Kia ora and welcome to cvapp.nz’s cover letter guide for architects! We’ll help you skyrocket your career potential and land your ideal job role. Whether you’re new to job-hunting or a seasoned job-seeker, we’ve got you covered. Read ahead for our top advice on how to create a winning cover letter for potential employers!
Formatting cover letters for architects
As an architect, you understand how crucial structure is to success. The structure and formatting of a cover letter is one of the most important factors in securing your next job role. Cover letter structure will generally look like this:
- Header
- Greeting
- Introduction
- Body
- Conclusion
- Sign-off
Before drafting your cover letter, we urge you to take the time to research the company, their website, and their social media to gain insight into their company culture, values, and the language used across their media presence. Researching a company can not only help you get a better grasp of the company, but also enable you to create a more engaging cover letter. In this guide, we’ll explore each section of a cover letter and help you understand their importance. Let’s get into it!
Cover letter header
Your cover letter should have a captivating header that grabs employers' attention. Include your full name, contact information, and relevant links to your professional accounts such as LinkedIn or Behance. You can include your full address or just mention the city, region and postcode if you’re uncomfortable using your full mailing address in your cover letter.
Visually, your cover letter header is very important. We’ve developed striking, attractive cover letter headers for all of our cvapp.nz cover letter templates. Check them out for yourself in our cover letter builder!
Cover letter greeting
Your greeting should be respectful and professional. You can use a formal or professional greeting such as "Dear Mr. /Mrs. /Ms. [Last Name]" or "Tena Koe, [Name]". To make a personal connection, try to look up the name of your recruiter to use in your greeting. When employers see their name, it creates a sense of recognition. Avoid using casual greetings like "Hi" or "Hey" as it may not be appropriate for some companies. We recommend doing some research to learn the company culture and standards by checking their website or social media pages. For the best impact, use a personal name in the greeting whenever it is possible. An example of a great cover letter greeting could be:
Dear Mr. Miller,
Cover letter introduction
Your cover letter should begin with a few powerful, compelling sentences that will hook employers in and motivate them to read more. You can begin your cover letter with a strong introduction that briefly highlights your qualifications, relevant work experience, and any notable accomplishments that make you the ideal fit for the role. Use the introduction as an opportunity to leave a positive and lasting first impression on the employer. The introduction should lay the groundwork for the body paragraph, where you can elaborate on your work experience, accomplishments, and any other relevant points. For example, an awesome introduction could be:
After six years of working with architecture firm Holt Henderson in the United States of America, I am looking to return home to New Zealand to begin a new chapter of my life. Few architecture firms in New Zealand impress me as much as Premier Prime. In my opinion, Premier Prime is the leading architecture and construction company in New Zealand. It would be a true honour to work with you and your team.
Cover letter middle part (body)
In the body paragraph, you can expand on any details you mentioned in your introduction. Explain why you are interested and motivated to apply, and detail your relevant achievements and experience. As an architect, you can mention any projects you’ve been involved with and any skills or achievements you gained during this time.
Your aim should be to demonstrate why you are the perfect fit for the job. Elaborate on the details you initially mentioned in the introduction and provide specific evidence of your education, experience, and relevant skills that you possess. Include references to institutions, names, and other related organizations that you have connections to. When writing your cover letter to a particular institution, include facts and details that prove you know and understand the position and organization. Don’t be afraid to confidently highlight your experiences and skills – employers are looking for the perfect candidate. Show them it’s you!
Check out a great body paragraph example here:
My architecture expertise includes strong design thinking, good in-depth knowledge of architectural history and using architecture software such as AutoCAD, Rhino 3D and V-Ray. I graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 2011 with a Bachelor of Architectural Studies (Hons) and a Master of Architecture (Professional) in 2015. I am also registered with the New Zealand Registered Architects Board. In addition to this, I have been nominated for more than 10+ awards in the United States, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Brazil, Canada and Portugal, and won the prestigious Ellison Bailey Award for my project on sustainable housing in rural areas. I love working with diverse groups of people and designing projects that work with the environment - not against it. I have also spoken at 20+ events in
the United States, Turkey, Japan, New Zealand and Australia about the importance of sustainable design thinking.
In terms of value and expertise I believe I can add to Premier Prime, I would like to share the following:
- I was nominated for the Hendriks Hanover Award in Germany, the Paolo Silva Award in Brazil, the Edgar Amanece Award in Sweden and won several more awards in different countries. I will be happy to share these nominations and awards with you at a later date.
- I spearheaded Holt Henderson's acquisition of Laurel-Kline and initiated pro-bono contracts for underprivileged schools and organisations in the United States. We restored libraries, schools, buildings and helped children create meaningful art in less socioeconomically developed areas. Holt Henderson later won the Langdon Meyer Award for these creative projects.
- I helped Holt Henderson generate revenue of over $35,000,000 USD in only two years. By working together with our finance and accounting team, we discovered ways to cut costs by 37% while still promoting high-quality work to high-profile clients.
Cover letter conclusion: Leave a lasting impression
In the conclusion of your cover letter, you can thank the potential employer for their consideration and express your interest in an interview with an assertive call-to-action. An appropriate call-to-action might be to offer your contact information or state that you look forward to hearing from them soon. End your cover letter with a formal and polite goodbye such as “Ngā mihi” or “Kind regards.” As long as your tone is professional and polite, you’re good to go! To get the most from your cover letter and make sure that you stand out from the competition, reference our cover letter builder for helpful tips and examples. Make sure to also reiterate why you’re the ideal candidate for the job, and do so in a professional and confident way. Your cover letter conclusion should give employers an overall impression that you know and understand the position and organization. Lastly, as always, don’t forget to proofread your work!
Epic cover letters are intentional
Writing a cover letter is a great way to create a positive, professional connection with potential employers. Don’t be afraid to mention your passions, your “why” or any relevant details that may have influenced your desire to apply for a role with the company. Don’t forget to present yourself as professional and friendly when you are writing your cover letter. If you ever get stuck, we’ve got plenty of great examples, templates and resources on our website. Karawhiua!
