Lifeguard cover letter example

Being a lifeguard may seem like a glamorous job, but guarding lives is serious business. Whether you’re looking for a summer job or a more permanent position, you need a lifeguard cover letter that helps you float to the top of the applicant pool.

What differentiates you from other candidates? Your cover letter gives you an excellent opportunity to answer that question for the hiring manager. Resume.io is here for you with resources such as our cover letter examples and cover letter templates. This guide and corresponding lifeguard cover letter example will help you:

• Understand why a lifeguard cover letter remains a key aspect of your application
• Create a framework for your letter by describing all the sections it comprises
• Develop the content you should include in each part of your lifeguard cover letter to make the best case for employment
• Find common errors and correct them.

Let’s dive in.

Best format for a lifeguard cover letter

The format of your lifeguard cover letter provides a framework for making your case for employment. Before you begin writing, it’s important to know what sections you need to include.

The format of a lifeguard cover letter should contain the following elements:

• 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)

Our comprehensive cover letter guide gives an overview on creating this application document, but the guide below offers more pointed advice for developing a cover letter specifically for lifeguards.

This lifeguard cover letter example will give you a blueprint for writing your own cover letter:

Cover letter header

Here’s where you can make a splash with your lifeguard cover letter. To attract the eye toward your application, you want a header that makes a great visual impression so that the recruiter will be tempted to read your carefully crafted text.

The other main purpose of the header is to prominently display your contact information so that it’s easy to reach you to schedule an interview. Include your name, city of residence, and the best email and phone number with which to reach you quickly. There’s no need to add your street address unless it’s highly relevant; for example, you live down the block from the pool.

Make sure you have a professional-sounding email. “[email protected]” may have been funny to your friends, but it won’t serve you well in your job search. Use social media accounts only if they, too, are professional. Finally, match the style of your header to that of your resume to create a coordinated application package.

Cover letter greeting

To start your lifeguard cover letter off swimmingly, make sure you address the hiring manager personally, professionally, and correctly. Unless you know the person well, a greeting such as “Hi Jimmy,” is a bit too casual for a first contact with a prospective boss.

Your best bet for a cover letter greeting is the tried and true, “Dear Mr./Ms./Mx. [Last name].” Be sure you are getting the spelling and honorific correct. If you have any doubts, a message or phone call to clear things up is in order. People like to be addressed by name – but only if you do it correctly.

Cover letter introduction

The introduction serves as a hook to pique the interest of your reader. You’ve addressed the hiring manager by name and now, within this paragraph of your lifeguard cover letter, you have to get them interested in you as an employee. 

Why do you want the job and what will you bring to the staff overall? Lifeguards must be on high alert at all times, although their hope is that they are never called into action. This combination of boredom and preparedness is difficult to maintain. How do you manage?  Answering any of these questions is a great way to interest the hiring manager.

Another consideration is how you heard about the job. If you have been referred to the position by a friend or associate, you may start your introduction by saying, “Martha Reed suggested I contact you about this exciting opportunity.” Employers often prefer a person they know, even if it is secondhand, over a person who comes without a recommendation. Making a personal connection gives you an edge.

Cover letter middle part (body)

The body of your lifeguard cover letter details your qualifications for the position, including your Red Cross certification, any CPR or first aid classes, or water safety classes you have completed. If you are looking for seasonal work, explain what you do the rest of the year. 

Within this section, you may also choose to explain why you want to be a lifeguard. Are you a member of a swim or dive team or another water-related sport such as water polo or synchronized swimming? Any of these shows that you understand water safety and are an excellent swimmer in great shape.

Choose three accomplishments or traits you want to highlight to break out into a bulleted list. This serves to break up the text and save space in this one-page document. Part of your job will be interacting with swimmers and their families as well as other staff members, so make sure you give at least one example of your interpersonal skills.

How to close a lifeguard cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)

The goal of your lifeguard cover letter is to get that interview, so make sure that in your conclusion you remind your reader why you are an excellent candidate. If you have space, include a sentence or two that adds insight into your personality. 

Here are a few questions you can answer to do that:

• Why did you become a lifeguard?
• What are your goals?
• How have you responded in situations where you had to think quickly and act?

Before you sign off with a “Sincerely,” or “Regards,” and your full name, politely request an interview to discuss the position in more detail. 

Basic mistakes in a lifeguard application letter (and how to avoid them)

1. Spelling and grammatical errors. It’s true that being a lifeguard doesn’t require writing, but it does require attention to detail. Make sure your letter is error-free.
2. Too much information. You don’t need to repeat everything that’s in your resume. Your lifeguard cover letter should add to that document instead.
3. Too casual a tone. You may be a teen applying to work at the local pool for the summer, but you need to take your job seriously since it’s a matter of safety. Keep your language professional.
4. Generic letters. Every job is different, so every cover letter should be different. Address the specific needs of the facility.

Key takeaways

1. A lifeguard cover letter may or may not help, but not having one can definitely hurt
2. Use the opportunity to differentiate yourself from other candidates who also have lifeguard certification
3. If you have been referred to the position, make sure you mention that in your letter
4. A first job cover letter should mention what you’ve achieved in school, volunteering, or extracurricular activities
5. Avoid formatting errors and create a polished and professional application by using professional design tools.