Moving home and changing jobs are two of the five most stressful life events a person experiences. So you might think relocating for work would be double the pain.

We’re here with some tips to help you with the job change.

Below, you’ll find all the tips you need to create an effective relocation cover letter. You’ll also find sample relocation cover letters you can download for free or copy and paste into your own document. Simply tailor your download by inserting your information.

1. Three Relocation Cover Letters

Many job seekers might wonder: is a cover letter necessary if I’m relocating? The answer is yes, absolutely. Your cover letter is the perfect opportunity to communicate your situation to employers and clear up any confusion about your residency.

To help you do that, our relocation cover letter examples contain everything you need to convince a hiring manager you’re a great candidate.

Download them and change them in any way you see fit, or simply use them for inspiration when writing your own. You can also copy and paste the text versions straight from the page.

If you’re willing to relocate, these cover letter samples should be just what you need.

Relocation Cover Letter

This applicant shows their relocation is permanent by noting their partner has been offered and accepted a new job in the same city.

Relocation Cover Letter (Text Version)

February 29, 2020

[Hiring Manager’s Name]

748 Winfield Drive

San Francisco, CA 94147

(415) 874-2471

hiring.manager@company.com

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I’m writing to apply for the position of software engineer at [Company Name]. I am confident that I have the necessary technical skills to provide [Company Name] with strong technical support thanks to my 7+ years of experience in full-stack web development and systems architecture.

As a senior engineer at [Current Company’s Name], I have led the development of four successful and high converting web apps that have an average of 47 million downloads a month. I am certified in building innovative systems using HTML5, CSS3/SASS, JavaScript/React, MySQL, and ElasticSearch.

I am a team player, having successfully collaborated with our marketing, product, and QA teams to ensure that our customers have the best user experience possible to ensure higher customer lifetime value.

I will be permanently relocating to San Francisco on 1 April 2020 with my partner, who has accepted a teaching role at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. I would be happy to attend an interview at an on-site location, and will be in San Francisco from Monday, March 9 to Friday, March 20 when my partner and I will be house hunting. I can be contacted at (714) 471-1701 or gfs2019@aol.com.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Cover Letter for Out-of-State Job

This cover letter is convincing since the applicant needs to care for their bereaved mom, which shows that they have a real reason for relocating as well as family ties in the area.

Cover Letter for Out-of-State Job (Text Version)

January 28, 2020

Hiring Manager’s Name

341 Kane Street

Aurora, IL 60572

(331) 294-7815

hiring.manager@company.com

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I am writing to apply for the front-desk role at [Company Name]. I am a hard-working employee with three years of secretarial experience at Taylor & Smith, Inc., the Midwest’s largest cardboard box manufacturer. In addition, I graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Business, earning a GPA of 3.9.

During my three years as a secretary, I honed many skills to ensure smooth operations at Taylor & Smith. I was responsible for scheduling appointments, welcoming clients, handling daily breakfast and drinks orders, and organizing the delivery and installation of office equipment.

In 2017, I identified a less expensive equipment repairs service, which led to a 17% decrease in maintenance and repairs expenses. I was also recognized as employee of the month twice. During my three years at the company, I was among the top 5% of employees in terms of work performance according to internal reviews.

I will have permanently relocated to Aurora by the beginning of March 2020 to be closer to my mother, since my stepfather recently passed away. I am available for an interview at your convenience. You can contact me at [Your Email] or (812) 956-5475 to arrange a meeting.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Relocation Cover Letter

Although this applicant doesn’t have any connection to the area, they have visited the city in advance, which is a positive sign for hiring managers. They’ve even negotiated a lease agreement, solidifying their commitment to moving. These steps show determination and a readiness for change.

Relocation Cover Letter (Text Version)

April 5, 2020

Hiring Manager’s Name

2177 El Paso Boulevard

Austin, Texas 78747

737.218.8181

hiring.manager@gmail.com

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I am writing to apply for the social media coordinator position you are advertising on [Website]. As a marketing professional with over five years of experience and a degree in Marketing, I am skilled at meeting the needs of different audiences, and I’d be thrilled to apply these skills to grow your company.

I’ve been interested in finding a social media role in Austin since reading The New York Times, which stated that the city had recently become a tech hub, with over 20 new companies setting up shop since winter 2019. I visited Austin earlier this year to learn more about the opportunities available, and attended a jobs fair held at the Crowne Plaza Austin. I am currently negotiating a lease agreement in Lower Waller Creek.

I have in-depth expertise in key social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok. I am skilled at using them to implement digital marketing campaigns, and have used my written communication skills to create posts and articles that boosted user engagement and increased traffic by 28% at my current company.

