Your skills run the gamut from front-end design to back-end maintenance. Whilst your CV may touch on all your talents, it is within your full stack developer cover letter that you can set yourself apart in the eyes of IT recruiters.
Full stack developers are in high demand, but the aim is more than simply acquiring a job – it’s procuring the right job for you. The stronger your application package, the higher the chances that instead of settling for a position, you will be among those who can say they not only love their jobs, but are amply remunerated for them as well.
Here are typically salaries* for full stack developers in the UK:
| Bottom 10% | 35,000 GBP |
| Bottom 25% | 45,000 GBP |
| Median | 55,000 GBP |
| Top 25% | 67,500 GBP |
| Top 10% | 82,500 GBP |
*Source: DevIT
There’s no question that a cover letter is never the wrong way to go in your job application (unless you are specifically told not to include one), but how do you create a standout letter?
Resume.io offers a library of dozens of cover letter examples for many occupations, but this guide, specific to full stack developers, will take you through the following topics:
- The importance and purpose of a cover letter
- Structuring your full stack developer cover letter for maximum impact
- The elements in each portion of your document that make for a persuasive argument
- Writing an error-free cover letter.
If you’re looking for additional inspiration for cover letter writing, you can check out our related cover letter samples:
Best format for a full stack developer cover letter
Your first opportunity to show off organised thinking is the structure of your full stack developer cover letter. Not only does a formal structure give you the freedom to write creatively, but it is comfortable for IT recruiters and allows them to easily focus on your qualifications.
Before you jump into writing, examine the sections below. The format of a full stack developer cover letter should contain the following elements:
- 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)
For a general overview, look no further than the comprehensive cover letter guide, but this guide offers details on writing a cover letter for full stack developers that will wow IT recruiters.
Doesn’t my portfolio stand on its own?
Yes, your portfolio is an important component of your application package, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. For example: What is your approach to solving thorny development problems? How do you work with a team?
An excellent cover letter for a full stack developer makes a case for your employment by answering these questions as well as highlighting the reasons you want the job and the reasons you will make a great addition to the IT department.
It is here that you can explain your achievements or describe a platform you built and support using the tools your prospective employer also uses.
This full stack developer cover letter example will give you a blueprint for writing your own cover letter:
Dear Mr. Jones,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Full Stack Developer role listed on Allegiance Technology's website. With over 5 years of experience designing, implementing, and maintaining web and mobile applications using a range of front-end and back-end technologies, I am confident I have the skills and expertise to excel in this position.
In my most recent role as Lead Developer at 123Tech, I spearheaded the development of a custom e-commerce platform using React, Node.js, and MongoDB. This platform increased monthly sales by 25% in its first year. I also mentored a team of 3 junior developers, guiding them on best practices for responsive design and test-driven development.
I am particularly interested in this role at Allegiance Technology given your reputation for building cutting-edge fintech products. As someone passionate about leveraging technology to improve financial services, I would welcome the opportunity to collaborate with your top-tier engineering team. My experience aligning development roadmaps to key business goals would allow me to make an immediate impact in supporting your strategic objectives.
In closing, I am confident that my technical abilities and commitment to delivering high-quality software make me an ideal candidate for this position. I look forward to elaborating on how I could contribute to Allegiance Technology's continued success. Please find my CV attached. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you further about the role and can be reached at the number above.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Tom Peterson
Cover letter header
The first aspect of your full stack developer cover letter a recruiter is likely to notice is the header. This graphic element lends a professional, visual image to your application. But more than that, it highlights what could be the most important information you have to offer: how to reach you to schedule an interview.
Include the follow in your header:
- Full name (and your pronouns, if you are so inclined)
- Current title or the title of the position you seek
- Address (whether to include your street address is up to you, but your city or town is expected)
- Best phone number with which to reach you
- Best email with which to reach you
- Social media and/or portfolio URLs (with Resume.io, you can link directly to your portfolio from our cover letter builder).
An email cover letter is a bit different since it will lack visual impact, but your contact information is just as important.
