IT Manager cover letter example

Of all the unsung heroes we can thank for countless things running smoothly in our lives, those in charge of information technology may have the most inconspicuous presence. With your past achievements seeming least visible when everything worked perfectly, a successful IT manager cover letter ensures your future employer understands what’s at stake in the perfect job for you.

An IT manager oversees an organization's technology infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance and security. They plan, coordinate, and direct IT-related projects, collaborate with department heads to align technology solutions with business needs, and manage IT staff. Additionally, they evaluate new technologies, manage budgets, handle procurement, and implement cybersecurity measures, ensuring seamless tech operations throughout the enterprise.

Resume.io is a leading international source of career advice and job-winning support. We’ve produced an extensive collection of occupation-specific writing guides and corresponding cover letter examples.

We also offer resume writing tools, informative blogs and field-tested templates to help you create both job application documents.

This cover letter writing guide, backed by an IT manager cover letter example, will discuss:

• The best format for structuring a cover letter
• Speaking the employer’s language in each cover letter part: header, greeting, introduction, body and conclusion
• Writing psychology
• Common mistakes to avoid.

Best format for an IT manager cover letter

Let’s start with some reassurance about this writing task — getting started with your IT manager cover letter need not be the hardest part. We’ll walk you through the best format, one section at a time, in this logical order:

• Cover letter header
• Cover letter greeting / salutation
• Cover letter introduction
• Cover letter middle paragraphs (body)
• Cover letter closing (conclusion and sign-off).

Following the same cover letter structure that’s suitable for any occupation, each component has a specific purpose in making a persuasive case for being the right hire.

Here is an adaptable cover letter example for an IT manager that you can customize for the position and employer:

Cover letter header

Geek-versus-artist stereotypes have no bearing on whether an IT manager cover letter header deserves any more or less attention than it would for an illustrator. For all occupations, the importance of an eye-catching header design cannot be overstated. The reasons are practical as well as esthetic.

1. Prominently displaying your name and contact information is the header’s key functional purpose. No matter where your cover letter lands at any recruiting stage — intentionally or accidentally –  it can be instantly identified as yours (and matched to your resume if either document goes astray). And ultimately, if your cover letter hits the mark to score an interview, your vital contact details could not be any handier for hiring staff to get in touch. See how this is done in the header of our cover letter example.
2. Your extra effort and attention to visual details will not go unnoticed by recruiters. Communication-wise, this could give you an edge over other IT managers showing less regard for ease of reading and retrieval.

The cover letter header should not contain your full home address. There are potential privacy and data protection issues here. The town and state will be fine. You can share your full address when you get to the offer stage.

Cover letter greeting

Having just touched on communication subtleties off the top, let’s look at the make-or-break value of getting the greeting right in your IT manager cover letter sample. 

Addressing the recipient by name is the ideal scenario for two reasons. First, it’s a scientifically proven fact that people like the sound of their own name and will respond in a positive manner to hearing it or reading it. Second, it shows you are taking this job opportunity seriously enough to put obvious effort into customizing your application. A personalized cover letter greeting sends that message right away. 

But fair warning – it may not be easy putting a name to someone in a hiring role, preferably your next boss. If no one is specified in the job description, it’s worth trying to investigate online or make a phone call to inquire. If you’re still unable to determine the likely recipient’s name or job title, try to come up with a suitable variation along the lines of “Dear IT Manager Hiring Team” or “Dear Digital Business Services Group.” 

This brings us to the “how” aspect of a cover letter greeting. The traditional “Dear Mr. / Ms. / Dr. Surname” has not fallen out of favor. It’s courteous and businesslike without being too cold, and unlikely to offend anyone.

Goal of the cover letter greeting: Establish a professional connection with the employer by addressing your cover letter recipient in as directly personalized manner as possible.

Cover letter introduction

A bit of art and science will serve you well in the introduction of your IT manager cover letter. 

