How to craft a compelling entrepreneur cover letter
As an entrepreneur, you are likely well-attuned to the complexities that come with developing, marketing, and selling business ventures. There are many jobs within the field of entrepreneurship, from creating businesses yourself to serving as a specialized consultant for others wanting to delve into the world of business.
In this guide, we will teach you everything you need to know about writing a cover letter as an entrepreneur. Keep reading to learn how to:
- Properly format your entrepreneur cover letter header & headline
- Personalize the greeting on your entrepreneur cover letter
- Make your entrepreneur cover letter introduction memorable
- Show your professional value as an entrepreneur in your cover letter
- Conclude your cover letter with a strong closing statement
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1. Properly format your entrepreneur cover letter header & headline
The first steps to creating a well-written entrepreneur cover letter are to properly format your header and headline.
A cover letter header is a short block of text that includes all the necessary information about the applicant and the company they are applying to.
As for the cover letter headline, this is similar to a title that helps to introduce the topics covered within the letter and hook the attention of the employer.
Below, we have included more in-depth examples and explanations of both of these cover letter elements:
Formatting the header
The header of your cover letter can vary in formatting and order of information, depending on the visual style you are going for on the document. However, it should always contain between 3 to 4 lines of text that include:
- The name of the company you are applying to (& the department, when applicable)
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information (phone number, email address, LinkedIn, etc.)
Here is an example of a well-formatted header from an entrepreneur cover letter
To: B2B Academy, Entrepreneurial Department
From: John Doe, Entrepreneurship Specialist
(123) 456-7890 | johndoe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/john-doe
Writing the headline
When writing the headline of your cover letter, you should consider how journalist use headlines to catch the eye of potential readers. Your headline should be as accurate as it is compelling, providing an honest look into the information your letter will cover.
To create your headline, 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.
Here is an example of a well-written headline on an entrepreneur cover letter
3 Innovative Steps to My Entrepreneurial Approach & How They Can Benefit Your Business
Trigger Word/Number: 3 Steps
Keyword: Entrepreneurial Approach
Adjective/Verb: Innovative, Benefit
Promise: Your Business – the addition of these words to the end of your headline show employers that you will not only be explaining your professional expertise but that you will also be relating it to the needs of their business specifically.
2. Personalize the greeting on your entrepreneur cover letter
With your header and headline in place, the next step to writing your entrepreneur cover letter is to choose a formal greeting.
There are two main types of greetings to choose from: generalized and personalized. A generalized greeting – such as “To Whom It May Concern” – can work in some cases when applying to entry or low-level positions, but should often be avoided in favor of a personalized greeting.
Personalized greetings address a specific person or department, showing the employer that you have taken the time to research their company beforehand. Plus, these types of greetings show you have excellent attention to detail.
If you are unable to uncover the exact person or department who will review your application, try out one of the following alternatives:
To the [Company Name] Team
Or
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager
3. Make your entrepreneur cover letter introduction memorable
The greeting and headline of your cover letter will do a lot of the heavy-lifting in terms of initially attracting the attention of employers. To keep them intrigued, you need a compelling and memorable introductory paragraph 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 entrepreneur cover letter introduction:
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,
I am an Entrepreneur and Business Professional with 6+ years of experience launching startups and acquiring investors. Jack Smith, your company’s Head of Business Affairs, recommended I apply for this position after hiring me as an Independent Consultant on your company’s most recent business acquisition.
4. Show your professional value as an entrepreneur in your cover letter
Following the introduction of your cover letter are the body paragraphs, where you will provide a more in-depth look into what makes you the ideal candidate for the position.
In these body paragraphs, you should strive to answer each of 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?
Pay special attention to your accomplishments in this section of your cover letter, as they help to show employers the real-life and actionable value you can bring to the company.
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in an entrepreneur cover letter
As an Entrepreneurial Consultant for [Former Employer], I assisted in the acquisition of a new business asset that raised the market value of the company by roughly $2.4M. Additionally, I conceptualized a company re-brand used to relaunch the business under a new name and mission.
5. Conclude your cover letter with a strong closing statement
The final component of your entrepreneur cover letter is a powerful closing statement. In this closing statement, you should 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 how to write a strong closing statement on an entrepreneur cover letter
I am eager to speak with you directly about how I can apply my entrepreneurial skills to grow your business and achieve your company’s objectives efficiently. To best reach me, you may call (123) 456-7890 any weekday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to set up a formal meeting time. I greatly look forward to hearing from you and will reach back out in a week’s time to follow up.
Yours Truly,
[Applicant Name]
Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success.
