Customer Service Cover Letter Samples and Writing Tips

This illustration includes tips for writing a customer service cover letter including "Demonstrate your experience," "Highlight your soft skills like listening and conflict resolution," and "Include hard skills like special software expertise."

 Julie Bang / The Balance
By Alison Doyle
Updated on 02/18/22

If you're hoping to land an interview for a customer service job, you need a cover letter that demonstrates the customer service skills and experience required for the role. To find out which qualifications are most important, analyze the job listing, paying close attention to the keywords in the description.

What you read may surprise you. Contrary to popular belief, not every customer-facing role requires extreme extroversion. Empathy, tact, and communication skills may be more important for success. Knowledge of specific products and software packages may also be useful.

A good cover letter will hook the hiring manager's attention and demonstrate the value you'd bring to the role.

Here's information on what to include in a cover letter for a customer service role, how to format the letter, a template to download, and examples of cover letters to review.

What to Include in a Customer Service Cover Letter

  • Demonstrate your specific customer service-related skills and experience. You're trying not only to get the hiring manager's attention but to indicate that you understand what is required for the role.
  • Highlight soft skills like listening, conflict resolution, empathy, and depersonalization (i.e., the ability to provide caring customer service while not telling the customer your life story).
  • Include hard skills like software programs specific to the job.

How to Format a Cover Letter

A cover letter for a customer service job should also have all the usual elements of a good cover letter, including:

  • Contact information: your name, address, phone number, email address, and so on.
  • A salutation: Ideally, follow your greeting with the name of a contact at the company – either the hiring manager or a representative from human resources. If you do not have a contact, you can leave off the salutation, or include a general one, such as "To Whom It May Concern."
  • The cover letter body, including a grabby first paragraph that draws the reader in and hooks them with your skills and experience, and supporting paragraphs that show that you know what the company is looking for and that you can provide it.
  • A closing paragraph, summarizing your skills and how you'd use them to solve the company's problems and contribute to its success.
  • A closer, e.g., "sincerely" or "best regards." Here's more information on how to close a cover letter, with examples.

Customer Service Cover Letter Sample

This is a customer service cover letter example. Download the customer service cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Screenshot of a customer service cover letter sample

Customer Service Cover Letter Sample (Text Version)

The following is an example of a cover letter for a customer service position. Also see below for more cover letter samples, and tips for emailing a cover letter and resume.

Tammy Applicant
123 Main Street
Anytown, CA 12345
555-555-5555
tammy.applicant@email.com

February 16, 2022

Ophelia Lee
Human Resources
Acme Windows
123 Business Rd.
Business City, NY 54321

Dear Ms. Lee,

In today's customer service oriented society, timely, friendly, proactive service is sought to enhance future business growth. Customer loyalty is always impacted when you employ the right service professional to represent you when assisting your valued customers.

My long-term experience in the service industry has taught me how to meet and exceed each customer's expectations with service that sells. I have assisted all types of customers in all types of settings. I realize that acquiring and maintaining loyal repeat business as well as spreading the word of your business through these loyal patrons is of the utmost importance in every company.

Positioning a company for better exposure and greater marketability is a task that I have performed with success many times. I am an excellent trainer who achieves ongoing success with her teams by building morale, maintaining teams' self-confidence, and training them to build the sale by improving their people skills.

It would be a pleasure to interview with you, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Very sincerely,

Signature (hard copy letter)

Your Typed Name

Customer Service Email Cover Letter Sample

Subject Line: Anna Smith – Sales Associate

Dear Ms. Parker,

I was excited to see your LinkedIn advertisement for a sales associate at Parker Gifts, Inc. I consider it a privilege to help customers select the perfect gift. In my current job at The Little Gift Shop, I provide gift recommendations, help coordinate deliveries and fulfill online orders, and manage all aspects of the customer experience from greeting to follow up.

In my seven years as a sales associate, I’ve acquired extensive knowledge of point-of-sale systems including Shopify and Intuit Quickbooks. I’m known for my calm and cheerful demeanor, and excel at defusing tense situations with customers. I truly believe that the best sales associate is one who listens.

I’d love to hear more about the role and what you’re looking for in a sales associate. You can reach me via phone at 555-123-4567 or email at anna.smith@email.com.

Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Best,

Anna Smith

Phone: 555-123-4567
Email: anna.smith@email.com

How to Send an Email Cover Letter

  • Choose an appropriate subject line for your email cover letter. To avoid your message getting stuck in a spam filter or lost in a crowded inbox, make sure your topic is clear. Include your name and the job title in the subject line of the email message.
  • Omit the address paragraphs and date. Instead, include your contact info in your email signature.
  • Keep your message concise and to the point. Aim for three well-crafted paragraphs, and consider adding bullet points with your most impressive skills and experience.
  • Include an email signature with your email address, phone number, and LinkedIn or portfolio URL.
  • Proofread and test your message before sending it. Your message should be free of typos, grammatical errors, and formatting problems. Email yourself a test copy before you send the final draft to the hiring manager.

Review More Cover Letter Samples

Review sample cover letters for a variety of circumstances, including a follow-up letter, inquiry letters, job/industry specific sample cover letters, all-purpose cover letters, cold contact, and referral letter samples.