Sales Assistant Cover Letter Example, with Tips

Why a Profession-Specific Cover Letter Matters

Tailoring your cover letter for sales assistant positions can help your application stand out in a crowded field of applicants. A tailored, professional cover letter will always be more relevant and engaging to read for a hiring manager. With recruiters often receiving hundreds of applications for a single role, it’s essential to make your application stand out.

Tailoring both your CV and cover letter helps to ensure you’re answering the job advert and showing how you’re right for the role. It gives you the chance to reference the hiring company and mention why you want to work for them. You can also mention skills and achievements from your life and career that you can put to good use in sales assistant roles.

Key Components of a Profession-Specific Cover Letter

CVs are short summary documents and your cover letter provides extra space to elaborate on skills and experience that you want to emphasise. Sales assistant positions tend to be entry-level. As such, if you’re lacking work experience to mention in your resume and cover letter, you might want to focus on your skills. 

Start your cover letter with a paragraph confirming the role you’re applying for and where you saw it advertised. You may want to briefly explain why you’re applying for the position. This could relate to your career ambitions or something about the company that makes you keen to work for them.

Next, refer to the job description to get an idea of the type of experience, skills and qualities the employer is searching for. In the next couple of paragraphs, highlight your people skills, your confidence, and customer service skills. You may also want to mention any experience you have of meeting performance-related targets.

Finish your cover letter by re-emphasising your enthusiasm for the sales assistant position and adding a call to action. This could be an invitation for the employer to contact you to arrange a job interview. 

Cover Letter Format

Follow this format for the perfect sales assistant cover letter:

• Header: Include your full name, address and contact details. Also include the name and address of the company, and the name of the hiring manager if you know it.
• Introductory paragraph: Confirm the role you’re applying for and where you saw it advertised. Mention why you’re applying for the role, including your own personal ambitions or what attracts you to the hiring company.
• Key skills and experience: Use this section to elaborate on any key skills and experience that match the job description. 
• Call to action: Emphasise your enthusiasm for the opportunity and provide a call to action that encourages the hiring manager to reach out to you. 

Sample Cover Letter for Sales Assistant

Andrea Pritchard
37 Wells Avenue
Harpenden
AL3 1HY
Andrea.Pritchard@example.com | 07683 295715

Brian Arnold
Arnold Upholstery Ltd
28 High Street
Harpenden
AL5 2CX

Dear Brian,

I’m writing to apply for the role of Sales Assistant, as advertised in the Hertfordshire Herald on 16th June 2023. I’m excited to apply for this role as it combines my experience in sales roles with my passion for interior design and furnishings. The opportunity to work for such an established and reputable retailer interests me greatly, as does your reputation for developing employees and providing a pathway for career progression.

I’m currently employed in a sales assistant position for Homes Direct Appliances, where I’ve developed a strong skill set in sales and customer service techniques. I provide sales advice and offer financing options for large household appliances, and I rank among the top five store employees for meeting sales targets. I won regional salesperson of the month in November 2022 and receive excellent customer feedback, with an average satisfaction rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on our customer survey results.

Besides my sales experience, I have a passion for textiles and interior design, and I’m hoping to pursue this in my career. I studied art and design at A-level and recently completed a foundation textiles course at St. Albans College. I have an eye for detail and enjoy keeping myself updated on the latest trends in interiors and home furnishings. Combined with my customer service and sales skills, my flair for design could be a genuine asset for your company.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I’m enthusiastic about the role and I think it could be the start of a very productive working relationship. Please contact me at Andrea.Pritchard@example.com, or on 07683 295715, if you would like to arrange an interview.

Sincerely,
Andrea Prithcard

Dos and Don’ts

Here are some key tips for creating a sales assistant cover letter that really makes an impact:

• Emphasise your skills: If you’re lacking relevant work experience, you might want to place greater emphasis on your skills. Sales assistant roles often don’t require experience, so focus on your qualities and skills.
• Don’t make it too long: It can be tempting to reference numerous experiences and achievements. However, this risks making the letter too long. Keep your letter to one side of A4 and aim for three or four paragraphs in the main body of the letter.
• Reference the job description: Always refer to the job description when writing your resume and cover letter. Make sure the language you use mirrors the keywords and phrases in the job description.
• Don’t repeat your CV: Use your cover letter to expand upon details included in your CV, but don’t simply repeat elements of your CV word-for-word. Try to find a different angle that adds greater depth and detail to what you included in your resume.

Additional Tips

Take a look at these general tips that can elevate your sales assistant cover letter above the competition:

Address your letter to a named contact

Where possible, address your cover to a named contact in the company. The hiring manager is often named on the job advert, but if not, you might be able to find it out by contacting the company. Otherwise, address the letter to ‘hiring manager’.

Use a professional cover letter design

A clean, contemporary design can help to catch the attention of employers. Use Jobseeker’s cover letter templates for understated, elegant letter designs. You can also choose from matching CV templates to give your application a polished, professional look. 

Don’t oversell yourself

While your cover letter gives you the chance to expand on your resume and provide extra details that flesh out your application, it’s easy to oversell your skills and experience. Don’t exaggerate your achievements and remember to keep your letter concise. Mention only details that prove you meet the job description.

Key Takeaways for Sales Assistant Cover Letters

Taking the time to write an excellent cover letter can be a big factor in your chances of succeeding in your sales assistant applications. Remember to tailor your cover letter to the job description and company, and focus on key skills that match the requirements for the role. You can use Jobseeker to create the ideal sales assistant cover letter for your applications. You’ll also find job-specific examples of key documents to use for inspiration, including this sales assistant CV example. Signing up with Jobseeker is quick and easy, so get started with your perfect cover letter today.