Data Analyst Cover Letter Example

Searching for data analyst position jobs can be challenging, but an outstanding data analyst cover letter can boost your chances of getting hired faster! At cvapp.nz, we’re here to help you create impressive cover letters with ease. If you’re looking for flawless, functional CVs, we’ve got you covered. 

In this guide, we’ll explore the following: 

• Why a cover letter is an essential component of any  data analyst job application
• The best approach to take when writing your cover letter
• The best format for your data analyst cover letter
• What sections to include in your cover letter
• The psychology of writing a persuasive cover letter
• Cover letter layout and design tips
• Common mistakes you want to avoid

Job outlook: why the world needs data analysts

We live in an era of “big data.” Unimaginable amounts of information — think rivers and floods — are right at our fingertips. How do we make sense of such a mind-boggling amount of data? Who can guide us to use it productively, for instance, in making our businesses more efficient, cost-effective and profitable?

Enter the data analyst. Sometimes called data scientists, data analysts are experts at collecting, sorting, analysing and making sense of all this data so that it’s useful.

If you’re a data analyst on a job search, the prospects are excellent. However, with this being one of the most explosive growth sectors, you’re not alone. Sometimes, you’ll be up against a ton of other candidates vying for the role you’re applying for – and for the best jobs, you’ll have to compete with other applicants who may have more experience and education. That’s why you’ll need a great cover letter to help distinguish your application from the applications of others. That’s why we’re here! 

Why a data analyst needs a cover letter

At the intersection of technology, statistics and business sense, you have to somehow convince prospective employers that you’re the right person for the data-wizard position being sought.

If you don’t include a cover letter with your cover letter, a hiring manager has every right to wonder why. Is it because you’re too lazy to write a one-page letter? Is it because you’re a bad writer? Is it because this job isn’t very important to you? Is it because you feel so entitled to the job that you don't think a personal note is even necessary? Is it because you’re spamming 100 employers with your resume and you don’t have time to write personalised letters? 

It goes without saying that you don’t want hiring managers to be asking any of these questions. This is why you should always include a cover letter with a CV. There's only one exception that makes sense — the rare instance when a company specifically requests that you send a CV only.

If you happened to meet this hiring manager in person, you would obviously introduce yourself before handing over your CV. A cover letter is the proper way to introduce yourself in an effort to establish a personal connection to someone who has the power to offer you a job.

The cover letter also gives you the opportunity to explain certain things that may be unclear in your CV. You can cover some of the bases that a CV doesn’t allow for, leaving the hiring manager with no doubts or misunderstandings that might damage your chances.

Best format for a data analyst cover letter

A cover letter should typically be one page in length, no more than 400 words, and structured with following sections:

• Header
• Greeting
• Introduction
• Body paragraphs
• Conclusion (and call-to-action!)
• Signature and sign-off

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at each cover letter section, along with some awesome customisable examples. Let’s get started!

Cover letter header

The top of your data analyst cover letter should feature an attractively designed header that contains your name, occupation, address, phone number and email. There should be no mystery about how a prospective employer can reach you.

The header is also an important design element on the page, allowing for creative use of colour, typography, layout and white space.

Since attractive headers are not easy for everyone to create, we recommend using a professionally-designed cover letter template. At cvapp.nz, we have a ton of sleek, sophisticated designs for you to use. Simply browse our collection and input your information! (Yep, we make it that easy!) 

Aim of the cover letter header: The header shares your contact information so employers can get in touch with you. The attractive, professional look shows effort and attention to detail. 

Cover letter greeting

Although the era of email has relaxed some of the business letter writing rules, the traditional cover letter greeting — a simple “Dear Mr. [or Ms.] Last Name” — is still your best bet.

Using the recipient's first name is probably acceptable if you happen to know each other. And if you’re writing to an employer known to have a more casual communication style, the “Dear” or “Tēnā koe” can perhaps be replaced by a more informal word like “Greetings.”

Always try to address your cover letter by name to the individual in charge of hiring. People like to read their own names, and it shows you’ve made an effort to find out who the hiring manager is and connect directly with that person. If you don’t know the person’s name, do some research online. Failing that source, it may be worth calling the company to find out.

Aim of the cover letter greeting: Starts off on the right note by forming a direct personal connection with employers.

Cover letter introduction

The cover letter intro should identify your job objective and briefly highlight your qualifications, including years of experience in the field. The language should be lively, sincere and respectful. This can help capture the reader’s attention with motivations to read more.

Think like a fisherman: You need to be sure the fish is hooked before you try reeling it into the boat. Write in a style that’s enthusiastic and bold, without being overly arrogant. 

Aim of the cover letter introduction: Sets the stage for employers to learn more about why you’re the right fit for the job

Check out our data analyst cover letter sample below!

Body of the cover letter

The heart of your letter must make a compelling case that you’re a viable candidate for the job you’re applying for. It should highlight your experience as a data analyst, naming some of the places you’ve worked and highlighting your accomplishments in those jobs.

Be specific about your achievements, using facts and figures where possible. This is where you can elaborate on the bullet points in your CV about what you did for past employers. You can and should include anecdotes about specific challenges you faced, the action you took to resolve them and the results you achieved.

You may also mention your tertiary qualifications and any relevant certifications. Additionally, in a technical field like data analysis, you should highlight your expertise in using applicable computer software.

Ideally, you are aware of your target employer’s specific data analysis needs. By all means, point out your potential contributions in addressing those issues if hired. Always remember that your cover letter should not be about how much you deserve a job, but about how you can help the company solve its problems.

