Embarking on a federal job application, you've hit a common snag: crafting a compelling cover letter that stands out. While you might be tempted to rehash your resume, your cover letter should instead spotlight your proudest professional moment, weaving a narrative that showcases your unique contributions. Strike a balance between formal tone and originality, steering clear of tired clichés. Remember, brevity is key—keep it to a single page that leaves a lasting impression.
- Writing the essential federal cover letter sections: balancing your professionalism and personality;
- Mixing storytelling, your unique skill set, and your greatest achievement;
- Providing relevant (and interesting) information with your federal cover letter, despite your lack of professional experience;
- Finding the perfect format for your[ federal cover letter, using templates from industry experts.
Leverage the power of Enhancv's AI: upload your resume and our platform will map out how your federal cover letter should look, in mere moments.
If the federal isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
Federal cover letter example
Owen Wright
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- Aligning Experience with Company Goals: The cover letter highlights the candidate's past success in spearheading targeted outreach programs that align with the company's commitment to fostering an inclusive workforce, which is beneficial for a role that values innovative recruitment strategies and inclusivity.
- Demonstrating Measurable Achievements: Including specific metrics such as the 20% rise in client satisfaction and the improvement in team efficiency and time-to-hire positions the candidate as results-oriented and data-savvy, important for a role in recruitment strategy and analytics.
- Relevance of Past Experience: The mention of past experience in advanced analytics and KPI monitoring suggests the candidate has hands-on experience with the tools and processes crucial for a role dedicated to optimizing recruitment strategies through performance indicators and technological advancements.
- Soft Skills – Relationship Building: The role title "Counselor Relations Specialist" implies an expertise in relationship building, so the cover letter's reference to reinforcing the company's reputation through inclusive hiring emphasizes the candidate's soft skills, which are valuable for networking and developing partnerships.
Structuring and formatting your federal cover letter
Here's what the structure of your federal cover letter should include:
- Header (with your name, the position you're applying for, and the date);
- Salutation (or greeting);
- Introductory paragraph (or your opening statement);
- Body paragraph (or further proof of your experience);
- Closing paragraph (with a call to action);
- Signature (that is optional).
Use the same font for your federal resume and cover letter - modern fonts like Lato and Rubik would help you stand out.
Your federal cover letter should be single-spaced and have a one-inch margins - this format is automatically set up in our cover letter templates and our cover letter builder.
When submitting your cover letter, always ensure it's in PDF, as this format keeps the information intact (and the quality of your document stays the same).
On one final note - the Applicant Tracker System (ATS or the software that is sometimes used to initially assess your application) won't read your federal cover letter.
The top sections on a federal cover letter
- Header: This includes your contact information and the date, and it's essential for the recruiter to know your professional details and how to reach you.
- Address: You should address the hiring manager by name if possible, and include their title and the federal agency's name, to show that you've personalized your cover letter.
- Introduction: Briefly mention the position you are applying for and express your enthusiasm for the role, highlighting your relevant experience that aligns with the federal job's specific requirements.
- Body: In this section, delve into your key accomplishments, relevant skills, and experience, and link them to the responsibilities and missions of the federal position, demonstrating how you can contribute to the agency.
- Closing: Thank the reader for considering your application, reiterate your interest, and mention your availability for an interview, while also indicating that you have attached your resume and any other required application documents.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
Your request lacks the specific job title within the federal sphere to focus on for the traits and experiences. Federal jobs span a wide variety of fields and roles, each with unique requirements. To provide a list of 6 key qualities, experiences, and traits that recruiters prioritize, I need the exact job title you are inquiring about.
Please provide the specific federal job title for which you would like to learn about the key qualities, experiences, and traits. This will allow me to give you a tailored list that accurately represents what is important for that particular role.
Kick off your federal cover letter: the salutation or greeting
When writing your federal cover letter, remember that you're not writing for some complex AI or robot, but for actual human beings.
And recruiters, while on the lookout to understand your experience, would enjoy seeing a cover letter that is tailored to the role and addresses them. Personally.
So, if you haven't done so, invest some time in finding out who's the hiring manager for the role you're applying to. A good place to start would be LinkedIn and the corporate website.
Alternatively, you could also get in touch with the company to find out more information about the role and the name of the recruiter.
If you haven't met the hiring manager, yet, your federal cover letter salutation should be on a last-name basis (e.g. "Dear Mr. Donaldson" or "Dear Ms. Estephan").
A good old, "Dear HR Professional" (or something along those lines) could work as your last resort if you're struggling to find out the recruiter's name.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Specific Title of the Hiring Authority],
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Esteemed Selection Committee,
- Respected Recruitment Team,
- Attention [Department Name] Hiring Committee,
Your federal cover letter intro: showing your interest in the role
On to the actual content of your federal cover letter and the introductory paragraph.
The intro should be no more than two sentences long and presents you in the best light possible.
Use your federal cover letter introduction to prove exactly what interests you in the role or organization. Is it the:
- Company culture;
- Growth opportunities;
- Projects and awards the team worked on/won in the past year;
- Specific technologies the department uses.
When writing your federal cover letter intro, be precise and sound enthusiastic about the role.
Your introduction should hint to recruiters that you're excited about the opportunity and that you possess an array of soft skills, e.g. motivation, determination, work ethic, etc.
How to write an achievement-focused federal cover letter body
We've got the intro and greeting covered. Now, comes the most definitive part of your federal cover letter - the body.
In the next three to six paragraphs, you'd have to answer why should recruiters hire you.
What better way to do this than by storytelling?
And, no, you don't need a "Once upon a time" or "I started from the bottom and made it to the top" career-climbing format to tell a compelling narrative.
Instead, select up to three most relevant skills for the job and look back on your resume.
Find an achievement, that you're proud of, which has taught you these three job-crucial skills.
Quantify your accomplishment, using metrics, and be succinct in the way you describe it.
The ultimate aim would be to show recruiters how this particular success has built up your experience to become an invaluable candidate.
Closing paragraph basics: choose between a promise and a call to action
You've done all the hard work - congratulations! You've almost reached the end of your federal cover letter.
But how do you ensure recruiters, who have read your application this far, remember you?
Most federal professionals end their cover letter with a promise - hinting at their potential and what they plan on achieving if they're hired.
Another option would be to include a call for follow-up, where you remind recruiters that you're very interested in the opportunity (and look forward to hearing from them, soon).
Choose to close your federal cover letter in the way that best fits your personality.
What could you write about in your federal cover letter when you have no experience
Candidates with zero professional experience often struggle to write their federal 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 federal 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 federal cover letter, by focusing on skills and outcomes;
- Address recruiters with their first or last name, or "Dear Hiring Manager" in your federal 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 federal cover letter with a promise of how you see yourself growing in the company and the benefits you'd bring about.
