Does an electrician really need a cover letter? Short answers: Yes, if you want to increase your chances of being hired. No, if you’re completely sure you have it all covered. The long answer requires a closer look at what the industry is like at the moment and the hiring psychology related to it.
Whether you’re an apprentice, journeyman electrician or master electrician, there’s no better moment to be working in this field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the demand for skilled electricians will grow by 8% over the coming decade. That’s much faster than the average for most professions.
If you can demonstrate the right skill set and solid knowledge of electrical systems, that dream job description can quickly become your new position!
How do you convince a hiring manager that you’ve got what it takes to handle their projects with confidence and mastery? It all starts with a great cover letter. This document is your chance to convince the employer that you’re the perfect choice for their next electrician. Your most important skills, personality traits and experiences provide evidence.
For expert advice and support with every cover letter preparation step, Resume.io is the right place to turn. Our job-winning resources include a wide selection of occupation-specific writing guides and free cover letter examples. In addition, we offer formatting advice, plus field-tested templates and builder tools to help you create both resumes and cover letters.
This electrician cover letter writing guide, along with our adaptable cover letter sample will look at:
- Why you need to create a professional cover letter for every application
- How to structure your electrician cover letter
- Optimizing the impact of each cover letter part: header, greeting, introduction, body and conclusion
- Writing psychology — tips and tricks to boost your credibility and stand out on the job search
- How to avoid common mistakes and send your application to the top of the pile
Now let’s focus on writing a cover letter that impresses hiring managers and quickly moves your application to the shortlist.
Purpose of your electrician cover letter
As you begin to write your electrician cover letter, it’s helpful to understand the basics and goals of one of the most requested application materials.
Primary purpose
A cover letter is a one-page document (about 200 to 400 words), that accompanies your resume to expand on your most relevant skills, experience and work style.
Since a resume has rigid sections for education, work history and more, it doesn’t give you the chance to elaborate on your achievements or express your personality. Your cover letter shouldn’t just repeat the information on your cover letter, but rather add to it and draw out your most impressive qualities.
What if the electrician job application DOESN’T require a cover letter?
If you are applying to a small, local company, you may submit a printed application or email it to a hiring manager or master electrician. In that case, a cover letter may never be mentioned.
However, this omission isn’t an opportunity to get out of writing a cover letter. In fact, that’s one of the best ways to decrease your chances of landing the position.
If written with care, a cover letter is a golden opportunity to make a great first impression and leave a hiring manager wanting to know more. That’s why, unless you’re specifically asked NOT to write a cover letter, we recommend always including one as part of a complete application.
Great writing is the primary focus of this electrician cover letter guide, but it’s not the only consideration. You’ll also need professional and polished formatting to show that you’re a serious candidate. You can find a wide variety of formatting suggestions for fonts, colors and templates in this comprehensive cover letter formatting guide.
Secondary purpose
As you embark on your electrician cover letter writing journey, keep in mind what you actually plan to accomplish. For technical and skills-based positions like electricians, it may seem like a cover letter isn’t all that important. Shouldn’t a resume listing all your skills and certifications be sufficient?
While it's true that a resume does play a critical role in this occupation, a cover letter is often the only document that can differentiate you from other electricians with the exact same skills and training.
A cover letter is your opportunity to make a personal connection and highlight soft skills like trustworthiness, attention to detail and positive attitude. These little indications can quickly set you apart from other electricians who don’t offer a human touch. Since electricians often work in homes or businesses, interpersonal skills shouldn’t be overlooked.
A cover letter is one of the best ways for you to maximize your chances of landing the position in three primary ways:
- Highlighting your personality and commitment to a positive work environment.
- Showcasing your accomplishments and track record of satisfied customers.
- Drawing out any exceptional skills you possess, like green electric systems or electrical engineering
The importance of tailoring your cover letter
Now that you’re committed to writing a great cover letter, you’re well on your way to securing your next electrician job. There’s just one more step to consider before you submit: customizing your cover letter for each employer and position.
Customizing — or tailoring — your cover letter means adding examples of previous work experience most relevant to what's expected in your new job. It also means using the job posting, company website and social media to find out exactly what your potential employer values most in an employee and an electrician.
For instance, does the company handle big contracts for new construction sites? Use your cover letter to demonstrate efficiency as an industrial electrician. Does it primarily service individual homeowners? Give examples of successful troubleshooting and preventive maintenance projects.
This extra step may take a few more minutes, but it will pay dividends when potential employers see your commitment to going the extra mile both for them and their customers.
Looking for more ideas and inspiration for your cover letter? Check out these related resumes below:
Best format for an electrician cover letter
Cover letter header
At the very top of your page lies the cover letter header. It’s very likely the first section recruiters will notice as they begin reading, so it’s important that it contains the right information. The header should at least include your name, phone number and email address, plus any other important personal data that helps identify the letter as yours.
Since the header is such a prominent part of your cover letter, you should also pay attention to visual presentation in this section. For an electrician cover letter, choose a header that is attractive and attention-grabbing without going overboard on colors or other fancy design elements. Your header should make a hiring manager interested in reading more about you.
