Sample Cover Letter to Recruitment Agency

No matter what you do for a living, having the right recruiter in your corner can help you land the job of your dreams. In fact, some companies only hire through recruitment agencies. So going through one is your only chance of breaking into the industry.

Yes, some recruiters work with all job seekers. However, the truth is that the best recruiters with connections to high paying jobs are selective. You’ll need to impress them with a great cover letter and resume. That’s why we’re providing you with these helpful writing tips, followed by a sample cover letter to a recruitment agency.

How Do I Write a Cover Letter to a Recruitment Agency?

Your cover letter structure will slightly differ depending on whether you are approaching a recruitment agency out of the blue or follow-up with a recruiter you’ve connected with earlier (e.g. via LinkedIn). 

In the first case, your cover letter will be somewhat more formal, and perhaps even somewhat generic since you are not petitioning for a specific position. 

If you do, however, was invited to apply for a job by a connection, keep your cover letter more personalized and aligned with the scope of positions you are after. 

In both cases, however, it helps to follow this simple structure for writing a cover letter:

1. Introduce yourself and mention your credentials in the opening paragraph
2. Detail the type of work you are looking for and your most marketable skills in the body 
3. Close the cover letter with a call to action offering the recruiter to meet up for in-person or over video conferencing. 

Now let’s take a closer look at how to put the above framework to practice.

How to Address a Cover Letter to Recruiter Agency

Cover letter salutation is the first “stumbling block” for many candidates. Since you are approaching an agency, not a direct employer, it may be hard to determine who will be reviewing your letter.

Respectively, go with a “safe option” and address your cover letter to a recruiter agency by:

• Using the company business name 
• Mentioning the point of contact listed on the website
• Referring to a recruiter you may know

Pro tip: You can try email lookup tools such as Voila Norbert to find email addresses, associated with the recruiting agency. Then choose an email, associated with a specific person, and email them directly. 

Be Concise

If you read our other posts about writing cover letters, you already know that your cover letter is your chance to share your enthusiasm for a particular job and show that you did some research on the employer. In this case, however, you’ll want to ignore that advice entirely.

With a recruiter, stick with the relevant facts only, and keep your letter short. That’s not to say that you should be abrupt or terse. It’s just that your recruiter is very busy. They want to quickly determine whether they can help you. Then, they want to get to work doing just that. Save any information about being a cultural fit, or excited about the opportunity to work for a particular company for later in the process.

ADVICE FROM OUR EXPERT

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Recruitment agencies specialize in identifying and maximizing talent and can be an incredible resource for job seekers as they navigate a career transition. When creating a cover letter targeting recruitment firms, clearly articulate what experience, competencies, and areas of specialization make you a valuable resource within the market. As the agency will likely connect you with prospective employers, consider taking more of an open-ended approach without mentioning specific jobs, industries, and organizations.

Claire Webber
Career Consultant, CPCC, CPRW

State Your Needs Clearly

The more direct you are about your needs and expectations, the better your recruiter can help you. Outline details such as:

• Your willingness to travel
• Companies that interest you
• Salary expectations
• Your preference regarding contract/temp work.

No recruiter wants to waste their time on submitting you for jobs that will not interest you. Finally, don’t forget to let them know if you are willing to relocate, and where you are interested in going.

Try something like this:

‘Because I have more than a decade of experience as a Systems Analyst, I’m only interested in jobs that pay at least 75 dollars per hour. I am willing to travel, as long as the benefits include an attractive per diem, and I can be home at least 20% of the time. My preference is to accept permanent positions, but I will consider contract to hire.’

Outline Your Availability

A recruiting agency employee will want to know two key pieces of information. First, when will you be available to start a new position. If you’ll need two weeks after accepting an offer, let them know that. Otherwise, give a firm date if you can. Next, you’ll need to include when you are available for interviews. Here’s an example:

‘I am prepared to give notice at my current employer immediately upon accepting an offer. However, to properly close out any open projects, I will need to provide 30 days’ notice.’

Disclose Any Conflicts

This is a tough one. Every recruiter is different. Some will absolutely not work with you if you are working with other headhunters. Others will request that you agree to drop other recruiters and work only with them. There’s a reason for this. It looks bad for a recruiter when they double submit a job seeker to a client.

As part of your cover letter, be certain that you disclose the names of any other recruiting agencies you’ve worked with, and where you’ve submitted your resume within the past six months. You can do this with a simple bulleted list:

“I’ve worked with the following recruiters and employers.

• Data Staffing
• Eastern Missouri Technical Recruiting
• Sacramento Board of Education
• Nabisco”

Cover Letter Example to Recruitment Agency in .docx Format

Download example (Word version)

Sample Cover Letter to Recruitment Agency – Text Format

Should I Send a Cover Letter to a Recruiter?

As a rule of thumb, you do. It might not always be a standard cover letter though, but rather a letter of introduction (LOI), explaining your professional background, key qualifications, availability, and jobs you are looking to get. If it’s your first time contacting the recruiter, it’s best to keep the above brief and also inquire whether they are currently looking to fill in any roles in your industry and what would be the best way to forward them your resume.

Try something like this:

“Thank you for connecting with me. I’ve noticed that your firm specializes in hospitality staffing. So I was wondering if you are looking for full-time bartenders at the moment. I’m a winner of the National Bartending Competition 2019 and previously worked at the Hilton Hotel, as well as catered at private events for GM, Siemens, and a number of other private customers. What would be the best way to send you over my resume?”

What Should I Say in an Email to a Recruiter?

Once you get the recruiter’s private email, be sure to follow up with all the information they requested in their earlier message (if you’ve communicated earlier).

If you happen to have been passed on a recruiter email by a friend or colleague, start with a more general introduction. Include the following details:

• Reason for contacting
• How you obtained their contact details
• Brief summary of your skills and work experience
• Current job status
• Availability 

Most will get back to you with either a more detailed intake form or request a copy of your resume and other relevant documents. Also, most will briefly explain the next steps and any other terms of collaborating with them or the agency they represent.

Final Tip: Do Your Research

If you submit a cover letter with salary requirements that are too low or too high, potential recruiters won’t consider you in any case. The same is true if you show interest in a company or industry for which you are a poor fit. Before you send your cover letter, be sure that your salary requirements and other expectations align with reality.