Software Engineer Cover Letter Examples [+Entry Level]

Software Engineer Cover Letter Examples [+Entry Level] You came to the right place to write your software engineering cover letter. Justs picture this first:Youve just found a software engineering job offer of your dreams.Great pay, amazing benefits, exciting projects, and, oh Godlook at the specs of their computers!Thats what youve been waiting for your whole professional life. You know youd be a great fit. Youve got the skills and experience theyre looking for. You know theyd have to be crazy not to hire you.To apply for this opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter to jobs@co . . . Wait a minute! A cover letter?!Right, so Ill need to send the generic copy-paste software engineer cover letter Ive written back in the day, and Im good to go. Nobodys gonna read that thing anyway.Thats what most of your competition is thinking right now. And thats why youll beat them.Hows that?Because youre about to learn how to write a software engineer cover letter that gets every employer hooked and lands you that dream gig.Think its ha rd?Just give me 5 minutes, and youll see its not. In this guide, Ill show you:A software engineer cover letter sample better than 9 out of 10 other cover letters.Proven, effective templates and formulas for writing the best software engineer cover letter in the pile.How to write a software engineer cover letter step-by-step (even if you have no experience.)How to describe your experience in a cover letter for software engineering positions and get any job you want.Want to write your cover letter fast?Use our cover letter builder. Choose from20+ professional cover letter templatesthat match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.Software Engineer Cover Letter for a ResumeSee more cover letter templates and create your cover letter here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowMake sure your Software Engineer resume is up to par by reading:Software Engineer Resume Examples.This guide isn't exactly what you were looking for? See other cover letter examples for jobs in this industry:Mechanical Engineer Cover Letter SampleEngineering Cover Letter SampleIT Cover Letter SampleIT Technician Cover Letter SampleWeb Developer Cover Letter SampleData Analyst Cover Letter SampleData Entry Cover Letter SampleComputer Science Cover Letter SampleLab Technician Cover Letter SampleEngineering Internship Cover LetterCover Letter for Internship SampleWant to explore your options further? See our full selection of cover letter examples for every career:Best Cover Letter examples.Heres a sample software engineer cover letter written in response to a Software Development Team Lead position.Sample Software Engineer Cover LetterTabitha HirvanenSoftware Engineer89 Coleman AvenueSan Diego, CA 92103619-633-0789tabitha.hirvanen@gmail.comlinkedin.com/in/tabitha-hirvanenMr. Francis MallmanHead of TechnologyXYZ Corp4222 Driftwood RoadS an Diego, CA 90544San Diego, 2/7/2018Dear Francis,Two months ago, I shattered a record I had previously considered unbreakable. My solutions for developing and optimizing ABCs flagship apps and online software helped increase annual mean NPS to a staggering 61.8 (37% increase.) Soon after that, I came across the opening for Software Development Team Lead at XYZ Corp. As a lifelong fan of your cutting-edge software solutions, I immediately knew that this post was the perfect match for my skills and expertise.I know your chief focus for the upcoming 18 months will be on developing new mobile apps for personal finance management. In my current position as IT Team Lead with ABC Inc., my primary challenge has been to supervise the development and design of our mobile and desktop applications for flawless user experience. Here are some of my most recent results:3 out of 4 apps I developed in 2017 have been rated above 4.7 stars in both AppStore and Google Play.Upgraded premium versions of our products increased quarterly revenue by 86% in 2017 Q4.New Help Desk solutions cut Customer Effort Scores by 31%.With more than 10 years of experience in software engineering, I am positive I can help XYZ Corp achieve similar results.End User Satisfaction has always been the single most important KPI for measuring my teams performance. I know that this value is also the cornerstone of XYZs mission and visionthats why I was so excited when I first saw your opening.When can we schedule a meeting and discuss how my success at ABC can translate into IT Happiness growth for you?Kind Regards,Tabitha HirvanenP.S.I would also value the opportunity to tell you how I optimized ABCs beta-testing workflow to double the Timely Project Delivery scores.Ill tell you one thingTabitha is going places. And so can you.Lets break down what makes the above cover letter for a software engineer so