How to write a job-winning IT cover letter

Information technology – more commonly referred to as IT – is a vast industry encompassing everything from creating computer networks and systems to providing vital tech support for businesses of all kinds. To become an IT professional, you will need a cover letter that showcases your professional drive and dedication to the field.

In this guide, we will teach you everything you need to know about writing a cover letter as an IT professional. Keep reading to learn:

How to format your IT cover letter header & headline
Why you need a personalized greeting on your IT cover letter
What to say in your IT cover letter introduction
Ways to emphasize your professional value as an IT professional
How to conclude your cover letter with a strong closing statement

Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.

1. How to properly format your IT cover letter header & headline

To create a compelling IT cover letter, it is crucial to start with a well-formatted header and headline.

The header is located at the top of the document, usually in the top-left corner, and includes essential details about both the applicant and the employer. It's important to ensure that the header is properly formatted and includes all the necessary information.

Additionally, the cover letter headline should follow the header and should be a brief but powerful statement that grabs the employer's attention and provides an accurate preview of the contents of the cover letter. A well-crafted headline can help make a strong first impression and increase the chances of the employer reading the rest of the cover letter.

To better demonstrate how to write each of these cover letter elements, we have provided more in-depth explanations and examples below:

Formatting the Header

There is no singular formatting style required for a cover letter header and most applicants will vary the header’s appearance depending on their own stylistic preferences.

However, a good header will typically have between 3 to 4 lines of text that include:

The name of the company you are applying to (& the name of the department, when applicable)
Your name and professional title
Your professional contact information (phone number, email address, LinkedIn, etc.)

Here is an example of what a well-formatted header on an IT cover letter looks like

To: Dynamic Software Solutions, IT Department
From: Jane Doe, IT Specialist
(123) 456-7890 | janedoe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jane-doe

Writing the Headline

To write the headline of your cover letter, you should always include a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.

Here is an example of an effective IT headline, followed by a brief breakdown of its key components

My 3 Best Skills as an IT Specialist & How They Can Improve Your Company’s Efficiency

Trigger Word/Number: 3 Skills
Keyword: IT Specialist
Adjective/Verb: Best, Improve|

Promise: Your Company’s Efficiency – this last detail in the headline shows the employer that you will relate your skills directly to the needs of their company. In this example, the applicant likely read that efficiency improvement was one of the company’s goals and chose to highlight this in their headline.

2. Include a personalized greeting in your IT cover letter

With the header and headline of your cover letter in place, your next step is to create a greeting.

We recommend always using a personalized greeting over a generalized greeting. Unlike generalized greetings – such as “To Whom It May Concern” – a personalized greeting will address a specific person or department by name. In doing so, this shows employers you have excellent attention to detail.

If you have done your part in thoroughly researching the company but cannot pinpoint an exact person or department who will review your cover letter, try out one of the following alternatives:

To the [Company Name] Team
Or
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager

3. How to craft an effective IT cover letter introduction

The headline and greeting of your cover letter do a lot of the heavy-lifting when it comes to initially attracting an employer’s attention. To keep the employer interested, however, you will need a powerful introduction that includes:

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 IT cover letter introduction

To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,

I am an IT Specialist with 4+ years of experience working in academic and classroom settings. As a part-time IT support professional for [Former Employer], I had the pleasure of meeting your company’s Assistant IT Manager, John Smith. After observing my work, Mr. Smith highly recommended I apply for this position.

4. Emphasize your professional value in an IT cover letter

With the employer’s attention now firmly hooked, you can delve into a more in-depth explanation of your professional strengths and qualifications in your body paragraphs. An effective IT cover letter should contain between 2 to 4 body paragraphs that answer these key 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?

Focusing on accomplishments is particularly important, as they help immensely with showing employers the real-life value you can offer their company.

Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in an IT cover letter

As an IT Specialist for [Former Employer], I assisted in the design and implementation of a new business computer network that connected all departments through a singular digital platform. As a result of this implementation, communication efficiency rose by 65%, and time to complete projects decreased by nearly 50%.

5. How to highlight your IT skills through your projects

As an IT professional, it is essential to highlight your skills and experience. One way to do that is to include information about significant projects you have completed, including those from school, work, or personal projects.

Providing details on the scope of the project, technologies used, and the results achieved can help demonstrate your abilities and provide concrete examples of your work.

Here's an example of how to showcase your IT projects in a cover letter

I led a team of four developers to design and develop a responsive and user-friendly e-commerce website. I conducted requirements gathering, created wireframes, and managed the development process from conception to deployment. This project demonstrates my ability to manage a team, deliver high-quality results, and use various technologies to achieve the project goals.

6. How to conclude your IT cover letter with a strong closing statement

The final element of any good cover letter is a strong closing statement. In this statement, you should aim to include:

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 from an IT cover letter

As your new IT Specialist, I will bring a high level of quality and professionalism to help your company reach its digital goals. I am eager to further discuss this opportunity with you directly and am available to meet any weekday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The best way to reach me is at (123) 456-7890.

I look forward to hearing from you within the week and will reach back out to touch base after that time has passed.

Best Wishes,

[Applicant Name]

Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success.

Published on April 18, 2023

Julia Gergelova

Resume Writer

Julia is a professional writer, translator and graphic designer. She holds degrees in translation and interpretation, and has international work experience from a number of different countries in Europe as well as China and Panama. Julia formerly taught academic writing and as a graphic designer contributed to outlets such as The Business of Business. She has a passion for lifelong learning and good coffee.