Project Coordinator cover letter example

As remote and flexible jobs grow increasingly popular, so do project coordinator positions. These jobs offer unique benefits like good pay and the ability to see a project through from start to finish. An exceptional project coordinator cover letter may be the factor that tips the hiring scales in your favor.

Few entry-level positions allow for such integral work, and since project coordinators learn from the guidance of project managers, they can easily advance to a management career. Project coordinators work in all sorts of fields, from construction to healthcare and other technical professions. That means they need a wide range of general communication and organization skills along with any specific abilities needed for the particular industry.

Since these jobs offer so many positives, they can also be quite competitive. So how do you get your foot in the door and land a job interview?  It all starts with a great cover letter and Resume.io’s is here to help. Our job-winning resources include a wide selection of occupation-specific writing guides and free cover letter examples. Similar help is available for resume writing, along with advice on a wide range of job search topics.

This writing guide, along with our project coordinator cover letter sample, will:

• Explore the purpose for writing a cover letter to maximize your chances of success
• Walk you through each section of a properly structured cover letter: header, greeting, introduction, body and conclusion
• Explain the psychological power of storytelling and the importance of quantifying your achievements with numbers and facts
• Help you avoid common mistakes to create a job-winning application.

A project coordinator position is all about trust between clients, team members and stakeholders. In order to trust someone, you have to get to know that person. That’s why a cover letter is so important to a project coordinator’s application. This document is your chance to explain your perspectives, experience and personality before you ever shake hands with your prospective boss.

Bear in mind that many candidates for such positions will possess the basic skills required to apply: project schedule, budget and time management. To better your chances of landing an interview, it’s essential that your cover letter portrays you as a cut above the rest.

Personality traits or soft skills can compensate for your lack of experience and gain you an edge. Organizational and communication strengths or attention to detail can put you ahead of other candidates with the right technical abilities but who fail to leverage their personal attributes.

In that sense, a cover letter is all about maximizing your chances and leveling the playing field. Regardless of your relevant employment history, you can show hiring managers that you’re a motivated, hard-working candidate ready to learn and get the job done. Most companies would take a bright up-and-comer over an experienced slacker any day. Your cover letter’s job is to highlight everything that makes you an asset.

Best format for a project coordinator cover letter

Although the writing style for a cover letter is more free-form than that of a resume, applying the tried-and-true cover letter structure will ensure all the necessary information is included. Luckily, this format is suitable for pretty much any industry, occupation or position. So you can apply these writing tips to all your future job applications. 

Here are the key components:

• The cover letter header
• The greeting
• The introduction
• The letter body
• The conclusion
• The signature.

Related article

How to write a cover letter: expert guide & examples (2024)

Here is exactly how you can write a cover letter that will stand out from the crowd, and help you land that interview.

Cover letter header

Your cover letter header is like your document banner. It’s highly visible as the first element hiring managers see as their eyes scan down the page. The header serves two important purposes.

It prominently identifies who your cover letter belongs to and how you can be contacted readily: full name, occupation, phone number, email and perhaps even social media handles. In the interest of conserving page space, limit this section to only essential information.

An eye-pleasing design catches the hiring manager’s attention and makes your document stand out. Pay special attention to the color palette and graphic elements, ensuring they harmonize with with the company’s visual brand and level of professionalism.

You do not need to include your full address on the cover letter header. There are data protection issues here, so share it once you have received a job offer. Also, the inside address of the employer is only required for the most formal of positions. Use the cover letter space for something else more useful.

The goal of this section: List your name and contact information so a hiring manager can easily contact you, create attractive formatting to help your document stand out.

Cover letter greeting

Your cover letter greeting may be short, but it sets the tone for the rest of your letter. This is where you can create a personal connection and a respectful tone by using the name of the hiring manager along with the proper address. “Dear” is the safest option. but “Hi” or “Hello” may be fine if it's a more casual workplace.

The goal of this section: Address the hiring manager by name to establish a personal connection and friendly tone.

Cover letter introduction

Hiring managers can read dozens of applications before getting to yours. That’s why a compelling cover letter introduction is so important. It’s your fleeting chance to catch the attention of hiring managers and convince them to keep reading. It’s OK to name the employer or the position you’re applying for in the introduction, as long as you avoid generic, bland opening statements. A short anecdote, interesting fact or relevant statistic can help you gain a differentiated foothold.

The goal of this section: Use a relevant example, skill or statistic to hook hiring managers and encourage them to read the rest of your letter.

Cover letter body

Your cover letter body is the largest section of your letter and the place where you finally get to show off your strengths and achievements. A simple way to do this is by using the STAR method. First, describe a situation, a task and your action, then focus on the positive result. Substantiate in measurable terms by citing numbers and percentages if possible. 