great and how you can make an equally great one yourself.1The Perfect Software Engineer Cover Letter Temp lateSo youve seen a jaw-dropping software engineer or software developer cover letter.ButWhat is it exactly that made the hiring managers jaw drop?Tabithas achievements? The writing quality?Yeah, these are important. But not as important as an effective, reliable cover letter writing formula Tabithas applied.And guess what?You can make this template for a cover letter work for you as well!Heres how:The Best Software Engineer Cover Letter TemplateChecklist1. HeadingYour names, professional title, and contact info.The addressee's details.City and date are optional and a tad old-school, but more conservative readers will appreciate them.2. SalutationDear Hiring Manager is okay(ish.)Dear [Hiring Managers name] is perfect.Dear Sir or Madam is stiff, boring, and really old-fashioned.3. Main Body: The Three-Paragraph Software Engineer Cover Letter FormatBegin with the hook. Tell your employers a quick story that shows how impressive your skills are.Make an offer. Emphasize how your experti se will help solve their problems. Use bullet points to outline your achievements.Explain your motivation. Once they understand they want you, theyll want to know why you want them.4. Call To ActionReiterate your offer and ask them to reach out to you.Gently remind them that youre not going to be available forever.Dont write the hackneyed phrase Thank you for your time and attention.5. Formal ClosingUse a sincerely synonym.Dont get too informal.Sign-off with your full name6. The PostscriptIt works like an eye magnet.Everyone will read it.In it, include something you cant afford for your prospective employer to miss.(For more information about different cover letter formats, check out this handy guide: Cover Letter Format: A Complete How-To Guide)And heres the one piece of advice that you should apply to all sections of your software engineering cover letter:Be specific and precise. Quantify whenever possible. Numbers pop!So thats what you should include in your software engineer or software developer cover letter.Dont know how long your cover letter should be for a software engineer position?No longer than necessary to show off your best and most relevant wins.Looking for an exact figure? This will depend on your experience.Cover letter for a software engineer with 2 years of experience or less shouldnt exceed 200 words. Experienced software developer cover letter? Not much longer. Aim for 300 words, tops.Thats not a lot for, but it is the proper template for your software developer cover letter. It will deliver. Afraid that youre missing something? Double-check with: What to Include in a Cover Letter (15+ Examples A Complete Guide)Writing an entry-level software engineer cover letter with no experience is rough. If you need a software engineer cover letter for an internship, you simply cannot afford to mess it up. Heres a guide for all you future interns out there: How to Write a Cover Letter For an Internship [+20 Examples]One more thing: its crucial that y ou send your cover letter directly to the hiring manager. If youre not quite sure how to do it, heres a guide thatll clear it up: How to Address a Cover Letter: Sample Guide [20+ Examples]2How to Grab Recruiters Attention with Your Software Engineer Cover Letter OpeningThese few sentences at the beginning of your cover letter are critical.Get the intro right, and the hiring manager will be excited to read on. Mess it up, and no one will even cast a glance at the rest of your letter.How to make the most of your software developer cover letter introduction?Follow these steps:Software Engineer Cover Letter TemplateIntroductionBegin with Dear + the hiring managers name. If youre applying to a company with relaxed office culture, first name will do; if your prospective employer is more traditionalgo for first and last names.Mention your impressive achievement and tell a catchy story about it. Nothing too fancyremember Tabitha? Thats how she did it: Two months ago, I shattered a record I had previously considered unbreakable.Make them realize how much theyll benefit from hiring you.Personalize. Refer to an important company fact, show your enthusiasm and passion for the companys values, mention current events, or use name-dropping if youve been referenced.Want to have a look at how it works in practice?Check out these very different examples of full-stack software engineer cover letter intros.Sample Senior Software Engineer Cover LetterOpening ParagraphwrongTo Whom It May Concern,As a full stack software engineer with 8 years of experience in technical software development, Id like to express my interest in applying for the position of Senior Software Developer with your company.Perhaps not awful. ButThats as if Bill Gates started his cover letter