As a store manager applying for a job, how can you make your store manager cover letter stand out in a sea of other candidates?
It’ll take a combination of the right traits, proven leadership skills and an understanding of the employer’s needs. Luckily, Resume.io is here to walk you through each step. Here’s what we’ll cover in this store manager cover letter example and writing guide:
- The best cover letter format and the vital sections to include in your store manager cover letter.
- Ensuring that the content of each paragraph will grab the reader’s attention.
- Writing psychology: words that are heard by the hiring manager
Let's delve right into this guide and discover the various methods you can use to help you secure that all-important interview. For more inspiration we also have 180+ cover letter examples and writing guides you can check out that are specific to other occupations.
Best format for a store manager cover letter
If you stick to a specific format when writing your store manager cover letter, your story will best flow from start to finish. Your store manager cover letter should have these sections:
- Cover letter header
- Greeting/salutation
- Cover letter intro
- Body of the letter
- Ending (including conclusion and call-to-action)
The best way to approach the store manager cover letter is to create a vision for hiring managers about how you work and what they would expect from you as you go about your day-to-day duties. You should leave the hiring manager with a clear insight into what value you could bring to their organization.
You can use this store manager cover letter example to help you develop your own:
January 12, 2022
Dear Mr. Harmer,
Having run a ski store in Whistler for the past seven years, upon moving to Colorado I am keen to find a retail management role with a similar outdoor pursuits focus.
While your hiking and camping store would have a similar demographic, I am attracted by the opportunity to reach a more diverse customer base and sell a wider range of goods. My ski store stocked equipment and clothing, which translates into a similar range of merchandise in your camping section.
I am proficient at running seasonal promotion campaigns, but my real interest is in the challenge of selling the “project” to an ever-changing customer base.
I have experience in managing a permanent store team of 10+ employees, with that tripling when the season hits. I worked as part of a chain of stores structured similarly to your brand, so I am used to working with head office colleagues, while having a high level of autonomy with external service providers and suppliers.
My degree in retail management taught me how to maximize the commercial potential of a store, and I ran at an average 7% LFL sales increase. The gross margin for the store in my first year was 22%, but thanks to targeted promotions and careful stock management, it was 28% when I left. Our high-margin add-on sales were the best out of 14 sister stores.
I am passionate about outdoor activities and know that I can transfer my winter sports knowledge to different outdoor pursuits. I would value the opportunity of discussing the commonalities at a potential interview.
Sincerely,
Simon Cawthorn
Need additional inspiration? You can find further inspiration for writing your cover letter by looking at some of our related cover letter examples in the business and management category, including these ones:
- Manager cover letter sample
- Business Analyst cover letter sample
- Executive cover letter sample
- Project Manager cover letter sample
- Product Manager cover letter sample
- Consulting cover letter sample
- Project Coordinator cover letter sample
- Executive Assistant cover letter sample
- Supervisor cover letter sample
- Assistant Manager cover letter sample
- Business and management cover letter sample
- Program Coordinator cover letter sample
- Brand Manager cover letter sample
- McKinsey cover letter sample
- CEO cover letter sample
- Quality Assurance (QA) cover letter sample
- Business Development Manager cover letter sample
Cover letter header
Your cover letter header is situated at the top of the page. It has all the essential details for the hiring manager to reach out to you, including your name, email address, and telephone number. The cover letter header should be prominent and stand out on your store manager cover letter.
If you have good recommendations on LinkedIn or somewhere with reviews/testimonials, it is worth adding these to your header. Managers sometimes invite candidates for an interview, purely based on the information on their cover letter.
The aim of the cover letter header: Provide the hiring manager with your contact details. Use our cover letter examples for inspiration for your header.
Cover letter greeting
Although your approach would usually be quite informal in a one-to-one interaction, it is important to be more formal in your cover letter, coming across as polite and professional.
