Career Change Cover Letter Writing Tips and Examples
The first step to a successful career change is writing a killer cover letter. This guide on career change cover letter provides practical tips to help you land an interview job.
It is vital to communicate your primary strengths when changing careers. When changing careers, you must work a little harder than those who have more intuitive work experience.
You must demonstrate that your experience is an asset. Aside from your CV, your cover letter is the finest opportunity to make your case!
Here, we show you practical steps to use when writing a career change cover letter.
Writing a Cover Letter for a Career Change
Before you start writing, make sure you’re clear on your career transition goals and that you’re in a good position for a successful job search.
A decent cover letter should clarify why you are qualified for the position. A cover letter sent following a career move, on the other hand, must go beyond that.
Make sure you do your homework about the firm before writing your cover letter so you can show the employer that you understand the organization and why you want to work there.
The very important and key points must be addressed. This will help you stand out among candidates with greater industry experience.
You don’t have to go over each of these points in order or in separate paragraphs. The goal is to make sure these topics are communicated somewhere in your letter.
Tips on How to Write The Cover Letter
It’s critical to stay on track while drafting a cover letter for a job in a new field. This isn’t the place to pen a personal letter that reads more like a diary entry than a business letter.
Instead, concentrate on what makes you a strong candidate. You should pay attention to the following guidelines when writing a career change cover letter.
1. Create a Captivating Introduction
Hiring managers only have so much time to spend on each application. If you begin your opening paragraph by emphasizing your lack of experience and saying, “I may be unqualified, but…”
Then you risk alienating employers before they have an opportunity to understand why you’re the best candidate for the job.
Instead, you want your cover letter’s introduction to provide hiring managers a cause to examine your application right away by emphasizing either any relevant credentials you possess or your enthusiasm for your new job.
Furthermore, ensure to introduce yourself. Begin your cover letter by describing yourself, your goals, and why you’d be a great fit for the position. Without oversharing your lack of experience, highlight your most outstanding, meaningful, and relevant accomplishments.
Examples of an Effective Introduction
If you’re going from an executive assistant to a marketing role, for example, you might begin your cover letter by saying:
Example 1
“Dear, Mr. James
I’m pleased to submit for the medical writing assignment at Nova Company LLC as a certified nurse. For the past ten years, I have worked as a registered nurse.
I spent the last four years of my employment at Town Hospital in the emergency department, where I gained valuable expertise in caring for emergency patients. This experience and expertise, I am convinced, will be particularly beneficial to your project.”
Example 2
“To the Hiring Manager:
My name is Duke James, and I’m very happy to be applying for Billy & Co.’s open Marketer position. While I’ve spent the last three years as an executive assistant with premier marketing companies honing my organizational, networking, and leadership skills.
I believe my background will add value to your team. My long-term ambition has been to work in marketing, and your company is the best place for me to start the next chapter of my career.”
Example 3
“Dear, Ms. Cohen
I was ecstatic to discover your job posting for a Forensic Accountant as a lifelong fan of XYZ Company.
I’ve spent the last six years at ABC Company crunching figures (and data) to ensure data is well-managed and subsequently exploited for strategic advantage as a certified accountant.
I’ve always been “the numbers guy,” and I’m excited to employ my quantitative and analytical skills in an accounting capacity.”
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2. Describe Your Career Shift
Employers are aware that hiring someone who is transitioning careers is a risk. Your career change cover letter is your chance to persuade them that you’re the best applicant for the position and that choosing you is worth the risk.
Be honest about why you’re moving industries in your cover letter to ensure you appear entirely devoted to your new job title. Tell the tale of how you discovered your passion, highlighting any relevant experience.
Remember that relevant experience does not have to be work-related. It could be online courses, volunteer work, or personal initiatives.
When shifting careers, it’s extremely crucial that your cover letter demonstrates that you have the necessary skills.
Rather than focusing on your lack of work experience, utilize your cover letter to highlight the transferable skill set you learned at your previous roles (or elsewhere) that will make you a valuable addition to your new company.