The goal of the cover letter header: Convey the most important personal information in a visually attractive and professional manner.
Dear Mr. Targett,
The Head Electrician role at Jewell would allow me to build on my 12-year experience of managing teams of 5-15 electricians for residential and commercial building contractors.
I am a fully licenced (Class A) Master Electrician and have worked on every conceivable household and commercial electrics project, from new-build wiring, installing lighting systems in 10,000sqm offices to industrial work in factories. I have experience in collaborating in construction teams from 5-140 people and understand where the priorities for collaboration lie. Electrical plans are an integral part of a functional space and I am often the person who co-ordinated working relationships with the wider team.
I have completed every safety and operational course with distinctions, have a 100% safety record over twelve years of work, and in my last role was responsible for the safety and regulatory training of 20+ apprentices. I am fully aware of the latest OSHA certifications occupational safety codes and state legislations. On-the-job accidents were reduced by 12% after I introduced an online course for every employee.
My depth of knowledge made me an integral part of our troubleshooting, preventative maintenance and repair capabilities and our remote diagnosis technology allowed me to work out the issues with customers and electrician colleagues who may have been in another state.
I am a thoughtful planner and curious learner – every project is different and when there are multiple solutions to a problem it makes sense to step back and consider options. I have collaborated on over 350 projects and have learned the value of customer service.
I enclose a portfolio of my work and would value the chance to learn more about your pipeline of projects for next year and how my skills might contribute.
Sincerely,
Mike Hillbrow
Align document styles
If you want to show an employer that you’re very serious about the position, aligning document styles is a great step to increase your professional presentation. By using the same header, fonts and color scheme on your resume and cover letter, you create a “personal brand” — a consistent look and feel that makes your application stand out in the hiring manager’s mind.
If you don’t have time to design your own layouts, professional templates can be a big help. Simply add your information and the resume or cover letter will be automatically formatted with the right fonts, customizable colors and a solid balance of white space to text. Check out Resume.io’s free cover letter templates.
Cover letter greeting
Personalizing your cover letter is one of the keys to making sure it leaves a lasting impression with the employer. Nowhere is this more important than in the cover letter greeting. Whenever possible, aim to use the name of the hiring manager or your prospective supervisor to create a personal connection.
“Dear” followed by the correct salutation — "Mr. or Ms. Surname" — can work well to create a professional tone. If you already have a relationship with the employer, you can opt for something less formal like “Hello” followed by a first name. This works especially well for cover letters sent in the body of an email.
The goal of the cover letter greeting: Address your cover letter recipient by name to establish a respectful tone and personal connection for the rest of the letter
Dear Mr. Targett,
The importance of names and addressed greetings
Although research has shown that people have a positive neurological response upon hearing their own names, it hardly takes a science degree to understand that we feel good when someone uses our names. Remembering someone's name shows that we care and are interested in them on a personal level.
The same is true for your cover letter. If you can, it’s worth taking a few moments to find the name of whomever handles hiring for your prospective employer. If it’s a small company, this information is likely found on the website or through a quick phone call to the office.
However, there are other times when hiring is handled by a team or a central office for a large company. In this case, you’ll have to find an alternative to an individual name. “Dear (Company Name) Hiring Team” is often the best choice. Try to avoid the cold and impersonal-sounding “To Whom It May Concern” whenever possible.
Cover letter introduction
The introduction is often the deciding factor if hiring managers choose to read your entire cover letter or not. So it’s worth putting some effort into making this section relevant and interesting. An anecdote, statistic or fact can all make for good introductions that convince a hiring manager to keep reading your letter.
The goal of the introduction: Catch the reader’s attention and encourage continuing to read into the body section.
The Head Electrician role at Jewell would allow me to build on my 12-year experience of managing teams of 5-15 electricians for residential and commercial building contractors.
Cover letter body
Now that you’ve got the reader invested in your letter, you can expand on your achievements and skills. The STAR method can help you do this. First, describe a Situation you’ve faced on the job and the Task required of you. Then explain your Action and the positive Result it caused. Make sure to keep your examples concise and relevant to the position.
Towards the end of your letter, you can also focus on any noteworthy skills you possess and potential contributions you could make to the company.
The goal of the cover letter body: Describe your experience and achievements, mentioning any unique skills and contributions.
I am a fully licenced (Class A) Master Electrician and have worked on every conceivable household and commercial electrics project, from new-build wiring, installing lighting systems in 10,000sqm offices to industrial work in factories. I have experience in collaborating in construction teams from 5-140 people and understand where the priorities for collaboration lie. Electrical plans are an integral part of a functional space and I am often the person who co-ordinated working relationships with the wider team.
I have completed every safety and operational course with distinctions, have a 100% safety record over twelve years of work, and in my last role was responsible for the safety and regulatory training of 20+ apprentices. I am fully aware of the latest OSHA certifications occupational safety codes and state legislations. On-the-job accidents were reduced by 12% after I introduced an online course for every employee.