with Im a successful entrepreneur with 40+ years of software engineering experience. Whod care? Instead, he should writeWell, okay. In his case, Im Bill Gates, would do the trick.Since youre reading this, Im assuming your e not Bill Gates. Yet. So heres an example of a software engineer cover letter intro that could help you move your career in the right direction.Sample Senior Software Engineer Cover LetterOpening ParagraphrightDear Alisson (hiring managers name),A year ago, if you told me Id cut Cloud Wallops security breaches by 73% (your measurable achievement wrapped up in a compelling narrative), I wouldnt believe you. But through resilience and drive for results backed up by thorough research, you can accomplish even the most uphill tasks. Im sure that with my experience and insights I would achieve similar results for Uber (how theyll benefit from hiring you.) Wed finally put an end to the recurring negative press coverage that follows the 2016 data breach (company fact.)That kind of cover letter opening is going to make the hiring manager call you in the middle of the night!What makes it so great?First of all, the initial storytelling part. Its intriguing and, at the same time, super relevan t to the job.Secondly, this computer software developer cover letter intro is focused only on the employers benefits instead of the candidates gain. Rememberin your software engineer cover letter, show the employers that they need you. Not the other way around.Finally, it refers to an important company fact. That shows that the candidate has done his research. It adds this precious personal touch.Want to see more actionable examples of how to write a cover letter intro that pulls every reader in? In fact, there are many surefire ways to do it. Learn them here: How to Start a Cover Letter: Sample Complete Guide [20+ Examples]When making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.3Software Engineer Cover LetterThe Main BodyAlright, so youve crafted the perfect int ro. Youve got their attention.Time for the serious sales pitchthe central paragraphs. The make-or-break moment of your application.How to get it right?In a word: personalization.You need to tailor every cover letter for software engineering positions to the particular job youre aiming at.Remember how our candidate, Tabitha did it?She applied for a senior software engineering position with a company that planned to launch new mobile apps.How did she convince the hiring manager that shed be the perfect fit?She went for a three-step formula that you should use in your software engineer cover letter too!Software Engineer Cover Letter TemplateThe Main BodyPoint out that youre aware of your prospective employers needs and upcoming challenges.Show how your past experiences match the positions requirements. Its a good idea to use bullet points here to make your message more concise.Reiterate the value youll bring to the company.Have a look:Senior Software Engineer Cover Letter ExampleI know your chief focus for the upcoming 18 months will be on developing new mobile apps for personal finance management (companys needs.) In my current position as IT Team Lead with ABC Inc., my primary challenge has been to supervise the development and design of our mobile and desktop applications (your relevant experience) for flawless user experience. Here are some of my most recent results:3 out of 4 apps I developed in 2017 have been rated above 4.7 stars in both AppStore and Google Play.Upgraded premium versions of our products increased quarterly revenue by 86% in 2017 Q4.New Help Desk solutions cut Customer Effort Scores by 31% (your measurable results outlined in bullet-points.)With more than 10 years of experience in software engineering, I am positive I can help XYZ Corp achieve similar results (the value youll bring to the company.)Dont have Tabithas wealth of experience? No matter.Whether youre writing a junior software engineering cover letter with 2 year experience, or ev en a software engineer cover letter as a fresher, the central paragraph formula remains the same.If your best asset is your education, lead with it. Success with freelancing projects? There you go. Even an impressive Github portfolio can sell you to potential employers.Need a sample software engineer cover letter for an entry level position?Have a look:Entry Level .Net Software Engineer Cover Letter ExampleSince youre searching for an enthusiastic software engineer with the ability to develop highly innovative .net applications (companys needs), Im happy to submit my application.Ive developed 10+ web and mobile apps, including an award-winning home security system using Raspberry Pi and a webcam (your relevant experience.)Im looking forward to leveraging my enthusiasm, phenomenal time management skills, and a strong user focus to achieve groundbreaking