Web Developer Cover Letter Example and Guide

Why a Profession-Specific Cover Letter Matters

While your CV offers a brief summary of your skills and experience, your cover letter gives you the chance to expand upon the achievements and skills that you think are most relevant. First impressions are crucial in the recruitment process, and a well-written letter can prove your communication skills and professionalism.

It’s also important to tailor your cover letter for each specific application. If you use a generic cover letter with ‘boilerplate’ text, simply to accompany your CV or resume, you’re missing one of your few chances to make an impression with hiring managers. So, view your cover letter as an extension of your CV, and make sure it includes details of your skills and achievements, as well as explaining why you want the job.

Key Components of a Profession-Specific Cover Letter

While your web developer cover letter gives you licence to chose which skills and achievements you’d like to emphasise, there are several things most cover letters should include. Cover letters typically include the following content:

• Explain why you want the job: Highlight your career ambitions, and why the role and company appeal to you. This can help the manager to quickly understand whether you’re a good fit for the role and company culture.
• Outline your relevant experience: Explain your experience in web development and how it meets the job description, referencing particular achievements and the impact you made on previous projects.
• Summarise your key web developer skills: Provide insight into your strongest and most relevant skills, and how you’ve put them to use in previous web developer roles. Reference the job description, and make sure your skills match up to those required for the role.
• Call to action: Encourage the hiring manager to contact you or progress your application to the interview stage. This shows you’re confident of your chances of success.

Cover letter format

Following this cover letter format can help ensure you include all the necessary details and make a positive impression with hiring managers:

1. Header: Include your name and address, as well as the name and address of the employer.
2. Greeting line: Open the letter by greeting the hiring manager by name if you know it (for example, ‘Dear Edward Jennings’). If you don’t know their name and are unable to find out, use ‘Dear hiring manager’.
3. Introduction: Name the role you’re applying for and where you saw it advertised. Explain why you’re applying and what appeals to you about the role and company.
4. Web developer skills, qualifications and experience: Write one or two paragraphs detailing your web development skills, qualifications, experience and achievements. Refer to the job description to understand what the employer is looking for.
5. Call to action: Close by reiterating your enthusiasm for the role, and thank the employer for considering your application. Add a call to action that leaves the dialogue open and encourages the hiring manager to arrange an interview.

Sample Cover Letter for Web Developers

Andrew Wilkinson
95 Holte Close
Doncaster
DN2 1YH

17/01/24

Black Opal Web Services
214 Commercial Road
Doncaster
DN1 6RD

Dear Ellen Roberts,

I’m writing to apply for the role of web developer, as advertised on webdevjobs.co.uk on 13th January 2024. I’m an experienced front-end developer, seeking challenging and meaningful projects to create useful everyday web applications. As such, Black Opal, with its excellent portfolio of public sector clients, is of great interest to me.

In my current role as a lead developer, I've worked on exciting customer-focused apps and websites, including lifestyle and wellbeing apps for clients in local government and public health. My experience includes full involvement in the project cycle, from initial meetings with clients, through design and development to delivery and ongoing site maintenance.

I have extensive experience of JavaScript, SQL and Python, and thrive on the high-pressure, fast-paced environment of working on development sprints. Most importantly, I relish the challenge of creating beautiful, accessible sites that improve end-users’ quality of life. You can view a collection of projects I’ve worked on at www.AndyWilksWeb.co.uk, including Always Active, an award-winning exercise planning app that I created for the South Yorkshire Health Trust.

Thank you for considering me for this position. I’m enthusiastic about the role and the opportunity it presents, and I would welcome the chance to discuss it further. Don’t hesitate to contact me to arrange an interview or to ask any questions about my application.

Yours sincerely,
Andrew Wilkinson

Dos and Don’ts

Do:

• Address the letter to a named contact: A letter always appears more personal if it’s addressed to someone by name. If you can find out the name of the hiring manager, address it to them.
• Be concise and professional: Keep your letter to a maximum of one page (300-400 words) and use simple, professional language throughout.
• Answer the job description: Refer to the job description and make sure everything you mention in your cover letter reflects the requirements outlined there.
• Proofread your letter: Check and re-check your letter before sending. Correct for any spelling and grammar mistakes, as these can undermine your chances.

Don’t:

• Repeat your CV: Expand upon details included in your CV, but don’t repeat them. Add extra detail or insight that gives the hiring manager useful information that you couldn’t include in your CV. Review our web developer CV example for tips on how to approach this document.
• Lie or exaggerate: Lying on a job application is inadvisable, and can even be illegal. It could also come back to haunt you during a job interview.
• Be arrogant or over-confident: It’s difficult to strike the right balance between confidence and arrogance. Make sure you remain humble, while exuding confidence in your ability to do the job.
• Be over-formal: Getting bogged down in formalities can make your letter long, boring to read, and won’t provide any insight to the employer. Keep the formalities brief, polite and understated.

Additional tips

These extra tips can help give your cover letter a competitive edge over other applications:

1. Quantify your achievements: Back-up your achievements and successes by offering evidence. Include figures that show the quality of your work and the impact you made.
2. Refer to the hiring company by name: Reference the hiring company by name in your letter, and why you’d like to work for them. This shows the role and organisation is a priority for you.
3. Showcase your work: For web developer roles, employers will be keen to see evidence of your previous work. Including a link to your portfolio or website gives the hiring manager useful insight, while showing confidence in your own work.
4. Use an appealing design: Using subtle, unintrusive design elements can enhance your cover letter and help it to stand out. Jobseeker’s accessible cover letter templates and CV templates make it easy to create beautiful job applications that make a lasting impression with decision makers.

Key Takeaways for a Great Web Developer Cover Letter

Your cover letter for web developer applications can make all the difference when it comes to positive impressions with recruiters. Make sure you write a concise, professional cover letter that responds to the job description and shows how you can do the job. Showcase your previous experience and successful projects, so the hiring manager can see the quality of your work. Use Jobseeker’s templates, cover letter examples and CV examples to make beautiful documents that catch the eye of employers. Sign up today, access our simple tools and boost your chances of success with web developer applications.