Office Administrator cover letter example

Office administrators are professional multitaskers. In this admin position, you’re responsible for everything from payroll management and schedules to events and records keeping. 

Office administrator positions can offer great pay, daytime hours and the chance to work in collaboration with just about every employee in the office – all without needing an advanced degree.

Does this sound like the perfect job for your organizational and administrative abilities? In order to convince a hiring manager that you’ve got the right skills and attitude, you’ll need a great cover letter.

A cover letter for an office administrator position shows a hiring manager that you understand the company’s needs and you’ve got the right personality and work ethic to make sure their office runs smoothly and efficiently. With Resume.io’s tools and cover letter templates, including this office administrator cover letter example, you’ll quickly learn how to write a cover letter that lands you the perfect position.

This cover letter example, along with our adaptable cover letter sample will:

• Explain the multiple purposes and methods for writing the perfect cover letter
• Break down the tested cover letter format with free examples, samples and templates
• Explore the top cover letter tips specifically for office administrator applicants
• Help you avoid the most frequent mistakes made by applicants to administrative positions

But before we dive into the secrets of great cover letter writing, it’s a good idea to make sure your resume is polished and professional. It’s easier than you think with Resume.io’s office administrator resume example, templates and comprehensive resume writing sample.

Office administrator cover letter sample and purpose

Primary purpose

To write any great cover letter, you first need to understand the why. Candidates for administrative and entry-level positions often view a cover letter as just one more step preventing them from submitting their application. Thus, they don’t put the required effort into making sure the cover letter addresses the right skills and qualities from the job description.

A well-crafted cover letter is a powerful tool, but that can only happen with the proper care and attention to detail.

So what is a cover letter?

This document of 200 to 400 words, or one page, accompanies your resume and allows you to expand on your most relevant skills, interests and ideas. It even offers space for a bit of personality and allows you to make a personal connection before ever setting foot inside the company offices. No wonder a cover letter is one of the most requested application materials.

Secondary purpose

Since many candidates possess skills like spreadsheet management, file organization and scheduling, it can be difficult to stand out in a crowded field of applicants for an office administrator position. 

That’s why you should treat your cover letter as your secret weapon. Your cover letter gives you a chance to smooth over any questions that may arise from your resume, for example if you have gaps in your work history, have made a career change or are just starting out in the administrative field.

If you have years of experience, a cover letter helps you highlight your strongest skills by focusing on individual achievements, positive feedback and growth you’ve made throughout your career. 

A good cover letter can also be an equalizer. You might be up against candidates with twice as many previous positions as your own, but if you can show a hiring manager that you’re a determined, quick-learner with a great personality, you’ll land the job interview. It’s all a matter of maximizing your chances and knowing what matters most to your prospective employer.

Best format for an office administrator cover letter

Many applicants dread the cover letter writing process because they believe it lacks a clear structure. Luckily, you don’t have to be among them. There IS a way to format a great cover letter and in this section, we’ll break it down into easy steps that allow you to include all the right information.

Here are the key components:

• 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 great news about cover letter structure is that it remains relatively unchanged between positions or industries. Invest the time into learning how to write a great letter now, and you’ll reap the rewards for years to come. You can find even more tips for each of these sections in our overall guide on cover letters.

Cover letter header

The header of your office administrator cover letter occupies the prime real estate at the very top of the page and serves two important purposes. The first is to identify you with the necessary contact information like your full name, phone number and even social media handles. 

The second purpose is to add a touch of attractive formatting to an otherwise plain document. A cover letter template can help you find just the right balance between professional and stylish.

The goal of this section: Keep your personal data right at the top of your cover letter, create an attention-grabbing and professional design. 

Cover letter greeting

Your office admin cover letter greeting says a lot in only a few words. In this section, you’ll want to make a personal connection with the hiring manager and establish a positive and respectful tone. Addressing people by name is the best way to start.

For serious companies, “Dear” followed by the recruiter’s proper salutation and last name is usually most appropriate. If you already have a prior relationship with the employer or the workplace culture is very casual, “Hi” or “Hello” followed by a first name may be acceptable.

The goal of this section: Address the hiring manager by name whenever possible, establish a friendly and respectful tone with the appropriate greeting.

Cover letter introduction

Many hiring managers are inundated with applications for any given administrative support role, leaving them with only a few seconds to evaluate your office administrator cover letter. That means your introduction needs to catch their attention and offer them the right skills and experiences from the start. 

Luckily, this isn’t too difficult to do. Try beginning with a concise anecdote, a relevant statistic or a surprising bit of information, as long as it’s professionally appropriate.

