How to write an excellent cover letter as an automotive professional
The automotive industry is flourishing, with more and more people in need of car-related services every day. To become an automotive professional, you not only need a great resume highlighting your experience but also a well-written cover letter that showcases your passion for and dedication to the industry.
In this guide, we will teach you everything you need to know about writing an excellent automotive cover letter. Keep reading to learn how to:
- Craft a concise automotive cover letter header & headline
- Create a personalized greeting on your automotive cover letter
- Write an effective and eye-catching cover letter introduction
- Showcase your professional value as an automotive worker
- End your automotive cover letter with a powerful closing statement
1. Craft a concise automotive cover letter header & headline
The first key components of an effective automotive cover letter are a correctly written header and a concise headline.
A cover letter header is the block of text that typically appears in the top left corner of the document, detailing the company name, your name, and your contact information.
The cover letter headline is similar to a news story headline, serving as a title that leads into your cover letter introduction and body paragraphs.
Formatting the header
A cover letter header can vary in format, but will generally contain 3 to 4 lines of text that contain the following information:
- The name of the company and department you are applying to
- Your name and professional title
- Your contact information (phone number, email address, etc.)
Here is an example of a well-formatted header on an automotive cover letter
To: The Automotive Store, Mechanic Department
From: John Doe, Automotive Professional
(123) 456-7890 | johndoe@gmail.com | linkedin.com/in/john-doe
Writing the headline
When writing a headline for your automotive cover letter, it is crucial to include details that are both concise and compelling to help grab the attention of the reader.
You should always use a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.
Below is an example of a well-written headline on an automotive cover letter
How My Automotive Expertise Can Boost Your Company’s Customer Satisfaction
Trigger Word/Number: How
Keyword: Automotive Expertise
Adjective: Boost
Promise: Your Company’s Customer Satisfaction – this detail is specific to the employer, showing your future dedication to their customers.
2. Create a personalized greeting on your automotive cover letter
In the past, vague greetings such as “To Whom It May Concern” were a standard choice for any given cover letter. Nowadays, however, employers expect to see more personalized greetings – and often favor the candidates who use them.
A personalized greeting will directly address the person who will review the document, requiring an applicant to do a bit of company research before submitting their application.
If the name of this person is not readily available, you may opt for one of the following alternatives:
To the [Company Name] Team
Or
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager
3. Write an effective and eye-catching cover letter introduction
With the addition of a cover letter headline, you will already have the attention of the employer. To keep this attention and compel them to read further, you need an effective introduction that highlights your best qualifications and immediately makes you stand out from the competition.
A good automotive cover letter introduction will contain the following information:
- A brief overview of your professional history and goals
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Here is an example to help demonstrate how to write an automotive cover letter introduction
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,
I am a dedicated Automotive Professional with 6+ years working as a mechanic and automotive customer service associate. After speaking with your Lead Mechanic, Josh Smith, I was compelled to apply for this position to join your hard-working and collaborative team.
4. Showcase your professional value as an automotive worker
After you have hooked the employer’s attention with your headline and introduction, it’s time to provide a more in-depth explanation of why this company is a great fit for you and vice versa.
When writing the body paragraphs of your cover letter, aim to answer the following questions:
- What excites you about working at this company?
- What do you hope to learn from working at this company?
- What accomplishments or qualifications make you stand out as an applicant?
- What key skills do you possess that are relevant to the position?
Including key accomplishments is especially important, as it helps to show the employer how you have applied your skills in the past and what you are capable of. When describing accomplishments, make sure to use as specific and quantifiable details as possible.
Here are some examples of how to properly describe accomplishments in an automotive cover letter
- In my previous position at [Former Employer], I provided exceptional customer service to customers, resulting in a 2.5-star rating increase on Google Reviews. Additionally, I sourced a new manufacturer for automotive components which resulted in a 35% decrease in part-ordering expenditures and a total of $25K saved annually.
- I successfully increased sales revenue by 20% within six months through implementing innovative marketing strategies and establishing strong client relationships.
- I streamlined manufacturing processes, resulting in a 30% reduction in production time and a significant increase in overall efficiency.
- Developed and executed a cost-saving initiative that resulted in annual savings of $100,000 for the company.
- I led a cross-functional team to successfully launch a new product, exceeding sales targets by 15% in the first quarter.
- I received recognition for exceptional customer service, maintaining a 95% satisfaction rating based on client feedback.
5. End your automotive cover letter with a powerful closing statement
Last – but certainly not least – is the closing statement of your automotive cover letter. In this closing statement, you should aim to reiterate your desire to work for this company specifically.
A strong closing statement on a cover letter will include the following information:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a well-written closing statement on an automotive cover letter
Thank you for taking the time to review my application. I look forward greatly to hearing from you, as I believe firmly that I will make an excellent addition to your team. Let’s connect within the next two weeks to discuss how I can apply my skills to improve and support your company’s functions. You may reach me any weekday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at (123) 456-7890 or via email at johndoe@email.com.
Best Wishes,
[Applicant Name]
If you have ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two.
