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Cover letter examples · Trades

Painter and Decorator cover letter example

Painting firms want to know the jobs you can run on your own, how you prepare and whether clients ask for you again. This example is from the same painter as our CV example, applying for a leading hand role, and every claim comes from his CV.

Goes with Pieter van der Berg's Painter and Decorator CV · Checked

Free. Then compare it with a real Painter and Decorator job ad.

The letter

What each paragraph is doing.

Pieter van der Berg is made up, and so is Saddle Hill Decorators, Mosgiel. Every fact in the letter comes from Pieter's CV, the way a real one should: nothing new, just the parts of the CV this job cares about most.

Pieter van der Berg

Dunedin · 027 555 0226 · pieter.vanderberg@email.com

Morag Sinclair, Director

Saddle Hill Decorators, Mosgiel

Re: Leading Hand Painter, residential

Dear Morag,

I'm applying for the Leading Hand Painter role on your residential team. I'm a qualified painter and decorator with eight years in residential repaints, new builds and light commercial work, including my four-year apprenticeship, all at Kōwhai Painters in Dunedin.

Most of my work now is exterior repaints on older villas and bungalows, which I run alone or with one hand, finishing most within two weeks. In pre-1980s homes I strip and prepare using lead-safe methods, with containment and clean-up on every job. Inside, I hang wallpaper and feature walls, with no rehangs needed in the last two years, and on new builds I spray walls and ceilings at the pace of the builder's programme.

I already talk clients through colours and finishes, and that brings in repeat work and referrals. I'd like to take on bigger jobs and a small crew with a firm whose mix of repaints and decorating suits the work I do best.

I hold the New Zealand Certificate in Painting and Decorating (Level 4), Wallcoverings strand, a Site Safety Card and a full driver's licence, with my own van and gear. I'd be happy to meet on one of your current jobs or in the office.

Kind regards,

Pieter van der Berg

  1. 1Opens with the trade and the mix of workQualified, eight years and the three kinds of work he does tell a director quickly that he'd fit a residential team.
  2. 2Shows he can run a job aloneRunning villa repaints in two weeks, lead-safe preparation and no rehangs in two years answer the questions a firm asks before trusting someone with a crew.
  3. 3Clients and the step he wantsRepeat work and referrals show clients trust him, and the reason for moving is tied to the type of work, not to anything he can't know about the firm.
  4. 4Qualification, gear and an easy closeThe Level 4 certificate, Site Safety Card and own van are what a painting firm checks, and meeting on a job fits how the trade hires.

Opening lines

Other ways to open.

The first line decides whether the rest gets read. Each of these names the job and leads with proof. Swap in your own facts.

  • “I'm applying for your Painter and Decorator role, bringing eight years in residential and light commercial work, including my apprenticeship.”
  • “As a painter who runs exterior repaints on older villas alone or with one hand, I'd like to be considered for your Leading Hand position.”
  • “I'm applying for the Decorator role, where I can build on hanging wallpaper and feature walls with no rehangs needed in the last two years.”
  • “After eight years of repaints, new builds and decorating, including my apprenticeship, and lead-safe preparation on pre-1980s homes, I'm applying for your Senior Painter vacancy.”

Common mistakes

What gets painter and decorator letters skipped.

  • Talking only about the finish coat.

    Say how you prepare, especially lead-safe methods on older homes. Firms know preparation is where jobs go right or wrong.

  • Saying you're tidy and careful with nothing behind it.

    Give proof, like containment and clean-up on every job or no rehangs needed in two years.

  • Forgetting to say what you can run without supervision.

    Name the jobs you run alone, such as exterior repaints, and how long they take. It's what an employer needs to know before giving you a crew.

Write yours

A letter like this, for every job ad.

Paste a painter and decorator job ad into SmartCVs and it writes your cover letter alongside your tailored CV. The free plan gives you 3 job scans a week, each with both.

How cover letters work in SmartCVs
  • Written in the same step as your tailored CV, from your profile and the job ad
  • Three or four paragraphs, in plain, professional language
  • Every fact from your profile: a number your profile doesn't have is dropped before you see it
  • Edit any line, copy it into an application, or download PDF or Word

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Something else on your mind? Email support@smartcvs.ai and a person will reply.

Do painters need a cover letter in New Zealand?

For most painting jobs a short message and CV are enough, but a letter helps for leading hand or decorating roles, where the firm wants to know what you can run.

Should I mention lead-safe work?

Yes. Many New Zealand homes have old lead-based paint, and showing you prepare them safely, with containment and clean-up, sets you apart.

Is it worth mentioning that clients ask for me again?

Yes, if it's true. Repeat work and referrals show a firm that you're good with clients, which matters when you're on your own on site.

More cover letter examples

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