Embarking on your job hunt, you've likely discovered that a standout planning manager cover letter can be the key to nabbing your dream role. It's not just about rehashing your resume; it's your chance to weave a compelling narrative around your proudest professional achievement. Your cover letter should marry formality with originality, steering clear of overused phrases, and remember—brevity is golden, so keep it to one page to make a memorable impact.
- Introduce your profile to catch recruiters' attention;
- Use professional templates and examples to make sure your planning manager 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 planning manager 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 planning manager cover letter it would write for you.
If the planning manager 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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Planning Manager cover letter example
Sebastian Martin
Washington, D.C.
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Emphasizing measurable achievements, such as a 25% surge in efficiency and a 30% increase in customer satisfaction ratings, provides concrete evidence of past success and potential value to the new employer.
- Demonstrating leadership by mentioning the management of a cross-functional team of 15 helps establish credibility as a capable team leader and project manager.
- Including specific methodologies, like agile, indicates a proficiency in industry-standard project management techniques, which is highly desirable in technology project management roles.
- Highlighting the implementation of a new system, in this case, a customer feedback system, showcases the ability to innovate and improve business processes, a critical skill for advancing in technology and project management.
Designing your planning manager cover letter: what is the best format
Let's start with the basics, your planning manager 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 planning manager 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 planning manager 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 planning manager cover letter
Header: Include your contact information, the date, and the employer's contact information to make it easy for the recruiter to reach out to you, and to present a professional and organized image right from the start.
Greeting: Address the hiring manager by name to add a personal touch and show that you have done your research, which reflects well on your planning skills.
Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and mention the job title you are applying for; convey your enthusiasm for the role of Planning Manager and the company, as this sets a positive tone for the rest of the cover letter.
Body: Detail your previous experience in planning and management, highlighting specific successful projects or planning initiatives you've led, to demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities of a Planning Manager effectively.
Closing: Reassert your interest in the position and invite the hiring manager to discuss your application further in an interview; also, thank them for their time and consideration, showing professionalism and respect for the recruitment process.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Proven experience in strategic planning and project management: Recruiters look for candidates who can demonstrate a strong track record in developing and implementing effective plans and strategies.
- Strong analytical skills: The ability to analyze data and metrics for informed decision-making is vital for a planning manager.
- Leadership and team management abilities: A planning manager must lead and motivate a diverse team, ensuring all members are aligned with the organization's objectives.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills: Effective communication with stakeholders, team members, and other departments is critical for coordination and successful plan execution.
- Experience with supply chain management and logistics: Knowledge in these areas is essential for a planning manager who must often oversee inventory, distribution, and resource allocation.
- Proficiency in planning software and tools: Familiarity with the latest planning technology and software is important as it enables more efficient and accurate planning processes.
The planning manager cover letter salutation: how to address hiring managers
After covering the format of your planning manager cover letter, let's look at the salutation.
Back in the day, the cordial "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam", might have worked out fine.
But, nowadays, your cover letter should approach hiring managers on a more personal basis.
So, what to do about your cover letter salutation?
If you've messaged the recruiters and are on a first name basis or a more formal one, use the hiring manager's name in the greeting (e.g. "Dear Sophie," "Dear Ms. Givens", or "Dear Mr. Everett,").
Always aim to make the effort to find out the name of the hiring manager, who'd be assessing your application. Search on LinkedIn, double-check the advert on the corporate website, or message the brand on social media to find out more about the role.
If you can't find the hiring manager's name (and still want to sound professional), use "Dear HR Team,", "Dear Hiring Manager,", or the likes.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Company Name] Team,
- Dear [Department Name] Manager,
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Dear [First Name] [Last Name],
- Dear Selection Committee,
Get creative with your planning manager 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 planning manager 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.
What to write in the middle or body of your planning manager cover letter
Here's where it gets tricky.
Your planning manager cover letter body should present you in the best light possible and, at the same time, differ from your resume.
Don't be stuck in making up new things or copy-pasting from your resume. Instead, select just one achievement from your experience.
Use it to succinctly tell a story of the job-crucial skills and knowledge this taught you.
Your planning manager cover letter is the magic card you need to further show how any organization or team would benefit from working with you.
Two ideas on how to end the final paragraph of your planning manager cover letter
Closing your planning manager cover letter, you want to leave a memorable impression on recruiters, that you're a responsible professional.
End your cover letter with how you envision your growth, as part of the company. Make realistic promises on what you plan to achieve, potentially, in the next six months to a year.
Before your signature, you could also signal hiring managers that you're available for the next steps. Or, a follow-up call, during which you could further clarify your experience or professional value.
Lacking experience: here's how to write your planning manager cover letter
As a candidate with no experience, it's important to be honest from the get-go of your application.
Use your planning 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
Turning your planning manager cover letter into a success is all about staying authentic to yourself and relevant to the job:
- Be creative with your planning manager cover letter introduction by stating something you enjoy about the company (that is genuine) or about your skill set (to get the recruiters' interested);
- Use single spacing and have a one-inch margin wrapping all around the content of your planning manager cover letter;
- Select just one past achievement from your career or life to tell a story of how you've obtained job-crucial skills and how they'd be beneficial to the role;
- The finishing paragraph of your planning manager cover letter doesn't necessarily have to be a signature but could be a promise of what you plan to achieve in the role;
- Instead of focusing on your lack of experience, spotlight your transferable skills, one relevant achievement, and career dreams.
