How to create an effective account executive cover letter
In any sales department, talented account executives work with both existing and new clients to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction and sales success. To become an account executive at your dream company, you need to write an impressive cover letter that shows off your qualifications.
In this guide, we teach you how to write an impressive cover letter as an account executive. Keep reading to learn all about:
- Why you need a well-formatted header and headline for your cover letter
- How you can personalize your account executive cover letter
- What you should say to make your cover letter introduction compelling
- Which key details to include about your account executive qualifications
- How to conclude your cover letter concisely and persuasively
1. How to properly format your account executive cover letter header and headline
Cover letters do not have the same level of organization or formatting cleanliness as resumes.
As such, you must find ways to give your cover letter an appealing visual flow to avoid making it look cluttered or like one big block of text.
This is primarily accomplished through the use of a header and headline.
Starting with your cover letter header, you will place this element in the top left corner of the document and include key identifying information, such as your name and professional title.
Your header should also include your professional contact information, as well as the name and address of the employer you are sending the letter to.
Here is an example of a well-formatted account executive cover letter header
John Doe, Sales Account Executive
(123) 456-7890 | johndoe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/john-doe
To: Dunder Paper Company
1234 Street Address
Milwaukee, WI 53201
Next, you will write your cover letter headline. A headline helps to separate the header from the rest of the cover letter’s text. Additionally, a headline is similar to a title statement and gives you the opportunity to hook the employer’s attention with compelling language and keywords.
Here is an example of a strong headline from an account executive cover letter
My Top 5 Skills as an Account Executive & How I Plan to Employ Them to Delight Your Clients
2. How to personalize your account executive cover letter
When an employer is hiring, they undoubtedly read many cover letters throughout the process.
To make your cover letter stand out, it is crucial to personalize your letter as much as possible. This simply means you must research specific details about the company and then use that information throughout your letter.
Personalizing a cover letter is always an important process, as it helps to make the letter feel more tailored and specific to one employer.
An important piece of information to always look for is who at the company is likely to receive and read your cover letter. Once you have uncovered who this person is, you can create a personalized greeting — a type of greeting in which you address one specific person by name.
Here are 3 examples of personalized account executive cover letter greetings
- Dear COO Jane Smith,
- Dear Hiring Manager Joe King,
- Dear Ms. Jane Smith & Mr. Joe King,
3. How to make your account executive cover letter introduction compelling
A compelling introduction is one of the most critically important components of any account executive’s cover letter. In your introduction is where you will strive to grab the employer’s attention and intrigue them enough to make them read further.
A strong introduction will always include a summary of your professional history, such as your years of experience and any specialized areas of expertise you possess.
Furthermore, it can be incredibly helpful to name a mutual acquaintance within your introduction. Mutual acquaintances can include professional mentors, former employers, high-level coworkers, or any other professional acquaintance you have that also has connections to the company you are applying to.
By naming this mutual acquaintance, you are providing the employer with a professional reference they know and trust, thereby creating a great first impression for yourself as well.
Here is an example of a compelling introduction from an account executive cover letter
Dear Hiring Manager Joe King,
As an account manager with more than 8 years of experience working in technology and software sales, I have the strong skill set your company needs to attract high-level clients. In my former position at [Former Employer], I had the pleasure and opportunity to work with your company’s COO, Jane Smith. After being kind enough to provide feedback on my resume, Ms. Smith strongly recommended I consider applying for a position with your company.
4. What are the best account executive qualifications to include in your cover letter
Now that you have the employer’s attention firmly fixed on your letter, you can begin to describe the additional qualifications that make you the ideal candidate for the position.
Your descriptions of your qualifications should include:
- Relevant skills and how you plan to apply them at the employer’s company
- Key accomplishments and how you plan to achieve similar success at the employer’s company
- Your professional values and how they align with the company’s values and goals
Here are 6 skills to describe in an account executive cover letter
- Developing business plans
- Writing sales reports
- Managing sales cycles
- Client communication
- Client relationship management
- Product presentation
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in an account executive cover letter
In my role as an account executive for [Former Employer], I worked with three of the company’s biggest clients whose business deals accounted for more than 30% of annual sales revenue. Through my quarterly product presentations, I was able to raise these revenues by an average of 15% each quarter, as well as sign each of these major clients on for five-year sales contracts.
5. How to conclude your account executive cover letter concisely and persuasively
The last but equally as important element for your account executive cover letter is a concise and persuasive conclusion. This conclusion should include:
- The best time and days to contact you
- The best method for contacting you (phone call, email, etc.)
- When you plan to follow up
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a strong conclusion from an account executive cover letter
I am beyond grateful for your time and consideration, and hope to hear from you shortly regarding this position. The best way to reach me on weekdays is at (123) 456-7890 between the hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., or at johndoe@email.com on weekends. Knowing that you have an incredibly busy schedule, I do plan to follow up next Tuesday if I have not heard back.
Many Thanks,
[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.