Staff Assistant Cover Letter Example and Template

Staff assistants support employees of a company by performing administrative duties, such as scheduling meetings, organizing work travel, maintaining employee records and managing the inventory of office supplies. If you enjoy working in an office environment or supporting other employees, then you might consider working as a staff assistant. In this article, we explain how to write a cover letter for a staff assistant position and provide a sample letter to help guide you through crafting your own. Review job descriptions while working on your cover letter or explore resume samples while creating your coordinating resume. Once you have your application materials ready, upload a resume file or build an Indeed resume to start applying for staff assistant jobs. Brittany Ludgate Fort Wayne, IN 771-555-0199 brittany.ludgate@email.com May 1, 2023 Dear hiring manager, I'm writing to apply for the Staff Assistant position in the English Department at State University. I have four years of experience in administrative office positions, and I believe I would make a great addition to your team. I graduated from State University in 2017, so I'm already familiar with the campus and with the English Department. I got my degree in communications, and of course, those departments are in the same building. In my junior and senior years, I worked in the Communications Department office, which gave me a chance to meet quite a few people from your department and gain some familiarity with it. I think you'll find this knowledge to be very beneficial for a new Staff Assistant to have. I currently work as an administrative assistant at Office Co, where I've worked for the last two years. I work in the human resources department, assisting a team of 10 employees. My position here involves maintaining files, scheduling meetings, managing the use of our conference rooms and handling mail delivery. I also generate reports and assist with preparing presentations. I think you'll find I have many skills that could be a great addition to your department. Along with proficiency in administrative basics like spreadsheets and word processing, I'm also skilled enough in using all the equipment and other tech used in our department that I became the go-to for tech questions. I can troubleshoot the printer, computers, projectors in the conference rooms and most of the software used by Office Co. Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I'm available by phone or via email if you'd like to discuss my qualifications further. I'd also love to set up an in-person meeting. Thank you again for the opportunity to apply for this position. Sincerely, Brittany Ludgate To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file.

How to write a staff assistant cover letter

Here are six steps you can follow to write a cover letter for a staff assistant position:

1. Read the job description

Before writing your cover letter, read the job description thoroughly. It's important to understand the position before you apply for it and to ensure that you meet the job's requirements. The job description is also an excellent source of information to include in your cover letter. You can reference keywords from the description to show the hiring manager you did your research and are qualified. Related: Learn About Being an Administrative Assistant

2. Choose the right format

A well-formatted cover letter can look more professional and be easier to read. You can create a professional format easily in word-processing software by using a traditional font like Times New Roman or Garamond in a 10 to 12-point font size and giving the document one-inch margins. You can also find templates online that make it easy to create a professional cover letter. Templates can also give you more time and energy to focus on the contents of the letter. Read more: How To Format a Cover Letter (With an Outline and Examples)

3. Describe your experience

Your work experience is an important part of your cover letter, since it helps hiring managers understand what aspects of the position you're already familiar with and where you might need training. While it's best to focus on past jobs that directly relate to the position, you can include jobs from other industries and write about transferrable skills you learned. When writing about a position you held, include your title, length of employment and job duties. You can also include any applicable educational background. Related: 8 Office Skills Administrative Employers Are Looking For

4. Review your relevant skills

Use your cover letter to add context and description to skills you might have listed on your resume. You can do this by providing examples of instances when your skills helped you achieve something at work, like the completion of a challenging project. When possible, it's a good idea to use numbers to support your examples. For instance, you could write about how your problem-solving and communication skills led to better deals on office supplies, which helped lower the company's spending by 5%. Here are some staff assistant skills you might include in your cover letter:

Organization
Written and verbal communication
Attention to detail
Professionalism
Interpersonal skills
Adaptability
Office software proficiency
Teamwork
Multitasking
Problem-solving

5. Explain your interest

Hiring managers often appreciate a personalized cover letter, and one great way to accomplish this is to talk about your specific interest in the position or company. For example, if the job description says it's a position with growth potential, you could write that you're interested in the position because of that potential. You could also write that you want to work with the company because you like their product or services and want to be part of the team helping that product succeed. Related: 14 Common Qualities Employers are Looking For

6. Thank the reader

In the last paragraph of your cover letter, thank the reader for their consideration of your application materials. This shows respect for their time and attention, which can leave the hiring manager with a good impression of you. It's a good idea to encourage them to contact you if they have questions or want to discuss your application further. This is also a great place to reiterate your excitement about the opportunity. Related: How To Succeed in Your New Job: First Week, 30 and 90 Days

Tips for writing an effective cover letter

Here are a few tips that can help you write a strong cover letter:

Research the company

Before writing your cover letter, it's a good idea to research the company that's offering the position. It can help you confirm that the position is right for you and it can give you ideas for what to include in your cover letter. A great way to research the company is to browse its website and read about its goals, team and recent news. If they use social media, that can also give you significant insight into their company culture and the kind of employee they might want. Related: 7 Powerful Ways to Start a Cover Letter (With Examples)

Match your resume

Coordinating your cover letter with your resume is a great way to give your application materials a more professional look. You can do this by giving both documents similar design elements, such as choosing the same fonts or designing a common header. There are many matching resume and cover letter templates available for free online if you aren't sure how to design your own. Related: 6 Universal Rules for Resume Writing (With Video)

Write concisely

The typical cover letter is one page long, so it's important to write concisely. This can be challenging if you have a lot of work experience, skills or other qualifications that apply to the position. To decide which ones are the most important to include, review the job description and consider which qualities are highlighted. By focusing on a few qualifications and skills from the job description, it may be easier to keep your cover letter to a single page. Related: Types of Cover Letters (With Samples)

Proofread and edit

Before submitting your application, it's important to carefully proofread and edit your cover letter. A well-written cover letter free of typos or awkward wording can show a hiring manager you pay attention to detail and care about the position. It's a good idea to read your cover letter at least twice, as a second pass may catch issues you missed on your first read. You might also want to ask a friend to read your cover letter, since an outside perspective can be extremely helpful for finding areas for improvement. Read more: 27 Proofreading Tips That Will Improve Your Resume