version, provide your contact information at the top of the letter. It will contain your name, location, phone number, email, and website address if you have one. For email cover letters, add your name and letter purpose in the subject line and your contact information at the end of the letter, right below your signature. The contact information should include your phone number, email, and website address.
• An appropriate opening salutation. It is customary to begin professional letters with a formal greeting like Dear. However, avoid using something that is too casual or one that might come across as disrespectful. Follow the proper greeting with the hiring manager’s title and last name.
• Your interest in the job position. Clearly state that you are sending the letter in response to the company’s job advertisement, mention where you saw it, and explain why you are interested in working with them. Use the opportunity to show off your knowledge of the company and the responsibilities of the position.
• Your technical credentials and skills. Convince the company that you have the knowledge and experience that they are seeking for the advertised position. If you have been advancing your education to update your technical skills, inform them about it.
• Relevant technical keywords and key phrases. Adding these will help to keep the focus of the letter on your technical expertise. They can help highlight your suitability for the position.
• A call to action at the ending. Take the opportunity to reiterate your interest in the job and be proactive in suggesting a phone call or an in-person meeting later to discuss your suitability for the position and the value you could bring to the company.
• An expression of appreciation for the hiring manager. Thank them for their consideration and for reading your letter.
• An appropriate closing salutation. For professional letters, you can close with greetings like Regards, Best Regards, Sincerely, or Respectfully. As with the opening salutation, avoid a casual approach.
• Your name or signature. For easy reference, write your full name or insert a digital signature.

Here are some tips for writing a technical cover letter:

1. Find out if the company requires a cover letter

Read the company’s job application requirements and check if they prefer a cover letter included with resumes. Some companies may clearly state that they don’t need a cover letter, in which case you can omit it. Otherwise, it is good practice to include it.

2. Customize the cover letter for the tech company

Never send a generic cover letter as it will make a poor impression. Instead, research the company, reread their job advertisement, and tailor your cover letter to suit their requirements. A customized cover letter is more likely to catch the recruiter’s attention, and it may improve your chances of receiving a call for a job interview.

3. Make your first sentence count

Hiring managers are busy people and often have to look through hundreds of cover letters and resumes every day. To grab their attention, craft your cover letter carefully and address their specific pain point with your very first sentence. That will set you apart from the other applicants, and the hiring manager will remember you when they shortlist candidates for the interview.

4. Focus on providing value

The cover letter should convey your passion for working in the tech industry and your ability to fulfill the employer’s needs. Mentioning your past career accomplishments will show that you are a top performer. It will indicate strongly to the employer that you will make valuable contributions to their company too.

5. Avoid exaggeration

Be honest about your credentials and accomplishments. Include only the technical skills that you are proficient in and have used professionally. Keep in mind that the employer may do a background check on you. They may also test your knowledge during the interview process before they hire you. If they find that you have included inaccuracies about your technical proficiency, you will lose the job opportunity.

6. Write concisely and with clarity

Be respectful of the hiring manager’s time and keep your cover letter is concise, clear, and focused on the main points. For better readability, use short paragraphs and bullet points. Summarize your technical credentials and accomplishments in the first two paragraphs and follow up with a technical skills list. Include relevant technical terms throughout the letter.

7. Avoid repeating your resume content

Hiring managers won’t appreciate having to read the same information twice. So, provide details that you didn’t or couldn’t include in the resume. These could be specific job-related insights, brief narratives of your past work experiences, or the benefits you gained from updating your technical skills.

8. End the letter on a positive and confident note

Take the opportunity to include a call to action at the end of the cover letter. After thanking the hiring manager for their time, inform them that you would like to discuss the job and the value you could bring to the company. Request an opportunity to meet over the phone or in-person at their convenience.

9. Proofread the cover letter

Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors in your cover letter can negatively impact your chances of being hired. The hiring manager might think that you are not sufficiently attentive to detail. As that could be a serious shortcoming for a technical position, they might decide not to proceed with your job application. It is advisable to proofread your cover letter and send it only after you are sure that it is perfect.

Subject: Alison Windmere – IT specialist application

Dear Mr. Parker,

This is regarding your advertisement on Digital Hub for an IT specialist with Franklin Cyber Tech. I’m familiar with your company and would be interested in working with you.

I am an IT specialist, with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, frontend and backend development skills, and four years of professional experience in systems and software development. I have developed diverse software applications for various clients and many of these have high user ratings in online stores.

When I’m not working on software development, I continue to update my IT skills and improve my communication and time management skills.

At your convenience, I’d love to discuss how I can use my IT skills to add value to your company.

Regards,

Alison Windmere

This is just one example of a tech cover letter. You can create a general template and tailor it every time you send off a job application, according the tech job you are applying for and the specific requirements detailed in the job advertisement. So, are you ready to start searching for a new job? Start here.