Demand for software engineers (and software developers) is on the rise, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Even so, competition for roles remains strong. That’s why having a strong cover letter is so important.
A well-written software engineering cover letter complements your resume and portfolio, giving context to your skills and experience. It’s also the perfect opportunity to show hiring managers who you are and what makes you a great fit for the job (and company).
But how do you write a cover letter for software engineer roles? And how can you make sure your cover letter catches a hiring manager’s eye and lands you the interview?
Read on for a step-by-step guide to writing a standout cover letter with examples for different experience levels.
Key Points
- You won’t always be required to write a cover letter as a software engineer, but doing so can help you stand out from the competition.
- Whether it’s for a software engineer internship or full-time dev role, a little customization goes a long way. Write a cover letter tailored to the job you’re applying for.
- Software engineer cover letters should include interest in the role and fit, as well as experience highlights, proof of skills, and impact.
- This guide includes practical tips and real-world software engineer cover letter examples to help you see how it all comes together.
Do Software Engineers Need Cover Letters?
Software engineering employers don’t always require cover letters. If they do, they’ll typically mention it in the job description or application.
Even if it’s not technically required, a cover letter is still helpful to have alongside your resume and portfolio. One study found that 77% of recruiters give preference to those who include one in their application. That’s an automatic leg up on the competition, no matter if you’re applying for a highly competitive role, seeking a referral, or trying to get an internship.
The goal of writing a software engineering cover letter isn’t to reiterate what’s already on your resume. You can certainly use it to highlight key experiences and impactful projects, but it’s more than that.
It’s an opportunity to show hiring managers how you apply yourself on the job, who you are beyond your experience, and what you’re hoping to achieve going forward. It’s also a great way to explain significant gaps in your resume (or the reason behind a career shift).
What to Include in a Software Engineer Cover Letter
Every software engineer’s cover letter looks a little different, depending on the role and experience level. But here’s what hiring managers typically expect to see:
- Strong opening tied to the role: Begin by mentioning the role you’re applying for, what drew you to it, and a specific skill or experience matching the job description.
- Proof points: Include instances of measurable (and relevant) results. This could be a time when you solved a problem at scale, wrote secure code for a website, built an app, or boosted traffic. Be specific with outcome and impact.
- Relevant technical stack: Bring up any front- and back-end technologies or tools you’ve used, specifically as pertains to the role you’re applying for.
- Collaboration experience: Hiring managers want to know you can work well with others, so mention a team-based project or two. If applying for a more senior role, include leadership experience.
- Why this company or team: Dedicate a paragraph of your software engineering cover letter to explaining why you’re applying for this job. Mention your interest in joining the team or contributing to a specific ongoing project.
- Confident close: Conclude the cover letter by highlighting any other key experience or skills needed for the job. Be concise, but don’t be afraid to show some enthusiasm. And make sure to proofread your writing for any errors.
Simple Cover Letter Structure: Paragraph by Paragraph
A software engineering cover letter should strengthen your overall application by emphasizing the finer points of your resume and portfolio. But it should also be engaging and easy to read, so keep it under a page. And 4 or 5 paragraphs is usually enough (depending on your experience and the job requirements).
Hiring managers don’t want to see a generic application. So, read through the job requirements, research the company, and tailor your cover letter to the role.
Here’s a simple, repeatable blueprint for how to write a cover letter for software engineers.
Paragraph 1: Hook and Role Fit
Hiring managers are busy, so draw them in with a hook. This could be a recent internship, a collaborative coding project, or skills in front- or back-end development. Whatever you include should be directly aligned with the job you’re applying for.
State the position title, company name, and your excitement to be considered for the role. Mention how you can help the company succeed.
Paragraph 2: Skill Proof and Impact
Highlight relevant experience, such as a recent job, internship, freelance project, or significant volunteer work. Even if it’s unpaid, real-world experience can help you stand out.
This is also a good time to mention real-world projects, like a budgeting app or website you built. Include specific outcomes and the quantifiable impact of those projects. That might be an uptick in app users, percentages, or systems efficiency.