My depth of knowledge made me an integral part of our troubleshooting, preventative maintenance and repair capabilities and our remote diagnosis technology allowed me to work out the issues with customers and electrician colleagues who may have been in another state.
I am a thoughtful planner and curious learner – every project is different and when there are multiple solutions to a problem it makes sense to step back and consider options. I have collaborated on over 350 projects and have learned the value of customer service.
Cover letter conclusion and signature
By the time you’ve written the body of your electrician cover letter, you should be nearing the end of your one-page limit. It’s time to wrap up your letter with a positive and respectful conclusion. Try to include a call to action. This expresses your interest in working with the company and politely invites the employer to contact you.
Then finish your letter with the appropriate signature based on your familiarity with the employer. You might sign off with “Thank you for your consideration,” “Best regards” or “Sincerely.”
The goal of the cover letter conclusion: End your letter with a friendly call to action that encourages a hiring manager to get in touch. Follow with the appropriate signature and your name.
I enclose a portfolio of my work and would value the chance to learn more about your pipeline of projects for next year and how my skills might contribute.
Sincerely,
Mike Hillbrow
Writing psychology – cover letter tools and strategies
Whether you’re an experienced electrician or only have a few years of experience under your belt, a few key qualities are important in any electrician cover letter:
- Attention to detail: Whether it’s understanding the intricacies of a national electrical code or personalizing a system for a particular client, a detail-oriented electrician is a valuable asset. Your cover letter should contain examples of your most impressive detail work.
- Troubleshooting: A comprehensive understanding of electrical equipment and electrotechnology is essential to figure out and solve problems. Give examples of times you handled complex systems.
- Project management: So much more goes into being an electrician than just dealing with wiring systems. Your ability to work with other contractors and to see a project through from start to finish can set you apart from less experienced electricians.
- Quality work: The truth is, all of these other skills are helping to build a picture of you as a competent electrician who produces quality work. Your tone and writing style also create a professional image that adds to an employer’s positive impression.
What to say and how to say it
As an electrician, the majority of your work rests on your technical knowledge and abilities — in other words, hard skills. For professions of this nature, a cover letter can feel like a daunting challenge. How can you accurately express on paper your competencies with wiring and electrical systems?
Don’t forget that your application includes an enclosed resume. Make sure that’s full of the right skills and qualifications so that your cover letter can shine in other ways. An electrician has to work with a variety of other contractors, from plumbers to carpenters and other construction hands. Therefore, a friendly personality, professionalism and confidence can quickly set you apart from other candidates who focus too much on hard skills without addressing any of the qualities that make you a pleasure to work with.
When it does come time to include a few of your more concrete abilities, make sure to use numbers, facts and statistics to really drive home the point. Quantify your achievements to show how you increase profits, boost customer satisfaction or complete projects ahead of schedule.
The speaker makes the message
During the 1900s, researchers at Yale spent decades trying to determine what makes an audience receptive to a speaker’s message. The study, known as the Yale Attitude Approach, determined that one of the key factors that makes someone listen to another is the credibility of the speaker. How do they present themselves? Are they confident and charismatic? These qualities make a listener likely to respond well to a message.
This research has direct implications for your cover letter. You might be the best electrician in the city but if you can’t discuss your work with professionalism and pride, a company is likely to pick another candidate.
This is true not only for the tone of your writing but also your visual presentation. Your formatting doesn’t need to be fancy, or even creative. A simple, clean and balanced template can show that you care about your appearance and would represent the company well.
Common cover letter mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these common pitfalls that can keep your cover letter from reaching its full potential.
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Poor formatting: Sloppy page layout, unprofessional fonts or too many colors can quickly make your cover letter look juvenile. Use an expertly-designed template or ask a friend with an eye for design to help.
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Typos or grammar mistakes: These simple errors can render a great cover letter unreadable. Luckily, you can easily fix these problems with spell-check or a quick proofread from someone you trust.
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Generic cover letters: Make sure to focus on the right type of experiences and skills for the potential employer and their clientele. A hiring manager can tell the difference between job candidates who have done their homework on the company and those who are just hoping to land any position.
- Too much focus on hard skills: It can be difficult to reflect on other qualities since much of an electrician’s job is so technical in nature. But it’s important to remember that a company is hiring you as a person. Show them what other personality traits and qualities you bring to the table.
Key takeaways for an electrician cover letter
- An application letter for an electrician can help set you apart from other candidates with the same hard skills. Make sure to include one as part of a complete application whenever possible.
- Great formatting helps you look professional and polished, even without years of experience. Try out a template or another expertly designed option to quickly create a great presentation.
- By following the trusted cover letter structure, you include all the important information on your skills and achievements while staying inside the one-page limit.
- To have the best chances of landing the position, don’t forget to mention any special skills you have, such as knowledge of sustainable electrical systems.
- Use spell-check and ask a friend to proofread your cover letter; simple spelling mistakes can dash your professional credibility.
Increase your chances of getting hired by using resume.io’s tools: the easy-to-use online cover letter builder, our pre-generated phrases to avoid writer’s block, real letter examples, a spell-checker, professional designs and much more! Get that interview in no time at all!
