HR manager cover letter example
An HR manager’s cover letter shows the employer you can run their people work, not only yours. Name the post and the size of what you lead, give the plan you own and two results with figures, describe one change you led with the people it affected, then say why this employer.
Read the letter as text
Joanne Whitfield
Wakefield · [email protected] · 07700 900908
3 November 2026
Ms Claire Booth
Operations Director
Aire Valley Packaging Ltd
Riverside Works
Keighley BD21 9ZZ
Dear Ms Booth
Application for HR Manager
I am applying for the HR Manager post at Aire Valley Packaging. For four years I have led HR at Calder Fold Foods, a 420-person food manufacturer on two sites, with an HR adviser, an HR officer and an HR administrator reporting to me.
I write our annual people plan with the operations director and report on it to the board each quarter. Over two years a new induction, a buddy scheme and early reviews have cut the share of new starters leaving in their first year from 38% to 24%, and five of the 18 key roles in our succession plan have been filled from within.
Last year I led the HR side of moving our night shift to a four-on, four-off pattern: consultation with employee representatives and new contracts for 130 staff, agreed without a formal grievance. I also rewrote our disciplinary, grievance and absence policies to the Acas Code of Practice and trained 40 managers to use them.
Your advert says you are bringing two sites under one HR team, and I would like to lead that work. I hold the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma and am an Associate Member of the CIPD. My CV is attached. Thank you for considering my application.
Yours sincerely
Joanne Whitfield
Fictional letter from Joanne Whitfield, the applicant in the HR manager CV example. Every person and employer in it is invented.
Why each paragraph is there
I am applying for the HR Manager post at Aire Valley Packaging. For four years I have led HR at Calder Fold Foods, a 420-person food manufacturer on two sites, with an HR adviser, an HR officer and an HR administrator reporting to me.
The post, the workforce you cover and the team you lead.
I write our annual people plan with the operations director and report on it to the board each quarter. Over two years a new induction, a buddy scheme and early reviews have cut the share of new starters leaving in their first year from 38% to 24%, and five of the 18 key roles in our succession plan have been filled from within.
The plan you own and two results with before and after figures.
Last year I led the HR side of moving our night shift to a four-on, four-off pattern: consultation with employee representatives and new contracts for 130 staff, agreed without a formal grievance. I also rewrote our disciplinary, grievance and absence policies to the Acas Code of Practice and trained 40 managers to use them.
One change you led, and the managers you trained.
Your advert says you are bringing two sites under one HR team, and I would like to lead that work. I hold the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma and am an Associate Member of the CIPD. My CV is attached. Thank you for considering my application.
Why this employer, your CIPD level, the CV and a short close.