If you don’t have much experience, focus on your personal qualities and how they stand to benefit this future employer. Discuss your interest in the company and potential contributions.

The goal of this section: Use the STAR method to offer anecdotes of your experience and successes, describe your top skills, qualities and potential contributions.

Cover letter conclusion

You’ve finally reached the conclusion of your letter. It’s time to wrap up, leaving the reader with a positive impression. A call to action can help you do exactly that. This expresses enthusiasm for the position and invites the employer to contact you. Then sign off with the most appropriate signature based on the company tone. “Sincerely,” “Thank you” or “Best regards” are all strong options. 

The goal of this section: A call to action leaves hiring managers wanting to get in touch; then finish  letter with a polite and respectful signature. 

Writing psychology: connect with the reader

Writing psychology is about the reader’s needs and wants, not just the writer’s. On the receiving end of your cover letter is someone with an influence on who makes the interview shortlist and ultimately gets hired. So your letter is much more a matter of what that reader wants to see than what you want to say. Put yourself in the recruiter’s chair.

Cover letter tools and strategies, even with no experience

An effective cover letter for project coordinators should effectively convey these key attributes.

• Organization skills: The whole position hinges on this strong suit. Project coordination requires effective time management, attention to detail and great record-keeping skills.
• Communication skills: Effective communication is the backbone of any project coordinator position. It's crucial to demonstrate your mastery of error-free writing, using precise action verbs, good grammar and professional word choices.
• Work ethic: You’ll need to stay motivated to see a project through from start to finish. Reflect on those times when you went above and beyond to make a colleague's or client's wishes come true.
• Administrative support: If you’re applying for an entry level role, many administrative support duties will come with the territory. Your ability to file paperwork, field calls, book travel arrangements and other day-to-day tasks will seem invaluable to this employer.

The power of storytelling

Don’t get bogged down in your cover letter with the administrative minutiae of what project coordination is all about. Skip those details about scheduling meetings, updating accounts or preparing reports — few recruiters will be inclined to read another word. They’re interested in the human side of the project coordinator equation. What makes you tick as a person sets you apart from everyone else who is equally capable of performing those generic duties that don’t need spelling out in your cover letter.

Don't let the single-page limit for a cover page deter you from finding space to tell a story. Good storytelling has a positive effect on our brains, making us more likely to empathize and help others, according to neuroeconomist Paul Zak. Advertisers and marketers have used the power of storytelling to their advantage for decades. Now, you can too.

Choose an anecdote that your potential employer can relate to. Recall a time when you offered excellent oversight, saved your employer time or money, or created an innovative new workflow. Your story might also offer insight into why you want to work for this hiring organization. Maybe there's a tie-in with your interest in architecture or science, for example, and would allow you to make the most of your secondary degree.

Common mistakes to avoid in a project coordinator cover letter 

Regardless of how many candidates are vying for the same project coordinator position, your allowable margin of error should be zero. Aim for perfection by avoiding these common mistakes.

• Not adding enough value: Keep the perspective on how your contributions will benefit the employer, not how you will benefit from getting hired. As much as you need this job straight out of college, or must make this career switch now, that's not the employer's concern. The person reading your cover letter is only interested in what the organization stands to gain with you on board, especially bottom line improvements.
• Generic content: Not customizing your cover letter for the specific company and addressing its needs can be the shortest surefire path to the reject pile.
• Grammar and spelling mistakes: How can you be trusted to write professional content for this employer's clients and staff  if your cover letter is riddled with typos and other errors? At the very least, use grammar and spell-check apps, and enlist a qualified friend to proofread. Whatever it takes, make sure your cover letter is 100% error-free before submitting.
• Flawed design and formatting: Sloppy formatting, the wrong fonts or sizes or inappropriate colors and patterns all takes away from a professional cover letter. Make sure to choose a template that’s in line with the company’s branding and switch out templates between applications if needed.

Key takeaways for a project coordinator cover letter

1. A good job application isn’t complete without a cover letter. Unless you're specifically told not to include one, always include one with your resume maximize your chances of landing an interview and the job.
2. Customize your cover letter to each individual position and employer. The job description and company materials can help you choose the right language, tone, content and template for your application.
3. Make sure all your relevant personal information appears in your header. Follow the recommended cover letter structure for all other sections to avoid missing any important details.
4. A relevant anecdote can go a long way in helping you stand out from other candidates. Make sure to include numbers, facts and details to quantify your achievements.
5. Don’t forget to proofread your cover letter and pay attention to appropriate design and formatting choices.

Resume.io's cover letter builder offers writing suggestions to avoid writer’s block, a vigilant grammar checker, professional visual designs to grab attention, recruiter-tested templates and much more! Use it all to win your dream job right away!