cover letter for engineering placement

Engineering cover letter examples

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If you’re ready to secure your next engineering role, you need an engaging application that helps you to stand out.

But when you’re working with similar skills and qualifications to other candidates, you need to go one step further to grab the hiring manager’s attention.

To help you do this, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide, complete with several detailed engineering cover letter examples to shape your own.

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The example cover letters here should give you a good general idea on how your Engineering cover letter should be formatted and written.

The rest of this guide gives more specific guidance on how to create your own cover letter in this format, and even includes some templates you can copy and paste.

How to write an Engineering cover letter

Here’s a simple process to write your own interview-winning cover letter.

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

Type the content of your cover letter directly into the email you are sending, or if you are applying via a job board, directly into their messaging system.

The reason for doing this it to ensure that your cover letter gets seen instantly and you can start connecting with the recruiter as soon as they open your message.

If you attach your cover letter as a separate document, the recipient will have to open up the document, which will slow the process down, or make them less likely to even open your cover letter – which could mean your application gets skipped over.

Start with a friendly greeting

To start building rapport with the recruiter or hiring manager right away, lead with a friendly greeting.

Try to strike a balance between professional and personable.

Go with something like…

• Hi [insert recruiter name]
• Hi [insert department/team name]

Stay away from old-fashioned greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very formal companies – they can come across as cold and robotic.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try to uncover it via these methods.

• Check out the company website and look at their  About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
• Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

Once you’ve opened up the cover letter with a warm greeting to start building a relationship, it is time to identify which role you want to apply for.

Recruiters are often managing multiple vacancies, so you need to ensure you apply to the correct one.

Be very specific and use a reference number if you can find one.

• I am interested in applying for the position of *Engineering role* with your company.
• I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 406f57393)
• I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
• I saw your advert for a junior project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The sole objective of your cover letter is to motivate recruiters into to opening your CV. And you achieve this by quickly explaining your suitability to the roles you are applying for.

Take a look at the job descriptions you are applying to, and make note of the most important skills and qualifications being asked for.

Then, when crafting your cover letter, make your suitability the central focus.

Explain why you are the best qualified candidate, and why you are so well suited to carry out the job.

This will give recruiters all the encouragement they need to open your CV and consider you for the job.

Keep it short and sharp

It is best to keep your cover letter brief if you want to ensure you hold the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers. A lengthy cover letter will probably not get read in full, so keep yours to around 3-6 sentences and save the real detail for your CV.

Remember the purpose of your cover letter is to quickly get recruiters to notice you and encourage them to open your CV, so it only needs to include the highlights of your experience.

Sign off professionally

To finish off your cover note, add a professional signature to the bottom, stating your important contact details and information.

This not only provides recruiters with multiple means of contacting you, but it also adds a nice professional appearance to the cover letter, which shows that you know how to conduct yourself in the workplace.

Include the following points;

• A friendly sign off – e.g. “Warm regards”
• Your full name
• Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
• Email address
• Profession title
• Professional social network – e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Aaron Smith Customer service professional 075557437373 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip : To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate document that you could copy in.

What to include in your Engineering cover letter

So, what type of information should you write about in your Engineering cover letter?

The specifics will obviously depend on your profession and the jobs you are applying to, but these are the key areas you should be covering.

• Your industry experience – Tell recruiters the types of companies you have been working for and the roles you have held in the past.
• Your qualifications – Highlight your most important relevant qualifications to show employers you are qualified to do the roles you are applying for.
• The impact you have made – Demonstrate the positive impact you have made for employers in previous jobs. Have you saved money? Improved processes? Made customers happy?
• Your reasons for moving – Employers will want to know why you are leaving your current/previous role, so provide them with a brief explanation here.
• Your availability – When will you be able to start a new job ? Check your current contract to find out your notice period if you are in a position already.

Engineering cover letter templates

Copy and paste these Engineering cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.

Hope you’re well.

I would like to express my sincere interest in the Senior Civil Engineer position you have available at Jacobs Engineering Group. With my 15+ years of experience, including 10 years in management roles, I have a proven record of driving a variety of small and large-scale construction projects.

In my current role as a Civil Engineer at Marx Group, I have consistently lowered expenses, accomplished high revenue, and optimising client satisfaction. Over the past 8 years, my initiatives have led to 25% reduction in costs, 40% boost in profits through winning numerous tenders, as well as a 15% increase in CSAT due to delivering projects ahead of schedule. I am commitment to the quality, safety, and sustainability of operations, as well as complying with relevant codes, regulations, and best practices.

I am excited about the opportunity to meet you at your earliest convenience to further discuss how my skills and experience could add value to your department.

