Sending a cover letter with your CV or a job application is vital due to the job market being totally competitive, now more than ever. Your cover letter is exactly what will make you stand out from the other applicants.
With sales positions, you might find yourself up against a rather large and fierce group of applicants. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to write your cover letter for a sales position.
sales cover letter
1) Start the letter properly
A proper formal letter should have your address in the top right corner, and the recipients address below, aligned to the left.
2) Address it to a named person
Try and get the name of the hiring manager, HR manager or whoever is responsible for the vacancy, and address it directly to them. A letter addressed to someone by name automatically engages more interest, whereas a letter simply saying ‘HR department’ or ‘Hiring manager for sales vacancy’ may simply be overlooked.
3) Set a formal tone
No you shouldn’t start a formal letter with ‘Hello Bob, I’m asking about that job you put on ABC recruitment, the sales one?’ That is never appropriate and will just be laughed out of the door as ‘one of the worst cover letters ever’. Your letter should use relevant vocabulary and should have a professional yet friendly tone. Here are two examples of great opening sentences.
“I am writing to put myself forward for the sales position I saw advertised with (source).”
“I am writing to express my interest in the sales position that has opened up within your team.”
4) Summarise your relevant experience…
Any experience of sales is good experience, so be sure to include a summary of this. They will know a little bit about the time you spent there and what you did at a previous role from your CV, so keep it short, yet informative. Here are some examples.
“I am currently part of an award winning sales team with (company), and I personally have contributed to their success by exceeding my own sales targets in the past three quarters.”
“At present, I am a Sales Representative for (company) and I have found myself achieving great things within my team, including…”
5) Give some indication of why you are looking for new work
If you are leaving a role to find a new one, it always helps if you explain vaguely why you are leaving, unless you are leaving for negative reasons. If you are leaving due to disciplinary action, indiscretion or bullying, keep this to yourself for now. However, saying you are leaving to find new challenges, meet new people and learn new things goes down very well with a potential employer, showing you are ambitious and driven. If you are currently unemployed, say that you are hoping to get back into employment and on the career ladder to success.
6) Hint at your availability
Indicate that you are available, but don’t be too available. A sentence like ‘I am available for interview with 48-72 hours’ notice, and can commence employment within four weeks’ say to the employer ‘I am available, but I am also needed and valued elsewhere.’
7) Finish formally
Use something like ‘Kind regards’ or ‘Yours sincerely’ to sign off a letter. Don’t use anything too over-the-top or, at the other end of the scale, too informal.
8) Get someone to read over it for you
DO NOT SEND ANYTHING WITHOUT PROOFREADING IT. EVER. You must also get a friend or family member who is moderately good at language, grammar and punctuation to review it for you. A schoolboy error can cost you a job in today’s market.
Sales Job Cover Letter Example:
Mrs A Smith
1 The House
Something Street
Anytown
AB12 3ZY
Mr John Brown
Sales Manager
ABC Sales Ltd
1 The Street
Sometown
AB9 8ZY
(date)
Dear Mr Brown
I am writing to enquire about the vacancy that has arisen on your sales team for a Sales Executive.
For the past three years I have worked for Car Garage in Sometown, selling motor vehicles for both domestic and commercial use. I am known for my outstanding results every month and am exceptionally confident when selling to customers, thanks to my previous job in telesales. I have experience of selling a wide range of things, from mobile phone contracts, to designer kitchens and bathrooms, and of course cars and vans.
I am seeking new employment with your company as I am always looking for new challenges and variation. The three years I have spent with my current employer have been wonderful, but I feel I have achieved as much as I can here, and it is time for me to move on.
I am not only exceptionally organised, I believe I have outstanding communication skills, and an excellent work ethic. I always seek to broaden my knowledge and regularly partake in any courses and information events that may be helpful to my job and my sales clientele to help me sell things better or more confidently, particularly when a new product is launched. My skills and qualifications are detailed further in the attached copy of my CV for your perusal at your earliest convenience.
Should you wish to interview me, I can be available within just a few days and I can provide references at the time of interview should they be required. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kindest regards
Anna Brown