There’s no need to go into great depth here. In this area, be honest while remaining tactful. There’s no need to go into detail here if you’re quitting your prior job for unfavorable reasons.
Maintain a positive tone in your letter and keep it high-level. Focus on your new profession decision.
Examples of how to describe your career shift
You can do this in the following ways:
Example 1
“I was (and still am!) a good graphic designer when it came to developing aesthetically appealing pictures for my clients. However, I worked directly with the product design team throughout my time at Product ABC, which exposed me to a new realm of design.
Designing things, I discovered, was a perfect way to combine my visual design skillset with my ability to improve a user’s product experience.
Finally, product design allows me to fulfill my aim to have an impact on a company’s overall goals, not simply its visual identity.”
Example 2
“While I’ve liked working as a nurse for the past ten years, the past year has been tremendously stressful. This made me think about different job options.
I’ve been studying digital content writing for the medical profession for the past six months. This new career, I feel, will help me to achieve a better work-life balance while still utilizing my nursing and medical knowledge.”
3. Make Your Transferable Skills a Priority
The existing skills that would help you thrive in a different position are known as transferable skills. These are usually soft skills, but they could also be technical or analytical skills from a previous job. Determine your areas of strength. How may those be used in another field?
You might also take the opposite strategy and spend some time analyzing the company’s requirements. To discover the fundamental talents that this organization requires, look at the job description, the company website, and current media coverage.
Once you’ve pinpointed those requirements, you can figure out which of your skills will help you stand out as a strong applicant for the job.
When transferring careers, it’s extremely crucial that your cover letter demonstrates that you have the necessary skills.
Rather than focusing on your lack of work experience, utilize your cover letter to highlight the transferable talents you learned at your previous employment (or elsewhere) that will make you a valuable addition to your new company.
On your resume, you should emphasize your transferrable skills. Once you’ve identified them, you can elaborate in your cover letter on how each talent will be useful in this new position.
Include specific instances of how your relevant abilities have helped you achieve certain achievements and goals in the past in the body of the cover letter.
Be succinct, but make sure to explain why you’re applying and why you’re qualified for an interview.
Example of how to include transferable skills
You can do this in the following ways:
Example 1
“My background in operations and office administration has taught me to be meticulous and process-oriented. I’m an expert at managing and arranging various vendors, suppliers, and employees so that “the office runs itself” (as one senior manager put it).
While I am aware that as a Virtual Assistant, I will not be operating offices, I am convinced that my attention to detail and ability to organize various tasks (large and little) will be invaluable in running a successful e-commerce business.”
Example 2
“I created an excellent rapport with my clients as a Sales Representative at Billy & Co., which helped me become the company’s top-selling sales rep in 2019 and 2021. I backed up these sales with excellent after-sales support, which helped the company gain repeat business.
Documenting my sales techniques and methods also aided the organization in developing its first-ever sales training manual for new salespeople.
These professional talents, I feel, will translate effortlessly into a customer service role, where I can build and maintain outstanding relationships with your clients while providing them with the high-quality service your company is recognized for.”
4. Outline Previous Jobs
Your past employment successes should also be mentioned in your career change resume and cover letter. However, make sure to concentrate on accomplishments that are particularly relevant to the new position.
Quantify your achievements in your work history with numbers and facts to the extent possible, just as you did with your transferable skills.
This part explains how your abilities and expertise are transferrable, even if you don’t have experience in the career you’re considering.
Your cover letter should Outline your past work experience. It should showcase your previous job accomplishments. This could entail meeting sales targets, managing personnel, or finishing a high-profile project.
Even if you don’t have precise job-related experience, this shows the employer how you might benefit the organization. Choose one or two specific tales to tell about your accomplishments in relation to the position. When feasible, include numbers to quantify your influence.
Examples of how to outline previous jobs
You can do this in the following ways:
Example 1
“I worked directly with the website development team at Tripod Media in my previous employment as a Digital Marketer to build and launch various landing pages for the company.
These A/B tested, conversion-optimized designs led to a 25 percent boost in conversions, which therefore led to my interest (some say obsession) in understanding how customers experience websites and items online.
That’s how this digital marketer became a UX designer, to cut a long tale short.”
