Forklift Operator Cover Letter Examples and Templates for 2023

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Jacob Meade

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Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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The best way to write a great cover letter for a forklift operator position is to focus on the top qualifications you have for the post. Throughout this guide, we will explain how to establish a clear focus in your cover letter for forklift operator jobs so that you can make the best impression. Below you will find three examples of cover letters along with three specific strategies you can use to make yours stand out from the crowd.

Downloadable Cover Letter Examples

Example #1
Forklift-Operator_Example-1.pdf

Example #1

Example #2
Forklift-Operator_Example-2.pdf

Example #2

Example #3
Forklift-Operator_Example-3.pdf

Example #3

Forklift Operator Text-Only Cover Letters

Years of Experience
  • Example #1 #1
  • Example #2 #2
  • Example #3 #3

Jodie Ramsay
(456) 789-0123 | [email protected] | 678 Third Street, Miami, FL 90213

Thursday, October 27, 2022

Ms. Meiling Li
Hiring Manager
ProLogistix
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]

Dear Ms. Li:

I’m a forklift operator with two years of experience moving heavy loads and packaging shipments in a large warehouse environment. I hope to apply my skill set in your advertised Forklift Operator role.

Throughout my career, I’ve shown high competence in driving and maintaining multiple forklift types, including stand-up and sit-down vehicles. My work highlights and credentials also include the following:

  • Strong “safety-first” mindset; excellent knowledge of safe lifting techniques and work practices in sub-zero environments (injury-free throughout employment)
  • Team player willing to work long shifts to support company goals without compromising output quality
  • Experience using RF handheld scanners and WMS systems
  • Adept at troubleshooting and solving common machinery problems

This is just a sample of the skills I offer. The enclosed resume contains a complete overview of my experience.

I look forward to telling you more about how I can help your organization, and I am available to talk at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Jodie Ramsay

Erika Wisniewska
(876) 543-2109 | [email protected] | 567 My Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 34567

Thursday, October 27, 2022

Ms. Saanvi Khatun
Hiring Manager
Restaurant Depot
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]

Dear Ms. Khatun:

I’m a stand-up forklift operator with six years of experience performing injury-free heavy-load lifting and moving in warehouses. I would be very interested in applying my skills in your advertised Forklift Operator role.

I’ve become an expert at operating and maintaining stand-up forklifts throughout my career. My credentials and focus areas include the following:

  • Committed to upholding high standards of workplace safety and security
  • Adept at using both manual and automatic stock locator systems and RF scanners
  • Package stock carefully for transit to protect against damage and pests
  • Enjoy the challenge of collaborating on a team to meet time-sensitive goals

This is just a sample of the skills I offer. The enclosed resume contains a full overview of my experience.

I would welcome the chance to discuss my qualifications further. Please call or email me to arrange an interview. I will follow up with you soon to confirm you received my resume and see if you have any initial questions. Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,
Erika Wisniewska

Brian Eldridge
(012) 345-6789 | [email protected] | 678 My Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 78901

Thursday, October 27, 2022

Sun Commodities
[email protected]
79 Carpenter Street
Philadelphia, PA 12345

Dear Sun Commodities Hiring Manager:

I have 10+ years of experience and detailed knowledge of stand-up and telescopic handler forklift use and maintenance. I hope to apply my skill set in your advertised Forklift Operator role.

Throughout my career to date, I’ve gained extensive experience working in busy industrial warehouses and sub-zero conditions. My work highlights and credentials include the following:

  • Perfect safety record using forklift machinery to load and unload pallets from trailers
  • Versatile professional praised for working equally well independently and on a team
  • Strong work ethic and ability to perform heavy manual labor tasks while adhering to safe lifting protocols
  • Maintain a clean and clear work area, proactively reporting any hazards to the management team
  • Well-versed in daily forklift inspection, maintenance, and troubleshooting

This is just a sample of the skills I offer. The enclosed resume contains a full overview of my experience. I look forward to hearing from you and learning more about this job opportunity soon.

Sincerely,
Brian Eldridge

Tips for Writing Your Forklift Operator Cover Letter

1. Center on your forklift operator experience

With your resume, you need to give the hiring manager at least an outline of recent experience, whether or not it relates to your target job. But on the cover letter, you can focus their attention on whatever you like.

So, step back for a minute and think of your very top experiences or credentials for the role of a forklift operator. These may be from your recent experience or further back in your work history. No matter. Make them your letter’s primary focus.

You may view this as “cherry-picking,” but it fulfills the two main purposes of a cover letter:

Example


  • To show hiring managers you have what they’re looking for
  • To compel them to take in the broader career overview that is your resume

2. Drop “To Whom It May Concern”

The five-word phrase “To Whom It May Concern” contains a preposition, two pronouns, a modal auxiliary verb, and a transitive verb. If your eyes just glazed over reading that grammatical explanation, you have an idea of the unexcitement felt by hiring managers when they see “To Whom It May Concern” as your cover letter’s greeting. The phrase is clunky and old-fashioned. But luckily, it’s also easy to avoid. Any time you don’t know your addressee’s name, use a variation on “Dear Hiring Manager” instead.

Example


Sun Commodities

[email protected]

79 Carpenter Street

Philadelphia, PA 12345

Dear Sun Commodities Hiring Manager:

I’m a forklift operator with 10+ years of experience and detailed knowledge of stand-up and telescopic handler forklift use and maintenance. I hope to apply my skill set in your advertised Forklift Operator role.

3. Use freewriting to strike a confident tone

Cover letters work best when they project confidence. But many people need help to write anything confidently, much less a formal request to a stranger.

To overcome writer’s block, you can use a brainstorming technique called focused freewriting. The method is “focused” because you must only write about a particular topic you’ve chosen. But it’s also “free” writing since you can write whatever comes to mind about the subject without regard for order or organization.

Try a focused freewriting session for your cover letter. Spend ten minutes quickly writing down anything that comes to mind about why you’re drawn to the job or company.

This method helps you overcome the self-consciousness that makes many jobseekers use bland, generic phrasing on their cover letters. You can better explore and capture your original, genuine thoughts by writing more freely at first. You’ll probably generate a lot of stray notes and ideas that you don’t end up using in your letter. But you’ll also probably generate at least a few clear, confident sentences that genuinely express your interest in the job.

Get those clear sentences on your cover letter. You’ll dramatically improve its persuasive effect on hiring managers.

More Resume & Cover Letter Resources

The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that jobs for material moving machine operators will increase by about seven percent between 2021 and 2031. For more help finding opportunities in this field and similar fields, check out the links below:

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