Two or three carefully crafted opening sentences convey that your IT career goals and qualifications are in sync with the hiring organization’s needs. Use energetic language to hit these high notes, reflecting what you’ve learned from the posted job description and additional research:

1. Your IT qualifications are an ideal fit. Describe your directly relevant experience and attributes in terms that resonate.
2. You are interested in the opportunity to work for this employer. Include a positive, informed comment about the company’s achievements or reputation.
3. This hiring organization stands to benefit from what you bring to this IT management position. Indicate a specific need that your contribution could fulfill. See our cover letter sample below.

Goal of the cover letter introduction: Capture the reader’s attention by matching your most important asset as an IT manager to what this position and workplace require.

Cover letter middle part (body)

The middle section or body of your IT manager cover letter backs up your introductory pitch. As if in a pull-down menu that keeps recruiters intrigued to learn more, they can sample a few of your past contributions that resonate for the future. 

Your choice of directly relevant career highlights for this section will hinge on the same careful analysis of job requirements and additional research mentioned above. Without rehashing your resume content in that shape or form, reframe the achievements you’ve selected to depict how your next employer would benefit. Include dollar or percentage figures supporting your mini-success stories about improvements in cost savings, efficiency, quality or client satisfaction. Check out our IT manager cover letter sample for more ideas of how to accomplish this.

Goal of the cover letter body: Illustrate how this employer would benefit from your contributions as an outstanding IT manager.

Cover letter close 

It’s time to end your IT manager cover letter on an upbeat note. Simply recap your strongest suits as a job candidate, adding a note of thanks to the recipient. 

Next comes a call to action, leaving the door wide open for the recruiter’s next move. What you hope for, naturally, is an interview invitation, and it’s not out of line to ask if you could follow up with a call to arrange that … perhaps in a week or so. At the very least, indicate you look forward to hearing back from the employer soon. Conveying this expectation of further contact makes it less easy or comfortable for your cover letter to be set aside and forgotten.

That’s it! Now sign off with “Sincerely,” Best regards,” or “Best,” above your name, as seen in our cover letter sample.

Goal of the cover letter closing: End on a self-assured note with a call to action that implies you expect to hear back from the employer.

Writing psychology — reset your mindset

As noted at the onset of this guide, IT managers are known for their behind-the-scenes role as guardians and guides for all that makes our modern digital world go round. If ever there’s a time and place to lift this invisible curtain for an audience that matters, it’s now in your IT manager cover letter.

Even if the person reading your IT manager cover letter is a techie like you — but there’s a good chance that won’t be the case — you can take two things for granted about the recruiter’s mindset. First, this job posting has likely drawn impressive applications from dozens of your peers — a good many cover letters and even more stand-alone resumes. Second, all of this biodata will start blurring together in the reader’s eyes and brain.

Now imagine switching places with the hiring manager in that situation. What would compel you to read an IT manager’s cover letter all the way through and flag it for the interview shortlist? Might you momentarily care a bit less about that candidate’s way with network configurations and more about work culture compatibility?

The free-form narrative style of a cover letter allows your personality and passion to shine through in ways that aren’t possible in a resume. Make the most of this opportunity to connect with the person you picture on the receiving end.

Common mistakes (and how to solve them)

It should go without saying that employers expect nothing less than a 100% commitment to bug-free results from IT job candidates. Don’t assume the bar is set any lower for your IT manager cover letter. Not counting the worst mistake of skipping a cover letter altogether, these are some of the most commonly encountered pitfalls that could crash your chances.

• Sending the same generic cover letter with multiple job applications.
• Squandering limited page space with meaningless clichés and redundant word bloat.
• Short-shrifting your soft skills and personality.
• Overlooking typos, spelling mistakes and grammatical gaffes, which apps like Grammarly and old-fashioned proofreading can easily prevent.
• Flawed design and formatting, which a professional template can counteract.

Key takeaways for an IT manager cover letter

1. Dynamic job market growth for IT managers spans virtually all industries and types of organizations, outpacing the occupational average.
2. A well-written cover letter provides insights into your personality and compatibility with the hiring organization, as well as an employer’s “invisible” reliance on your IT expertise.
3. Each cover letter section reinforces your persuasive case for being best equipped to meet the employer’s needs.
4. Your attention to detail and communication nuances is reflected in the cover letter wording and design elements you incorporate.
5. The same zero tolerance for IT work errors should apply to cover letter preparation.