Of all the figures of speech we owe to scientific disciplines, “many moving parts” must surely have originated with mechanical engineers. So when new opportunities arise in this vast and innovation-driven job market, the power of an outstanding mechanical engineer cover letter should not be underestimated.
This guide, incorporating a mechanical engineer cover letter example, will discuss:
- Mechanical engineers — what they do, how much they earn and the job outlook
- Why a cover letter is essential for a mechanical engineer
- The best format for structuring the mechanical engineer cover letter components
- Optimal impact of each cover letter part: header, greeting, introduction, body and conclusion
- The psychology of persuasion in a cover letter
- Common mistakes to avoid.
Resume.io’s job search resources include more than 180 occupation-specific writing guides with corresponding cover letter examples.
What does a mechanical engineer do?
Mechanical engineering is a scientific field of immense scope and depth. Since the dawn of civilization, the ever-evolving impact of innovations on our everyday lives has been profoundly transformational.
The sub-disciplines of mechanical engineering are: design (drafting), kinematics, mechanics, mechatronics and robotics, structural analysis and thermodynamics. As the broadest of engineering fields, it includes professional and sub-branches such as power plant engineering, thermal engineering, vehicle engineering, automotive engineering. There is also continually shifting overlap between mechanical engineering and other branches such as aerospace engineering, civil engineering and biomedical engineering.
Mechanical engineer salary and job outlook
According to Payscale.com, mechanical engineers in the U.S. earn an average annual salary of $73,604, while Glassdoor.com reports an average annual salary of $83,938.
Higher still is the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for median annual salary of mechanical engineers in May 2021 — $95,300.
The Bureau’s job outlook for mechanical engineers overall is good, with employment projected to grow 7 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Why you need a cover letter as a mechanical engineer
What if there is no requirement to include a cover letter with your resume? Why bother submitting a cover letter if it’s optional, or not mentioned at all? Both are good questions with an easy answer: Always submit a cover letter, as it can give you a job-winning edge over other qualified applicants who do not submit one. On the other hand, not submitting a cover letter can significantly jeopardize the outcome of your job search, possibly causing your resume alone to be ignored or discarded. Why risk that preventable fate?
As Hays global recruiting agency advises job seekers, “Use the cover letter as your opportunity to add depth and dimension to the sort of candidate that you are.”
What’s wrong with this picture?
According to hiring professionals, an astonishing 62% of job candidates ignore the requirement to include a cover letter with their application submission. And when it’s not mandatory, even more applicants — 65% — will skip the cover letter.
In fact, Resumelab research found that cover letters are required for:
- 64% of job applications submitted directly such as by email
- 61% of jobs advertised via automated online tools such as indeed.com job boards or internal career sites.
The same survey results leave no doubt about how seriously cover letters are taken by the majority of 200 hiring professionals who were polled.
- On whether cover letters influence hiring decisions:
- 83% consider cover letters important
- 83% say strong cover letters can compensate for flawed resumes in landing you an interview|
- Even if cover letters are optional:
- 72% of recruiters still expect to receive them
- 74% prefer to receive them
- 77% show a preference for applicants who include one
- 77% read them even if not required
Best format for a mechanical engineer cover letter
The cover letter format for a mechanical engineer should include these components in the same order:
- Cover letter header
- Cover letter greeting / salutation
- Cover letter introduction
- Cover letter middle paragraphs (body)
- Cover letter ending (conclusion and sign-off)
The conventional format we recommended for your mechanical engineering cover letter will work well for any sought-after career move. The structure is simple, solid and logical; keeping it short and concise is the key to easy readability. That means no more than 400 words, always confined to a single page with ample white space surrounding the text.
Here is an adaptable cover letter example for a mechanical engineer that you can customize for your own employer-tailored version.
Dear Mr. Bradson,
Working for seven years in HVAC, plumbing and mechanical systems design for the manufacturing and industrial sectors, my mechanical engineering career has led me to fifteen countries, completing 150+ projects for multinational clients.
My design experience has been in CAD, using the latest versions of the software to bring my creations to life. I have a B.S. in mechanical engineering, but I also have a deep education in art and design. To sell a concept, it has to look great on paper as well as work flawlessly in terms of the mechanics. I know that you are looking for an engineer to lead the bid process across your consultancy, so I trust that this will come in useful and enclose my portfolio.
I am experienced in the nuances of project management, coordinating work with external contractors, architects and colleagues to ensure that solutions are found to any problem. I completed over 40 projects with the Kalto manufacturing group, improving manufacturing output by 29% over the entirety of the contract. I am experienced in working with LEAN and SCRUM methodologies and understand where I fit within a manufacturing environment.
