Your CV details the work experience and professional strengths that demonstrate why you’re the best candidate for the position you’re applying for. To really show your skills, you’ll need a team lead cover letter that best expresses your leadership style and your philosophy of decision-making, delegating, and motivating.
In your position, it’s very important to gel with the company culture and those who you will be leading. This means that you’ll need to choose your words carefully and adjust your tone accordingly.
This team lead cover letter guide offers expert tips to help you create a memorable cover letter. We’ll cover some great topics in this cover letter (pun intended!)
Here’s what we’ll review:
- Why write a cover letter, anyway?
- What is the best format for a team lead cover letter?
- What sections should be included?
- How to make the most of your work history
- Our top writing tips
Let’s begin!
Best format for a team lead cover letter
Formatting is an important part of any team lead cover letter. Before you start typing, you need to know what sections go into a cover letter.
The format of a cover letter should contain the following elements:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting
- The cover letter intro
- The cover letter body paragraphs
- The conclusion (and call-to-action statement!)
For more general advice on cover letters, don’t forget to read our comprehensive cover letter guide on the cvapp.nz website.
Why write a cover letter?
Will your letter be read? There’s no certainty that it will, however, in the cases where it is, a persuasive cover letter can make a big difference. Within your cover letter, you have the opportunity to show-off your professional strengths and how they align with the team lead position you’re applying for. That means doing a bit of homework to discover what the company culture is, but that extra effort can pay off big time!
This team lead cover letter example will give you a blueprint for writing your own cover letter:
Dear Ms. Julia Powell,
As a dedicated professional with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from The University of Auckland, I believe that my combination of education and experience makes me an ideal fit for the Team Lead position at Elevate Academic Advisors. My name is Irihapeti Baker, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to Elevate's mission of ensuring education is a right for all individuals, irrespective of their gender, race or background.
Throughout my academic journey, I have developed a deep passion for academic consulting and its vital role in shaping students' educational experiences. My experience in providing academic consulting services at Victoria University of Wellington has afforded me the opportunity to work closely with a diverse range of students, identifying their academic goals, challenges, and finding effective solutions tailored to their needs. I take pride in building strong rapport with students, empowering them to navigate the complexities of academia and maximise their potential. My time at Victoria University and The University of Auckland has not only enriched my knowledge of international relations but also honed my leadership skills. As a team lead, I am committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment that encourages open communication, creativity, and continuous growth.
I believe that a successful team is built on trust, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to excellence. With my strong interpersonal skills and ability to motivate others, I am confident in my ability to drive positive outcomes and effectively manage a team at Elevate Academic Advisors. Being a Rotorua local, I am deeply connected to the local community and share Elevate's vision of ensuring education equality for all. I am inspired by the transformative power of education in shaping lives and creating opportunities. Elevate Academic Advisors' commitment to providing comprehensive academic consulting services aligns perfectly with my personal and professional values.
Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to contribute my skills and expertise to Elevate Academic Advisors, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my qualifications can be an asset to your team. I hope to hear from you soon!
Ngā mihi nui,
Irihapeti Baker
Cover letter header
The header of your team lead cover letter has two purposes: to grab the attention of employers, and to provide your contact details. A cover letter adds a graphic element to what otherwise would be a completely text-driven document, and it lets employers know how to get in touch. For this reason, you should provide contact information, such as your phone number and email address that you check most frequently. You can add the URLs for your social media accounts, but only if they present a professional image. It is likely that your LinkedIn profile is your best bet here (but only if it is up-to-date).
Cover letter greeting
Right off the bat, you need to set the tone of your team lead cover letter with the appropriate greeting. We recommend sticking with “Dear Dr./Mr./Ms./Mx. [Last name].” You can also use a greeting such as “Tēnā koe,” or “Tēnā koutou” if you’re addressing more than one person.
If at all possible, you should address the hiring manager by name. Why? Research shows that people respond more positively when their name is used than if it is not and since you are applying for a position that requires rapport with a team, you should begin with your cover letter.
If you absolutely cannot find the name of a person, or the HR department does not have a specific person who will review applications, you may use something like “Dear ABC Team,” or “Dear ABC Hiring Department.”
Cover letter introduction
Why do you want the job? What will you bring to the team? These are the questions you should answer in the introduction of your team lead cover letter. It’s unlikely that a recruiter will read any further if they don’t know what type of value you can add to their company or organisation.
