Firefighter Cover Letter Templates (Samples & Tips)

Firefighters are a fundamental part of the community and essential to emergency services. Therefore, government and private recruitment agencies advertise to find new personnel. However, with firefighter positions in high demand, there is a lot of competition, especially from those who already have experience in the field. Therefore, as a first-time applicant, having a well-crafted cover letter for a firefighter job is essential.

A dedicated firefighter cover letter is a document, usually attached to a resume, that briefly summarizes the job applicant’s skills, work experience, and relevant education, making them suitable for the position of a firefighter. The cover letter is written formally and usually addressed to the hiring manager or recruitment agency.

Given below are firefighter cover letter templates:

Necessary Skills Possessed By a Firefighter

As an applicant, for your cover letter to significantly increase your chances of being considered for the firefighter position, there are several things that you must include in it, including the skills that you possess.

Some of the skills that may be required for a firefighter position include:

Hard skills

Some of the hard skills that you may want to include in your cover letter include:

• Operating firefighting and rescue equipment
• Emergency medical services training
• Hazardous material handling
• Occupation safety awareness and knowledge
• Regulations and codes for inspecting residential/commercial buildings
• Firefighting equipment testing and inspection
• Fire safety inspection
• Driving fire fighting vehicles

Soft skills

Some of the soft skills that you may want to include in your cover letter include:

• Teamwork and leadership skills
• Situation awareness
• Effective communication skills
• Ability to deal with emergencies and work well under pressure
• Adaptability
• Problem-solving
• Patience
• Adaptability
• Respect for others
• Confidence
• Resilience
• Leadership skills

Statistical Information: The median income for firefighters, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2020, was $52,500. The BLS report also indicates that in 2010 there were at least 317,200 firefighters employed in the US, which is expected to rise by 8% by 2030.

Significance of a Firefighter Cover Letter

As a firefighter, the role and importance of a cover letter can never be overstated. To excel as an appropriate candidate for the position, you must convince the hiring manager through your cover letter that you are the ideal candidate. In addition, a well-crafted cover letter will demonstrate your abilities to follow instructions and show that you clearly understand the requirements for the position for which you are applying.

A Harris Poll report indicates that 10% of hiring managers have admitted to assessing potential employees based on their cover letters only and that they disregard job applications without cover letters.   

Applicants need to understand that although the format of a cover letter may vary from one applicant to another, there are essential components that must be included in the letter to enable the hiring manager to assess your level of competence properly.

These basic components include:

Cover letter header

It is common practice for companies to ask for the applicant’s full name, address, and contact information in the cover letter. Therefore, when writing the header, include your full name, telephone number, and email address. This information will help the hiring manager to contact you quickly should they need to.

Greeting

When writing the cover letter, always remember to include a salutation. The salutation should be simple and begin with a respectful and formal title such as “Dear,” followed by an appropriate name or position title. Next, review the job advertisement to search for the hiring manager’s name and address the letter accordingly. If this information is not included in the advertisement, you may generally address the letter, such as “Dear Recruiting Manager.”

Introduction

The introduction section of your cover letter should include a brief synopsis of the job advertisement, the qualifications required, and why you would be ideal for this position. Your introduction should be written in a formal tone. The introduction should also serve as an opportunity to introduce yourself professionally, convincing the hiring manager that you are worthy of consideration for the position.

Avoid using obvious phrases such as “I am writing to…” or “I would love to work with you…” instead, you may write something like, “As a candidate with 6 years of experience, I am interested in applying for the position of a firefighter at your prestigious organization.”

Body

The body of your cover letter should outline your experience, abilities, and why you are the perfect candidate for the position. When writing this section, remember that it is not only about describing your abilities but also about showcasing your desire to work for that organization. To achieve this, use the body section of your cover letter to tell a story about your dedication and desire for the job.

For example, you may write how much you admire the company because of its reputation or some other reason that makes you interested in working for the organization.

You can divide the body section of your cover letter into two paragraphs, one stating how willing and eager you are to start the job and the other highlighting your skills, educational background, and experiences with the position you are applying for.

Conclusion and Sign-off

A cover letter is about convincing the hiring manager that you are the perfect candidate for the job. To achieve this, use the conclusion section of your cover letter to include a “call to action” and request an interview with the hiring manager. This section should be written politely and professionally.

Including an appropriate closing statement in the sign-off section is also advisable.

End the cover letter by including a professional closing remark such as “Sincerely,” “Best Regards,” or “Sincerely.”

Fact Check: To be hired as a firefighter, your application must fall in the top 1-2% category. This translates to about 1-in-100 or a 1% chance of getting hired. For this reason, applicants are advised to read job campaigns and position descriptions carefully to increase their chances of proceeding to the next phase of the hiring process.

As a firefighter to prosper, you must write the cover letter in a way that catches the hiring manager’s attention. The cover letter should include specific words and phrases that will help you effectively highlight your skills and abilities.

Below are some of the things that you should include in the cover letter:

Paint a picture of yourself (introduction)

The cover letter should clearly describe who you are and what you can bring to the company. You need to portray yourself in clear terms. Include information that would help the employer view you as an asset to the organization. For example, you can use impressive accomplishments to highlight the skills and abilities that make you the ideal candidate for the position.

Below are examples of what to write and what not to:

Bad example:

“I am applying for a job that requires a high level of creativity, and I have been in the industry for 20 years. I hope to use my abilities and skills to contribute to the company’s success.”