Kind regards

John Hamilton ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Graduate Civil Engineer position at Gannett Fleming, as advertised on LinkedIn. As a recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of London, I am eager to begin my professional career and make a meaningful contribution to your esteemed establishment.

I have developed a solid foundation in engineering principles and gained hands-on experience through 13 projects during 3 internships, where I contributed towards lowering material costs by 10% and bolstering client satisfaction levels by 15% as a result of fostering strong communication efforts. My dedication to learning, coupled with my strong analytical and problem-solving skills, has equipped me with the necessary competencies to excel in this field. I am proficient in using industry-standard software, such as AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and SAP2000 for design, drafting, and analysis purposes.

I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss how my career aspirations align with your objectives. I am available for an interview at your convenience.

Christopher Brown ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

Good morning, Amanda

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing in response to AE Yates’ advertisement for a Civil Engineering Manager on your website. As a seasoned civil engineer with 20+ year of experience in the industry, I have efficiently spearheaded and delivered a wide range of complex construction project solutions.

I have been a Senior Civil Engineer for the past 10 years with PT Construction Corporation, where I have obtained 100% regulatory approvals and permits for 200+ projects, decreased delays by 25% through effective resource allocation, as well as implemented sustainable design practices which reduced in energy consumption by 35%. I am highly skilled in using engineering software to streamline processes and enhance efficiency, while fostering strong communication and collaboration with team members and clients. My strategic mind-set has enabled me to excel in identifying risks and opportunities that drive business continuity.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of joining your team and I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience.

Adam Jenkins ¦ 07777777777 ¦ [email protected]

Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing an Engineering job, so taking the time to perfect it is well worth while.

By following the tips and examples above you will be able to create an eye-catching cover letter that will wow recruiters and ensure your CV gets read – leading to more job interviews for you.

Good luck with your job search!

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Sample Cover letter for a placement

[email protected]

07777 777 777

XX September 20XX

Dear recruiter/recruitment team,

Application for 12-month Professional Placement, reference number GEN-11

I was made aware of your industrial placement scheme following discussions over LinkedIn with two of your current placement holders. As a 2 nd Year student of Chemical Engineering at the University of Manchester, I am looking to expand my professional horizons and I believe a placement in your firm would allow me to gain a better grasp of the industry and put my learning into practice. I can offer many of the skills you specify in your essential requirements, as outlined below.

Based on my LinkedIn research, I am conscious that your company puts great emphasis on safety and process efficiency. I feel this is a work ethic I can wholly embrace, as I have had to adjust to good lab practice and economical process design through my Year 1 studies. I was also very encouraged to read your online case study on addressing the ethical sourcing of feedstocks. My volunteer work with Engineers Without Borders has allowed me to see first-hand the societal damage done by processes which go around ethical guidelines, and I would be proud to work for a company which champions good practice in this area.

As mentioned above, I have carefully considered your essential and desirable requirements. Those which I feel are my strongest areas are analytical problem solving, innovative thinking and communicating across multiple levels. The first two were tested during my first year design project, which saw me selecting and rejecting different plant components based on design specifications. This included economic constraints, for which I designed a Pivot Table in Excel to compare and present options to my team. My outreach work as a STEM ambassador with local schools has meant adapting my communication style to fit my audience, be they A-level or primary school pupils. It has also taught me the value of good preparation and organisation, and the application of MS Office packages, also mentioned in your requirements.

Outside academia, I have had the opportunity to develop my team-working and self-motivation through volunteering, both as a class rep at university and with EWB (above). Though I have not yet secured full-time work experience in engineering, I have sought out opportunities to shadow process engineers in the industry. This had to move to online discussions during the COVID-19 pandemic, but I was still able to add to my experience during this time. This has given me valuable insight into the need to adopt more sustainable approaches, as well as needing to get up to speed with new concepts and processes quickly.

In summary, I hope I have shown that I meet the criteria you have set out in your Person Specification, particularly with regard to analytics, innovation and communication. I am confident that a placement in your company would give me the foundation to build my industrial career. I am available for interview online or in person at your convenience, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

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8 September 2023

Writing a Placement & Work Experience Cover Letter

When you apply for a placement, you’ll need to send a cover letter along with your CV. A placement cover letter supports your application by explaining who you are and why you’re interested in the role.

The aim of your cover letter is to persuade an employer to read your CV, (over the fifty others they received), and eventually invite you for an interview.

Want to write the perfect one? Read on for the how…

• What goes into a work experience cover letter?

How to write a cover letter for a placement

Placement cover letter example.

• Things to remember

What goes into a work experience cover letter

Although you should always tailor your cover letter for each job you apply for, there are a couple of things that all cover letters must include.

On top of the usual letter niceties, these are…

• Your name and contact details
• The role you’re applying for
• Why you’re interested in the role
• Your skills and previous experience
• What you’ll bring to the company
• Your career goals

Step 1: Dear Sir / Madam?