Example 2
“I spend my days at Investment Bank 101 as a finance specialist studying data, anticipating the future, and assessing risk. These jobs necessitate a high level of statistical analysis, which I believe is well-suited to a data-science position.”
5. Show Your Enthusiasm
Even if it means starting in an entry-level position, your cover letter should demonstrate to the hiring manager that you’re really thrilled about and interested in the job opportunity.
Include details about the company’s mission, values, or product that you admire or that align with your own standards to demonstrate that you’ve done your research and are confident that you’ll be a good fit.
Recap and express enthusiasm. Include in your cover letter by summarizing the preceding paragraphs, including your background, achievements, and transferrable skills.
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6. Describe Why You Are Pursuing a New Career Path
Was the pandemic the catalyst for a career change? Did you want to learn more about a particular facet of your prior job? Have you been motivated by a pastime or a passion?
In your letter, explain why you’re considering a job move. This will provide potential clients a better understanding of why you’re interested in the position, despite your lack of experience.
There’s no need to go into great depth here. Be truthful while remaining diplomatic. There’s no need to go into detail if you’re leaving your previous job for negative reasons. Maintain a positive tone in your letter and keep it high-level. Focus on your new profession decision.
How to Explain Why You Are Pursuing a New Career
You can do this in the following ways:
Example 1
“I was (and still am!) a good graphic designer when it came to developing aesthetically appealing pictures for my clients. However, I worked directly with the product design team throughout my time at Product ABC, which exposed me to a new realm of design.
Designing things, I discovered, was a perfect way to combine my visual design talents with my ability to improve a user’s product experience.
Finally, product design allows me to fulfill my aim to have an impact on a company’s overall goals, not simply its visual identity.”
Example 2
“While I’ve liked working as a nurse for the past ten years, the past year has been tremendously stressful. This made me think about different job options.
I’ve been studying digital content writing for the medical profession for the past six months. This new career, I feel, will help me to achieve a better work-life balance while still utilizing my nursing and medical knowledge.”
7. Mention Complementing Skills For the Job
Have you learned new skills in preparation for your new job? Perhaps you’ve taken online classes, done more research to learn new skills, or attended conferences to obtain a better understanding of your new field?
If this is the case, make sure to highlight your accomplishments in your cover letter. New qualifications, abilities, or even certifications may be required for some job moves.
If you’re switching from digital marketing to web development, for example, you’ll need to master programming languages. Mention any further education or courses you’ve taken.
Many professional moves, on the other hand, may not involve brand new qualifications and may only take a little extra learning on your part.
If you’re a teacher shifting to a curriculum development post, for example, you already have the teaching credentials. Simply flex a different muscle, namely curriculum development. Keep your cover letter focused on your transferrable skills in this scenario.
Examples of how to mention new complementing skills
You can do this in the following ways:
Example 1
“I’ve also improved my skills in other areas since leaving my Executive Assistant job, such as social media management. I’ve taken many courses on social media marketing.
In addition, I provide pro bono social media management services to a local charity, which has allowed me to get practical 3 years of experience and improve my social media skills.”
Example 2
“I’ve done many web development classes in addition to my marketing degree and other relevant marketing courses. In preparation for my transfer to a web development role, I learned HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.”
8. Demonstrate Knowledge of the Company
For each new position you want to apply for, you’ll need a tailored cover letter that illustrates your expertise in the firm. You could make up for your lack of job-specific experience with your excitement for the firm and role.
Take the time to investigate the company and display your acquaintance with it in your cover letter if you know the name. A decent place to start is the company’s website and social media outlets.
There are numerous methods to demonstrate your expertise and/or enthusiasm for the business. In your letter, you could talk about common values.
Discuss a particular project they may have promoted on social media. Mention a marketing campaign. Emphasize your enthusiasm for the brand. Consider new ideas!
Consider how you can make the most of the information you have. Then utilize it to personalize your cover letter to get their attention.
Remember that “selling” yourself in your cover letter should also include describing how you can assist the firm in meeting its objectives. It’s also about bridging the gap between your skills and the company’s requirements.