The goal of this section: Grab the hiring manager’s attention and encourage them to keep reading to the body of the letter by using an interesting fact, anecdote or statistic.

Cover letter middle part (body)

The body of your office administrator cover letter is where you can finally dive into all the relevant experiences and skills that make you the ideal candidate. Follow up on the success you mentioned in your introduction and expand it with details.

One of the best ways to do this is through the STAR method. First, describe a Situation, the required Task and your Action, then explain the positive Result that followed. Make sure to choose only the most relevant examples based on the job opening you’re applying for.

In another body paragraph, you can describe how you use the most important skills or your potential contributions to the position. Just make sure not to repeat too much information from your resume.

The goal of this section: Use the STAR method to describe relevant examples of your skills and abilities, offer potential contributions to the role.

How to close an office admin cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)

You’ve finally reached the conclusion and it’s time to put this masterpiece to bed. Do that by creating an effective Call to Action to conclude your office administrator cover letter. This sentence expresses your interest and enthusiasm for the position and invites a hiring manager to contact you.

Then, finish your letter with the appropriate signature. “Sincerely,” “Thank you” or “Best regards” can all be great options.

The goal of this section: End your letter on a respectful and positive note with a call to action that encourages a hiring manager to contact you. Sign off with the appropriate signature.

Office administrator cover letter with no experience

Office administrator positions make great entry level jobs. Here are a few key traits you’ll want to convey on your office administrator cover letter. 

• Communication skills: Whether spoken or written, great communication is the hallmark of any office administration position. The best way to highlight these abilities is likely through the word choice and tone you use when writing your cover letter. Make sure to use professional language and proofread your cover letter for any spelling or grammar mistakes.
• Organizational skills: File racks, calendars and a good memory – office administrators need to be able to keep people, places and events organized and information handy for any employee that needs it. Make sure to highlight any relevant examples of times your organizational skills saved a company time or money.
• Time management: Managing your time wisely leads to greater productivity for the office as a whole. Your cover letter examples might not address this skill directly, but they should point to the fact that you’re a motivated individual who gets things done.
• Office administration: Hard skills do matter when it comes to office administration. Whether it’s computer software like Excel and EHR or old fashioned filing systems, a brief mention of how you put these hard skills to work can set you apart from other candidates.

The power of specificity

Office administrator positions can be challenging to land because many candidates possess the qualities needed to survive in these positions. However, companies aren’t just looking for administrators who can get through the day – they need people who work actively to keep the office running smoothly at every moment. So how do you prove that you’re a stand-out applicant?

One of the best ways is by harnessing the power of specificity. This principle states that people are more likely to remember specific facts, numbers and statistics than they are general information about a person or situation. By giving a hiring manager the right amount of precise and relevant details, you can prove your accomplishments and prove your value to the potential employer.

Here are some examples of numbers for office administrator cover letters:

• The size of the office you managed
• The number of different offices you coordinated between
• The number of clients or patients you handled
• The number of people you hired or trained
• Any productivity measures of the office
• Increases in efficiency over time
• Money saved through your management

Basic mistakes in an office administrator application letter (and how to avoid them)

1. Spelling and grammar mistakes: These little errors add up to paint a picture of you as a less-than-stellar communicator. Make sure to use spell check and have a friend proofread your application before you submit it.
2. Incorrect formatting: Mistakes like unprofessional fonts in the wrong sizes, bad spacing or not enough white space make your cover letter seem amateur. Cover letter templates can help you avoid these errors and create a design that piques a hiring manager’s interest.
3. Generic cover letters: Not tailoring your cover letter to the specific duties of every position leaves recruiters with the impression that you’re indifferent about the job. Make sure to give convincing examples of ways you’ve handled situations similar to those you’ll face at your potential employer.
4. Poor tone: Administrative assistant positions are competitive so the right tone for the company is key. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the branding and goals of the organization as well as how they speak to their customers. By aligning your tone, you give the impression that you’d make a great fit in their office.

Key takeaways

1. Writing a great cover letter is an essential tool to score the perfect office administrator position. Unless a job application asks you NOT to, it’s a smart idea to write and send a thoughtful cover letter.
2. Customizing your cover letter with the specific skills and experiences needed for each position is an important step that helps you maximize your chances of landing the job.
3. The trusted cover letter structure allows you to check off all the necessary pieces of a great cover letter.
4. Use specific numbers, facts and statistics to add weight to your accomplishments and make yourself stand out in this crowded field.
5. Don’t let poor formatting ruin your perfect writing. Make sure to use an attractive layout or template that’s most appropriate for the company you’re applying to.
6. Take advantage of Resume.io's cover letter tools to get your application in faster.