Writing an Entry Level Bank Teller Resume Cover Letter:
The following information is provided to help entry level applicants write a bank teller resume cover letter to introduce themselves to branch managers and highlight their qualifications. Even experienced tellers, looking to make a lateral move to another branch or location, will find something useful on this page to help them write a proper covering letter.
A bank teller position can provide entry-level “customer-service-savvy” individuals with a stepping stone opportunity to higher-paying positions within the branch or corporation. Managers are usually looking for skills and traits that indicate an applicant is trainable, while also possessing attributes that indicate they may be able to move into management or sales-related jobs in the future.
Cover Letter Checklist for an Entry Level Banking Cover Letter
- Contact details at the top of the cover letter in standard letterhead format.
- Current date under your contact details.
- Addressee’s contact information, including the name of the hiring manager.
- Greeting that addresses the hiring manager by name.
- Intro paragraph that indicates the position you’re applying for, how you found out about the job, why you want to work for the branch, along with referral names if applicable.
- Main body paragraph that explains your best qualifications and makes specific connections between what you can offer and specific qualities that are requested by the bank in their job description.
- Closing paragraph that includes a meaningful “thank you” for the manager’s time, followed by your contact phone number and a time you can be reached for further discussion.
- Closing salutation, followed by a signature line, and your full name typed below it.
Top 5 Bank Teller Resume Cover Letter Tips
- Resist the urge to write a novel detailing your work experience – The easier and quicker a covering letter is to read; the more details your reader can absorb about you, and the faster they’ll be able to move on to reading the resume you’ve attached. List 1 – 3 exceptional qualities you can offer the bank, then point them toward your resume to learn more.
- List your qualifications, not previous job duties – This is a common mistake that entry level applicants often make when seeking a job in a new career. Basically, you want to tell your reader what you’re capable of (good customer service, clear verbal and written communication, computer skills, up-selling ability, etc.), rather than going into detail about specific job duties or tasks that you completed at other jobs. The purpose of a cover letter is to get your reader excited to more about you (I.e., reading your resume and calling you for an interview.) Tell the manager what you CAN do in the body of your cover letter and let them confirm your abilities, by reading what you’ve DONE when they view your resume.
- Forget about including banking keywords in a banking cover letter – There are a number of career advice sites on the net that will suggest you include banking keywords in your covering letter. You don’t need to include career-specific keywords in your cover letter, as the cover letter won’t likely be subjected to a computerized keyword scanner. Covering letters are read by human eyes, or in some rare cases, not read at all. Worry about making your cover letter genuine and compelling, not stuffing it full of fancy industry terms and keywords.
- Don’t neglect to address the manager by name in your letter – One of the easiest ways to get your bank teller resume cover letter read is to address your letter to an actual person. Using informal greetings like “Dear Branch Manager,” or “Dear Recruiter,” is bad enough, but some of you might be considering writing your letter to “To Whom it May Concern,” or the dreaded “Dear Sir or Madam.” All of the previous examples are pretty bad and you should never use the words “sir” or “madam” in any letter that you write, as the likelihood of offending someone is very high! Find out the name of the manager or recruiter who does the hiring, and include their name in your bank teller cover letter.
- Use a bank teller resume cover letter sample or template to get started on the right foot – There is no reason to try and re-invent the wheel when you’re writing your cover letter. Use the checklist provided above these tips, and use a quality template or sample from a source you trust (hint: we can help you with free templates.) Cover letters are supposed to be written in a specific format, so you’re not doing yourself any favors by starting completely from scratch. A template will save you a minimum of thirty minutes of your time and let you focus on the actual writing process.