Examples of how to display your Knowledge of the Company
You can do this in the following ways:
Example 1
“Reading about your commitment to ethical and sustainable fashion piqued my interest. Personally, I am completing a year of “no new clothing purchases.” As a result, I’m really interested in assisting in the marketing of a company whose ideals are similar to mine.”
Example 2
“Working as a Project Manager for a globally known event management firm like Monica Gellar Inc. would be a dream come true for me. Many of Ms. Gellar’s planning and organization tactics have been utilized in both my personal and professional lives.”
9. End on a Positive Note
A generic cover letter conclusion is a squandered opportunity. Finish your message with a strong and encouraging statement. Reiterate your interest in the position or project.
Don’t forget to express gratitude to the recruiting manager or client for their time and consideration. Summarize your entire pitch to the client or company in the final paragraph. Remind them of why you’re the best candidate for the position. Don’t be embarrassed.
Rather than waiting for the customer to invite you to an interview, take the initiative and suggest it yourself.
Examples of how to finish on a positive note
You can do this in the following ways:
Example 1
“I believe I am an excellent candidate for this position. I am convinced that my past marketing and lead generation experience will translate nicely to the UX development position at your company.
I look forward to discussing my qualifications and appropriateness with you at your earliest convenience during an interview. Thank you for your attention and time.”
10. Proofread and Review
Reread your letter, and continue reading it to spot any typos or errors. It’s also a good idea to read the letter aloud. This can help you notice details that you might otherwise miss while reading on a screen.
Use the spell check feature. If feasible, have a buddy or someone you trust go over it with you. You can get a second pair of eyes that can assist you to spot mistakes that you may have overlooked.
11. Check it Against Your CV
If this is your first time writing a career change cover letter, double-check your CV after you’re finished to ensure everything is in order.
There should be no contradictions between those two key documents: your cover letter should only discuss the experience that is also included in your resume.
Make any resume modifications necessary to keep it consistent with the message on your cover letter to keep your message clear. Remember, it’s frequently the simple things that determine whether you succeed or fail!
Skills to Include in a Career Change Cover Letter
Here are some soft skills to mention in your cover letter for a career change:
‣ Ability to communicate (verbal, written, and listening)
‣ Leadership qualities
‣ Thinking critically
‣ Adaptability
‣ Teamwork
‣ Personality traits
‣ Independent working ability
‣ Creativity
‣ Management of time
‣ Speaking in public
You may also possess technical abilities that you might apply to a new field. If you have experience with specific computer applications, for example, list them on your resume and expand on them in your career transition cover letter.
You could include the following transferrable hard skills in your cover letter:
‣ Data Analysis
‣ Management of agile projects
‣ Budgetary control
‣ Research abilities
‣ Writing technical documents
‣ Creative Cloud by Adobe
‣ Coding abilities
‣ Office by Microsoft
‣ Collaboration software (Slack, Trello, Microsoft Teams)
‣ Language abilities
You should also emphasize any industry-specific technical talents you’ve acquired that are directly applicable to the position you want.
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If you’re switching to a career in software development, for example, make sure to highlight any coding lessons you’ve attended, whether at a university or online.
You write the best cover letter by being specific and concise about your skills and how they apply to the open position.
Samples of a Career Change Cover Letter
You can go through the following examples to guide you on how to write your cover letter
Sample 1: Hard Copy Letter
Duke James
123 Main Street
City, ST 54321
555-555-5555
Susan Smith
Town Camp Company
456 City Road
City, ST 7896
Dear Ms. Smith,
I’m writing to express my interest in the Assistant Manager position at Big City, which was advertised on the company’s website. The position aligns with my professional goals, and I believe my previous experience qualifies me for the post.
I have received valuable expertise in the day-to-day management of operations, including vendor and staff coordination, despite having previously worked mostly in the food and beverage industry.
It has helped me to hone my customer service skills while also improving my interpersonal communication skills and business management abilities.
I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to start a business and keep it running effectively during my time in the food and beverage sector.
In fact, as a Senior Barista, I was in charge of keeping track of employee schedules and product inventories, as well as calculating and submitting daily, weekly, and monthly reports.