Aim of the cover letter body: Substantiate your case for being an excellent candidate by focusing on the past successes you could replicate for this future employer.

If you need inspiration, check out our data analyst cover letter body paragraph below! 

Conclusion / call to action

Wrap up your cover letter with a quick recap, a thank-you and a call to action. Make it clear that you’re eager to hear back from the employer to set up an interview. You may want to note that you’re always reachable at the phone or email you’ve provided. Express confidence that you would be a real asset to the company, and demonstrate your enthusiasm for working there.

Once again, try to find the balance between coming across as confident and respectful towards the employer, and specifically the person reading your cover letter.

Aim of the cover letter conclusion: End on a confident but respectful note with a call to action that motivates the employer to follow up.

Signature / sign-off

This part is simple. Close with a “Sincerely,” “Best regards,” or “Ngā mihi.” Add a space below that, and type your full name. Some writers choose to insert their actual scanned signature, though this is not considered necessary in electronic communication.

Cover letter design and formatting

Your cover letter should look good at a glance, before anyone reads the first word. If it’s visually unappealing, you’ve likely lost your chance at making a good first impression. Boo!

Follow these guidelines for proper cover letter formatting and design.

• Fonts: Choose an attractive, easy-to-read, familiar font, nothing exotic or splashy. You want the reader to focus on your content and not the strange-looking text. The most widely recommended fonts for cover letters ensure readability and clean design: Verdana, Georgia, Arial, Open Sans, Helvetica, Roboto, Garamond or PT Sans. Choose one that suits you based on writing tone and visuals.
• Font size: Use a font size of 10 to 12 points. Resist the urge to cram too many words of cover letter text onto one page by shrinking the font size. Focus on trimming and tightening your text instead.
• Text alignment: Text formatting should be left-aligned, NOT justified from margin to margin. The correct text alignment looks just like what you’re reading now. It’s much easier for the eye to navigate.
• Paragraphs: Separate paragraphs with a space in between, but do not indent. Avoid paragraphs that are too long.
• Margins: Use a 1-inch margin on the top, bottom, right and left.
• White space: Leave room for white space on the page that contains nothing at all. This will give your letter an eye-pleasing appearance and keep it from looking too jam-packed. Simple, yet effective.
• Save as a PDF: In almost all cases, you should save your letter as a PDF file. This preserves all the formatting so that it looks the same on your reader’s computer as it does on yours. The only exception to this rule is for employers who specifically request another file type, such as a Word document.
• Use a template: You don’t have to worry about any of the above if you use a professionally designed cover letter template like those at cvapp.nz. A good template has already taken care of all the formatting for you, so you can focus on what your letter says and not on how it looks.

Psychology, tips and tactics

You may have read up on applicant tracking systems (ATS) — electronic gatekeepers that filter CVs according to their usage of keywords that describe critical job qualifications.

While it is vital to pass through the filters of these computer crawlers, it’s also important to remember that ultimately it’s a human being your cover letter needs to persuade. So you need to write like a real person who’s initiating a conversation with another person, and not just recite facts like a robot.

Try to get inside your reader’s head, anticipating what’s important to the one making or influencing hiring decisions. Don’t just write the letter you want to write, but write the letter you want that person to receive.

You’re undoubtedly aware that there’s a difference between business letters and friendly letters. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that a business letter shouldn’t say anything personal. In fact, the main point of a cover letter is to establish a personal connection with the recipient, so don’t shy away from personal, even emotional language. Your letter should appeal to the heart as well as the head.

Does your letter make it sound like you’re someone who’s easy to like? No employers want to hire a job candidate they don’t like. Is your letter full of fluffy clichés about how you’re a self-starter and a team player who thinks outside the box? Trite, hackneyed language that you lifted from somewhere else will not endear you to anyone, nor will it give your reader any meaningful information about you.

Does your letter mention hobbies and interests that have nothing to do with the job you’re seeking? Remove all irrelevant info from your letter and replace it with expressions of what specifically makes you good at your job.

Above all, make sure your letter is devoid of typos, misspellings or bad grammar. Surveys of hiring managers have found that such mistakes are the number one reason CVs and cover letters are rejected. If English is not your forte, find a good editor to review and correct your letter.

Mistakes to avoid in your cover letter

These are some of the most common mistakes that job applicants make in preparing CVs and cover letters:

• As mentioned above, clichés, irrelevant content and errors in English usage can all sink your chances of making a positive impression on a hiring manager. Adhering to basic good grammar and avoiding typos are essential rules of thumb!
• A mass-produced cover letter that you send to dozens of employers is a non-starter. Every cover letter you write should be unique and targeted to a specific employer.
• Lazy, unfocused writing that doesn’t make a compelling case for your candidacy is a detriment to your cause.
• Bad formatting, unattractive design and/or a page crowded with too much text are all turn-offs that give the recipient an easy excuse to discard your letter.

Key takeaways

1. Data analysts are highly paid and in demand, and the job outlook for the years ahead is excellent. But to compete for the best jobs, you need to rise above the crowd with a superior CV and cover letter.
2. A good cover letter is crucial because it’s the proper way to introduce yourself to a prospective employer and to establish a personal connection to a hiring manager.
3. From the header to the sign-off, you need to follow proper cover letter structure to make sure you’ve included everything that’s essential.
4. Proper formatting is no less important, so make sure your letter adheres to the basic guidelines for good cover letter design.
5. Imagine that you’re the one receiving this letter, and write in a professional but personal style that speaks to the heart as well as the head.
6. To avoid common errors, use a professionally designed cover letter template that is already formatted correctly.