Whether you’re looking for a summer job, part-time work, or even a full-time career, Shake Shack is the place to be. Of course, before you can land a job working in the beloved fast food joint, you’re going to need a tasty Shake Shack cover letter. Showing the manager that you tick all of the boxes — and make a mean burger — will help to seal the deal.
So, how can you wow them with a one-page letter? If you’re looking for a way to super-size your cover letter, utilize examples for inspiration. For example, check out our wide library of cover letter examples and writing guides.
In this cover letter writing guide and the accompanying Shake Shack cover letter example, we will go over the following:
- The right layout for your Shake Shack cover letter (with a cover letter sample)
- How to maximize the impact of each part (header, intro, body, and conclusion)
- What tone, style, and approach to take when writing your cover letter
- How to write a Shake Shack cover letter with zero experience.
Before you put pen to paper, take a look at our expert-backed advice. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about writing an interview-winning cover letter.
Best format for a Shake Shack cover letter
Finding the right format for your cover letter is the first step. You’ll be pleased to know that — whatever your experience level — the ingredients you need are the same. Make sure that your Shake Shack cover letter includes the following sections:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting (or salutation)
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
Keep things short and sweet!
Managers don’t have the time to read your whole life story. As a general rule, your cover letter should be less than 300 words and fit on one page. If you find yourself going over that limit, remove any unnecessary information.
Adding all of the above into the mix is a recipe for success. If you’re looking for some inspiration, take a quick look at our Shake Shack cover letter sample below:
Dear Mrs. Joyce,
Having worked as a Team Leader for Burger Tree for the past five years, I hope to bring my fast-food management know-how to Shake Shack. I know that you are pursuing some operational improvements. Having experienced the acquisition and redesign of the Burger Tree business, I am no stranger to managing people through change.
Firstly, I love the buzz of the fast-food business. Working with a wide variety of people makes every day unique. Managing many younger employees in their first jobs is a unique challenge. Operational excellence is assured when everyone is working for each other – taking on the team workload as well as individual job responsibilities. A record 85% of my trainees at Burger Tree were offered permanent roles.
My customer service skills are refined. 93% of customer complaints were resolved adequately (at the earliest possible point before they escalate). As a result, we enjoyed 82% local customer repeat visits within 6 months. Our design and technology improvements reduced customer service waits by 28%. Improved kitchen workflow allowed us to service 12% more customers during peak times.
I understand that your Shake Shack location, given its position in the CBD, has a particular focus on workplace lunchtimes. I would enjoy the operational challenges that this presents. I have worked with all major delivery partners previously and know what an important extra profit source this is for any fast-food outlet.
I look forward to hearing about your operational plans at a potential interview and am confident that I would be able to help make them a success.
Sincerely,
Simon Tees
Cover letter header
The cover letter header sits neatly at the top of your document. It is likely the first thing that a recruiter or manager will see. The line includes your main contact details. Keep these clear, direct, and easy to read. Getting in touch with you should be as simple as pie!
On a practical level, you should choose a font and style that is plain and legible. While you may be tempted to think outside of the box, doing anything too wild will detract from the information. Choose a plain typeface and ensure that the details are well-positioned.
If you get the rest of the letter right, the manager will be desperate to pick up the phone. Don’t over-complicate this.
Cover letter greeting
Next up, it’s time to say hello to the reader. The opening words you use set the table for the entire cover letter — make sure that you get them right. You don’t want to get off on the wrong foot with the Shake Shack manager or your application could end up in the trash.
Kicking things off with an informal “Hi,” “Howdy,” or “Hey” is a mistake. These openers are too casual and may tell the manager that you’re not serious about the position. That’s not the message you want to send out. Instead, you should take a more formal approach.
If you know the name of the manager, you can address it directly to them. For example, you may go with a simple “Dear Mr. Erics.” On the other hand, if you’re not sure who will read your cover letter, you can opt for “Dear Manager,” or even “Dear Shake Shake Team,”.
