How do you write an impressive message to the hiring manager?

Writing an impressive message to a hiring manager when applying for a job is crucial for standing out from the competition. With so many candidates applying for each open position, you need your message to grab the hiring manager’s attention right away.

In your message, you need to demonstrate why you are an excellent fit for the role, what value you can bring to the company, and why the hiring manager should take the time to interview you. Structuring your message carefully and highlighting your most relevant qualifications and passion for the role will go a long way in writing an impressive application.

Here are some tips for crafting a compelling message to the hiring manager when applying for a job:

Keep it concise yet detailed

You want your message to be focused and succinct so the hiring manager can quickly scan it, while also highlighting your fit for the role.Aim for a message in the range of 4-5 paragraphs or around 200-300 words. Get straight to the point in explaining your background, abilities, and fit for the position. Avoid rambling or repeating yourself. Use clear section headings to help summarize the key parts of your background.

Research the company and role

To write an informed, tailored message, you need to research the company, its mission and values, and the specific job requirements. Study the job description closely looking for keywords you can incorporate in your message. Reference the company website, news, social media, and LinkedIn profiles of employees to understand the company culture and priorities. Use this research to shape a message showcasing how you are a cultural fit and meet the role’s needs.

Highlight relevant qualifications

Carefully read the job description and identify the required and preferred qualifications. Then make those skills and experiences the focus of your message to the hiring manager. List your most applicable credentials, knowledge, achievements, and qualifications that match what they are looking for in a candidate. Provide concrete examples of using those abilities in past roles. Focus on the information that is most likely to impress the hiring manager about how you are qualified.

Demonstrate passion and enthusiasm

Hiring managers want candidates who are truly excited about and committed to the open position. Convey genuine passion by speaking about how interested you are in the company and role and why it appeals to you specifically. Share why you would find this position fulfilling and meaningful. Describe how motivated you are by the role’s responsibilities and how dedicated you are to performing them well. Enthusiasm can help you stand out.

Be clear on how you’ll add value

Explain to the hiring manager ways you will bring value to the company if hired for the role. Share the distinct skills, experiences, work style, solutions, and perspective you can offer them. Give examples of how you could contribute to projects and team performance. Articulate how you would apply your abilities to achieve company goals and fill any gaps in their organization. Highlight the unique assets you can leverage in the role.

Tailor the message specifically to the company and role

Avoid any generic language in your message to the hiring manager. With some customization and research, you can craft a message tailored specifically to the company and the open position’s needs. Here are tips for tailoring your message:

– Include the exact job title and company name.
– Reference projects, products, services, values, or goals mentioned on the website and job description. Use the company’s language.
– Note skills and experience that align with requirements in the job description.
– Highlight your relevant knowledge of the company’s industry and market.
– Share why you are interested in this specific role versus others, citing projects or tasks that appeal to you.
– Mention company leaders you admire or employees you know.
– Express enthusiasm for the company’s mission, culture, and values.
– Reflect the requirements of the role in your description of your qualifications.

Taking the time to make your message directly relevant to the hiring manager’s organization and the open position will ensure your message stands out.

Structure the message effectively

How you structure the flow of information in your message can impact how clear and persuasive it is to the hiring manager. Use these tips to thoughtfully organize your content:

– Open with a sentence explicitly stating the role you are applying for.
– In the first paragraph, provide 1-2 sentences summarizing your most relevant high-level qualifications for the role.
– Quickly follow up with more details of those qualifications in the next paragraphs.
– Use clear section headers like “Relevant Experience” or “Skills & Achievements” to segment details and make your message easy to scan.
– Close by reiterating your interest and fit for the position, and thanking the hiring manager.
– Organize the information from most to least relevant to the role.
– Keep paragraphs and sections short and focused.
– Use bullets or numbers if helpful in organizing multiple qualifications or examples.
– Ensure logical flow between ideas.

The right structure provides consistency and enhances the clarity of your message.

Proofread thoroughly

Nothing hurts your chances like typos and grammatical errors when trying to make a great first impression. Set your message aside for a few hours or a day after writing the first draft. Then proofread your message slowly and carefully, watching for any spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, or formatting issues. Read the message aloud to catch awkward phrasing. Have a friend or career advisor also review it. Use spelling and grammar check built into software. With a perfectly polished message, you will avoid undermining your professionalism.

Close with excitement and appreciation

Wrap up your message to the hiring manager on a positive note re-expressing your interest, fit, and passion. Thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration. Convey excitement about the prospect of interviewing and joining the team. Share your appreciation of the opportunity to apply and introduce yourself. Ending on an enthusiastic, grateful tone creates a great final impression.

