Learn to write a persuasive janitor cover letter
Janitors have an essential duty to uphold sanitary standards and keep public spaces clean and looked after. To earn a position as a janitor, you need to write a cover letter that highlights your relevant experience and work ethic to impress employers.
In this guide, we will teach you everything you need to know about writing a cover letter as a janitor. Keep reading to learn all about:
- Creating an effective header & headline as a janitor
- Tailoring the content of your janitor cover letter for specific jobs
- Writing a captivating introduction on your janitor cover letter
- Highlighting your best professional attributes as a janitor
- Concluding your janitor cover letter concisely
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1. How to create an effective header & headline as a janitor
For your first step in your journey to writing a great cover letter as a janitor, you must create an effective header and headline. First up is your cover letter header, which should be placed in the top left or center of the document and include:
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information
- The name of the company you are applying to
- The address of the company (if you are physically sending the letter or if the company has multiple locations
Here is an example of a well-formatted janitor header
John Doe, Professional Janitor
(123) 456-7890 | johndoe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/john-doe
To: Hamilton County High School
Janitorial Department
1234 Street Address
Chattanooga, TN 37405
Once you have created your header, you will then craft your cover letter headline. A headline is an optional title that can help impress employers and convince them to read further.
To accomplish this, your headline should include:
- A relevant keyword
- A captivating number and/or trigger word
- A compelling adjective and/or verb
- A promise statement that tells the employer the letter is exclusively for them
Here is an example of a well-written janitor headline, followed by a brief explanation of its main components
My Top 3 Janitorial Skills & How I Can Apply Them to Ensure the Cleanliness of Your Building
Trigger Word/Number: 3 Skills
Keyword: Janitorial, Cleanliness
Adjective/Verb: Top, Apply, Ensure
Promise: Your Building
2. How to tailor the content of your janitor cover letter for specific jobs
After you have completed your header and headline — but before you begin writing the body text — you need to thoroughly research the company you are applying to. You will use this research to tailor the content of your letter to be as specific as possible to each individual employer you contact.
When researching, look for key details such as:
- What safety or hygienic standards the company follows
- What the company looks for in employees
- Who at the company is in charge of hiring and reviewing applications
With this last detail, you can create a personalized greeting that addresses this specific person by name.
Here are 3 examples of personalized cover letter greetings
- Dear Hiring Manager Jane Smith,
- Dear Mrs. Jane Smith,
- Dear Mrs. Jane Smith & the Janitorial Team,
3. How to craft a captivating introduction on your janitor cover letter
Now that you have the necessary information to tailor your cover letter, you can begin writing the actual body text — starting with your introduction.
A captivating cover letter introduction should hook the employer’s attention and make them want to continue reading. To do this, your introduction should include:
- A brief overview of your professional history
- A statement on why you are a great fit for the position
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible) — including a mutual acquaintance can help get your foot in the door by providing the employer a professional reference that they already know and trust
Here is an example of an effective introduction from a janitor cover letter
Dear Hiring Manager Jane Smith,
I am a professional janitor with more than 5+ years of experience working in college dormitories. With my exceptionally efficient skill set, I believe I am a great fit for this fast-paced position at your institution. One of your dormitory managers, Mr. Jack Green, is a former colleague of mine and highly recommended I apply for this opening.
4. Highlighting your best professional attributes as a janitor
After you have written your introduction, the remaining paragraphs of your cover letter will be dedicated to describing your key skills, accomplishments, and various other qualifications.
As you describe these professional attributes, make sure the information you include is as relevant, contextual, and quantifiable as possible.
For example, don’t just say you have communication skills — instead, describe your exact communication style, how you applied it in a previous position, and any accomplishments you achieved because of it.
Here are 6 examples of janitorial skills to describe in a cover letter
- Sanitization processes
- Knowledge of industry hygienic standards
- Proper storage of cleaning chemicals
- Exceptional time management
- Developing cleaning schedules
- Physical stamina
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a cover letter
As a janitor at [Former Employer], I worked diligently to create a consistent cleaning schedule that did not disrupt business meetings or events. After helping to hire and train 5 new janitorial staff members, I was able to create a schedule that reduced overall cleaning time by 25%. Additionally, the company had a 45% increase in positive reviews regarding the cleanliness of the facility.
5. Concluding your janitor cover letter concisely
To conclude your janitor cover letter, you need a concise closing statement that encourages the employer to get in contact with you as soon as possible.
This conclusion should include:
- A statement on your excitement about the position
- When and how you can best be contacted
- When and how you plan to follow up
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a concise closing statement from a janitor’s cover letter
I firmly believe that I am the perfect addition to your janitorial team and greatly look forward to getting to know your staff. To best reach me to schedule an interview, please call me at (123) 456-7890 any day of the week from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. If I have not heard from you by next Monday morning, I plan to follow up via email at that time.
Best Wishes,
[Applicant Name]
If you have ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two.