Crafting an executive sales cover letter can seem daunting when you realize it's the missing piece in your application puzzle. You know it's not a resume echo—instead, it's a stage to spotlight your crowning professional achievement. This challenge demands a blend of formality and original voice, steering clear of clichés while succinctly unfolding your success story in under a page. Let's embark on a journey to transform your cover letter into a compelling addition to your job application.
- Introduce your profile to catch recruiters' attention;
- Use professional templates and examples to make sure your executive sales cover letter follows the best industry standards;
- Settle on your most story-worthy achievement to shine a light on what makes your application unique;
- Write a executive sales cover letter, even when you lack professional experience.
Ready to start with the basics: upload your resume to Enhancv's AI, below, to see the executive sales cover letter it would write for you.
If the executive sales isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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Executive sales cover letter example
Charlotte May
Edinburgh
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Addressing the hiring manager directly can help create a personal connection and indicate that the applicant has taken the time to tailor the cover letter to the specific company.
- Demonstrating knowledge of the company's recent activities, such as market expansions, shows the candidate has done their homework and understands the company's current state and goals.
- Quantifying achievements, such as a 30% enhancement in sales revenue or conversion of a specific number of prospects into profitable relationships, provides concrete evidence of the candidate's abilities and success.
- Expressing eagerness to contribute to the team and inviting a discussion about how the applicant can do so suggests proactivity and a willingness to be part of the company's future successes.
What are the basics of the design or format of your executive sales cover letter?
To start, here's a reminder for you: the Applicant Tracker System (or software that is used to assess candidate profiles), won't be reading your executive sales cover letter.
Recruiters enjoy reading executive sales cover letters with a standardized format that uses:
- the same font as the resume (e.g. modern ones like Raleway or Volkhov are prefered over the clichéd Times New Roman or Arial);
- single spacing to keep the content concise and organized (this is all ready for you in our cover letter templates);
- a one-inch margin to wrap around the text, like in our cover letter builder;
- PDF as a file format, as it allows your design (and visual element) to stay the same.
Finally, we can't go on without mentioning the key sections of your executive sales cover letter.
In the top one-third, make sure to include a header (with your contact information, name, role, and date), a salutation, and an introduction.
Next, follows the heart and soul of your executive sales cover letter or its body.
End your executive sales cover letter with a closing paragraph and, if you wish, a signature.
The top sections on a executive sales cover letter
- Header with Contact Information: This section should include your name, address, phone number, email, and date to ensure the recruiter knows who you are and how to contact you, providing a professional appearance consistent with executive expectations.
- Personalized Greeting: Address the hiring manager by name if possible, as personalization demonstrates your attention to detail and interest in the company, which are critical traits for an executive sales role.
- Opening Paragraph with a Strong Hook: This part should immediately engage the reader by highlighting your most impressive sales accomplishments or your strategic vision for the role, showcasing your leadership and sales expertise right from the start.
- Experience and Achievement Highlights: In this section, focus on your track record of sales success, major deals closed, and how you've led and motivated sales teams, as these are key indicators of your capability to meet and exceed the requirements of an executive sales position.
- Call to Action and Thank You: Conclude with a confident statement about wanting to discuss how you can contribute to the company's goals, followed by a respectful thank you, to express your eagerness and appreciation for the opportunity, which sets a positive, proactive tone for a sales leader.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Proven track record of meeting and exceeding sales targets: Demonstrates an ability to drive business growth and generate revenue consistently.
- Strategic business development skills: Shows expertise in identifying and pursuing new market opportunities to expand the company's clientele.
- Exceptional negotiation and closing abilities: Essential for securing lucrative deals and maintaining competitive advantages in the market.
- Strong leadership and team management experience: Critical for inspiring and guiding the sales team to achieve collective goals.
- High-level networking capabilities: Facilitates building relationships with key clients, stakeholders, and industry influencers to foster partnerships and collaborations.
- Deep understanding of market trends and customer needs: Enables the customization of sales strategies to address specific market dynamics and consumer demands.
How to address hiring managers in your executive sales cover letter greeting
Goodbye, "Dear Sir/Madam" or "To whom it may concern!"
The salutation of your executive sales cover letter is how you kick off your professional communication with the hiring managers.
And you want it to start off a bit more personalized and tailored, to catch the recruiters' attention.
Take the time to find out who's recruiting for the role (via LinkedIn or the company page).
If you have previously chatted or emailed the hiring managers, address them on a first or last name basis.
The alternative is a "Dear HR team" or "Dear Hiring Manger", but remember that a "Dear Ms. Simmons" or "Dear Simon," could get you farther ahead than an impersonal greeting.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Recipient’s Full Name],
- Dear [Recipient’s Title and Last Name],
- Dear Members of the [Department or Committee Name]
- Dear [Company Name] Team,
- Respected [Recipient’s Title and Last Name],
The executive sales cover letter introduction: focusing on your unique value, with a creative twist
You are not the only one wondering how to start your executive sales cover letter. Those first two sentences introduce your profile and should be memorable.
No pressure.
When beginning your executive sales cover letter, immediately point out the unique value of working with you. In other words, what you promise to bring to the role by using your past track record of success.
Start your executive sales cover letter with a creative twist by telling a joke or stating something relatable. Select this type of introduction only if it aligns with the company culture.
What comes next: your executive sales cover letter middle paragraphs
In the next three to six paragraphs (or the body of your executive sales 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 executive sales 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.
Closing remarks to end your executive sales cover letter
Of course, you'll have to show gratitude to the recruiters, who have assessed your profile at the end of your executive sales cover letter .
A "Thank you for the consideration" would work wonders, instead of the standard "Sincerely yours".
Do you want to make an even better impression?
Close off your executive sales cover letter by promising how you see yourself excelling in the role and the positive impact you'd bring about.
A sentence that encourages some further action on the recruiter's end could also be a good way to close off the communication (e.g. provide your availability for an interview).
Which story should you tell in your executive sales cover letter when you have zero experience
Candidates, lacking professional experience in the field - this one is for you.
Your executive sales cover letter is an exercise of integrity, honesty, and, above all, spinning a positive narrative around your strengths.
And what better way to capture recruiters' attention than with your most job-relevant achievement (this could be from your internship or volunteering experience)?
Make sure to back up your success with transferrable skills that are relevant to the job (e.g. how your year, studying abroad, has taught you to be more motivated and handle multicultural environments).
Another safe card you can bet on is your career dream: in the body of your executive sales cover letter, go into the details of how your ambitions would help make the company you're applying for better.
Key takeaways
Your executive sales cover letter is your best shot at standing out by showing your motivation and the unique skills you'd bring to the job:
- Chose no more than one achievement, which you'd be talking about in the body of your executive sales cover letter, by focusing on skills and outcomes;
- Address recruiters with their first or last name, or "Dear Hiring Manager" in your executive sales cover letter greeting;
- Introduce in no more than two sentences what makes your profile unique (perhaps it's your motivation, enthusiasm, or appreciation of the company you're applying for);
- Select the same font you have used in your resume (avoid Times New Roman and Arial, as most candidates tend to invest in them);
- Close your executive sales cover letter with a promise of how you see yourself growing in the company and the benefits you'd bring about.