Here are some examples of closing sentences:

– Thank you again for the opportunity to apply for this exciting role, which offers an ideal match for my qualifications.
– This position seems like an excellent way for me to contribute my skills and experiences to your organization’s continued success.
– I appreciate you taking the time to review my application. I am enthusiastic about the prospect of interviewing with your team.
– Please contact me if you would like any additional information. I am excited by the potential to join your company and am truly appreciative of your consideration.

Proofread one last time

Before sending your message off to the hiring manager, proofread it from start to finish one more time. Check for any new errors you may have made while editing. Verify spellings of the hiring manager’s name and company name. Read your message out loud for the final polish. This vital last step ensures no mistakes slip through at the finish line.

Then submit your message with confidence knowing your application puts your qualifications, passion, and professionalism on display for making the best impression possible. With a compelling, highly tailored message, you will maximize your chances of getting an interview.

Example message to hiring manager

Here is an example message to a hiring manager tailored for a specific role:

Dear Ms. Jones,

When I saw your posting for a Content Writer at Smith Media Group, I felt compelled to apply. With over 5 years developing engaging web content in the media industry, and a passion for connecting audiences with timely news stories, I believe I am an excellent match for your team.

I was excited to see in the job description that you are seeking someone skilled at optimizing content for SEO and driving traffic. With my role at Media Action Corp, I successfully increased organic site visits by an average of 20% year-over-year through keyword research and implementing metadata best practices. And I collaborated with designers to enhance page UX leading to reduced bounce rates. My experience would enable me to maximize the search visibility and reader engagement of content at Smith Media Group.

In addition, you mentioned needing a writer able to produce 8-10 blog posts per week covering local and national news stories as they develop. I have proven capacity for managing a high-volume news writing workload on tight deadlines. At my current role I publish an average of 40 articles per month across culture, politics, business, and tech content areas. I also have experience using CMS tools for rapid drafting and publishing.

I love that Smith Media Group has a focus on investigating and profiling inspiring community organizations. I feel passionate about highlighting impactful yet lesser known local groups. And I am skilled at crafting deeply engaging human interest stories through interviewing and detail-oriented writing. For these reasons, I am genuinely excited by the prospect of transitioning my writing background to your team covering community news.

Please let me know if there is any other information I can provide to aid in your hiring decision. I am truly appreciative of your consideration, and I look forward to potentially discussing this excellent Content Writer role.

Sincerely,
[Your name]

Key takeaways

Here are the key takeaways for writing an impressive message to a hiring manager:

– Keep it brief yet detailed – Around 200-300 words focused on your relevant qualifications.
– Research the role and company thoroughly to tailor your message.
– Highlight qualifications that match the job description. Give examples.
– Convey genuine passion and enthusiasm for the role and company.
– Explain how you can add value if hired.
– Tailor the message very specifically using the job title, company name, and role details.
– Organize information carefully with clear section headers and logical flow.
– Proofread slowly and thoroughly multiple times, including the final draft.
– End with an appreciative, excited tone and thank the hiring manager.
– Follow tips to showcase your skills, fit, passion, attention to detail, and professionalism.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you address the hiring manager by name?

Yes, whenever possible address the hiring manager by name (Example: Dear Ms. Jones,). Personalizing the message is important. Make sure you spell the hiring manager’s name correctly. If you do not have a contact name, use a generic greeting like “Dear Hiring Manager”.

How long should the message to the hiring manager be?

Aim for a message in the range of 4-5 paragraphs or around 200-300 words. Be concise and focused on your most relevant qualifications. Avoid long blocks of text. Section headers, bullets, and spacing can help break up lengthy messages.

Should you re-use parts of your cover letter?

It’s fine to re-purpose some content from your cover letter, such as your summary of qualifications. But the message to the hiring manager should have a more informal, conversational tone versus a traditional cover letter. Add additional details and customize it further.

Can you follow up after submitting your application?

Yes, following up 3-5 business days after applying is appropriate. Send a brief email re-expressing your interest and fit and offering to provide more details. Personalize each follow up message rather than just resending your original text.

What if you don’t have direct experience in the role?

Highlight any related or transferrable experiences from past positions or education that demonstrate skills or knowledge relevant to the role. Focus on broader abilities like communication, analysis, teamwork, and leadership rather than specific job duties.

Conclusion

Writing a compelling, memorable message to a hiring manager takes time and effort. But purposeful research, customization, structure, and polish can help your message make the needed impact. Showcase your fit, abilities, achievements, and genuine passion for the role. With a thoughtful approach, you can craft an impressive application message that gets you noticed.