The first three words of your cover letter are crucial. Make no mistake!

Recruiters and employers get itchy eyes when they read a work placement cover letter addressed to [Dear Sir/Madam]. And they really lose their minds when they see [To whom it may concern]. It’s best to address your letter to the reader directly. So…

Dear Full Name , e.g. Dear David Attenborough – this is ideal as it’s gender-inclusive and doesn’t rely on the use of ‘Mr’ or ‘Ms’

Dear Mr Surname , e.g. Dear Mr Attenborough

Dear Ms Surname , e.g. Dear Ms Attenborough – never presume marital status. Write Ms instead of Miss / Mrs.

Don’t know who to address your cover letter to? There’s a few things you can do.

1. Browse LinkedIn – Lots of companies have a profile that lists their employees

2. Contact the employer – Ask for the name of the person who is tasked with reading placement cover letters. You can do this by phone or email

3. Address your cover letter to the department manager

4. If you can’t locate the person who handles recruitment, address your placement cover letter to someone who works in HR .

Step 2:  Swift intro

Next, you need to disclose what placement you’re applying for. 

A company might be hiring placement students in a number of different departments. Be specific to make sure you’re being considered for the right role.

Write something like this –

“ I am writing regarding the vacancy for the marketing placement with IBM, as advertised on RateMyPlacement. Please find my attached CV. “

Let the recruiter know where you found the vacancy for the placement. Employers are always keen to know what channels students use to find jobs. It makes a good impression.

Step 3:  Why are you interested?

Now you’ve introduced yourself, it’s time to explain why you’re interested in the chosen placement or work experience scheme.

It’s important to do some research about the company you’re applying to and the content of the programme. Use it to give convincing reasons for your interest in the placement.

Step 4: What can YOU bring?

In this section, you want to explain what you’ll bring to the company as a placement student. There’s no need to mention everything.

Be specific and keep it relevant to the role. What unique skills will you bring to the organisation?

It’s also a chance to talk a little bit about your hobbies and interests – keeping them relevant to the role you’ve applied to.

“ I am halfway through a Marketing degree, and on course to achieve a 2:1. So far, I have focussed on digital marketing modules, which have imparted strong analytical and problem-solving skills. I am also now proficient in basic coding. My three years at Mecca Bingo have provided experience with customer service practices and other useful soft skills. “

Step 5: Final flourish

Aptly named the final flourish, you will end your placement cover letter in this section. Thank the recruiter for considering your application, and register your interest in attending an interview.

“Thank you for considering my application, I’m looking forward to the prospect of discussing the placement in greater detail in an interview. “

Step 6: Farewell

If you found the name of the recruiter/employer, end your placement cover letter with ‘Yours Sincerely’. If you rebelled and wrote “to whom it may concern”, put ‘ Yours Faithfully’.

Want to set yourself up for success with your work experience application? Sign up to our FREE Career Coaching Course, a four-day virtual programme in October, to upskill yourself on CVs, applications and interviews.

Here is an example of a placement cover letter. This is the structure and general length you should be aiming for (approx 250 words) …

Dear Mr Attenborough,

I am writing regarding the vacancy for the marketing placement with IBM, as advertised on RateMyPlacement. Please find my attached CV.

I am particularly interested in this placement at IBM because of the focus on different areas of digital marketing. IBM is at the forefront of the digital marketing industry, and I am fascinated by the cloud-based software IBM provides for companies on email, web and social media. 

I have been reading about IBM’s most recent project, which aimed to improve customer experience across the buyer journey. It links closely to a project I completed in the first year of my Marketing degree, which centred around optimising the user experience for online retail.

I am halfway through a Marketing degree, and on course to achieve a 2:1. So far, I have focussed on digital marketing modules, which have imparted strong analytical and problem-solving skills. I am also now proficient in basic coding. My three years at Mecca Bingo have provided experience with customer service practices and other useful soft skills.

Thank you for considering my application, I’m looking forward to the prospect of discussing the placement in greater detail in an interview.

Yours Sincerely,

Kevin McCloud.

Things to remember…

Now you have the tools needed to craft a superb piece of career prose, there are a few things to keep in mind…

Online Placement Applications

1 . If you’re applying for a placement online, you’ll need to write your cover letter in a text box. Write it in Microsoft Word or Pages first, then copy and paste it into the text box. That way you can check your grammar and spelling beforehand.

2. If you’re sending your cover letter via email or attaching it to an online application, save it as a .pdf rather than a Word/Pages file. All computers can read PDFs, so there’ll be no problem when an employer opens the file.

3 . Always save your cover letter as ‘[Your Name] Cover Letter ‘. It looks clean, and employers will be able to find you easier.

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