To immediately start building a rapport with the employer, your cover letter greeting should be personalized to the recipient whenever possible: “Dear Ms/Mr Surname.” Other acceptable greetings include “Dear Recruitment Team” or “Dear Recruiter.”
The aim of letter greeting/salutation: The greeting is your first introduction; it’s how you show your professionalism and manners.
Cover letter introduction
The introduction should be short but impactful, and it should summarize what your relevant experience is and what makes you suitable for the job.
As this is a leadership role where you would work independently, the hiring manager must understand what your leadership skills are and what value you will bring to the company.
Consider the company culture before you write this, and make sure it fits what the hiring manager expects from your leadership. Use our cover letter examples for guidance.
The aim of the cover letter intro: What relevant experience do you have, and what style of leadership skills do you possess? Give the hiring manager a brief insight into these.
The greeting and introduction from our store manager cover letter sample appear below.
Dear Mr. Harmer,
Having run a ski store in Whistler for the past seven years, upon moving to Colorado I am keen to find a retail management role with a similar outdoor pursuits focus.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The middle section is the crux of your store manager cover letter. It should reflect your ability to make customers feel at ease as they shop in the store so they return time and again. As a store manager also needs strong people skills, it should also give the hiring manager an understanding of how you motivate a team. Furthermore, any examples you have to illustrate these would be more impactful. Our cover letter samples are here to help you write the cover letter middle section.
No two companies are the same, so make sure you personalize the middle section of your cover letter to suit the role. Find out about the business culture, values, and expectations and make sure your cover letter fits this.
The aim of the body of your cover letter: Provide examples of how you make customers and your team feel. How do you build and manage a positive environment?
Our store manager cover letter sample illustrates what you might include in the middle part.
While your hiking and camping store would have a similar demographic, I am attracted by the opportunity to reach a more diverse customer base and sell a wider range of goods. My ski store stocked equipment and clothing, which translates into a similar range of merchandise in your camping section.
I am proficient at running seasonal promotion campaigns, but my real interest is in the challenge of selling the “project” to an ever-changing customer base.
I have experience in managing a permanent store team of 10+ employees, with that tripling when the season hits. I worked as part of a chain of stores structured similarly to your brand, so I am used to working with head office colleagues, while having a high level of autonomy with external service providers and suppliers.
My degree in retail management taught me how to maximize the commercial potential of a store, and I ran at an average 7% LFL sales increase. The gross margin for the store in my first year was 22%, but thanks to targeted promotions and careful stock management, it was 28% when I left. Our high-margin add-on sales were the best out of 14 sister stores.
How to close a store manager cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
The conclusion and sign-off for your store manager cover letter should reiterate your interest and desire to attend an interview. You can keep your ending nice and simple with an enthusiastic and positive tone to hold the reader's interest.
The sign-off above your name can simply be: "Sincerely," "Best regards," or "Best,."
The aim of the conclusion: Reaffirm your interest in the role and desire to attend an interview.
Below is the closing section of our store manager cover letter.
I am passionate about outdoor activities and know that I can transfer my winter sports knowledge to different outdoor pursuits. I would value the opportunity of discussing the commonalities at a potential interview.
Sincerely,
Simon Cawthorn
Writing psychology: reflecting on your work ethic
The store manager cover letter is a personalized letter reflecting your relevant expertise. It should also give the reader a clear insight into how you manage a store and make customers and staff feel.
These are some of the main goals of the cover letter:
- Give the reader an insight into the experience you offer to customers as a store manager.
- Show what leadership style you have and how you motivate your staff.
Key takeaways for a store manager cover letter
- Write your cover letter in a formal, professional, and personalized manner.
- Leave the hiring manager with a good insight into how you would perform as a store manager.
- Use action verbs to describe what you can do and illustrate these with examples.
- Tailor your cover letter to the company and the role.
- Use our cover letter sample for an idea on creating a great layout and design.
At Resume.io, you can use one of our cover letter templates as a strong base for creating your own.
