Earn your ideal job with this sales associate cover letter guide
Sales associates are critically important team members for any business selling products or services to consumers. From finding leads to executing sales, a sales associate has many essential responsibilities. To earn a job as a sales associate, you need a well-written cover letter that showcases your professional value and dedication.
In this guide, we will teach you the 5 key elements of a strong sales associate cover letter. Keep reading to learn all about:
- Crafting a well-formatted cover letter header & headline
- Creating a personalized greeting for your cover letter
- Writing a compelling sales associate cover letter introduction
- Highlighting your accomplishments as a sales associate
- Concluding your cover letter with an actionable closing statement
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1. Craft a well-formatted sales associate cover letter header & headline
Any time you write a cover letter as a sales associate, the first key step to take is to create a well-formatted header and headline.
A cover letter header refers to the small block of text – usually found within the top-left corner of the document – that includes all the identifying information about the applicant and the company they are applying to.
Following the header is your cover letter headline, a concise, one-line title that previews the most important information found in the letter and helps to hook an employer’s attention.
Below, we have provided more in-depth explanations and examples for both of these elements:
Formatting the header
Your cover letter header does not have one singular format or style it must follow. However, a good header will always contain between 3 to 4 lines of text that include:
- The name of the company you are applying to (& the department, when applicable)
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information (phone number, email address, LinkedIn, etc.)
Here is an example of a well-formatted header on a sales associate cover letter
To: Solar Power Supplies, Sales Department
From: Mary Jones, Sales Associate
(123) 456-7890 | maryjones@email.com | linkedin.com/in/mary-jones
Writing the headline
When writing the headline for your cover letter, you should always use a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.
Here is an example of an effective sales associate headline, followed by a quick breakdown of its key components
My Successful 3-Step Approach to Landing Sales & How It Can Benefit Your Business
Trigger Word/Number: 3-Step Approach
Keyword: Landing Sales
Adjective/Verb: Successful, Benefit
Promise: Your Business – the addition of this detail at the end of the headline indicates to the employer that you are making a promise to relate your skills and approach directly to the needs of their business.
2. Create a personalized greeting for your sales associate cover letter
The greeting of your cover letter works together with your headline to help initially attract the attention of an employer. As such, you should opt for a personalized greeting rather than a generalized one (“To Whom It May Concern”, etc.).
A personalized greeting will address a specific person or department by name. In doing so, this shows employers you have thoroughly researched their company and have excellent attention to detail.
If you cannot uncover an exact person or department who will review your cover letter, try out one of the following alternatives:
To the [Company Name] Team
Or
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager
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3. Write a compelling sales associate cover letter introduction
While your greeting and headline work together to hook the employer’s attention, it is the responsibility of your introduction to solidify that interest and keep them reading.
A compelling cover letter introduction generally includes:
- A brief overview of your professional history and goals
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Here is an example to help demonstrate how to write a sales associate cover letter introduction
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,
I am a Sales Associate with 3+ years of experience working in retail. Recently, I completed a Sales Seminar hosted by your company’s Assistant Sales Manager, John Doe. After asking Mr. Doe to review my resume, he was impressed by my experience and accomplishments and recommended I apply for this role.
4. Highlight your accomplishments as a sales associate
After you have finished writing your introduction, it is time to write the largest portion of your cover letter: the body paragraphs.
A good cover letter will typically contain between 2 to 4 body paragraphs that offer in-depth answers to the following questions:
- What excites you about working at this company?
- What do you hope to learn from working at this company?
- What accomplishments or qualifications make you stand out as an applicant?
- What key skills do you possess that are relevant to the position?
Emphasizing your relevant accomplishments is key, as they help to not only show an employer what you are capable of but also highlight the professional value you can bring to their business.
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a sales associate cover letter
As a Sales Associate for [Former Employer], I implemented a new product staging strategy that led to a 35% increase in showroom sales. Additionally, I interacted with more than 100 customers daily, achieving a 98% customer satisfaction rating for my efficient and helpful service.
5. Conclude your sales associate cover letter with an actionable closing statement
The final component of any strong cover letter is an actionable closing statement that includes:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a well-written closing statement from a sales associate cover letter
With my proven track record at increasing storewide sales, I am confident that I will be the ideal addition to your sales team. I am eager to meet with you directly to further discuss how I will apply my skills successfully if given this wonderful opportunity. The best way to reach me to schedule a meeting is at (123) 456-7890, any weekday between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kind Regards,
[Applicant Name]
Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success.