Cover letter greeting
We cannot stress enough the importance of starting off your full stack developer cover letter in the correct manner. How you address your reader reveals your professional demeanour and your attention to detail. A proper greeting also makes your reader take notice since you are addressing them directly.
Start with “Dear” and use the correct title and surname of your reader if at all possible. Make sure you get their honorific and the spelling of their name right. If you are unsure of their preferred title, you may substitute their full name.
As alternatives, if you absolutely cannot find the correct person to address or you are greeting a committee, you may use “Dear IT Department”, “Dear Hiring Manager” or another variation on that theme. No not resort to “Dear Sir or Madam”, or worse, “To Whom It May Concern”.
Cover letter introduction
The goal of the first paragraph of your full stack developer cover letter is to introduce your career and intrigue your reader so that they choose to read on. One way to achieve this is to bring up a project you spearheaded that relates directly to the company’s situation.
You may also choose to answer one of these questions: Who are you as a professional? What do you take most pride in? Why do you want to work here and what will you bring to the IT department? Whatever you choose, make sure you lead into the bulk of your letter, which we discuss next.
Dear Mr. Jones,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Full Stack Developer role listed on Allegiance Technology's website. With over 5 years of experience designing, implementing, and maintaining web and mobile applications using a range of front-end and back-end technologies, I am confident I have the skills and expertise to excel in this position.
Cover letter middle part (body)
Within the middle paragraphs of cover letters, you can express your ideas for your target employer and offer career details. Choose one or two highlights and describe your role and what you achieved. Remember employers are interested in skills and attributes in the job posting.
Try not to duplicate information or phrasing from your CV since a recruiter is probably looking at both one after the other. You may choose to include a few bulleted highlights that don’t require a lot of explanation to break up the blocks of text.
In my most recent role as Lead Developer at 123Tech, I spearheaded the development of a custom e-commerce platform using React, Node.js, and MongoDB. This platform increased monthly sales by 25% in its first year. I also mentored a team of 3 junior developers, guiding them on best practices for responsive design and test-driven development.
I am particularly interested in this role at Allegiance Technology given your reputation for building cutting-edge fintech products. As someone passionate about leveraging technology to improve financial services, I would welcome the opportunity to collaborate with your top-tier engineering team. My experience aligning development roadmaps to key business goals would allow me to make an immediate impact in supporting your strategic objectives.
In closing, I am confident that my technical abilities and commitment to delivering high-quality software make me an ideal candidate for this position. I look forward to elaborating on how I could contribute to Allegiance Technology's continued success. Please find my CV attached. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you further about the role and can be reached at the number above.
How to close a full stack developer cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
If your reader has gotten to this point, congratulations are in order: you have held their attention. The full stack developer cover letter now needs a conclusion in which you remind them of your main point and politely suggest a follow-up conversation.
Although space is limited in this one-page document, if you have room add an intriguing tidbit about your career, how you chose full stack development or a hobby project. Always let the recruiter know that you are eager to meet to discuss the position further. The full stack developer cover letter sample conclusion below offers one suggestion for how to approach that task.
Finally, sign off with “Sincerely” or “Best regards” and your full name. A signature is not necessary for an online application.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Tom Peterson
Basic mistakes in a full stack developer application letter (and how to avoid them)
The best written full stack developer cover letter can end up for naught if a small error slips by. Here are some problems to edit for and ways to avoid them.
- Long-winded stories: If explaining an IT project takes more than a couple of sentences, save it for your interview. Recruiters are looking for quick bites of information.
- Tonal shifts: Some IT departments are very casual and others much more formal. If you’re not sure of the company’s culture, err on the side of formality. In any case, make sure you write in your own professional voice and avoid wavering from formal to casual.
- Punctuation and grammar errors: There’s no excuse for these when you have writing tools at hand and friends or colleagues who can help with a second read.
Key takeaways
- With your wide-ranging talents, you need an excellent cover letter to put all the pieces together.
- Use your full stack developer cover letter to speak directly to your reader, explaining why you want the job and what you can do for the IT department.
- A compelling introduction will entice your reader to get to the meat of your letter.
- Careful editing and proofreading will help prove to recruiters that you are detail-oriented.
