Warehouse work may not be a white-collar job where you show up every day in a suit and tie and wingtip shoes — but don’t make the mistake of thinking you don’t need a professional job application package to get a job in this field. You will need both a resume and a persuasive warehouse worker cover letter.
This guide, along with a cover letter example, will address the latter — how to write a flawless cover letter that would convince any employer that you’re the right person for the job.
Best format for a warehouse work cover letter
Here are the five essential elements of the warehouse work cover letter format:
- Cover letter header
- Cover letter greeting
- Cover letter intro
- Cover letter middle paragraphs (body)
- Cover letter ending paragraphs (conclusion and sign-off)
As a warehouse worker, you might be used to shuffling around hundreds of boxes a day, and making sure they all end up in the right place. In a warehouse work cover letter format, you only need to put these five sections on one page, so you should be able to do that without breaking a sweat. You can review our other 75+ cover letter examples to see how they are structured as well.
Dear Mr Mackersley,
Having worked as an order picker in a fresh produce warehouse for the past two years, I write to enquire whether there is an open position at your warehouse operation for weekend and evening shifts over the summer?
I am looking for a role that will fit alongside my studies and sports schedule. While contemporaries of mine found part-time work in offices and call centers, I enjoy the physical nature of order picking. The need to pick the orders in a specific time brings out the inner-competitor within me and I like the fact that the compensation is based on the amount of effort that is expended. I am a football player, so physical exertion is my thing.
I know that order picking and warehouse work requires a close coordination with a team. Individuals who selfishly only pick the easiest products detract from the overall team effort and I am always conscious of being fair to my colleagues. In actual fact, I always like to take on the heavier vegetables and other produce as this actually gives me a nice workout.
At my previous employer, I held the daily records for volume of orders picked in a number of product sectors and I was informed that my monthly compensation per hour worked was one of the highest in the company’s history. My order picking accuracy of 99.8% was well above the company requirements and I never sacrificed quality for speed. I was proud of my 100% attendance record and racked up 200+ evening and night shifts.
I would welcome the opportunity to come along for an interview or a trial session – there is nothing like seeing how a warehouse operative goes about their work.
Sincerely,
Jack Farrell
Cover letter header
When writing a letter, you usually put your name last, but here you actually need to put it first. Your cover letter must start with a header — an attractively designed section at the top of the page that contains your name, occupation, address, phone number and email.
The most obvious reason for the cover letter header is to let employers know how to contact you if they’re interested. But it also serves as an important design element, making your page more attractive at a glance because of the style choices you’ve made in designing your header.
Need more inspiration? View our other transportation cover letter samples listed here below:
Cover letter greeting
The greeting (also known as a salutation) is the single line in your letter where you write “Dear Mr. Buttondown” or “Dear Ms. Pennyworth.” It’s as simple as that (except you have to use actual names), so don’t overthink it.
If you don’t know the name of the actual person to address, you should do what you can to find out. If necessary, make a phone call to the company to find out who does the hiring for the warehouse work. Addressing your letter to the appropriate person shows your respect for the company and your attention to detail.
Cover letter intro
Open with a strong paragraph that both identifies the job you’re seeking and sets up your qualifications as the ideal candidate to fill it.
Lead with your strengths, which in the case of warehouse workers may be experience, physical strength, organizational skills, knowing how to drive a forklift, or various other factors. Try to make your introduction so irresistible that the hiring manager feels compelled to read on.
Dear Mr Mackersley,
Having worked as an order picker in a fresh produce warehouse for the past two years, I write to enquire whether there is an open position at your warehouse operation for weekend and evening shifts over the summer?
Cover letter middle paragraphs (body)
The middle paragraphs of your cover letter, often known as the body, have a make-or-break mission to persuade the recruiter that you’re the right person for the job.
This may be because of your warehouse experience, which you should feature prominently if you have it. It may because of the skills you possess — strength, stamina, speed, attentiveness, responsibility. It may even be because of the passion and personality that comes through in your letter.
Submitting a cover letter has one big advantage over sending a resume alone: It allows you to speak directly to the hiring manager in your own words, showcasing your greatest strengths and broadcasting your eagerness to go to work for the company you’re targeting.
I am looking for a role that will fit alongside my studies and sports schedule. While contemporaries of mine found part-time work in offices and call centers, I enjoy the physical nature of order picking. The need to pick the orders in a specific time brings out the inner-competitor within me and I like the fact that the compensation is based on the amount of effort that is expended. I am a football player, so physical exertion is my thing.
I know that order picking and warehouse work requires a close coordination with a team. Individuals who selfishly only pick the easiest products detract from the overall team effort and I am always conscious of being fair to my colleagues. In actual fact, I always like to take on the heavier vegetables and other produce as this actually gives me a nice workout.
At my previous employer, I held the daily records for volume of orders picked in a number of product sectors and I was informed that my monthly compensation per hour worked was one of the highest in the company’s history. My order picking accuracy of 99.8% was well above the company requirements and I never sacrificed quality for speed. I was proud of my 100% attendance record and racked up 200+ evening and night shifts.
Cover letter ending paragraphs (conclusion and sign-off)
Conclude your cover letter with an ending paragraph that makes some kind of call to action, something that suggests to the recruiter that s/he should do something about your letter, and not just set it aside.
You might say that you are always reachable at the contact info provided, and that you are eager to hear back. You might say that you’d be happy to stop by the warehouse any time to talk. You might ask whether you could call the manager in a week or two to inquire about setting up an interview, putting that person on notice that you are really serious about this job and not just randomly sending off job applications.
I would welcome the opportunity to come along for an interview or a trial session – there is nothing like seeing how a warehouse operative goes about their work.
Sincerely,
Jack Farrell
Key takeaways
- Make sure to choose the correct format of your cover letter that includes all the necessary elements and paragraphs
- Always address the hiring manager by name if possible
- Write an engaging intro that hooks the reader into the rest of the letter
- State your work history facts, achievements, skills and work approach in the middle paragraphs of the cover letter
- End the cover letter with a strong, confident closing statement that logically leads to an interview or hiring procedure
- Choose a ready-to-use cover letter template to make sure your letter grabs attention (and save yourself time and stress - it’s designed by professionals!)
Best of luck!