My HVAC engineering experience has come in especially useful as manufacturers seek to improve their carbon footprints and reduce emissions:
- Lead designer and machinist on award-winning energy-efficient HVAC system.
- Redesigned a cooling system for frozen food – with 35% less power requirement.
- Worked with an industrial fan manufacturer to create a solar-powered version.
My passion for sustainable engineering solutions will fit well with your mission and client base. Efficient and thoughtful engineering can help to reduce our impact on the planet, and I am keen to understand more about your plans for the future should we have the opportunity to meet for an interview.
Sincerely,
Leslie Philoberto
Next, we’ll go through each cover letter section, one at a time.
Cover letter header
The cover letter header prominently displays your name, occupation and contact information. If applicable, you can also add your LinkedIn profile URL and/or portfolio link.
A distinctive-looking header ensures anyone in the hiring manager’s office, department or organization can readily identify where your job application came from and how to reach you easily. This is especially important if more than one person will be seeing your cover letter at different stages of the recruiting process.
If graphic design is not your forte or you are preoccupied with other job search priorities, Resume.io has the ideal solution. You can check out cover letter examples of headers in our collection of cover letter templates. There is plenty of variety in four style categories: Modern, Creative, Simple and Professional. Browse until you find a template you like; then simply click to select, download and start replacing with your own text.
A professional-looking pair
The small amount of extra thought and effort you put into superior-looking job application documents can be highly worthwhile. Making your mechanical engineer cover letter and resume have similar visual styles helps the hiring manager remember you and connect the professional design to your name.
Goal of the cover letter header: Stand out in the crowd of job applicants by attracting visual attention and conveying your regard for detail and professionalism.
Cover letter greeting
How to address your mechanical engineer cover letter is fairly straightforward. You can never go wrong with “Dear Mr. Walters” or “Dear Ms. Lee,” as that degree of professionalism never goes out of fashion. “Greetings” or “Hello” may be fine instead of “Dear” if you’re certain enough that the more casual vibe fits the workplace. If in doubt, always err on the side of formality. The same goes for using the recipient’s last name unless you happen to know the person well enough to address on a first-name basis.
Even if your cover letter recipient is impossible to find via research or the job description, you can still avoid the impersonal “To Whom It May Concern.” Any of these alternatives will show you put some thought into customizing your job application as opposed to a mass-produced generic approach: “Dear Company Name Hiring Manager,” “Dear Department Name Recruitment Officer” or “Dear Job Title Hiring Team.”
Goal of the cover letter greeting: Start off on a professional note while connecting directly with the employer on a personal level.
Cover letter introduction
The cover letter introduction is where your letter launches into full gear by firmly securing and engaging the reader’s attention. Use vigorous language to assert that your career goals and qualifications are in sync with what the hiring manager is seeking in the ideal mechanical engineer candidate.
Reflecting on your relevant experience in a nutshell, emphasize up front how this employer stands to benefit from what you bring to the position. If you are new to the workforce in an entry-level capacity, focus with enthusiasm on the key skills and knowledge you’ve acquired through education and training, and your commitment to excellence.
Goal of the cover letter introduction: Capture the reader’s attention by matching your most important asset as a mechanical engineer on what this position and workplace require.
The greeting and introduction from our mechanical engineer cover letter sample appear below.
Dear Mr. Bradson,
Working for seven years in HVAC, plumbing and mechanical systems design for the manufacturing and industrial sectors, my mechanical engineering career has led me to fifteen countries, completing 150+ projects for multinational clients.
Cover letter middle part (body)
Two to four paragraphs comprise the hub of your mechanical engineer cover letter, fueled by evidence to back up your introductory pitch.
Without reformulating your resume content, selectively pull out some of the most pertinent nuts and bolts from the work history section and fine-tune for your cover letter body. Substantiate any cost, efficiency or productivity benefits to your past employers in a way that resonates with your future employer. Supplement those measurable outcomes with stories to illustrate your achievements and contributions. The STAR synopsis technique can be useful for summarizing a specific Situation, Task, Action and Result that illustrate your strengths as a mechanical engineer.
Goal of the cover letter body: Illustrate how this employer would benefit from your contributions as a superior mechanical engineer.
Our mechanical engineer cover letter sample illustrates what you might include in the middle part.
My design experience has been in CAD, using the latest versions of the software to bring my creations to life. I have a B.S. in mechanical engineering, but I also have a deep education in art and design. To sell a concept, it has to look great on paper as well as work flawlessly in terms of the mechanics. I know that you are looking for an engineer to lead the bid process across your consultancy, so I trust that this will come in useful and enclose my portfolio.
