Crafting a contracts manager cover letter can feel like a daunting step in your job search, especially when you realize it's more than a summary of your resume. You might struggle with condensing your career into a single page without resorting to overused phrases. In this guide, we'll show you how to highlight your proudest professional achievement and tell its story compellingly and formally within a crisp, one-page narrative that stands out.
- Personalize your contracts manager cover letter and get inspired by other professionals to tell a compelling story;
- Format and design your contracts manager cover letter to make an excellent first impression;
- Introduce your best achievement in your contracts manager cover letter to recruiters;
- How to make sure recruiters get in touch with you, using your contracts manager cover letter greeting and closing paragraphs.
What is more, did you know that Enhancv's AI can write your cover letter for you? Just upload your contracts manager resume and get ready to forward your job application in a flash.
If the contracts manager isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
- Contracts Manager resume guide and example
- Recruitment Manager cover letter example
- Change Management cover letter example
- Problem Manager cover letter example
- Benefits Specialist cover letter example
- People Manager cover letter example
- HR Analyst cover letter example
- HR Director cover letter example
- HR cover letter example
- Technical Recruiter cover letter example
- Diversity And Inclusion Manager cover letter example
Contracts Manager cover letter example
Luke Adams
Philadelphia, PA
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Emphasizing relevant experience: The cover letter showcases 12 years of specialized industry experience in contract negotiation and management, aligning with the company's needs.
- Quantifying achievements: It mentions concrete accomplishments such as overseeing contracts worth over $200M and improving proposal response win rates by 15%, which helps to establish credibility and a track record of success.
- Highlighting compliance and ethical conduct: By stressing meticulous adherence to regulatory requirements and achieving zero penalties, the candidate demonstrates a commitment to ethical practices, which is critical for a Senior Contract Negotiator role.
- Outlining goals and enthusiasm: The candidate expresses eagerness to contribute to the company’s objectives and discusses directly benefiting projects, portraying a forward-looking approach to potential contributions.
Structuring and formatting your contracts manager cover letter
Here's what the structure of your contracts manager cover letter should include:
- Header (with your name, the position you're applying for, and the date);
- Salutation (or greeting);
- Introductory paragraph (or your opening statement);
- Body paragraph (or further proof of your experience);
- Closing paragraph (with a call to action);
- Signature (that is optional).
Use the same font for your contracts manager resume and cover letter - modern fonts like Lato and Rubik would help you stand out.
Your contracts manager cover letter should be single-spaced and have a one-inch margins - this format is automatically set up in our cover letter templates and our cover letter builder.
When submitting your cover letter, always ensure it's in PDF, as this format keeps the information intact (and the quality of your document stays the same).
On one final note - the Applicant Tracker System (ATS or the software that is sometimes used to initially assess your application) won't read your contracts manager cover letter.
The top sections on a contracts manager cover letter
- Header: Includes your name, contact information, date, and the employer’s details, laying the foundation for a professional and personalized cover letter directly addressed to the person responsible for hiring contract managers.
- Greeting: Addresses the hiring manager or recruiter by name, demonstrating your attention to detail and ability to cultivate professional relationships, a key skill for a contracts manager.
- Introduction: Briefly presents your background in contract management, emphasizing your understanding of legal and regulatory requirements, which is crucial for first impressions and to align with the responsibilities of the role.
- Body: Describes your experience in negotiating contracts, managing risks, and ensuring compliance, which are core competencies of a contracts manager, and provides concrete examples of successes in previous positions.
- Closing: Reiterates your interest in the role and invites further discussion about how your skills and experiences align with the company's needs in contract management, ending with a professional sign-off.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Exceptional negotiation skills - vital for reviewing, negotiating and managing contracts to ensure favorable terms for the organization.
- In-depth legal and regulatory knowledge - essential to ensure compliance with relevant laws, standards, and industry-specific regulations.
- Strong attention to detail - critical for meticulously reviewing contractual documents to identify and mitigate risks and ensure accuracy.
- Proven experience in contract lifecycle management - indicates proficiency in overseeing a contract from inception to conclusion, which includes drafting, evaluating, and implementing contracts.
- Effective communication and interpersonal abilities - necessary for liaising with stakeholders, explaining contract terms, and fostering strong professional relationships.
- Solid project management skills - important for organizing and prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines and manage multiple contracts simultaneously.
How to greet recruiters in your contracts manager cover letter salutation
As the saying goes, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression."
Write your contracts manager cover letter salutation to be more personalized to the actual hiring manager, who is set to assess your profile by:
- greeting them on a first-name basis, if you have previously communicated with them (e.g. "Dear Sam,");
- using their last name, if you have more formal communication or haven't spoken to them (e.g. "Dear Mr. Harrows" or "Dear Ms. Marshall");
- writing "Dear HR Team" or "Dear Hiring Manager", if you have no clue about who's recruiting for the role.
Search on LinkedIn, Google, or the company website to find information as to the recruiter's name.
In any case, avoid the impersonal "Dear Sir or Madam".
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Company Name] Team,
- Dear [Recipient's Full Name],
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Dear [Job Title],
- Dear [Department] Director,
Using your contracts manager cover letter intro to show your dedication
We know just how difficult it is to start writing your contracts manager cover letter introduction.
There are so many great qualities you have as a professional, which one should you choose?
How about writing up to two sentences about your passion and commitment to the work you do or are set to do?
Try to describe exactly what you enjoy about the potential role.
A positive attitude from the get-go will help you stand out as a motivated contracts manager professional.
What comes next: your contracts manager cover letter middle paragraphs
In the next three to six paragraphs (or the body of your contracts manager cover letter) you have to prove your unique value.
Most candidates tend to mess up at this stage. They tend to just copy-paste information from their resume.
That's one big no-no.
Remember that when writing your contracts manager cover letter, it has to be personalized. And, your ultimate aim is to catch the recruiter's eye.
So, look back on key job requirements and write down a list that includes the ones you cover.
Next, select just one key achievement from your professional (or personal) history that meets those advert keywords.
Narrate a story around how you've grown your skill set and knowledge. Also, aim to show the unique understanding or soft skills you bring about, thanks to your past success.
Ending your contracts manager cover letter: a closing paragraph with a promise
If you're thinking of finishing your contracts manager cover letter with a "Sincerely yours" or "Thanks for the consideration," you need to read on.
End the final paragraph of your contracts manager cover letter with a twist:
- a promise - of how you'd grow as a professional, part of the company, or improve organizational metrics;
- a call to action - prompt interviewers with some follow-up actions if they are interested in your profile.
A personalized ending would surely help you to stand out by being a memorable candidate.
Lacking experience: here's how to write your contracts manager cover letter
As a candidate with no experience, it's important to be honest from the get-go of your application.
Use your contracts manager cover letter to sell your unique talents. Choose an accomplishment from your academic background or your volunteer work to show the skills that are relevant to the role.
Focus on your career objectives and how you see the job to align with them. Be specific and, at the same time, realistic about where you picture yourself in five years.
Key takeaways
We hope this contracts manager cover letter writing guide has shown you how to:
- Format your contracts manager cover letter with the mandatory sections (e.g. header, greeting, intro, body, and closing) and select the right font (P.S. It should be the same as the one you've used for your resume);
- Substitute your lack of professional experience with your most noteworthy achievement, outside of work, or your dreams and passions;
- Ensure recruiters have a more personalized experience by tailoring your cover letter not just to the role, but to them (e.g. writing their first/last name in the salutation, etc.);
- Introducing your biggest achievement and the skills it has taught you in your contracts manager cover letter body;
- Write no more than two sentences in your contracts manager cover letter introduction to set the right tone from the get-go.