Cover letter introduction
You’ve said hello — now you need to get down to business. The cover letter introduction tells the manager why you’re applying for the job and what special sauce you bring. Think of it as setting the scene. You need to showcase why you’re the best person for the job.
You can touch on your experience, education, and enthusiasm for the Shake Shack franchise. However, keep in mind that this is just the appetizer. The middle paragraphs are the main course. Save the details for then. Check out our cover letter sample below:
Dear Mrs. Joyce,
Having worked as a Team Leader for Burger Tree for the past five years, I hope to bring my fast-food management know-how to Shake Shack. I know that you are pursuing some operational improvements. Having experienced the acquisition and redesign of the Burger Tree business, I am no stranger to managing people through change.
Cover letter middle part (body)
Now you’ve whetted the manager’s appetite, let’s get into the meat of things. The middle part of your cover letter will detail your experience so far and your main achievements. When writing this part of your application, keep the reader’s needs in mind. Bragging about what a great server you are is one approach but try to relate your experience back to the role.
If you are already working at a Shack Shack location or another fast food spot, talk about your experience in that role and understanding of the business. Haven’t dipped your toes into this particular field? Focus on similar workplace experiences. Check out our cover letter sample:
Firstly, I love the buzz of the fast-food business. Working with a wide variety of people makes every day unique. Managing many younger employees in their first jobs is a unique challenge. Operational excellence is assured when everyone is working for each other – taking on the team workload as well as individual job responsibilities. A record 85% of my trainees at Burger Tree were offered permanent roles.
My customer service skills are refined. 93% of customer complaints were resolved adequately (at the earliest possible point before they escalate). As a result, we enjoyed 82% local customer repeat visits within 6 months. Our design and technology improvements reduced customer service waits by 28%. Improved kitchen workflow allowed us to service 12% more customers during peak times.
I understand that your Shake Shack location, given its position in the CBD, has a particular focus on workplace lunchtimes. I would enjoy the operational challenges that this presents. I have worked with all major delivery partners previously and know what an important extra profit source this is for any fast-food outlet.
How to close a Shake Shack cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
When you’ve covered everything you need to, it’s time to say goodbye. Leave things on a positive note with a call to action. You can say something like “Looking forward to hopefully learning more about the role at an interview.” You don’t want to make any presumptions, however, the cover letter conclusion is a good place to reaffirm your interest.
You can sign off formally with either “Best regards” or “Yours sincerely”. Take a look at our cover letter example below to get your creative juices flowing:
I look forward to hearing about your operational plans at a potential interview and am confident that I would be able to help make them a success.
Sincerely,
Simon Tees
Shake Shack cover letter with no experience
New to the fast food realm? If you’re applying for your first job at Shake Shack, don’t panic. Working in one of these restaurants is a perfect entry-level role. While you won’t have any experience on which to draw, you can highlight the following:
- Any volunteer experience you may have
- Your passion for working in customer service
- Education-based experiences
- Hobbies and activities you engage in (particularly team-based ones!)
- Your passion for the Shake Shack brand
Managers won’t typically expect applicants to have years of experience — and this works in your favor. Try to share your outgoing personality and passion in your cover letter.
What about the perks? If you’re thinking of working for Shake Shack, it pays to know what benefits you will receive. According to the company’s career page, you can expect:
- Paid time off and parental leave
- Food discounts and rewards
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Flexible spending accounts and life insurance
- Voluntary retirement investment plans
Key takeaways
- A well-written and enthusiastic Shake Shack cover letter can help you get an interview.
- Before you get started, you need to know what elements you should include.
- You can write a persuasive cover letter even if you have no experience yet.
- Allow your personality to shine through when writing your cover letter.
Now that you know how to write your Shake Shack cover letter, it’s time to dig in! You can use our professionally-researched cover letter templates to get things moving. Take a look at some related examples below:
