As the web development field continues to experience rapid growth, companies are in constant need of talented programmers, designers, and developers. That said, to land the most lucrative jobs on the market, you will need an accomplishment-driven web developer cover letter to separate yourself from the competition. Our guide provides examples and expert advice to help you capture the most compelling aspects of your web development experience and secure your next interview.
Web Developer Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write a Web Developer Cover Letter
To write a great web developer cover letter, think about the steps you would normally take to build and develop a website. Start by gathering requirements and analyzing the job posting. How does your technical background align with the organization’s needs? What new ideas can you bring to the table to help them achieve their goals? Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to help you build each section of your web developer cover letter:
1. Contact information and salutation
List all essential contact information in the header of your web developer cover letter, including your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL. Greet the hiring manager by name — Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.” Avoid salutations such as “To Whom It May Concern,” as this language is less direct and personal.
2. Introduction
To immediately grab the hiring manager’s attention, open your web developer cover letter with a powerful introduction. Start by highlighting one of your strongest web development projects, briefly establishing both context and end results using hard numbers. This clearly conveys you have the technical qualifications and experience to excel in the position.
Notice how, in the example below, the candidate anchors their opening paragraph with a stunning career achievement. Rather than only listing key technical qualifications, the developer emphasizes how they utilized these skills to support a 30% increase in revenue. By capturing unique aspects of your story, you have a much higher chance of hooking the reader in the introduction of your web developer cover letter.
Example
In my most recent role, I was responsible for the development and entire life cycle of web applications and product features, optimizing UX, which contributed to a 30% increase in revenue over two years. My expertise in e-commerce web development would allow me to deliver valuable contributions to your organization in the web developer position.
3. Body paragraphs
Include two paragraphs in the body of your web developer cover letter that describe your professional achievements and technical skills. Mention something specific about the company’s reputation, culture, or web solutions and why your background makes you a good fit for their team. Feature specific projects that demonstrate your comprehensive knowledge of web development and leadership capabilities. Consider adding a list of bullet points to break up the text on the page.
In the example below, the candidate focuses on their creativity as a developer. Employers highly value the ability to identify innovative solutions, as not every technical problem has a straightforward answer. By showcasing unique aspects of who you are as a technology professional, your web developer cover letter is sure to stand out during your job search.
Example
Your organization’s reputation for its innovative and creative web development solutions excites me about this opportunity. With two years of experience working with medium-sized businesses, I can deliver valuable contributions to help refine the UX and drive customer success. Some of my previous accomplishments include:
- Collaborated with a team of web developers to develop and maintain websites and applications for over 40 clients with a retention rate of 98%
- Tested and fixed bugs, optimized website functionality, and reduced error tickets by 50%
- Developed creative and innovative solutions that increased customer reach by an average of 40% while meeting both deadline and budget demands
4. Web developer skills and qualifications
Although it’s important to highlight your technical skills, avoid providing a long-winded list on your web developer cover letter, as most of this information should already be featured on your resume. Instead, focus on highlighting how you effectively utilized key skills from the job description using examples from your career. Below, you’ll find a list of key terms to consider featuring on your web developer cover letter:
| Key Skills and Qualifications | |
|---|---|
| Agile methodology | Application development |
| Back-end development | CSS |
| Front-end development | HTML5 |
| JavaScript | Mobile web development |
| PHP | Prototyping |
| Python | SEO strategy |
| Technical project management | UI design |
| User-centered design | UX design |
| Web development | Website optimization |
5. Closing section
End your web developer cover letter strongly with a call to action (CTA) inviting the hiring manager to schedule an interview. Emphasize how your expertise in web development can create value for the company you’re targeting. In the last sentence, be sure to thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration.
Example
I would like to schedule an interview to provide additional insights into how my experience in e-commerce could help maximize value for your clients. You may contact me via phone or email at your convenience. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Melissa Anderson
Web Developer Cover Letter Tips
1. Feature your technical expertise
Your technical qualifications should always be at the forefront of your web developer cover letter. As you analyze the job description, emphasize specific web development skills and programming languages that match the posting. For example, if you were applying for a position as a front-end developer, call out UX-related skill sets. If you’re interested in back-end development, highlight your experience developing web architecture and infrastructure.
2. Quantify your web development projects
The best way to demonstrate the results of your web development efforts is by incorporating compelling data points, revenue numbers, and metrics into your cover letter. This establishes a sense of scope for the reader and helps paint a clearer picture of your background as a developer. In the example below, the candidate draws attention to increases in both monthly traffic and time on the page, which conveys the success of their projects:
- Built over 30 custom websites for enterprise clients valued at up to $3 million, collaborated with UX and UI designers, and successfully increased monthly web traffic by up to 30%
- Managed a team of 20 developers and led meetings with client stakeholders to ensure project alignment with business requirements and user-centered design principles
- Translated prototypes, designs, and wireframes into quality websites and web applications and identified opportunities to improve the UX, resulting in a 5% increase in time on page
3. Showcase your leadership capabilities
Companies value multi-faceted candidates with the technical and leadership capabilities to contribute in fast-paced team environments. If you don’t have experience managing direct reports, include examples of you collaborating with technical personnel, cross-functional teams, and clients during the project lifecycle. To show why you’re the ideal culture fit for the company, you could also mention you trained and mentored junior developers.
Web Developer Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Melissa Anderson
Web Developer | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | San Francisco, CA 12345 | LinkedIn
January 1, 2024
Amy Swartz
Hiring Manager
Green Space Tech
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
Dear Ms. Swartz,
In my most recent role, I was responsible for the development and entire life cycle of web applications and product features, optimizing UX, which contributed to a 30% increase in revenue over two years. My expertise in e-commerce web development would allow me to deliver valuable contributions to your organization in the web developer position.
Green Space Tech’s reputation as an industry leader in e-commerce solutions is what draws me to apply for this opportunity. With over seven years of experience in web development, my technical abilities would be a great match for your team. Some of my recent achievements include:
- Analyzed customer traffic results and optimized web architecture, which reduced cart abandonment by 40% and generated a 30% sales increase
- Led a team of five web developers to design and implement web applications for e-commerce clients, which contributed to over $1.2 million in annual recurring revenue
- Developed and launched over 30 new features per year, resulting in client satisfaction of 97%
I would like to schedule an interview to provide additional insights into how my experience in e-commerce could help maximize value for your clients. You may contact me via phone or email at your convenience. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Melissa Anderson
Web Developer Cover Letter FAQs
Why should I submit a web developer cover letter?-
Although cover letters are more commonly required for senior-level roles, there’s value in building one, even as a junior developer. This displays your genuine enthusiasm for the position and allows you to imbue a personal touch to your application that might help differentiate you from other candidates.
Should I use artificial intelligence to write my cover letter?-
As a technology professional, you already understand the value of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. In this situation, however, relying on AI isn’t to your benefit. Despite rapid advancements in machine learning, an AI-generated cover letter will be generic and impersonal. Hiring managers want to learn more about your story, and the best way to tell it is in your own words.
How long should my web developer cover letter be?-
When it comes to the cover letter, less is almost always more. Keep your document to a reasonable length, limited to three or four paragraphs. Avoid cluttering your cover letter with uninspiring job responsibilities and instead focus on highlighting your most compelling web development projects and achievements.
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