Crafting a compelling proposal manager cover letter can be a daunting hurdle in your job search. You've polished your resume and started applying, only to realize the cover letter looming ahead shouldn't be a resume echo but a narrative of your crowning professional achievement. This challenging document requires a formal but fresh voice, steering clear of tired clichés and fitting into a concise one-page story. Let's embark on making your cover letter not just a requirement, but a standout testament to your career highlights.
- Writing the essential proposal manager cover letter sections: balancing your professionalism and personality;
- Mixing storytelling, your unique skill set, and your greatest achievement;
- Providing relevant (and interesting) information with your proposal manager cover letter, despite your lack of professional experience;
- Finding the perfect format for your[ proposal manager cover letter, using templates from industry experts.
Leverage the power of Enhancv's AI: upload your resume and our platform will map out how your proposal manager cover letter should look, in mere moments.
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Proposal manager cover letter example
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- Emphasizes relevant achievements, such as leading a team to secure a substantial federal contract, which directly showcases expertise in the field and the ability to deliver results.
- Highlights specific metrics (e.g., the $100M contract win and a 20% market share expansion), demonstrating quantitative success and the candidate's impact on business growth.
- Connects the candidate's skills and experience with the mission of the prospective employer, signalling a strong understanding of and alignment with organizational objectives.
- Includes a call to action by expressing eagerness for an interview, thereby showing proactive interest in furthering the conversation about the candidate's fit for the role.
The must-have sections and format of your proposal manager cover letter
When writing your proposal manager cover letter, keep in mind that it'll only be read by the recruiters and not the Applicant Tracker System (or software used to assess your profile). That's why you should structure your content with a/an:
- Header (apart from your contact information, include your name, the role you're applying for, and the date);
- Personalized salutation;
- Opening paragraph to win the recruiters over;
- Middle paragraph with key details;
- Closing that starts from clichés;
- Sign off (that's not mandatory).
Industry standards dictate your paragraphs to be single-spaced and to wrap your content in a one-inch margin. Designing your proposal manager cover letter, refer to one of our templates, which automatically takes care of the spacing and margins.
Choose the same font for your proposal manager cover letter as you did for your resume: the likes of Lato and Bitter would help you to stand out in a sea of cover letters in Arial or Times New Roman.
Export your whole proposal manager cover letter from our builder in PDF to keep the same formatting and image quality.
The top sections on a proposal manager cover letter
Header: This should include the applicant's contact information, as well as the date and the employer's contact details, because knowing who is applying and how to reach them is essential for any follow-ups regarding the proposal manager position.
Opening Greeting: Address the hiring manager by name if possible, as it establishes a personal connection and shows that the applicant has done their research, which is a key skill needed for a proposal manager in tailoring proposals to potential clients or stakeholders.
Introduction: The applicant should succinctly state their interest in the Proposal Manager position and briefly mention their most relevant experience or achievement, as this will capture the recruiter's attention and immediately suggest the applicant's suitability for managing complex proposals.
Body of the Cover Letter: Expand on previous proposal management successes, highlighting specific skills like the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams, manage deadlines, and understand RFP requirements, as these are core to the role and what the recruiter is specifically looking to understand about the candidate’s abilities.
Closing Section: Reiterate interest in the role and include a call to action, like a willingness to discuss the applicant’s fit in more detail during an interview, since showing enthusiasm and initiative aligns with the proactive nature expected of a proposal manager.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Proven track record of winning proposals: Demonstrates success and expertise in the proposal development process and the ability to secure new business.
- Exceptional organizational skills: Ensures the ability to manage multiple proposal projects simultaneously, meet tight deadlines, and maintain meticulous attention to detail.
- Strong leadership and team management experience: Essential for guiding cross-functional teams, facilitating collaboration, and driving the proposal process to completion.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills: Critical for developing clear, persuasive proposals and effectively communicating with clients, stakeholders, and team members.
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities: Enables the proposal manager to develop win strategies, address client pain points, and create competitive proposals.
- Deep understanding of the industry and client needs: Allows for tailored proposals that align with potential clients' values and objectives, increasing the likelihood of a win.
How to greet recruiters in your proposal manager cover letter salutation
As the saying goes, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression."
Write your proposal 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 [Department Name] Hiring Committee,
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Dear Dr. [Last Name],
- Dear [Job Title] Search Committee,
Your proposal manager cover letter introduction and the value you bring
Moving on from the "Dear Recruiter" to your professional introduction.
Use those first two sentences of your proposal manager cover letter to present the biggest asset you'd bring to the organization.
Don't go into too much detail about your achievement or the skill set, but instead - go straight for the win.
That is - what is your value as a professional?
Would you be able to build stronger, professional relationships in any type of communication? Or, potentially, integrate seamlessly into the team?
How to select your best achievement for the middle, or the proposal manager cover letter body
You probably feel exhausted by this point in your application: you've dived into all the details of your success and skills in your proposal manager resume.
What else can you include in your proposal manager cover letter body?
Well, for starters, the next three to six paragraphs should show you further value as a professional. Or, why should recruiters choose you?
Think back on a noteworthy achievement that answers key job requirements and dive deep.
Structure your proposal manager cover letter middle as you'd a story: following chronological logic and highlighting outcomes, thanks to skills.
At the end of the day, you'd want recruiters to be able to see you as the best candidate for the role and understand more about who you are and what makes your success unique (and valuable to the role).
Closing remarks to end your proposal manager cover letter
Of course, you'll have to show gratitude to the recruiters, who have assessed your profile at the end of your proposal manager 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 proposal manager 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).
Addressing limited to no experience in the proposal manager cover letter
There's nothing to worry about if you lack professional experience.
Your proposal manager cover letter could bridge the gaps in your professional history by focusing on what matters most to recruiters, that's either:
- skills - focusing on transferable ones you've gained, thanks to your life experience (e.g. volunteering, certificates, etc.);
- achievements - select the most relevant and noteworthy one from your history (e.g. education, projects, etc.);
- motivation - describe how you envision your professional growth in the next up to five years, thanks to this opportunity.
Key takeaways
Summarizing the most important aspects in writing your proposal manager cover letter, remember to:
- Create a personalized proposal manager cover letter for each role you apply for, that includes the recruiter's name in the salutation;
- Format your proposal manager cover letter with single-spacing, one-inch margins, and a modern, yet ATS-friendly font;
- Always start off your proposal manager cover letter with two sentences that reflect what is most important about your application;
- Your proposal manager cover letter body should feature your biggest accomplishments and the job-relevant skills it has taught you;
- Instead of opting for the "Sincerely yours" ending, close your proposal manager cover letter with a nod to the future with what you aim to achieve in this potential role.