Good example:

“While looking for new career opportunities, I aim to utilize my 20 years of experience in the industry to help my co-workers and new firefighters. I am a creative individual with a record of accomplishment of creating solutions when fighting fires.”

The second example is better than the above examples because it provides specifics about what you can bring to the organization.

Emphasize your ability to work under pressure

To highlight your ability to work under pressure, highlight how you have successfully managed difficult situations in the past. Avoid writing about things you would be unable to do or accomplish immediately.

See the examples given below:

Bad example:

“I have always shown initiative, and initiative is the most important trait for a successful leader.”

Good example:

“While working at my former company, my team faced several difficult situations when extinguishing a huge fire. I was able to help by acting decisively and responsibly in these situations, which significantly impacted my team’s success. My leadership skills were not only recognized by my boss, but also by my immediate colleagues.”

As shown above, the first example does not highlight your qualities; it lacks specificity and is very general. However, the second sentence conveys a more specific message about why you are good at managing under pressure.

Share your success stories

When composing the cover letter, a good way is to start by telling a story about your core values and life experiences that have prepared you for this position. For example, since you are applying for a firefighter position, you can highlight your experience working in the fire service by sharing how you’ve responded to emergency calls and how this has prepared you for the job. This would show that you are ready to handle extreme situations and participate effectively.

See the examples given below:

Bad example:

“I am a very creative person with creative problem-solving abilities. I have solved many problems that have presented themselves at work and home so far.”

Good example:

“One of the things that make me the most effective is my ability to handle pressure. I have always demonstrated a positive attitude and approach towards any problem that has presented itself at work or in my personal life.”

In the above example, it is not enough to say that you are creative; you need to give details about why being creative will help you. Do not focus on problems but focus on situations where you have demonstrated your creativity and leadership skills.

Conclusion and sign off

After sharing your experiences or the qualities that you feel will make you an asset to the company, conclude by saying that you would like to discuss further and ask the hiring manager to contact you.

Reiterate why you would be suitable for this position and invite the hiring manager to initiate contact, as shown in the examples below:

Bad example:

“I hope you will consider my application, and I hope I can be part of your team soon.”

Good example:

“I would like to discuss my qualifications further with you, and I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. I am available at 212-555-1234 to discuss my qualifications further.”

Do’s and Don’ts

Remember to consider specific tips when writing your cover letter, as discussed below:

Do’s

As a firefighter, ensure that your cover letter projects and appeals to the hiring manager by adopting the following certain factors:

• Include a brief outline: Outline how your skills/qualifications match the requirements of the position and how you will benefit the company, department, and team if hired.

• Consult example cover letters: Finding the right words, format, and points to include in your cover letter can sometimes be very challenging, especially if it is your first time applying for a firefighter position. Therefore, you should consider looking at examples from various sources and observing the wording and structure to help you craft an even better cover letter.

• Stick with a one-page length: A cover letter’s main aim is to invite the hiring manager to review your resume and other application materials, which contain detailed information about you, your career background, and your skills. Therefore, consider keeping your cover letter to a maximum of one page, as a significant amount of information will already be presented on your resume.

• Use consistent formatting style for resume and cover letter: When applying for a job, you must present yourself in a distinguished manner. Consider using the same formatting as your resume in your cover letter. This will make it easy for the hiring manager to review your documents and show professionalism.

• Edit your letter: Even if your writing and formatting are excellent, it will be unlikely to get the hiring manager’s attention if it lacks the necessary appeal and is poorly organized. So, you must edit your cover letter as often as necessary. Also, you must make sure your letter is free from any grammatical or syntax errors.

Don’ts

When writing your cover letter, here are the factors that you should avoid:

• Don’t repeat your resume: Your cover letter is a significant part of the application process, and you should spend time and effort to make it look professional and appealing. However, your resume will detail all the information about you, your education, and your career history. Therefore, avoid repeating any of the content from your resume in your cover letter.

• Don’t rewrite sample cover letters: If you are applying for a firefighter position, you will likely not be the only applicant. So, avoid rewriting a sample cover letter, as this may not demonstrate a professional image.

• Don’t be casual: In your cover letter, avoid being informal, as this will affect you as an applicant. Also, avoid being overly formal. Instead, opt for a tone that is professional yet friendly and avoid being too casual when addressing the hiring manager.

• Too little white spaces: Like your resume, your cover letter should also be readable and well organized, with sufficient white spaces. Also, avoid using too many fonts or colors in your cover letter, as this may distract the hiring manager.

Did You Know? The professional fire departments protect 68% of the US population, with 1,216,600 firefighters serving in 27,228 fire departments and responding to emergencies from 58,150 fire stations. The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) represents the union firefighters.

• As a firefighter, your cover letter is a vital part of the job application process as it allows you to formally introduce yourself and highlight your skills, experience, and achievements.
• Addressing your cover letter to someone specific will help show that you researched the company and the role you are applying for and demonstrate that you have applied with due care and attention.
• Avoid providing the same information in your resume and cover letter or using generic phrases or samples.
• Keep your cover letter to a maximum of one page in length, and ensure not to repeat any of the content from your resume.
• Use consistent formatting for your cover letter and resume.
• Ensure that your cover letter is formatted professionally and free from grammatical or formatting errors.