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Project manager: CV and cover letter examples

2 fully written cover letters, a ready CV with a placeholder portrait and practical tips – open the example and replace the details with yours.

Use this CV templateUse a cover letter

Cover letter examples

Each example is written for a different starting point. Borrow the structure, not the sentences – your own examples and numbers are what make a letter work.

1Construction project lead moving to the client sideExperienced

Kate Bailey
18 Wellington Road
Taunton TA1 4EH
0221 4710 409 · kate.bailey@example.com

County Estates Department
Hughes
County Hall, Main Street
Taunton TA1 4DY

DD Month YYYY

Application for the position of Project manager (school buildings)

Dear Mr Hughes,

three school extensions in five years, the largest worth twelve million pounds: all of them were handed over before the start of term, one after two weekends of extra shifts that the site manager and I still joke about.

I would now like to move to the client side. I know what contractors struggle with and what information they need, and when. Tendering, change control and programme management are my daily work. I am a chartered civil engineer and live locally.

Yours sincerely,

Kate Bailey

Enclosures
CV
Project list

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2Field engineer moving into project managementCareer change

Michael Lane
7 High Street
Crediton EX17 3AH
0221 4710 179 · michael.lane@example.com

Westcountry Process Systems
Unit 9, Marsh Barton
Exeter EX2 8NP

DD Month YYYY

Application for the position of Project manager (industrial equipment)

Dear Sir or Madam,

commissioning jobs abroad have been my work for eight years. I have seen which projects go well and which do not, and it is rarely the engineering. It is planning, coordination and expectations, and that is where I want to work now.

As a field engineer I have coordinated teams of up to six on sites in Poland, Mexico and India, written daily reports, agreed changes with clients and worked through snag lists. Last year I gained a project management qualification part time.

Travel does not put me off, as long as it is no longer 200 days a year.

Yours faithfully,

Michael Lane

Enclosures
CV
Qualification certificate

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All people, companies and contact details in the examples are fictional.

CV example

A complete CV for the role – with an illustrated placeholder instead of a photo.

Preview of the CV of Kate Bailey in the Classic design
Read the CV as text

Kate Bailey

Chartered civil engineer, project lead

18 Wellington Road, Taunton TA1 4EH · 0221 4710 409 · kate.bailey@example.com

Placeholder portrait: replace it with your photo in the editor, or remove it.

Work experience

  • 03/2021 – present
    Project lead
    Southwest Build Ltd, Bristol
    • Three school extensions up to £12m
    • Programme and cost control, change management
  • 10/2017 – 02/2021
    Site engineer
    Kaiser Construction, Exeter

Education

  • 2013 – 2017
    MEng Civil Engineering
    University of Bath, Bath

Skills

Programme planning, Tendering and contracts, Cost control, Negotiation

Languages

English (Native), French (B1 – intermediate)

Interests

Hiking, choir

Use this CV template

Good to know

Your application in three steps

  1. Add your own photo – or none

    The example uses an illustrated placeholder. Replace it under “Choose photo” in the editor, or remove it: in the UK, US and many other countries a CV photo is not expected.

  2. Replace the details

    Name, contact, jobs, skills: everything is filled in and can be overwritten field by field.

  3. Save as PDF

    The PDF is created in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, no account needed.

What employers look for

Project managers balance time, budget and quality and bring together people who do not report to them. Show projects with scope, your role and the outcome. Certificates help but do not replace experience.

  • Projects with budget and schedule responsibility

  • Knowledge of methods (traditional, agile, hybrid)

  • Stakeholder management

  • Structured communication

  • Sector knowledge

Tips for your application

Do

  • Give scope, duration, role and outcome.
  • Name the methods you have actually used.
  • Show how you handle stakeholders.

Don’t

  • Lead with certificates.
  • Only list successes, no lessons.
  • Use jargon without substance.
Typical interview questions

Prepare a short, honest example from your own work for each one.

  1. What was your hardest project?
  2. How do you deal with scope creep?
  3. When is a project successful?
  4. How do you lead people who do not report to you?

Salary expectations

If the advert asks for your salary expectations, give an annual gross figure or a range you have researched – through pay scales, salary surveys from public sources or people who do the job. If it does not ask, leave pay out of the letter; it will come up in the interview.

Frequently asked questions
Do I need a certificate?

Not necessarily. Many employers value certifications, but experience and results decide. If you are changing career, a certificate can help prove your knowledge.

Should I put a photo on my CV?

It depends on the country. In the UK, Ireland and the US a photo is usually left out to avoid bias, and many employers prefer CVs without one. In Germany and some other countries it is common but optional. If you use one: recent, friendly, plain background, dressed as you would be on a good day at work.

Can I copy the example letters?

Yes, they are free to use. But recruiters read a lot of letters – one with your own examples, numbers and a real reason for choosing this employer will always do better. Use the examples as scaffolding and write the sentences yourself.

Is my data stored anywhere?

No. The CV and the letter are created in your browser. Nothing is stored unless you switch on “Save the draft” in the editor – and then only on your device.

Related jobs

Finish your application

Cover letter and CV as PDF, certificates added, all in one file – small enough for any job portal.