Your product manager cover letter can get you a foot in the door with a target employer, so it needs to knock the recruiter’s socks off. Creating a standard, run-of-the-mill cover letter, that simply lists your skills and experience isn’t going to hit the mark.
Advance your job search with a well-crafted, organised cover letter that reflects your strategic approach and polished project management skills. This will pique the curiosity of any employer, getting you one step closer to an interview.
How do you create a job-winning product manager cover letter? By having a solid value proposition, that solves a hiring manager’s staffing problem.
Product manager full text-only cover letter example
Dear Ms. Bell,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Product Manager position at Ocado Technology, as advertised on your company website. With my background in e-commerce and passion for innovative technology solutions, I believe I would be a valuable addition to your team.
For the past five years, I have been working as a Senior Product Manager at The Hut Group in Manchester, where I led the development and launch of several successful beauty and wellness products on our direct-to-consumer platforms. My experience aligns well with Ocado's focus on cutting-edge retail technology and automation solutions.
Key achievements in my current role include:
- Increasing customer engagement by 35% through the implementation of a personalized product recommendation engine
- Leading a cross-functional team to develop and launch a mobile app that improved order completion rates by 22%
- Collaborating with data scientists to optimize inventory management, resulting in a 15% reduction in stockouts
I am particularly impressed by Ocado's recent advancements in robotic warehouses and last-mile delivery solutions. I am eager to contribute my skills in agile methodologies, data-driven decision making, and stakeholder management to help drive Ocado's continued innovation in the e-commerce space.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my experience and skills can contribute to Ocado Technology's ongoing success.
Yours sincerely,
Kai Armstrong
Sections of a product manager cover letter
Much like a product in development, a good cover letter for a project manager goes through different stages until it becomes that shiny final product.
- Cover letter header. Project your professionalism with an attractive header, including your name, contact details, and main job title.
- Greeting. Find out the hiring manager's name so you can address them directly—this is more personalised and shows you’ve done your research.
- Introduction. Spark the reader's attention with a captivating opening to your product manager cover letter, that hints at why you will be a perfect addition to the team.
- Body. Think of this as the jewel in your product management crown. Every hiring manager wants to know what you have done and what you have achieved as a product manager. Most importantly can you bring this same success to their organisation?
- Conclusion. End your letter by reinforcing your suitability and interest in the product management role. Don’t forget a polite call to action.
- Signature. Wrap up with a professional goodbye, including your name.
Each section plays an integral role in the development of a compelling and professional cover letter for a product manager.
Overly long cover letters can result in hiring managers zoning out. Aim for a short and snappy one-page cover letter that compliments your CV and gets straight to the point in terms of your candidacy for the job posting.
Looking for some inspiration? View our library of unique cover letters, including the following cover letter examples relatable to product management:
If you need more general information and details covering each section, view our article on how to write a cover letter.
Once you’ve perfected your header and addressed the hiring manager, it’s time to move on and create a captivating introduction.
Introduction of a product management cover letter
Your first chance to hook the reader is via your introduction. When starting your cover letter, generate some interest by mentioning a notable achievement, anecdote, or backstory.
Consider this your product launch. Perhaps you’ve successfully developed and launched a new product range or enhanced an existing product to resolve a customer pain point.
Dear Ms. Bell,
As a talented product manager in the HR tech industry, I’ve project-managed some exciting developments over the past six years. From award-winning employee engagement software to integrated training modules and engaging apps, my work has helped millions of employees have an easier time at work. I’m now keen to bring these skills and more to the team at FirstHR.
Dear Sir or Madam
I am writing to inform you of my interest in the product manager role with FirstHR. I consider myself to have the ideal blend of skills and experience to excel in the role and would prove an asset to the team.
The trick here is to adopt a professional and confident tone. Avoid a generic introduction that the hiring manager has probably read a thousand times by demonstrating your skills in action. Mentioning that you’ve received awards for strong performance or “increased customer engagement by 40%” will quickly establish you as a qualified candidate.
Adopting this approach will also send a message to the employer that you’re committed to delivering the same results if appointed. If you can quickly present yourself as the answer to their problems, they will be motivated to learn more about you.
Dear Ms. Bell,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Product Manager position at Ocado Technology, as advertised on your company website. With my background in e-commerce and passion for innovative technology solutions, I believe I would be a valuable addition to your team.