results with XYZs upcoming projects (the value youd bring to the company.)The key thingIdentify the companys needs and refer to them in your software engineer cover letter. Remember: personalization works wonders!Whats next?Briefly explain your motivation. This is where youll need to flatter them a bit. Tell your prospective employer what you find valuable in the way they run their business. Identify the companys core values and say theyre important to you too.Just like our candidate, Tabitha, did. Remember?Sample Senior Software Engineer Cover LetterMotivation StatementEnd User Satisfaction has always been the single most important KPI for measuring my teams performance. I know that this value is also the cornerstone of XYZs mission and visionthats why I was so excited when I first saw your opening.Long story short: ask yourself why you want to work there and say it in a concise sentence.(But dont write Id like to work with you cause I need the money and, rumor has it, your paychecks are sky-high, even if it is the case.)Hungry for more amazing cover letter tips and easy-to-use hacks? Check out this cool guide written by my friend Christian: 35+ Successful Cover Letter Tips, Advice Guidelines (With Examples)4How to End Your Software Engineer Cover Letter to Make It UnforgettableSo far so good. The hiring managers reading your cover letter. Shes getting more and more eager to call you in for an interview.Dont squander this opportunity. End your letter in a way that makes it impossible to forget your application.Heres how:Software Engineer Cover Letter TemplateClosing LinesInclude a call to action: tell your employers youd like to meet in person to discuss how you can help them achieve their goals. Ask them to reach out to you.Close with a sincerely synonym and sign the letter with your full name.Include a postscript: give a sneak-peek of your impressive achievement and say youd be happy to talk about it in more detail.Like in our main software engineer cover letter example:Sample Technical Software Engineer Cover LetterEndingWhen can we schedule a meeting (call to action) and discuss how my success at ABC can translate into IT Happiness growth for you?Kind Regards,Tabitha Hirvanen (formal closing)P.S.I would also value the opportunity to tell you how I optimized ABCs beta-testing workflow to double the Timely Project Delivery scores (impressive achievement youre eager to discuss.)The gist of it?Avoid coming off as needy. In your software engineer or software developer cover letter ending, dont nag the hiring manager to call you. Make it irresistible for them to do it.Need more examples? There you go.Jr Software Engineer Cover Letter ExampleEndingwrongI would greatly appreciate if you gave me a chance to show how well I could fit into your company structure. I am sure I would make a great employee! Just give me a shot.All the best,MikeCringe overload, right?The bottom line is basically: Please, please, please, give me this job!Sample Embedded Software Engineer Cover LetterEndingrightCan we set up a meeting next week and have a chat about how my solar energy getaway s olutions could cut Tesla Energy Softwares expenses by a quarter?Sincerely yours,John EilersP.S.My embedded software solutions enhanced efficiency, stability, and scalability of Hubbell Inc. system resources by 35%. If it sounds interesting to you, I would love to tell you more about it.Wow, this guys a live wire! I cant wait to hear his ideas!This software engineer cover letter ending would make Elon Musk himself say that.Why?Because it provides value. Simple as that.Still worried that your software engineering cover letter closing wont be good enough? Relax. Youve got a whole lot of mind-blowing advice waiting for you. All it takes to get it is a single click. Go here and see for yourself: How to End a Cover Letter: Sample Complete Guide [20+ Examples]Key TakeawayWriting a software engineer or a software developer cover letter that gets you the job doesnt have to be hard.Just follow the key strategies we covered.Address the hiring manager by his or her name. Get them hooked in you r first paragraph.Use bullet points to show off your best wins. Be specific and always choose numbers over descriptions.Highlight what youve got to offer, not what you want out of the job.Include a postscript after the formal sign-off.And remember one last thingEven the most amazing software engineering cover letter will get you nowhere if you dont know how to sell yourself with your software engineer resume. Luckily, you can learn how to make one in a flash. See our dedicated guide: Software Engineer Resume: Guide and a Sample [20+ Examples]Hungry for more cover letter writing advice? Still unsure how to describe your experienceto come across as a software engineering rockstar? Give me a shout in the comments and Ill get back to you!