I am experienced in the nuances of project management, coordinating work with external contractors, architects and colleagues to ensure that solutions are found to any problem. I completed over 40 projects with the Kalto manufacturing group, improving manufacturing output by 29% over the entirety of the contract. I am experienced in working with LEAN and SCRUM methodologies and understand where I fit within a manufacturing environment.
My HVAC engineering experience has come in especially useful as manufacturers seek to improve their carbon footprints and reduce emissions:
- Lead designer and machinist on award-winning energy-efficient HVAC system.
- Redesigned a cooling system for frozen food – with 35% less power requirement.
- Worked with an industrial fan manufacturer to create a solar-powered version.
Cover letter closing (conclusion and sign-off)
Your cover letter should end on an upbeat note reinforcing your strongest suit as a job candidate and expressing thanks for the reader’s interest. But don’t let it be the final word that closes the door on your application. To better your chances of being invited for an interview, be sure to conclude your cover letter with a call to action.
Suggest a topic of interest to discuss at an interview, or perhaps indicate you would like to follow up with a phone call in a week or so to arrange an interview. At the very least, say you are looking forward to a response.
Finally, sign off with any of these simple, courteous and professional closing salutations: “Sincerely,” “Best regards,” or just “Best,”
Goal of the cover letter closing: End with a self-assured call to action that leaves the reader less likely to dismiss your application at this stage.
Below is the closing section of our mechanical engineer cover letter.
My passion for sustainable engineering solutions will fit well with your mission and client base. Efficient and thoughtful engineering can help to reduce our impact on the planet, and I am keen to understand more about your plans for the future should we have the opportunity to meet for an interview.
Sincerely,
Leslie Philoberto
Writing psychology — the power of persuasion
A persuasive cover letter can influence hiring decision makers by giving them insight into the person behind the professional. It’s about speaking the right language — the prospective employer’s language — and understanding the workplace culture while conveying what makes you tick on and off the job. Find common ground in the work ethic and integrity underpinning career and life aspirations.
- Open strong by starting with the punchline — why this job excites you and why you think the reader will feel excited you are applying.
- Focus on the future — where you want to go with your transferable skills.
- Be enthusiastic — it displays personality and credibility.
- Send a generic cover letter — customize each one for the specific job.
- Try to be too funny — it can fall flat.
- Go overboard with flattery — be professional and mature.
Cover letter mistakes to avoid
Like any worthwhile career and life endeavor, if a potentially influential cover letter is worth submitting at all, doesn’t it deserve your best shot as a worthy mechanical engineer candidate?
Other than the ill-advised judgement call so many job seekers make to skip a cover letter altogether, these are three of the most common, related reasons why so many miss the mark.
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Failure to customize the content and language to the target job and employer
A generic-sounding cover letter tells recruiters that you couldn’t be bothered either demonstrating what you know and understand about this specific job opening, or doing the research to find out. Either way, don’t squander the opportunity for a competitive edge over candidates with an inferior cover letter or none at all.
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Failure to sell yourself as an ideal fit
Doing proper homework to prepare a job/employer-tailored cover letter will also give you a good handle on what this employer needs and wants from the successful mechanical engineer candidate. But how can the hiring manager know you have what it takes if your cover letter fails to connect the right dots? Be sure those matched skills and attributes come across to avoid selling yourself short.
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Messy layouts and flawed formatting
If graphic design is not your forte or you are preoccupied with other job search priorities, Resume.io has the ideal solution. Using a field-tested cover letter template can save you a lot of time, hassle and guesswork. Browse our collection in four different style categories until you find a template you like. Then simply download and start replacing with your own text using our cover letter builder tool.
ResumeGo research reinforces the importance of avoiding one of the most common cover letter pitfalls: failure to customize for each job application. Of the hiring professionals surveyed:
- 81% value a cover letter that is tailored to their specific company and job opening significantly more than generic cover letters.
- 61% of recruiters consider it “very important” to avoid using a generic cover letter.
- 78% find it fairly easy to distinguish between a generic and a tailored cover letter.
Key takeaways
- To compete against other qualified candidates, professionals need an exceptional cover letter along with their resume.
- Your application package becomes more influential with the added context and personal dimensions that a cover letter allows.
- Write from the hiring manager’s perspective when showcasing your greatest assets to this prospective employer. It’s about what the organization needs that you can fulfill, not about you needing or wanting the job.
- For optimal impact towards achieving a job interview, follow our section-by-section advice for organizing, writing and formatting each part of your cover letter. Use our mechanical engineer cover letter example as a jumping off point.
Looking for other jobs in the engineering industry? See our other cover letters examples and guides:
- Network engineer cover letter sample
- Electrical engineer cover letter sample
- Civil engineer cover letter sample
- Systems engineer cover letter sample
- Quality assurance engineer cover letter sample
- Engineering cover letter sample
Good luck with your job search!
