Office Clerk Cover Letter Example

So, you are an office clerk? You’re able to handle anything that comes your way? You have a “can-do” attitude: saying “yes” to any task and then working it out later? You look to be the quiet enabler in the background, letting everyone else shine? Well, that is a vital role in any buzzing office. The office clerk cover letter will surely be tough to write because you have so many responsibilities (official and unofficial). You may need help picking out the right stories to tell.

As writing might not be a core skill for an office clerk, choosing how to tell your story in a one-page cover letter won’t be easy. You could easily share a long list of your responsibilities, but your future employer will know that already. What they are really interested in is your impact on the business and on those around you. Sure, you are great at managing office supplies, but what value did that bring? Using an office clerk cover letter example for inspiration might be the best way to get started.

With 350+ cover letter examples and writing guides, Resume.io can help guide you through these tough decisions. Here is what we cover in the office clerk cover letter example and writing guide:

• Looking at the nature of the cover letter format
• Deciding what to include in the introduction, middle part, and conclusion
• How to pack your highlights into the office clerk cover letter
• Mistakes to avoid that you might not notice

Best format for an office clerk cover letter

Office clerks are great at simple and concise communication. They know that anything complicated will likely be misunderstood. That also applies to the format of their office clerk cover letter – simple and straightforward is the way to go:

• 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)

You will have so many administrative and operational stories to tell that it will be hard to know where to start. Have a good look at the job description and try to identify the most important demands of the role. Then match your past experiences to what is required. So many people will simply state that they can fulfill the responsibilities – you need to prove it.

As an office clerk’s role involves interactions with such a broad range of colleagues, it is important to share how you go about your work. Your personality will make a big impact in the office, so don’t be scared to get personal in the cover letter. Let the hiring manager get to know you a little so they can decide if you are the person for them. Don’t second guess what they are looking for and try to be someone that you are not.

The comprehensive cover letter guide offers more detail in terms of minor decisions when it comes to writing. Our office clerk cover letter example may offer inspiration:

Cover letter header

While an office clerk will be desperate to stand out from the large number of competitors, the header is not the place to do it. Choose a functional style and include the essentials: your full name, email address, and mobile number. Make sure that you include them here as well as in your resume – you never know when you might be invited to interview.

You won’t be expected to share your full home address at the top of the letter, nor should you share the inside address of the employer. This takes up valuable space and is a remnant of a time when letters were sent by normal mail.

Cover letter greeting and introduction

Using appropriate greetings should not be difficult for an office clerk who deals with so many different people every day. Opt for a simple “Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. Surname” at the start of the cover letter. Don’t be tempted to write a less formal “Hi” to show what a people person you are. Play it on the safe side and show some respect. You don’t know these people yet.

If you do not know the name of the hiring manager, you might consider phoning the company to find out. This is an opportunity to ask the receptionist any basic questions that you may have, but be sure not to waste their time. If you have no luck, a warm “Dear Company Team,” will be fine.

The introduction section of the office clerk cover letter needs to grab the attention of your future boss. There are so many mundane details about the job that other clerks will include, so have the confidence to include one of your more unusual accomplishments. Give the impression that you can do all the standard stuff and that you always try to add value over and above what is expected. Make it relevant and quantify your impact.

The intro from our office clerk cover letter example gives a few hints:

Cover letter middle part (body)

It is easy to pack the middle of an office clerk cover letter with too much detail and not enough personality. Most office clerks can carry out the tasks to a reasonable level, but it is how you go about your work that really makes a difference to your colleagues. Your infectious enthusiasm likely goes a long way towards lifting morale. 

Put your flag in the sand and let your future boss know what it is like to work with you. It is okay to use a string of descriptive adjectives here. It is hard to prove this sort of thing within an accomplishment, so use the most specific and imaginative words that you can. The action verbs that you use to describe your achievements will also help in this respect.

Quantify the impact of your work with context and figures. Show that you are dedicated to measuring and improving your work where possible. The best possible job only comes when you know what you need to improve – show that you care about your development.

The middle part of this office clerk cover letter may offer some ideas:

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

While you might want to share one last example in the office clerk conclusion, the best approach is to finish with highlighting just how much you want the role and where it fits with your career trajectory. It is a tough job with a relatively high turnover of employees, so it is important to the employer that you will stick around for a while.

Don’t be afraid to finish by sharing your interest in finding out more at a potential interview. Such a call to action should be hopeful and not presumptuous – you can’t possibly know who you are up against. Have a look at an example office clerk conclusion here:

Basic mistakes in an office clerk cover letter (and how to avoid them)

Office clerks take on so many tasks every day that they will always make a small mistake every now and again. But ideally not too many and certainly not in the tasks that truly matter. Attention to detail and a cover letter that is free of errors is a good indication of someone who can be relied upon. Steer clear of the following:

• Spelling and grammar mistakes: Writing might not come naturally to you, so use all the external help that you can get. Grammarly is a great online program to check for the basics. You could also ask a friend to proofread it.
• Keep the look professional. When you sit down to write a cover letter where you want to stand out, it is tempting to resort to flashy formatting, bold colors, and other artistic touches. Don’t. Keep the format simple and use a cover letter template.
• Don’t be too chatty: The tone of your cover letter should remain professional. While it feels like you want to begin a conversation with your future boss, don’t be too casual with your language. Many people will read the cover letter. Keep it on the formal side while also “sounding like you.”

Key takeaways

1. Choose which parts of your manifold experience to include (keep it relevant).
2. Share how you are at work to make sure that you fit with the culture.
3. Start the conversations that you wish to continue during an interview.
4. Read our office clerk cover letter sample for more inspiration

These other administration cover letter examples may also help to guide you:

• Administrative assistant cover letter sample
• Office administrator cover letter example
• Administrative officer cover letter sample
• Office assistant cover letter example