Paragraph 3: Tools and Collaboration
Include technical and non-technical skills that might be missing from the previous paragraphs. Examples include programming fundamentals, algorithms, data structures, version control, and teamwork. If relevant to the position, mention any front-end, back-end, or full-stack development experience.
If space allows, mention how you’ve applied these skills in a specific project or other experience. Depending on experience, you might need to limit what you include.
Paragraph 4: Close and Call to Action
Reiterate your excitement in the position and that you’re interested in next steps. Include your phone number, email address (preferably a professional one), and a link to your portfolio. End with a sincere thank you to the hiring manager. Keep this final paragraph short and confident.
Tips to Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Job
Before you write a cover letter for a software engineer role, know that the best way to stand out is by customizing it to the job. Here’s how:
- Mirror keywords: Carefully read through the job description, taking note of any requirements or keywords. Include some of those keywords (and relevant experiences).
- Showcase 1 or 2 key projects: Emphasize real-world projects that highlight your most relevant skills and accomplishments. It’s even better if these are directly related to the role.
- Tie tech to business/user value: Quantifiable results are vital, regardless of experience. Provide key metrics and outcomes showing how your contributions have boosted value.
- Show curiosity: Research the company, its mission, pain points, products, and future objectives. Be enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to the team.
- Keep it concise: A cover letter should be short and to the point, so don’t try to make it a comprehensive checklist of your experiences. Stick with the most important elements.
Are you debating between a career as a software engineer or a software developer? Learn the key differences now.
Software Engineer Cover Letter Examples
Below are software engineer cover letter examples. These blueprints can serve as a baseline to use across different software engineering applications. Just be sure to tailor your cover letter when actually applying for a job.
Example 1: Entry-Level or New Graduate Software Engineer
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
As a recent graduate with a degree in Computer Science, I’m excited by the prospect of joining [Company Name] as an entry-level software engineer. Given my significant programming experience, successful completion of several real-world projects, and recent internship, I’m confident I can contribute to your team’s mission to [Paraphrase the Mission].
While pursuing my degree, I participated in several coding challenges, a hackathon, and, more recently, a three-month-long internship at [Name]. As part of the internship, I worked with other software engineers, product managers, and data engineers to test an automated expense tracking app for quality, efficiency, and adaptability. During this time, I was also instrumental in bringing about a 27% reduction in late-development technical issues.
Besides my experience working in fast-paced environments with cross-functional teams and tight deadlines, I’ve also gained extensive skills in programming fundamentals (like SQL, Python, and R), version control systems, systems design, cloud and deployment awareness, and integration testing.
It’d be my pleasure to work with [Company Name], a company that’s been on the cutting edge of tech for decades now. The thought of working alongside such a talented team to create meaningful impact in [Specific Industry] is exciting. I’m confident that, between my education, experience, real-world projects, and passion for software engineering, I’d be a great fit for the team.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to discussing my qualifications further, your company’s needs, and the possibility of working together. You can reach me at [Phone Number] or [Email]. My portfolio is: [Website].
Sincerely,
[First and Last Name]
Example 2: Experienced Software Engineer
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
Please consider my application for the Senior Software Engineer position at [Company Name]. I’ve been working in the field for the past seven years and have collaborated with cross-functional teams throughout the software development life cycle, built dozens of successful apps and websites, and even mentored junior-level software engineers. Now, I’m ready to take the next step in my career with [Company Name].
As a Software Engineer with [Current Company Name], I’ve gained significant experience working in both full-stack and mobile development. Under the supervision of our Senior Software Engineer, I aided in the design and implementation of key system structures that not only met the end user’s requirements but were reliable and scalable. One of the apps I built gained over 1 million downloads in the first two months and has continued to scale from there.
Further, I’m experienced in systems architecture, programming languages (including JavaScript and SQL), DevOps, database tech, and Agile project management. I’ve also worked within both cloud development and deployment environments to code and test projects in real time, minimize site downtime, and increase availability.
I’m excited about the prospect of joining [Company Name]’s team and applying the skills I’ve learned to aid with your [Paraphrased Mission]. I believe my background closely aligns with your needs, particularly with my [reference a specific, overarching ability that can help with the company’s main pain point/s]. I’d be happy to continue the discussion at your convenience. You can reach me at [Phone Number] or [Email]. My portfolio is: [Website].
