Great Computer Science Cover Letter Example

Tips for writing your computer science cover letter using this example

To start your cover letter, you’ll need a professional header and salutation. This header will include your contact information, including your phone number, and any related professional links, such as your LinkedIn profile. Remember to also use the hiring manager’s name rather than a generic introduction like “Dear hiring manager.” Then you can get into the rest of the cover letter.

First paragraph: Introduce yourself with a hook and list your best achievements.

In the first paragraph, you need to hook the hiring manager as quickly as possible. This applicant tells a story about her software development skills, noting that she wrote an algorithm for a company that increased its click-through rates by 1,000%. This is a huge number, likely the biggest in her computer science CV, and it’s definitely something that will keep a recruiter reading. She lists a few programming languages, targeting the requirements of the job description for the position she’s applying for. Not only does this establish her credentials, but it also connects to her work experience.

Second paragraph: Give more information about how you’re the best fit for the job.

Now that the hiring manager is reading, you can continue to discuss why you’re the best fit for this specific job position. The applicant mentions the top skills she’s gained through her years of experience. She specifically notes how these make her unique, indicating that she has a great ability to tell where an algorithm went wrong and untangle the problem. These problem-solving skills can be incredibly helpful to a company. If you have other key achievements to list, like a computer science internship, then put them in bullet points underneath this paragraph.

Third paragraph: Call to action

Finally, the applicant includes a call to action for a job interview at the end of the letter: “I am excited to talk to you about how my skills could help your company.” This assumes that the job interview is a done deal, which is a great way to encourage a hiring manager to actually schedule the job interview with you.