Product manager cover letter body
In the body of your cover letter, follow a clear template:
- Highlight your product management skills and experience
- Demonstrate that you’ll be a great fit for team culture, whether you’re targeting a small, niche business or a major multinational
- Wrap up with an impactful conclusion
- End with a persuasive call to action that compels the hiring manager to contact you
First body paragraph
Hit the ground running with a first body paragraph that highlights your product management prowess. Think of this like a compelling product marketing campaign that encourages a customer to give your product a chance.
Here’s how you can present your skills and experiences in the best possible light:
- Highlight your project management skills. Juggling multiple tasks concurrently to high-quality standards are the attributes of a great product manager. Provide examples of how you’ve delivered full lifecycle management across successful product development projects by staying focused on the end goal.
- Emphasise your strategic approach. Outline your strengths in building products and features, identifying added value, and maintaining a competitive edge.
- Communication. Highlight your strong communication skills in action, including success communicating with cross-functional teams and engaging with key stakeholders.
- Showcase your industry knowledge. Demonstrating an understanding of company products, market position, opportunities, and threats will help you stand out.
- Motivational leadership. Successful product managers lead from the front and drive product success. Use specific examples of how you have motivated multidisciplinary teams to achieve results and supported skill development.
Expand on your CV, but avoid repetition
Cover letters can feel like a last-minute task, especially when you’ve poured all your energy into creating a great product management CV. As such, it can be easier to just regurgitate content from your CV for your cover letter and job done!
Try to view your cover letter as a compliment to your CV, but not identical. Essentially, your CV represents the strawberries and your cover letter is the cream.
Here are some strategies to help you expand and differentiate from your CV:
- Elaborate on how your unique skills and experience can benefit the employer
- Refer to industry trends, opportunities, and challenges to demonstrate expertise
- Adjust your tone to match the company, typically formal but friendly
Second body paragraph
Building a connection with an employer can make a difference. Researching the company website and social media platforms can help you achieve this goal.
As a product manager, you’ll want to show the hiring manager that you can deliver results but also be a welcome addition to the team and company.
In this example from Ocado, some key points that can be taken from their mission, vision, and values include:
- Changing the way the world shops for good
- Making our customers’ lives easier by allowing you to get what you want, when you want it, with minimum fuss
- Embracing the values of learning fast, crafting smart, working with aligned autonomy, building trust, and collaborating to achieve more
- UK’s largest pure-play online grocer
Include details from the company mission statement so your application hits the right note. Your customer-centric approach could strike a chord with making customers' lives easier in this example. Thereby aligning your passion with company values.
For the past five years, I have been working as a Senior Product Manager at The Hut Group in Manchester, where I led the development and launch of several successful beauty and wellness products on our direct-to-consumer platforms. My experience aligns well with Ocado's focus on cutting-edge retail technology and automation solutions.
Key achievements in my current role include:
- Increasing customer engagement by 35% through the implementation of a personalized product recommendation engine
- Leading a cross-functional team to develop and launch a mobile app that improved order completion rates by 22%
- Collaborating with data scientists to optimize inventory management, resulting in a 15% reduction in stockouts
I am particularly impressed by Ocado's recent advancements in robotic warehouses and last-mile delivery solutions. I am eager to contribute my skills in agile methodologies, data-driven decision making, and stakeholder management to help drive Ocado's continued innovation in the e-commerce space.
Call to action & conclusion
Your closing paragraph is an opportunity to deliver a strong finish to your cover letter. Essentially you want to secure full buy-in from the hiring manager via a compelling end to your cover letter.
Highlight how your unique skills and experience can add value to the team and contribute toward the company’s ongoing success.
Make sure to thank the employer for reviewing your application. This shows you respect their time and may improve your chances of an interview.
End with a proactive call to action. This shows your eagerness to move forward in the recruitment process and your enthusiasm for the role.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my experience and skills can contribute to Ocado Technology's ongoing success.
Yours sincerely,
Kai Armstrong
Sign off with a professional closing, such as ‘Sincerely.’ Remember to proofread your letter and ensure that it is error-free and polished.
Key takeaways
If you’re looking for your dream product management job, you need to highlight your strategic vision, stellar project management capabilities, and strong communication skills.
A cover letter is the perfect place to tell your personal story or your product’s journey. Numbers, statistics, recognition, and awards all help build your credibility and make you stand out in the hiring manager’s mind.
Try our cover letter builder to commit your professional welding career story to paper and boost your job interview prospects!
