Crafting the perfect vice president cover letter can feel like a daunting task as you embark on your job search journey. You've polished your resume, only to realize a compelling cover letter can set you apart. Here, telling a captivating story about your proudest professional achievement is key, not just echoing your resume. Aim to strike a balance between formality and originality, steering clear of cliches, and remember: brevity is your ally, so keep it to one page. Let's dive in and make your cover letter stand out.
- Including all the must-have paragraphs in your structure for an excellent first impression;
- Learning how to write individual sections from industry-leading cover letter examples;
- Selecting the best accomplishment to tell an interesting and authority-building professional story;
- Introducing your profile with personality, while meeting industry standards.
And, if you want to save some time, drag and drop your vice president resume into Enhancv's AI, which will assess your profile and write your job-winning cover letter for you.
If the vice president 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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Vice President cover letter example
Alexander Taylor
Seattle, Washington
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Emphasizing Relevant Experience: Citing a leadership role at AGC Biologics as Vice President, Manufacturing showcases an authoritative position and relevant industry experience, directly appealing to the senior-level nature of the role at hand.
- Evidence of Achievements: Highlighting specific successes, such as driving a Lean Manufacturing initiative that resulted in significant waste reduction and increased production efficiency, provides tangible proof of the candidate's capabilities and expertise in process optimization.
- Highlighting Revenue Growth: Mentioning the initiation and negotiation of strategic contracts that yielded a 30% revenue increase underlines the candidate's strong business acumen and negotiation skills, critical for roles focused on company growth and profitability.
- Strategic Intent: Expressing a clear intent to bring a blend of strategic finesse and operational excellence to the team indicates a thoughtful approach to applying skills in a new context, appealing to employers who value forward-thinking and adaptability.
Structuring and formatting your vice president cover letter
Here's what the structure of your vice president 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 vice president resume and cover letter - modern fonts like Lato and Rubik would help you stand out.
Your vice president 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 vice president cover letter.
The top sections on a vice president cover letter
Header: Include your contact information and the date to establish professionalism and make it easy for the recruiter to reach out to you.
Executive Greeting: Address the cover letter to the specific individual handling the recruitment process to show that you have done your research and are seriously engaged in the application process.
Leadership Summary: Begin with a compelling introduction that highlights your leadership experience and vision, as it is essential to establish right away why you are the ideal candidate for a vice-presidential role.
Strategic Impact: Outline significant achievements that demonstrate your ability to lead and drive strategic initiatives, which is critical in a vice-presidential position.
Executive Closing: Close the letter with a strong statement that reiterates your fit for the role and invites further discussion, reflecting the confidence and decision-making skills important for a vice president.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Proven leadership experience: Recruiters look for individuals who have successfully managed teams and departments, showcasing the ability to lead, inspire, and drive organizational success.
- Strategic thinking ability: Vice presidents must be able to develop and oversee long-term plans that align with the company's goals, demonstrating vision and understanding of market trends.
- Strong financial acumen: An understanding of budgeting, financial planning, and analysis is crucial to make informed decisions that affect the company's bottom line.
- Industry expertise: In-depth knowledge of the industry the company operates within is essential to navigate its complexities and maintain a competitive edge.
- Exceptional communication skills: The role requires clear and effective communication with all organizational levels, as well as with external stakeholders, to ensure alignment and support for initiatives.
- Change management experience: The ability to lead through change, including organizational restructuring or shifts in strategic direction, showing adaptability and resilience.
Personalizing your vice president cover letter salutation
Always aim to address the recruiter from the get-go of your vice president cover letter.
Use:
- the friendly tone (e.g. "Dear Paul" or "Dear Caroline") - if you've previously chatted up with them on social media and are on a first-name basis;
- the formal tone (e.g. "Dear Ms. Gibbs" or "Dear Ms. Swift") - if you haven't had any previous conversation with them and have discovered the name of the recruiter on LinkedIn or the company website;
- the polite tone (e.g. "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear HR Team") - at all costs aim to avoid the "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam", as both greetings are very old-school and vague.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear [Name of Hiring Manager],
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Dear Hiring Committee,
- Dear [Department] Team,
- Dear [Company Name] Search Committee,
- Attention: [Name of Hiring Manager or Title]
Using your vice president cover letter intro to show your dedication
We know just how difficult it is to start writing your vice president 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 vice president professional.
Storytelling in the middle (or body) of your vice president cover letter
You've got your whole resume sorted, detailing your achievements and skills. What else can you write in your vice president cover letter?
For starters, take the time to re-assess the job requirements and re-discover the most crucial skills and requirements (or keywords).
After making a list of these important keywords, look back on your experience to select just one of your past accomplishments.
Choose the achievement that is the most noteworthy, relevant to the role, and matches the required skills.
Use the next between three and six paragraphs to narrate how:
- you've grown your skill set, thanks to your achievement;
- you'd use the know-how you've gained in your new role;
- your accomplishment could help your potential employers grow.
Remember that recruiters don't need a retelling of your whole resume, but want to find out what makes you, you.
Thinking about the closing paragraph of your vice president cover letter
Before your signature, you have extra space to close off your vice president cover letter.
Use it to either make a promise or look to the future.
Remind recruiters how invaluable of a candidate you are by showing what you plan to achieve in the role.
Also, note your availability for a potential next meeting (in person or over the telephone).
By showing recruiters that you're thinking about the future, you'd come off as both interested in the opportunity and responsible.
Vice President cover letter advice for candidates with no experience
If you're worried about writing your Vice President cover letter and have no professional experience, we sure have some advice for you.
Turn recruiters' attention to your transferable or relevant skills gained thanks to your life and work experience.
Instead of writing about past jobs, focus on one achievement (whether from your volunteering experience, education, etc.) and the skills it has helped you build.
Alternatively, you could focus your Vice President cover letter on your career objectives and goals. Always remember to make those relevant to the job you're applying for by detailing how you see yourself growing as part of the company.
Recruiters would be way more impressed with candidates who fit the job profile and can bring about plenty of skills and vision to the table.
Key takeaways
Winning recruiters over shouldn't be difficult if you use your vice president cover letter to tell a story that:
- Is personalized by greeting your readers and focusing on key job skills greets;
- Isn't spread all over the place, but instead focuses on one key achievement and selling your value as a professional;
- Introduces your enthusiasm for the role, passion for the job, or creativity in communication;
- Is also visually appealing - meeting the best HR practices;
- Ends with a nod to the future and how you envision your growth, as part of the company.
