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Team leader: 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.

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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.

1Stepping up into a first team leader roleExperienced

Owen Price
50 Crwys Road
Cardiff CF24 4NN
0221 4710 239 · owen.price@example.com

Severn Water Services
Evans
Unit 4, Riverside Park
Cardiff CF10 5BZ

DD Month YYYY

Application for the position of Customer service team leader

Dear Ms Evans,

for the last two years I have covered for my team leader whenever she is away. That means allocating work across eight colleagues, running the morning huddle and taking the calls from customers who insist on speaking to “someone senior”. I would now like to take on the role properly.

I have worked in customer service for seven years, mostly on billing and complaints. Last year I led a small project with our IT and billing teams that cut the time to change a payment plan from nine days to three, without anyone reporting to me.

I am currently completing a first-line management course. I would value the chance to talk to you.

Yours sincerely,

Owen Price

Enclosures
CV
Course details

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2Experienced team leader moving into manufacturingExperienced

Rachel Hughes
18 Albany Road
Cardiff CF24 3RQ
040 66969 876 · rachel.hughes@example.com

Cambrian Electronics Ltd
Davies
Pontprennau Business Park
Cardiff CF23 8RS

DD Month YYYY

Application for the position of Order management team leader

Dear Mr Davies,

five years leading a team of twelve in online retail have taken me through two peak seasons at triple volume and a system change nobody asked for. Staff turnover in my team ended up under five per cent; across the site it was eighteen.

I want to move into manufacturing because order management there sits much closer to production and engineering. One-to-ones, objectives and rota planning are part of my normal week. My notice period is three months.

Yours sincerely,

Rachel Hughes

Enclosures
CV
References

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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 Owen Price in the Classic design
Read the CV as text

Owen Price

Customer service adviser, deputy team leader

50 Crwys Road, Cardiff CF24 4NN · 0221 4710 239 · owen.price@example.com

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

Work experience

  • 04/2019 – present
    Customer service adviser, deputy team leader from 2024
    Valleys Energy, Cardiff
    • Acting team leader (8 people)
    • Led project: payment plan changes from 9 to 3 days
    • Complaints and escalations
  • 09/2016 – 03/2019
    Office administrator
    Bay Motors, Cardiff

Education

  • 2014 – 2016
    Business administration apprenticeship
    Cardiff and Vale College, Cardiff

Training

  • 2026
    First-line management course

Skills

Team coordination, Complaint handling, Process improvement, Reporting

Languages

English (Native), Welsh (B1 – intermediate)

Interests

Running, cooking

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

Team leaders are responsible for people and results. Say how many people you have led, what changed under your lead and how you handle conflict. Numbers help, but so does one honest story.

  • Experience in the area you will lead

  • Some leadership: acting up, projects, training new starters

  • Clear communication

  • Comfortable with targets and data

  • Handling conflict fairly

Tips for your application

Do

  • Give team size and responsibilities.
  • Describe leading through a difficult period.
  • Say honestly what you are still learning.

Don’t

  • Claim a “collaborative style” without an example.
  • Present team results as yours alone.
  • Criticise your current manager.
Typical interview questions

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

  1. How would you handle a team member whose performance has dropped?
  2. Tell us about a difficult conflict.
  3. What would your first 100 days look like?
  4. How will you manage former peers?

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
I have never officially managed anyone – can I still apply?

Yes, if you can show leadership: acting up, leading projects, training new starters, planning rotas. Describe it concretely and explain how you are preparing for the role.

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.