Embarking on your job search, you've meticulously crafted your resume, but the request for a military cover letter has you stumped. It's crucial to strike a balance—sharing a compelling story of a significant accomplishment you're proud of without echoing your resume. In a formal tone, devoid of tired clichés, can you engage a hiring manager within a concise one-page limit? It's a common hurdle, but with the right guidance, your cover letter can stand out from the crowd.
- Making excellent use of job-winning real-life professional cover letters;
- Writing the first paragraphs of your military cover letter to get attention and connect with the recruiters - immediately;
- Single out your most noteworthy achievement (even if it's outside your career);
- Get a better understanding of what you must include in your military cover letter to land the job.
Let the power of Enhancv's AI work for you: create your military cover letter by uploading your resume.
If the military isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
Military cover letter example
JAMES JONES
Austin, Texas
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Highlighting specific achievements with quantifiable outcomes (e.g., "resulting in a 25% increase in security compliance" and "effectively reduced data loss incidents by a staggering 40% annually") demonstrates the candidate's ability to deliver results and provides a concrete depiction of their skills in action.
- Stating expertise in relevant technical areas (e.g., "network security, data management, and cloud computing") directly aligns the candidate's skill set with common requirements for IT positions, making it easier for the hiring manager to match the candidate's skills with the job's needs.
- Expressing a strategic vision and a desire to apply it to the potential employer's operations shows that the candidate has both the big-picture planning skills and the willingness to tailor their approach to fit the specific company.
- Inviting for a personal interview with assertiveness (e.g., "I would be thrilled to delve deeper into how my skills and experience align with the needs of your team in a personal interview") demonstrates confidence and proactiveness in pursuing the opportunity.
Designing your military cover letter: what is the best format
Let's start with the basics, your military cover letter should include your:
- Header
- Greeting
- Introduction
- Body paragraph
- Closing statement
- Signature (that's not a must)
Next, we'll move to the spacing of your military cover letter, and yes, it should be single-spaced (automatically formatted for you in our cover letter templates).
Don't go for a old-school font (e.g. Arial or Times New Roman), but instead, pick an ATS-favorite like Chivo, Volkhov, or Raleway, to stand out.
Our cover letter builder is also set up for you with the standard one-inch margin, all around the text.
Finally, ensure your military resume and cover letter are in the same font and are submitted in PDF (to keep the formatting in place).
P.S. The Applicant Tracker System (or ATS) won't be assessing your [job] cover letter, it's solely for the recruiters' eyes.
The top sections on a military cover letter
- Header: Include your contact information and date, as well as the addressee's details; this ensures the letter is directed correctly and can be referred back to you swiftly.
- Opening Greeting: Address the recruiter or hiring official by name if known, or use a general term like "Dear Hiring Committee"; this establishes a respectful and professional tone from the outset.
- Introduction: Clearly state the specific military position you are applying for and express your enthusiasm for the opportunity; this helps to engage the reader and align your intentions with the role's demands.
- Body: Highlight your military experience, relevant accomplishments, and any specialized training or leadership roles, demonstrating how these directly correlate with the expectations of the position you are applying for.
- Closing: Reiterate your interest in the role and invite the opportunity to discuss your qualifications further while thanking the recipient for considering your application; this section is a polite and professional way to conclude your letter, signaling your eagerness to move forward in the selection process.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Leadership skills: Demonstrating the ability to lead and manage a team effectively is crucial in a military role, as leadership is fundamental to military operations.
- Discipline and reliability: The military values highly disciplined individuals who can be relied upon to complete tasks and missions with precision and dedication.
- Physical fitness and endurance: Physical stamina is essential for military roles as they often involve demanding situations and the capacity to handle rigorous training and operations.
- Strategic thinking and decision-making: Military personnel must have the ability to assess situations quickly, make strategic decisions under pressure, and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.
- Teamwork and camaraderie: The ability to work well within a team is pivotal, as military operations depend on coordinated efforts and mutual support among service members.
- Security clearance and integrity: A record that supports the attainment of security clearance is important, as many military roles require access to sensitive information, making trustworthiness and ethical conduct critical.
Kick off your military cover letter: the salutation or greeting
When writing your military cover letter, remember that you're not writing for some complex AI or robot, but for actual human beings.
And recruiters, while on the lookout to understand your experience, would enjoy seeing a cover letter that is tailored to the role and addresses them. Personally.
So, if you haven't done so, invest some time in finding out who's the hiring manager for the role you're applying to. A good place to start would be LinkedIn and the corporate website.
Alternatively, you could also get in touch with the company to find out more information about the role and the name of the recruiter.
If you haven't met the hiring manager, yet, your military cover letter salutation should be on a last-name basis (e.g. "Dear Mr. Donaldson" or "Dear Ms. Estephan").
A good old, "Dear HR Professional" (or something along those lines) could work as your last resort if you're struggling to find out the recruiter's name.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear [Rank] [Last Name],
- Dear Sir or Madam,
- Dear Selection Committee,
- Respected [Rank] [Last Name],
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Branch of Military] Selection Board,
Get creative with your military cover letter introduction
Recruiters are going to assess plenty of candidate profiles for the role. Thus, anything you do to stand out will win you brownie points.
Use your military cover letter introduction to share something memorable about your experience.
But before you go down the rabbit hole of creativity and humor, align your message with the company culture.
For example, if you are applying for a role in some startup, use those first two sentences to tell a funny story (about your experience) to quickly connect with the recruiter.
The middle or body of your military cover letter body: a great instrument to tell a story
Now that you've set the right tone with the greeting and introduction of your military cover letter, it's time to get down to business.
Hear us out, the body of your military cover letter is the best storytelling instrument you have, in your job-hunting arsenal.
Writing the next three to six paragraphs, take the time to reassess the advert to discover job-crucial requirements.
Next, choose one accomplishment that covers those key skills and talents.
Use precisely that achievement to tell an exciting story of how you match the ideal candidate profile.
In the undertones of your story or military cover letter body, hint at the difference you'd make and sell your application as the perfect one for the job.
Ending your military cover letter: a closing paragraph with a promise
If you're thinking of finishing your military cover letter with a "Sincerely yours" or "Thanks for the consideration," you need to read on.
End the final paragraph of your military 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.
The zero experience military cover letter: shifting the focus to your unique value
Don't worry if you have no conventional professional experience. Within your whole experience, there's plenty more you can write about in your military cover letter.
Take, for example, your biggest achievement or award - dedicate your cover letter body to describe it and the job-relevant skills you've learned.
Your professional ambitions could also take center stage. Describe what you plan on achieving in the next five to ten years and the efforts you're making towards your dreams.
Key takeaways
Within this Enhancv guide, we've provided you with plenty of advice and inspiration on writing your military cover letter:
- Always make sure your military cover letter is tailored to the role you're applying for to make a good impression on recruiters;
- In your military cover letter include a header (with your name, the role you're applying for, date, and contact details) and an introduction of up to two sentences that highlight your key accomplishment or why you'd fit the role;
- Focus your military cover letter body on one sole achievement through your career and all the valuable lessons, skills, and know-how you've learned (that are relevant to the role);
- Ensure your military cover letter closing statement isn't generic and includes either a call to action or a promise;
- If you lack professional experience, shift recruiters' focus to a relevant achievement (thanks to your academic or versatile experience) or toward your dreams and goals for professional growth.