When our store’s inventory systems malfunctioned last fall, I provided guidance and options to resolve the problem. As a result, our District Manager named me the “Regional Employee of the Month.”
I bring a strong work ethic, considerable customer service abilities, and a complete understanding of management software to the table, as stated in your job description.
I am a confident, extroverted team player who enjoys both learning and teaching. A quick thinker who is constantly working to solve problems in an efficient and effective manner while also implementing new plans and ideas for future operations.
I am convinced that I will bring the same level of enthusiasm and knowledge to my new position as Assistant Manager at Big City.
During my investigation, I discovered that Big City’s vision and values are similar to mine, and I am really excited about the growth and opportunities available in the Assistant Manager role.
The enclosed resume contains additional information about my experience, and I look forward to meeting in person to discuss the role in greater detail.
Sincerely,
Duke James
Sample 2: Mid-Career Cover Letter
Dear Ms. Dickson,
You start to believe you can manage anything a customer throws at you after you’ve helped a client negotiate a challenging IRS audit or file taxes for their new small company venture.
I’m sure I do. In my 15 years as a personal tax accountant, I’ve assisted clients with some of the most difficult and sensitive financial matters. It’s difficult to strike the perfect balance of empathy and pragmatism, but it feels fantastic when I do.
Working with individuals, assisting them in understanding difficult or irritating subjects, and serving as a client advocate are among the things I enjoy doing the most.
It’s been a pleasure to put these abilities to use in my accounting firm, but I’m ready for a new chapter and am looking forward to the opportunity to focus solely on customer interactions as a client services professional.
Diamond Design has a great reputation for customer service, and I’d love to be a part of a team that shares my desire to serve others. Here’s a quick rundown of how I think my background in client services would translate.
‣ Identifying client objectives: In my current position, understanding customer requirements is critical.
I’ve refined my technique over the years, and I’ve been praised for my ability to elicit open dialogue by asking insightful questions and soliciting comments.
‣ Putting your customers first: I treat every account as a tax specialist with a solution-oriented perspective. For the previous six years, this had resulted in a customer satisfaction rating of 95% or higher.
‣ Creating long-term relationships: My dedication to providing an outstanding customer experience has resulted in a 75 percent client retention rate. Over half of my clients have been with me for at least five years.
I’d like to learn more about Diamond Design’s customer service goals and explore how my expertise could help to improve the customer experience even more.
Thank you for your consideration. I hope to speak with you shortly.
Sincerely,
Duke James
Sample 3: Email Cover Letter
If you’re sending your cover letter through email, make sure to include your name and work title in the subject line. Include your contact information in your email signature, but leave out the contact information for the employer. Simply use the salutation to begin your email message. Simply follow this format:
Subject Line: Duke James Cover Letter: Customer Service Manager
Dear Mr. Cohen
I’ve volunteered to represent my company at local college recruiting events over the last few months, and I had no idea how much fun job fairs could be.
I often find myself thinking, “I wish this was my full-time job,” as I meet with eager students, gather resumes, and talk with soon-to-be grads about business development opportunities at Delight Sales Inc.
So you can imagine my delight when I learned about the university recruiting customer service manager position at Novan Cloud!
I decided to put my outgoing nature and laser-focused organizational abilities to work as a business development specialist for Sunny Sales Inc. after earning a degree in business administration.
Over the last two years, I’ve improved my client communication abilities, refined my presentation skills, and generated over 300 warm leads.
Working in sales has provided me with a solid foundation, and I’m now ready to transition from business development to recruiting.
The possibility of putting my interpersonal skills and sales expertise to work as a university recruiting coordinator with Cloud Tech excites me.
In this capacity, I believe my enthusiasm for recruiting and ability to learn on the fly will be beneficial. Below are some examples of how my expertise might be useful to you:
‣ Applicant outreach: As a business development professional, I’m used to looking for new prospects, making cold calls, and convincing potential clients of the benefits of Sunny Sales software.
‣ Conducting interviews: I make 50 phone calls every day on average, meet with at least five clients per week, and am happiest when I get to engage with a variety of people.
