How to build a job-winning QA engineer cover letter
QA (Quality Assurance) engineers are responsible for ensuring any defects or errors in products are fixed before being sent to final production. As this job is highly technical and important, you will need a cover letter that showcases your professionalism and qualifications as a QA engineer.
In this guide, we will teach you 5 key steps for writing a QA engineer cover letter. Keep reading to learn all about:
- Formatting your QA engineer cover letter header & headline
- Tailoring the greeting & content on your QA engineer cover letter
- Writing a compelling QA engineer cover letter introduction
- Showcasing your skills & accomplishments as a QA engineer
- Ending your QA engineer cover letter with a strong closing statement
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1. Format correctly your QA engineer cover letter header & headline
The first essential elements to create on your QA engineer cover letter are a header and headline. These elements help to give your cover letter structure and organization.
A cover letter header comes first as the block of text found at the top of the document. Your header should include:
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information
- The name, department, and address of the company you are applying to
Here is an example of a well-formatted QA engineer header
John Doe, QA Engineer
(123) 456-7890 | johndoe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/john-doe
To: Annex Software Solutions, Quality Assurance Department
1234 Street Address
Chattanooga, TN 37405
Following up the header is your cover letter headline – a short title statement that helps to catch the attention of employers. To write this headline, 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 a QA engineer headline, followed by a brief explanation of its core components
My Best 3 Successes as a QA Engineer & How I Can Achieve Them at Your Company
Trigger Word/Number: 3 Successes
Keyword: QA Engineer
Adjective/Verb: Best, Achieve
Promise: Your Company – this detail indicates to the employer that you plan to make your cover highly relevant and tailored to both the job and their company.
2. Tailor the greeting & content on your QA engineer cover letter
Whenever you write a QA engineer cover letter, it is crucial to tailor both the greeting and content for the job and company you are applying to.
A personalized greeting is a tailored greeting that addresses a specific person at the company by name – ideally, either the hiring manager or the head of the department the position you are applying to is in.
Here are 3 examples of personalized greetings
- Dear Ms. Jane Miller,
- Dear Hiring Manager Jane Miller,
- Dear Quality Department Head Kevin Smith,
To identify who you will address in your greeting – and to tailor the rest of the information in your cover letter – you will need to thoroughly research the company before applying. Along with figuring out who will review your application, you should also search for:
- The company’s core values and goals
- Any projects the company is involved in, both ongoing and future
3. Write a compelling QA engineer cover letter introduction
Having a well-written introduction on your QA engineer cover letter is crucial. Your introduction can often greatly impact whether an employer continues reading or moves on to the next application in the stack.
To write a compelling QA engineer cover letter, you should include:
- A brief overview of your professional history
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Pro Tip: You will not always have a mutual acquaintance readily available to name – yet, these acquaintances can give you a massive advantage over competing applicants. When you do not have a mutual acquaintance, try using platforms like LinkedIn to connect with current employees and associates of the company you are interested in.
Here is an example of an introduction from a QA engineer cover letter
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,
Dear Ms. Jane Miller,
I am a QA Engineer with 8+ years of experience working in the software development industry. My mentor and former professor, Dr. Molly Jackson, is a professional associate and consultant for your company. Dr. Jackson recommended I apply for this position, as my professional skillset is perfectly aligned with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
4. Showcase your skills & accomplishments as a QA engineer
Next up on your writing to-do list are the body paragraphs of your cover letter. In these body paragraphs are where you will fully explain your relevant skills, accomplishments, and qualifications.
There are many reasons why cover letters are important to include in a job application, with one of the major benefits being that you have ample space to provide an in-depth look at your qualifications. As such, you should make sure to include as many specific and quantifiable details as possible.
Here are 6 examples of QA engineer skills to describe in a cover letter
- SQL & scripting
- Software development processes
- Testing analysis
- QA methodologies
- Clear written & verbal communication
- Defect management
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a QA engineer cover letter
As a QA Engineer for [Former Employer], I implemented a new quality testing and defect management system that reduced overall product errors by 45%. Additionally, this system allowed for error identification to be completed at a 20% faster rate.
5. End your QA engineer cover letter with a strong closing statement
To conclude your QA engineer cover letter, you need an effective closing statement that includes:
- 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 QA engineer's closing statement
By adding me to your QA team, I guarantee I will optimize your defect management process. I am eager to further discuss this opportunity and am available to meet any weekday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The best way to reach me is at (123) 456-7890.
I plan to reach out via phone call next Friday if I have not heard back.
With Appreciation,
[Applicant Name]
Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success.
