You've set your sights on a cozy coffee shop job, but now there's a hurdle: the cover letter. It's not just a repeat of your resume; it’s your chance to share the triumphs you're truly proud of. Striking that balance between formal and fresh, without falling into cliché traps, is key. Remember, a gripping tale of your biggest professional win, all within the confines of a one-page letter, can be the blend that lands you the role. Let's brew the perfect cover letter together.
- Some inspiration from other professionals' job-winning cover letters;
- The best structure and format for your coffee shop cover letter;
- Insights on how to write about your best achievement to stand out;
- A creative twist on your coffee shop cover letter intro.
Upload your coffee shop resume to Enhancv's AI, which will quickly scan and prepare a job-winning cover letter for you.
If the coffee shop isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
- Coffee Shop resume guide and example
- Starbucks cover letter example
- Restaurant Operations Manager cover letter example
- Chef cover letter example
- Fine Dining Server cover letter example
- Bartender Server cover letter example
- Food Service cover letter example
- Line Cook cover letter example
- Sous Chef cover letter example
- Assistant Restaurant Manager cover letter example
- Lead Server cover letter example
Coffee shop cover letter example
Michelle Sanders
Indianapolis, Indiana
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Opening with an acknowledgment of the company's success and customer-focused approach demonstrates the candidate's alignment with the company's values and their genuine interest in the brand.
- Quantifying achievements with specific metrics, as seen with the "15% increase in annual sales," provides concrete evidence of the candidate’s ability to positively impact business performance and growth.
- Linking past experiences to the potential future contributions, such as discussing how previous strategy overhauls can benefit the new company, helps to illustrate the candidate's applicability and readiness for the role.
- Ending with an expression of eagerness to contribute and an invitation to discuss further indicates a proactive attitude and a strong desire to be part of the company, which can set the candidate apart from others.
What are the basics of the design or format of your coffee shop cover letter?
To start, here's a reminder for you: the Applicant Tracker System (or software that is used to assess candidate profiles), won't be reading your coffee shop cover letter.
Recruiters enjoy reading coffee shop cover letters with a standardized format that uses:
- the same font as the resume (e.g. modern ones like Raleway or Volkhov are prefered over the clichéd Times New Roman or Arial);
- single spacing to keep the content concise and organized (this is all ready for you in our cover letter templates);
- a one-inch margin to wrap around the text, like in our cover letter builder;
- PDF as a file format, as it allows your design (and visual element) to stay the same.
Finally, we can't go on without mentioning the key sections of your coffee shop cover letter.
In the top one-third, make sure to include a header (with your contact information, name, role, and date), a salutation, and an introduction.
Next, follows the heart and soul of your coffee shop cover letter or its body.
End your coffee shop cover letter with a closing paragraph and, if you wish, a signature.
The top sections on a coffee shop cover letter
Header with Contact Information: Include your name, address, phone number, and email so the recruiter can easily get in touch with you, and it gives your cover letter a professional look.
Personalized Greeting: Use the hiring manager's name if possible as it shows that you took the time to research the company, which can make a good first impression.
Introduction with Enthusiasm for Coffee: Open with a strong introduction that expresses your passion for coffee and customer service, which are crucial in the coffee shop environment.
Body Highlighting Customer Service Experience: Focus on relevant experience, such as previous work in food service or hospitality, to show you have the skills to create a welcoming atmosphere and handle customer interactions gracefully.
Closing with a Call to Action: Conclude by thanking the reader for their time, expressing your eagerness to discuss how you can contribute to their team, and indicate your availability for an interview, prompting a response.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Passion for coffee and knowledge of coffee products: This indicates a genuine interest and understanding of their main product, which is essential for providing quality customer service and engaging with coffee enthusiasts.
- Excellent customer service skills: Critical for creating a welcoming atmosphere and ensuring repeat business by making customers feel valued and satisfied.
- Cash handling and POS system experience: Necessary for processing transactions efficiently and accurately, which is a daily responsibility in a coffee shop.
- Barista experience or willingness to learn: Shows capability or enthusiasm for preparing a variety of coffee beverages to company standards, which can be a central part of the role.
- Flexibility with scheduling: Demonstrates the ability to work early mornings, weekends, and holidays, which is typical in the food and beverage industry.
- Teamwork and communication skills: Essential for working cohesively with other staff members, managing busy periods effectively, and providing clear and friendly interactions with customers.
How to personalize your coffee shop cover letter greeting
Before you start writing your coffee shop cover letter, take the time to find out who is recruiting for the role.
Search for the recruiter's name on LinkedIn or the corporate website to address them personally in your coffee shop cover letter salutation.
What if you can't find out who's recruiting for the role?
Always aim to avoid the very impersonal "Dear Sir/Madam" - instead, opt out for "Dear HR Team" or "Dear Hiring Manager" to make a better first impression.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Company Name] Team,
- Dear [Department] Department,
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Dear [First Name] [Last Name],
- Dear [Job Title] Hiring Committee,
First introductions in your coffee shop cover letter
Within your coffee shop cover letter introduction, genuinely state what you like about the organization.
Research the latest company projects, honorary awards, company updates, etc.
Write up to two sentences to let recruiters know what impresses you about the company,
This would help you to set a good tone for the rest of the communication.
Storytelling in the middle (or body) of your coffee shop cover letter
You've got your whole resume sorted, detailing your achievements and skills. What else can you write in your coffee shop cover letter?
For starters, take the time to re-assess the job requirements and re-discover the most crucial skills and requirements (or keywords).
After making a list of these important keywords, look back on your experience to select just one of your past accomplishments.
Choose the achievement that is the most noteworthy, relevant to the role, and matches the required skills.
Use the next between three and six paragraphs to narrate how:
- you've grown your skill set, thanks to your achievement;
- you'd use the know-how you've gained in your new role;
- your accomplishment could help your potential employers grow.
Remember that recruiters don't need a retelling of your whole resume, but want to find out what makes you, you.
Finishing off your coffee shop cover letter with what matters most
So far, you've done a fantastic job in tailoring your coffee shop cover letter for the role and recruiter.
Your final opportunity to make a good impression is your closing paragraph.
And, no, a "Sincerely yours" just won't do, as it sounds too vague and impersonal.
End your coffee shop cover letter with the future in mind.
So, if you get this opportunity, what do you plan to achieve? Be as specific, as possible, of what value you'd bring to the organization.
You could also thank recruiters for their interest in your profile and prompt for follow-up actions (and organizing your first interview).
What could you write about in your coffee shop cover letter when you have no experience
Candidates with zero professional experience often struggle to write their coffee shop cover letter.
You may lack experience, but your application could still be impressive when you focus on your strengths.
Consider your most relevant talents (and/or one achievement) that align with the role and help you stand out.
Perhaps you spent every summer volunteering at your local dog pound - think of the job-relevant skills this experience taught you.
Sharing your tangible career goals is another good strategy to stand out.
Key takeaways
Your coffee shop cover letter is your best shot at standing out by showing your motivation and the unique skills you'd bring to the job:
- Chose no more than one achievement, which you'd be talking about in the body of your coffee shop cover letter, by focusing on skills and outcomes;
- Address recruiters with their first or last name, or "Dear Hiring Manager" in your coffee shop cover letter greeting;
- Introduce in no more than two sentences what makes your profile unique (perhaps it's your motivation, enthusiasm, or appreciation of the company you're applying for);
- Select the same font you have used in your resume (avoid Times New Roman and Arial, as most candidates tend to invest in them);
- Close your coffee shop cover letter with a promise of how you see yourself growing in the company and the benefits you'd bring about.
