IT Project Manager cover letter example

IT project managers shoulder an incredible amount of responsibility without the direct input at the technological interface. They should be master influencers, supreme organizers and understand the intricacies of every decision. Their skills can make or break a million-dollar IT project. No wonder great IT project managers are in short supply.

The place to showcase these skills is in the free-flowing cover letter. Within one page of writing you need to paint a picture of how you bring those projects to life. 

With 180+ cover letter examples and writing guides, Resume.io can help you to find the right approach for every IT role that you apply for, with a tailored approach every time.

We will look at the following in the IT project manager cover letter example and writing guide:

• Deciding on a cover letter format and structuring paragraphs in the most effective way
• Ensuring that each cover letter paragraph is optimized (header, greeting, intro, body and conclusion)
• Helping you to make the right choices as you write your cover letter
• Potential mistakes which might serve to harm your application

Best format for an IT project manager cover letter

IT project managers know that regimented and well-organized communication can achieve miracles. When you have a set of complex messages, how you structure your text makes all the difference. Formatting the IT project manager cover letter is no different. You should follow this structure for the best results:

• The cover letter header
• The greeting / salutation
• The cover letter intro
• The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
• The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)

The IT cover letter should cut through the jargon and buzzwords to focus on the exact needs of your future employer. Look at the job description and understand exactly which aspects of your previous experience can shine a light on your ability to do the specific role. Then piece them together in a format that will inspire confidence in your ability to handle any IT project that comes your way.

Keywords are particularly important in an IT cover letter, so make sure that the most important ones are prominent at the beginning. Choose the skills that are likely to be unique to you and don’t bury them in the middle of paragraphs. Start sentences with them wherever possible. You should be loud and proud about what you can deliver.

Our comprehensive cover letter guide focuses on the minutiae of the cover letter writing process and explores some broader job search questions that are not covered in this guide. Our IT project manager cover letter example may also be of interest:

Cover letter header

IT project managers may be more concerned with the content of the cover letter than the visuals, but you can be assured that how you present your IT career details matters a great deal. Choose a template that frames your story in an attractive and professional way.

In terms of the content of the IT project manager header, include your full name, contact email, mobile number and the town and state of your home address (you can share the full details at the offer stage). You don’t need to write the inside address of the company unless you are certain about getting it right. The cover letter will be sent by email, after all.

Cover letter greeting

Formality with colleagues and partners is part of an IT project manager’s daily reality. They are the glue at the center of everything and need to remain suitably formal. Addressing the hiring manager or HR representative with a professional “Dear Surname” is the only option.

If you do not know to whom the cover letter should be addressed, have a look at the job description or maybe call the company to enquire. This might present the opportunity to ask any other questions. If you cannot find out, a warm “Dear IT team” will do fine – the cover letter will be read by multiple people in any case. See the greeting from our cover letter sample below:

Cover letter introduction

The cover letter introduction for an IT project manager should focus on the exact types of projects that you will be expected to take on in the future role. Think about the scale and scope of what you have done previously – what will impress a hiring manager the most? Include a few rare keywords and make sure that you quantify your impact with figures.

Check out the introduction from our adaptable IT project manager cover letter sample here:

Cover letter middle part (body)

The middle part (or body) of an IT project manager cover letter is where you are able to expand on some of your biggest projects. Make sure that you choose ones where you have made the biggest difference yourself (not the ones where you were a glorified passenger). Employers want to know about how you solved difficult situations – any project manager can sail through an easy project where everything is going well.

Ensure an even split of hard skills and soft skills in the middle part of the IT project manager cover letter – both are required for success. Demonstrate with examples of your projects and quantify with numbers and context – tell them how you beat the budgets, etc.

How to close an IT project manager cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)

The close of an IT project manager letter should end with a familiar sense of a job well done. You have presented your best arguments and you are hoping for the opportunity to explore more during an interview. You should avoid arrogance in this call-to-action, but as most IT professionals are led by logic, if you have a good case, you have every right to say this. Look at out IT project manager example for an idea of how this might be done:

Basic mistakes in an IT project manager cover letter (and how to avoid them)

Whether you are helping with checking code, debugging a program or working out some hardware issues, attention to detail is everything for an IT project manager. Your job is to spot the small things that everyone else has missed. Mistakes or oversights in your IT project manager cover letter are therefore detrimental.

• Spelling and grammar mistakes: While the written word might not be your forte, you will still have to influence your role with presentations and various correspondence, so check carefully for spelling and grammar errors.
• Formatting errors: How the final product is presented makes all the difference. An attractive IT project manager cover letter will always make the reader linger for that bit longer on the content. A professional cover letter template will help.
• Too wordy: Hiring managers don’t expect you to be Shakespeare. Keep your writing simple and functional, get rid of excess descriptive words and focus on quantifying your value. Let your accomplishments speak for themselves.

Key takeaways

1. Write a cover letter that matches the style and brand of your future employer.
2. Maintain a strong focus on your technical IT skills but don’t forget the important human element of managing a project team.
3. Include a call-to-action – that you are looking forward to finding out more.
4. Look at our IT project manager cover letter sample for inspiration.