do i need a cover letter when applying on linkedin

Cover Letter Vs. LinkedIn-Which One Should You Choose?

People often wonder, should I take the time to write a cover letter or not? Do I need a LinkedIn presence? Do I need both? This article reveals the advantages of each and how to master their use in your job search.

The  Most Effective Introduction for Your Job Hunt

A job application has many moving parts, from uploading a resume to answering pre-interview questions. When thinking of the different possibilities after clicking the ‘submit’ button, including a cover letter and creating a LinkedIn profile are great ways to express your interest in the company you want to pursue. When looking at a cover letter and LinkedIn profile, sometimes it’s easier to choose one. Which one would benefit you the most? With each one having its unique benefits and uses, it’s essential to know what they will bring.

The Benefits of Using a Cover Letter

Incorporating a cover letter into your job application adds more benefits than you think. Surprisingly, many candidates choose not to include a cover letter because they believe it won’t be a deal-breaker. However, putting in a little extra work can pay off during your job hunt. When you write your resume, you focus solely on the facts at hand, your accomplishments, and the metrics that set you apart. You can focus more on your personality and who you are on the cover letter. The overall idea of writing a cover letter is to be specific to the position you’re applying for and explain how the role aligns with your personal and professional vision.

Employers See Who Puts in the Extra Work

It’s easy to overlook the benefits of writing a cover letter for the position you’re applying for. However, writing a custom letter for the hiring manager may set you apart from the competition. Think of it from the employer’s point of view; if they were down to two candidates, but one chose to write a well-thought-out letter, and the other didn’t, who do you think may have the edge? Personalize the cover letter with the name of the hiring manager or recruiter within the company because that will display to them the additional effort and initiative you put into the interviewing process. Employers want to hire candidates who genuinely are interested in their job openings.

Be Authentic

When in an interview, employers want to know who you are as a professional and as a person. Do you enjoy specific hobbies? Are you a vigilante volunteer in your spare time? Do you enjoy having a work/life balance? Take time to incorporate a few sentences in your cover letter to explain who you are on a personal level. Because resumes are about the facts, let the writing style and tone of your cover letter have a more personal feel. Being your genuine self is more important than regurgitating what the job description states.

Do Your Research

Aside from a resume, a cover letter lets you show off your knowledge of the company you’re applying to. Use company-specific examples of what made you investigate them in the first place and how that aligns with your values. This approach will set you apart from the influx of applications recruiters receive from LinkedIn, Indeed, Zip Recruiter, etc. Recruiters don’t want to review an application where the candidate just went down the list and made the one-click application without looking into the company. Employers value loyalty, and this tactic will help set you apart as a candidate.

The Benefits of Using a LinkedIn Profile

While a cover letter strengthens your application, creating a LinkedIn profile boosts your online presence to prospective hiring managers. LinkedIn hosts more than 600 million professional profiles and offers a nearly unlimited supply of network connections and job opportunities. So, whether your goal is to find a new role, connect with professionals, or uplift your professional presence, LinkedIn is essential for today’s ever-changing market.

Recruiters Can Find You

A platform called LinkedIn Recruiter is an all-encompassing hiring platform that helps talent professionals find, source, connect with, and manage potential new hires. When you receive an InMail message from a recruiter, they likely found you through the LinkedIn Recruiter database.

LinkedIn offers a premium account that allows people who apply through their posts to see where they stand among applications; for example, their LinkedIn profile could rank them in the top 5%, 10%, 20%, and 50% based on the number of applicants.

Sometimes, the job posting will show who posted it; this allows the candidate to send an InMail message directly to that recruiter, bypassing the need for an ATS scanner. Although LinkedIn Premium is an investment, it streamlines the application process and gives you some insight you can use. For example, if you apply for specific positions where you have the experience, but your profile shows you are ranking comparatively low, you can decide to add relevant skills to your profile that the job requires. You can ensure that you aren’t shorting yourself by omitting skills the employer desires.

Tips to Boost Your LinkedIn Presence

• Showcase your accomplishments under each position on your profile.
• Maximize the skills section by adding 20 to 50 relevant hard skills in your wheelhouse.
• Add a custom banner photo showing your target industry and personality.
• Write an eye-popping headline that displays your specialties.
• Fill in your education, volunteer work, awards, and published work.

Choose Your Tools

After reviewing the benefits of a cover letter versus a LinkedIn profile, you’ve probably realized that they have different uses. While a cover letter helps enhance your application, a LinkedIn profile establishes an online presence that expands your reach to hiring managers who may only be searching through that platform. Not all employers use every job board to post a job; some may exclusively use LinkedIn, Indeed, or an industry niche board.

Leverage LinkedIn for Networking and Presence

Creating a LinkedIn profile that shows your skills will boost your chances of recruiters knocking on your door. If you haven’t investigated creating a LinkedIn profile yet, there is no better time to start than now. Use your profile to connect with people in your network, get found for new, exciting opportunities, and establish a unique identity for yourself.

Use a Cover Letter to Align with Specifics

Leveraging a cover letter allows you to express your interests more personally; it’s a flexible, precise tool to connect with the company and illustrate why you are the best fit for what they are looking for. Your letter can be “the thing” that helps the hiring manager recognize your name and enables you to stand out from everyone else who applied.

About Equiliem

Equiliem ( www.equiliem.com ) believes in empowering success. It’s our job to cultivate relationships that connect people and employers in a way that is inclusive, intelligent, and allows both to thrive. 

