Administration jobs tend to be front line roles where you’re interacting with customers regularly. You’re a source of knowledge and support - fielding inquiries, providing information on products and services, and very likely managing complaints and feedback from customers and community members.
As such, it’s critical that your cover letter shows you’re exceptional with people, and that you have soft skills that can assist in resolving a variety of issues, all while maintaining a positive reputation for the company or organisation you represent. Here are our tips on what to include.
Administration cover letter do's
- Do keep it short. One page is the maximum for cover letters, with the ideal length between 200 - 300 words, or around four paragraphs
- Do address your cover letter to the right organisation, and correct member of staff
- Do tailor or customise your admin cover letter for every role you apply for
- Do pluck out the best bits of your resume to use throughout your cover letter
- Do show that you've done research about the company or organisation
- Do end your cover letter by thanking the employer for their time
- Do always run a thorough spelling and grammar check before submitting your cover letter
Administration cover letter don'ts
- Don’t use out-dated or unprofessional contact details. Always use the most recent, most relevant, and the most professional
- Don’t simply copy or rewrite your resume in your admin cover letter
- Don’t include irrelevant information. Consider the role, the company and what they want most from candidates. Focus on these areas in your cover letter
- Don’t use buzzwords. When overused they tend to lose meaning and impact
- Don’t use company-specific language or terminology. Stick to what is known and understood at an industry level
This administration cover letter example is strong because it employs general cover letter writing best practice. The candidate’s details are professional and visible, and the employer’s details are specific, showing that the candidate has done their research.
The length is suitable and it is clear the candidate has read the position description and understands the specific requirements of the role. As a result, key skills or competencies like communication and product knowledge are mentioned early, and successes in these areas highlighted.
This cover letter is also strong because it exhibits personality, passion and enthusiasm. The candidate has detailed why she wants to work at this company, and why she is best suited for the role. The format is neat, with each idea or point broken into its own short paragraph.
Particularly in the closing paragraph, this cover letter exhibits the candidate’s excellent customer service skills. By inviting the employer to contact her for more information, she is proving she leaves no stone unturned in her processes and is tireless in the pursuit of satisfying clients. Additionally, the sign off is courteous, and the employer is thanked for her time.
The way in which you write and communicate key messages in your administration cover letter is just as important as the actual experience and content you include, so make sure yours is suitably formatted, neat, and easy to read for every role you apply for.
Take a look at our cover letter tips hub for more cover letter writing tips and examples.