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How to Format Your Cover Letter

Visit our helpful cover letter writing guide for additional advice on customizing your application, or read on to learn how to complete each section of your letter. 

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  • Contact information:

    • Add your name, phone number, city/state and email. 

  • Date and recipient's mailing information:

    • Add the date of writing and a line break, followed by the hiring manager’s name, workplace address, phone number and work email.

  • Greeting:

    • Begin the letter with a professional salutation. We prefer the following formal greetings: “Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name,” “Hello, Mr./Ms. Last Name,” or the last resort, “To whom it may concern.”

  • Introduction:

    • Add the name of the position and company, how you learned about it, and one or two sales-related skills or accomplishments to advertise your suitability for the job.

  • Body:

    • In one or two paragraphs, elaborate on a few accomplishments in your salesman resume. The goal is to quantify your training further and prove your proficiency.

  • Closing statement:

    • In the final paragraph, reiterate your interest and qualifications. Express your eagerness to discuss your candidacy further in an interview.

  • Signature:

    • End the letter with a formal closing followed by your full name and, if applicable, your professional titles or certifications. Acceptable signatures include “Salutations,” “Best,” or “Regards.”

Use Skills to Personalize Your Salesman Cover Letter

1
Cold calling:

Strong communication skills for conversing with potential customers over the phone, building rapport, and generating interest in the company’s offerings.

2
CRM software proficiency:

Effective computer skills using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems to manage leads, track sales activities and analyze customer interactions.

3
Customer retention strategies:

Ability to develop and implement strategies that keep existing customers engaged and loyal to the brand.

4
Data analysis:

Use strong analytical skills to interpret sales data, identify trends and use insights to improve sales strategies and performance.

5
Digital marketing integration:

Effective marketing skills to leverage digital marketing tools and strategies, such as social media, SEO and email marketing, to support sales efforts.

6
Inventory management:

Expert management skills to maintain product inventory levels to ensure customer availability while minimizing excess stock.

7
Lead generation:

Skill in identifying and attracting potential customers through various channels, including cold calling, email campaigns and networking.

8
Market research:

Competence in researching and analyzing market trends, competitors and customer preferences to inform sales strategies.

9
Negotiation techniques:

Expertise in negotiating terms, prices and contracts to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes for the company and the customer.

10
Presentation skills:

Ability to deliver engaging and informative sales presentations that highlight product benefits and address customer concerns.

11
Product knowledge:

Deep understanding of the products or services sold, including features, benefits and how they meet customer needs.

12
Proposal writing:

The writing skills needed to craft persuasive, well-structured sales proposals that effectively communicate the value of products or services.

13
Sales forecasting:

Ability to analyze market trends and predict future sales trends and revenue based on historical data, market analysis and sales pipeline insights.

14
Sales pipeline management:

Skill in organizing and managing the sales process from initial contact to closing, ensuring that opportunities are appropriately tracked and followed up.

15
Salesforce automation:

Proficiency in using sales automation tools to streamline repetitive tasks, such as email follow-ups and data entry, allowing more focus on closing deals.

Free Salesman Cover Letter Example

Leonard E. Smith
New York, NY 55123
555-555-5555
leonard.smith@email.com

 

April 12, 2024

 

Raquel Sandoval
456 Abbott Drive
Suite 500
New York, NY 55123

Dear Ms. Sandoval:

I’m an experienced and motivated sales professional with a strong history of forging long-term customer relationships and increasing sales revenue. With over 12 years of pharmaceutical and medical technology sales experience, I am uniquely positioned to join your direct-to-consumer pharmacy brand.

Following are highlights of my qualifications:

  • Consistently meeting and surpassing sales quotas through targeted and successful sales initiatives, lead prospecting and product expertise in consecutive sales positions with Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca. 
  • Forging trusting and enduring relationships with customers, management and coworkers to maximize customer retention and satisfaction and close deals. 
  • Utilizing superior communication, negotiation and time management skills to achieve maximum sales and customer service.

My existing professional network will enable me to generate contracts at reasonable rates. I look forward to discussing this position further. You may contact me at leonard.smith@email.com. 

Sincerely,

 

Lenny E. Smith

This salesman’s cover letter is a strong example of effective communication and sales experience. Mr. Smith breaks down his skills and notable achievements in bullet points. 

Here’s how he makes a persuasive hiring argument:

Add a Resume to Accompany Your Cover Letter

A cover letter helps promote your resume — but your resume acts as an essential building block for your job search. This concise summary helps hiring managers trace your training, experience, skill development and accomplishments. The following help articles, online tools and samples can help you improve your resume.

Salesman Cover Letter FAQ

How important is it to tailor my salesman cover letter to each job?

Carefully tailoring your cover letter to the job post achieves two things. It ensures that you pitch the most relevant information first, demonstrating to a hiring manager that you’re familiar with the job’s needs and can quickly onboard and contribute to its financial needs. 

Tailoring your cover letter also helps you pass digital hurdles like applicant tracking systems (ATS) that rate and delete candidates before human eyes see the application.

What role do action verbs play in a salesman's cover letter?

Action verbs are powerful in a salesman’s cover letter because they convey energy, confidence and motivation. Power words like “generated,” “closed,” “negotiated,” and “exceeded” vividly describe your accomplishments and help break the monotony of most formal letters.

How long should my salesman cover letter be?

Your cover letter should be one page at maximum. If you apply to a competitive job with hundreds of applicants, write less than 350 words. This will keep your cover letter short but punchy.