Sincerely,
[First and Last Name]
Example 3: Career Switcher or Bootcamp Grad
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I recently came across [Company Name]’s posting for a Junior Software Engineer and wanted to express my interest in the role. I’ve been working in the health care field for the past 10 years, but I’ve recently completed a software engineering bootcamp and a series of online coding challenges. I believe my skills and experience align closely with your needs and that I’d be a great fit for your team.
During the four-month-long bootcamp, I mastered programming languages like JavaScript, R, React, SQL, and Python. I also learned front- and back-end development, built a full-stack budgeting app, and handled real-world coding problems. Since then, I’ve worked on a freelance basis on several projects. One was a custom chatbot that boosted user engagement by 33%. Another was an automated expense tracking app that reduced user error by 78%.
I’m familiar with database security and privacy fundamentals, cross-functional teamwork (also important in the health care industry), version control, and database basics. Further, I’m adaptable and driven to continuously learn the latest technologies and to apply them on the job.
While my experience lies primarily in the health care industry as an administrator, I’m most passionate about technology—specifically system and tool design and development. As [Company Name]’s mission is all about [Paraphrase Mission], I believe our goals are in alignment with one another.
I’d love to speak more with you about my experience, interest in your company, and how I can aid your team going forward. You can reach me at [Phone Number] or [Email]. You can also find my software engineering portfolio at [Website].
Thank you for your time,
[First and Last Name]
Learn more: If you’re mapping out your path, this guide on becoming a software engineer can help.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Cover letters still matter for software engineering roles. Basically, writing one provides the opportunity to shine in ways a resume or portfolio alone might be lacking.
But it’s easy to overdo it. As you write a cover letter for software engineering, here are a few pitfalls to avoid:
- Making your cover letter too long: Stick with 4 or 5 paragraphs. It shouldn’t be more than a page.
- Being generic: Hiring managers go through dozens, if not more, applications for open roles. Customizing your cover letter is one of the best ways to avoid coming across as too template-y and getting your application discarded.
- Repeating your resume: You can highlight certain experiences, skills, or projects from your resume. But your cover letter shouldn’t repeat what’s already there. It should enhance or fill in the blanks.
- Not including proof: Quantifiable outcomes and other metrics go a long way to standing out.
- Buzzword stuffing: Including industry-specific terminology or mirroring job posting keywords is OK, but don’t overdo it.
- Not including a company-specific tie-in: A clear indication of a generic cover letter is no company tie-in. Do your research and reference the company’s mission statement or pain points.
- Formatting errors: Simple grammatical or spelling errors can be a turn-off for hiring managers. Run your letter through a proofreader.
Final Cover Letter Checklist
Before submitting your software engineering application, check over your cover letter. It should ideally include:
- A tailored opening with the position title and company name
- 1 or 2 impact examples (like a real-world project or anything with quantifiable results)
- Your stack alignment
- Why this specific company
- Clean formatting with no glaring grammatical or spelling errors
- A strong closing paragraph
When in doubt, read it aloud for clarity. If anything feels off, it might be worth taking another crack at it.
Pair Your Strong Skills with a Strong Story
Your cover letter should add meaning to your resume by showing fit, impact, and communication. It’s the perfect opportunity to highlight your most relevant skills and expertise, and to let your personality shine. Writing one could make all the difference between getting your foot in the door and getting passed up for someone else.
These software engineer cover letter examples are meant as templates. You can use them as a starting point, but tailor yours thoughtfully.
Want to be prepared for the interview? Check out these common engineer interview questions to get an idea of what to expect. Or find software engineering jobs with Intuit.
FAQs
How long should a software engineer cover letter be?
A rule of thumb is to keep your cover letter to no more than a page. Anything more than that and you run the risk of losing the hiring manager’s interest.
What common mistakes should I avoid in a software engineer cover letter?
Common mistakes include making your letter too long, being generic (or not customizing it to the job), repeating your resume, and being vague. Formatting errors and buzzword stuffing can also work against you.
Can I use AI to help me write a cover letter?
You can use AI to write a cover letter, but you might still want to go over it before sending it in. That way, you can check for any mistakes and tailor it to better fit your voice and style.