In fact, your entire application should be geared toward explaining how you will add value to the workplace. Begin by introducing your biggest successes and describing your overall professional life (for example, “With my 10 years of experience leading software engineers, I bring ...”).
Within this first paragraph, you may even want to present an idea that you have that will enhance the efficiency, productivity, or products the company offers. This shows that you are already tuned into the needs of your prospective employer.
The goal of the cover letter introduction: get the recruiter curious about you and give them an idea of what value you will add.
Dear Ms. Julia Powell,
As a dedicated professional with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from The University of Auckland, I believe that my combination of education and experience makes me an ideal fit for the Team Lead position at Elevate Academic Advisors. My name is Irihapeti Baker, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to Elevate's mission of ensuring education is a right for all individuals, irrespective of their gender, race or background.
Cover letter body paragraphs
In the body of your team lead cover letter, you should go into depth about your career achievements, leadership style, and philosophy. You may choose to relate an anecdote about handling a conflict within the team, or motivating the team to make a tight deadline.
This middle section is about three paragraphs, one of which should contain a break-out of several of your successes that don’t require further explanation. Just as in your CV, the use of details and data will strengthen these bullet points.
Carefully consider which of your achievements best match the job description. Use anecdotes that illustrate your professional personality and show how you will manage your team in a way that benefits the company.
The goal of the middle part: back up your claims of excellence and describe how you approach your work.
Throughout my academic journey, I have developed a deep passion for academic consulting and its vital role in shaping students' educational experiences. My experience in providing academic consulting services at Victoria University of Wellington has afforded me the opportunity to work closely with a diverse range of students, identifying their academic goals, challenges, and finding effective solutions tailored to their needs. I take pride in building strong rapport with students, empowering them to navigate the complexities of academia and maximise their potential. My time at Victoria University and The University of Auckland has not only enriched my knowledge of international relations but also honed my leadership skills. As a team lead, I am committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment that encourages open communication, creativity, and continuous growth.
I believe that a successful team is built on trust, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to excellence. With my strong interpersonal skills and ability to motivate others, I am confident in my ability to drive positive outcomes and effectively manage a team at Elevate Academic Advisors. Being a Rotorua local, I am deeply connected to the local community and share Elevate's vision of ensuring education equality for all. I am inspired by the transformative power of education in shaping lives and creating opportunities. Elevate Academic Advisors' commitment to providing comprehensive academic consulting services aligns perfectly with my personal and professional values.
How to conclude a team lead cover letter
You’ve demonstrated your value to the company, detailed your professional life and you still have the attention of your reader. Ka pai! Now, you just need a strong conclusion for your team lead cover letter. First, restate your main point (“I am a great candidate for the job because ...”).
This may seem obvious, but before you sign off, you should make it clear to your reader that you would like to discuss the opportunity further. In this call-to-action sentence, politely request an interview or express your desire to meet via video, phone, or in person.
Finally, sign off with “Sincerely,” or “Kind regards,” or “Ngā mihi” and your name. Lookin’ good!
The goal of your conclusion: Restate your main point and let the reader know you’re interested in an interview.
Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to contribute my skills and expertise to Elevate Academic Advisors, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my qualifications can be an asset to your team. I hope to hear from you soon!
Ngā mihi nui,
Irihapeti Baker
Basic mistakes in a team lead application letter and how to avoid them
- Adopt the appropriate tone. You may be a casual leader, but it’s best to dial that back in your cover letter unless you are certain that the company is very laid back.
- Address your reader personally. This goes beyond simply using their name to discussing the particulars of the job and the company. Generic, cut-and-paste cover letters are obvious to people who read applications all day.
- Proofread to avoid formatting errors, typos, and grammatical mistakes. The cover letter templates at cvapp.nz can help, but you should still get another set of eyes on your work. If you are touting your attention to detail, but have a spelling error in your text, you are unlikely to get the interview.
Key takeaways
- Your team lead cover letter can make all the difference, so write one even if it’s not required.
- Use your cover letter to detail your style and philosophy of leadership. Try including an anecdote that illustrates how you handled a difficult situation.
- Create a header in which your contact details stand out and which matches the style of your CV.
- Don’t neglect a polite request for an interview. Face-to-face interactions can boost your chances of getting hired!
