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Operations management is critical to any business. For a company to run efficiently and profitably, all processes must be planned, controlled, and supervised strategically. Therefore, hiring managers to look for a professional who can see the big picture, determine needs, and solve diverse operational challenges to maintain the company’s well-being. To be able to demonstrate that you are the right fit for this position, drafting a compelling cover letter is imperative. In this article, we will share some tips on creating a cover letter that conveys you have what it takes to be the next potential operations manager.
1) Analyze the job requirements
An effective operations manager cover letter should demonstrate that you are the best candidate while accurately reflecting your expertise. Hence, before starting to write one, it is important to understand the job requirements and what the employer is looking for. This will help you determine the skills you need to showcase in your cover letter and highlight how these skills can benefit the company.
To familiarize yourself with the role and its requirements, go through the job listing at least twice. Study the ins and outs of what the position may entail. Look for pertinent information and take note of the terms and phrases that repeatedly appear throughout the job description. These should serve as the keywords you need to emphasize in your cover letter.
However, if you are still uncertain about which skills to highlight, you can focus on what is listed as ‘required’ in the job posting. To do this, review the list carefully and match it with your qualifications, expertise, and qualities. Then, create a compelling narrative to convince hiring professionals that you are worth calling in for an interview.
2) Describe your operational management qualifications
Your cover letter should paint a holistic picture of how and why you are an effective operations manager. Hence, it is crucial to highlight the strong combination of your hard skills and soft skills that enable you to maximize operational efficiency and achieve positive outcomes. By doing so, you can demonstrate your proven capability to wear many hats and juggle multiple responsibilities. Moreover, you will be perceived as someone suitable to fill the role.
One of the skills you can include in your cover letter is your knowledge and proficiency with relevant software applications. For instance, you can showcase your experience in utilizing technology to automate business processes and streamline operations. In addition to this, here are some of the must-have skills for your operation management cover letter.
- Leadership
- People management
- Strategic planning
- Risk analysis
- Budget management
- Decision-making
- Problem-solving
- Communication & interpersonal skills
- Organizational skills
- Process Improvement
3) Quantify your achievements to prove your skills
As operations are the lifeline of a business, it is imperative to prove to employers that your operational background and expertise match the qualifications they are looking for. The best way to do this is to provide examples of your quantitative accomplishments. For example, you can talk about how much you have improved process efficiency or how much operating costs you have saved.
Remember, you don’t need to include all achievements in your resume. By doing this, you take the risk of making your cover letter too long and unfocused. Instead, mention only those that are recent, relevant, and most impactful to your potential employer. You can use the skills listed above in addition to the job description’s requirements as a guide when deciding what to include in your cover letter.
Your cover letter’s second and third paragraphs are the perfect place to highlight your most relevant experience. Include three to five sentences in each paragraph that tell your stories of success. Below is an example of how you can do this in practice:
In my last role as an Operations Manager at ABC Inc., I have managed the full spectrum of organizational operations. These involved assessing existing operational models, streamlining SOPs, and communicating quality standards to a cross-functional team of 10. To maximize efficiency, I deployed the six sigma principles for developing waste-free and defect-free supply chain procedures. This initiative has resulted in a direct cost savings of more than $2M, increasing overall revenue by 48%.
For the past 6 years, I have been extensively involved in overseeing operational processes and developing best practices for 2 international companies. By strategically leveraging their internal systems, I was able to facilitate improved operational efficiency and performance. My work played a pivotal role in increasing productivity by up to 35% and simultaneously growing their market share by up to 25% in less than a year.
4) Show your enthusiasm for the role
Always keep in mind that the purpose of your cover letter is to differentiate yourself from other candidates. In addition to having stellar skills and accomplishments, showing enthusiasm and genuine interest in the role can go a long way to help you achieve this goal. Hiring professionals also want to see why and what makes you excited about the job, the company, and the industry. This can help them make an informed decision if you’re a perfect culture fit.
Taking the time to research the company you’re applying for is one key step to know more about their culture, values, mission, and work environment. Moreover, you can get a better idea of who they really are, including what they do, how they operate, and their recent successes. This can help you specifically illustrate your enthusiasm for the job, enabling hiring professionals to understand your motivation for the role.
A cover letter can definitely make or break your chances of advancing to the next stage of the employment process. While it might sound like creating one requires a lot of work, it’s actually very manageable if you know how to do it properly. So, follow the tips we shared in this article to draft an attention-grabbing cover letter that demonstrates how efficient and effective an operations manager you are. If you still find things challenging and confusing, you can always reach out to us for support.