Additionally, I have extensive experience using social media analytics tools such as Crimson Hexagon, and analyzing data from many social media platforms. Based on my analysis, I can then come up with effective solutions to create successful social media campaigns.

I am available to interview either in person or remotely. I can be reached at [Your Email] or 228.147.8525. Please let me know when would be convenient. I look forward to meeting you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

2. How to Show You’re Willing to Relocate in a Cover Letter

Hiring someone who isn’t currently living in the same city — or state — as the company is a risky choice for employers. An applicant might back out when they realize they’ll have to cut ties with friends and family.

That said, long-distance candidates can often be an excellent fit for roles in a new city, and many companies are willing to help with relocation if they seem like the perfect person for the job.

Follow our tips so you can create a persuasive cover letter for relocating to a new state or city.

1. Specify Your Reasons for Relocating

Your relocation cover letter must highlight exactly why you plan on moving someplace new. The more convincing your reasons are, the more persuasive your cover letter will be.

For example, moving to be close to your elderly in-laws is an appropriate reason for a move, since you and your spouse might want to take better care of them. Or your partner might be being transferred to a new city by their company.

In both cases, your relocation is justified based on your real-life situation. By contrast, a move to Albuquerque because you thought it looked neat on Breaking Bad is not going to convince anybody you deserve an interview.

Tip

Aside from the relocation aspect, you should also want to learn how to write a cover letter that stands out from other applicants.

No hiring manager will take the risk on interviewing you if they’re not convinced that there’s a genuine reason for your move. And they’ll want to be sure you’re in it for the long haul too. So emphasize the word permanent in your cover letter, since it shows you’ll stick around.

Emphasize the word permanent in your cover letter, since it shows you’ll stick around.

2. Prove You’ve Done Your Research

If you’ve never visited the city where your target company is located, you at least need to show you’ve done some research.

For example, Silicon Valley attracts many workers in the tech industry, so you’ll need to demonstrate that you know about the work prospects there.

It’s also in your best interest to spend a few days in the city to get a feel for it.

You can then mention you’ve spent time there in your relocation cover letter to reassure the hiring manager that you’re committed to the idea of moving.

3. Give the Company a Timeframe

Most companies need a candidate in place as soon as possible, so it’s important you inform them when you plan to start if selected for the position.

Be precise here. If possible, name an exact date, or at least the month when you’ll be moving.

You also need to specify whether you can interview before your move date. If you can only interview remotely make that clear. It might be the only option if you’re writing a cover letter for an out-of-state job or are out of the country.

On the other hand, if your current location is closer to wherever you’re relocating to, you can think about attending a face-to-face interview, even before your move. If so, state that you’re willing to come in for an interview.

4. State Ties You Have to the New Area

One worry for potential employers is that out-of-towners will stay for a couple of months, decide they don’t like the city after all, and leave town. That means they have to re-open the position, potentially costing them thousands of dollars.

Your relocation cover letter needs to reassure them that this won’t happen. One way of doing that is to mention the ties you have in your target city.

Moving can be a chance for a fresh start.

If you’ve lived in the area beforehand, that’s a great thing to list on your cover letter. Maybe you grew up there, and are moving back after working somewhere else. Or maybe you did a 3-month internship for a non-profit in Washington, D.C. and are eager to get back inside the Beltway.

No matter how long it was, mentioning such experience demonstrates that you know the area well, have contacts, and most importantly, won’t leave after a few weeks.

5. Appropriately Present Your Contact Details

Deciding which set of contact details to use is another dilemma when writing your relocation cover letter.

Should you use your current address, risking rejection by a hiring manager who thinks you’re too far away? Should you just omit your address and hope no one finds it suspicious? Or should you somehow shoehorn your planned location onto your cover letter?

Tip

Learning how to address a cover letter correctly is more complex than you might think, so be sure to do it properly.

If you have already signed a lease agreement or outright bought a house, then by all means, use that address.

Otherwise, our recommendation is not to list any address. Instead, where you would write your address, list something descriptive such as “Relocating to Grand Rapids, Michigan on Nov. 25, 2020”.

Tip

However, if you’re applying to a job by email, you don’t need to add your mailing address. In fact, the format and content of an email cover letter differs from a printed one.

3. Summary: Writing a Winning Relocation Cover Letter

Giving the hiring manager genuine, persuasive reasons why you’re set on moving to a new place is key to writing a winning relocation cover letter.

Simply follow the tips in this article to boost your chances of convincing employers that you’re the right candidate for the job. You can write your own by using one of our eye-catching cover letter templates (they’re all free to download!) and filling in your own information.