As part of a sales panel, I also got to participate in ten interviews, which resulted in two new hiring for our company.
‣ Application management: I use a customer resource management system to keep track of my 1,500+ business development contacts, as well as their activity, pipeline, and 30+ active opportunities.
As a well-organized, tech-savvy professional, I believe I could quickly master an applicant tracking system.
I’d like to learn more about your university’s recruiting plan for the coming year and talk about how my recruiting skills and exposure could help the Cloud Tech team.
Please let me know if you require any other information, and thank you very much for your time.
Sincerely,
Duke James
When looking for a new job, it’s critical to update your resume to reflect your new objectives. That way, both your CV and cover letter will demonstrate that you’re well qualified for a job transition. Here are six pointers for crafting a strong career change CV to get you started.
Prepare to explain why you’re transitioning and what talents you’ll bring to potential employers during job interviews. It’s critical to have a thorough and professional pitch that will impress the employer and persuade them that you’re a good fit for the position.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are answers to questions people ask about writing a career change cover letter.
1. How to explain a career change in a cover letter?
First, you have to begin with a strong introduction and talk about transferable skills.
After that, examine your prior responsibilities and justify your decision to pursue a new career. Also, mention new abilities that will help you in your future job, and don’t forget to demonstrate your knowledge about the company. Finally, finish the letter on a positive note and take your time to examine and proofread it.
2. How can one write the perfect cover letter, step by step?
The following are some pointers from career gurus on how to write the perfect cover letter:
‣ Address your letter to a specific individual.
‣ Make your letter’s purpose crystal clear.
‣ Do not rewrite your entire resume.
‣ Use action words and avoid using the pronoun “I” excessively…
‣ Reiterate your enthusiasm and express gratitude to the reader…
‣ Maintain a consistent format.
3. What should be in my cover letter for a character animation job?
“I’m writing to express my interest in the post of 3d Animator that your organization listed. I am convinced that I possess the animation and technical skills that American Greetings is looking for. A love of graphic arts and aesthetics is required for success in this area.”
4. Is a cover letter necessary for a resume for a minimum wage job?
Yes, it is. You should write a cover letter for a minimum wage job that highlights your unique abilities and expertise, meets the job ad’s requirements, and demonstrates why you would be a valuable asset to the company. Even if the job posting does not state that a cover letter is required, write one nevertheless.
5. Do I need to explain my career change in my job cover letter?
A good cover letter explaining your career shift is an important part of the process. Even if you’re migrating from another type of job, a well-written cover letter demonstrates to potential clients and employers why you’re a good fit for the position.
6. How do you demonstrate interpersonal skills in a cover letter?
First, choose three or four skills that you wish to concentrate on. Then recall a previous story or incident that indicates how you exhibit such skills. Then, make a connection between your examples and the position you’re seeking for.
7. Can I use bullet points in a cover letter?
Yes, you can. Bullet points can be used in a cover letter. It’s a terrific approach to draw attention to your credentials without taking up too much space on the page. Bullet points also provide lots of white space for the hiring manager’s eyes to rest from the content paragraphs.
8. How do you write a cover letter for a first job?
Examine the job posting carefully and visit the company’s website. At the top of the document, include your contact information. Then, introduce yourself and greet the reader. After that, describe your relevant skills and achievements for the post. Lastly, remind them why you’re the ideal candidate for the job.
9. Why do some jobs require a cover letter while others don’t?
The reasons are:
‣ They don’t want to waste time interviewing someone who isn’t a good fit for the company’s personality. Through the cover letter, they want to learn more about you.
‣ They don’t want to waste time interviewing someone who isn’t enthusiastic about the position
‣ To dissuade people from applying haphazardly. People who aren’t serious about the job are discouraged from applying because you have to put forth effort beyond mailing your application.
‣ They have a large number of prospects and need to narrow them down.
10. What is the best cover letter received from a job applicant?
A powerful beginning, appropriate skills and qualifications, and a strong finish with a call-to-action should all be included on one page and tailored to each application.
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CSN Team.