Across the U.S., leading companies in healthcare, government, light industrial manufacturing, professional services, and energy rely on us for their workforce solutions. Our recruiting and HR services include contract and direct hire staffing, Payrolling/EOR, Independent Contractor Compliance, and Managed Services.

Since 1995, we’ve helped shape our industry. Today, we continue to research, ask questions, and continuously enhance the candidate journey and client experience. 

Writing a LinkedIn cover letter

LinkedIn is a popular professional social network that allows employers to post open positions and receive applications. In some cases, these applications require a cover letter submitted directly through the platform. While a LinkedIn cover letter is similar to a standard one, being on the platform allows you to leverage certain personalization features to impress recruiters and give you the best chance of landing the job you want.

How to make a cover letter on LinkedIn

When it comes to cover letter examples , LinkedIn doesn’t supply any. The platform has its own set of rules and expectations, and it's important that you follow them. Here are a few things you need to know about navigating the process and making sure your professionalism shines through.

Search for a job post

LinkedIn makes it easy for job hunters to search for roles they’d like to apply for. From your profile page, simply click on the “Jobs” icon at the top of the page. On the “Jobs” page, you’ll be able to see the top opportunities LinkedIn recommends based on the qualifications listed in your profile.

The site will also provide a plethora of other suggestions, including keywords to search, companies hiring for your skills, and jobs where you’re likely to be a top applicant.

Apply through the “Apply” or “Easy Apply” functions

When you choose a particular role, LinkedIn will show you a detailed job description, as well as the posting date, number of applicants, and current employees you may know. There will also be an option to either apply for the position or save the posting to come back to it later.

To apply for the position, click the “Apply” button. In some cases, this button will take you to the employer’s website to submit an application through their online system. If there’s an “Easy Apply” button, clicking it will usually take you to an on-platform application.

There, you’ll be asked to upload your resume as a file attachment, fill in your personal details, and possibly answer a few questions. There may also be a message box where you can type your cover letter.

Personalize your cover letter

Applying on LinkedIn provides added benefits for applicants. In many cases, you’ll have the unique ability to see who posted the job and what their role is. There’s often a button next to this feature that allows you to message that person to ask questions about the posting.

The bottom of the job description also usually includes a link to the company page. From there, you can sometimes see the profiles of employees in key roles.

You can also click the “People” tab on an employer’s LinkedIn page to search for the name of a hiring manager. This will help you personalize the cover letter templates you use so you can address them to the right person instead of simply including a generic greeting.

Highlight relevant skills and experience

Another benefit of using LinkedIn to apply is that employers can see the relevant skills and experience listed in your profile. Consequently, they’ll be able to cross-reference the skills you include in your cover letter and resume. 

Though many resume articles may tell you that this information is sufficient for your letter, keep in mind that LinkedIn doesn’t always provide adequate space to discuss your skills in context. Your profile won’t be able to align those skills with the employer’s posted job description. 

For that reason, it’s important to connect the dots for the employer in your LinkedIn cover letter, explaining how your background, skills, and experience have set you up for success and make you the best candidate for the position.

This tactic is crucial for differentiating yourself from other applicants on LinkedIn and is especially important for roles where the platform indicates that there are already many applicants.

Include a call to action

This is one way writing a LinkedIn cover letter aligns with the conventional wisdom found in many cover letter articles .

Make sure to end your cover letter with a clear prompt for the person reading it to take the next step in the hiring process. Reiterate your enthusiasm and invite them to view any materials or portfolios you’ve included on your profile or application.

Tell the hiring manager you’d love to set up an interview or a time to talk further about how you can help the company reach its goals. Let them know you’re available to chat through LinkedIn and provide another contact method in case they prefer an alternative venue.

Proofread and edit

LinkedIn makes writing a cover letter quite easy. That said, it’s important to remember that while social media platforms can seem casual, that doesn’t mean you should take your cover letter and application any less seriously.

To appear as professional as possible, make it a point to proofread and edit your LinkedIn cover letter and resume to confirm that they’re error-free. If you’ve used a cover letter or resume template , alter parts of it to reflect your unique skills and background.

Send your application

Once everything is complete, submit your job application on LinkedIn by clicking the appropriate button. You also have the option to save your application so you can finish and submit it later.

Remember that employers can’t see your application until it’s submitted. If you forget to take this step, you won’t be in the running for the position you’re interested in.

Expert Tip:

Consider using a typing assistant or online proofreading tool to help you edit your cover letter before you send it. That way, you can spot errors and make changes inside the LinkedIn message box as you type, so you won’t have to worry about coming across as unprofessional.

To-do’s after sending your application

You may wonder what happens next once your application package is in the employer’s hands. Unlike the company’s applicant tracking system (ATS) , which may or may not give updates about your application, you can track your applications on LinkedIn. 

Simply navigate to the “Jobs” tab on your profile, click “My Jobs” on the left-hand side, and choose “Applications” to see the jobs you’ve applied for. You can also adjust your notification settings to receive job application updates via email or the LinkedIn app, including recruiter views or resume downloads.

If you want to continue your job hunt and submit another resume and cover letter , LinkedIn makes it easy. If requested or given room to do so, including a LinkedIn cover letter in each of those applications can go a long way toward helping you stand out amongst a sea of applicants.

Finally, if you haven’t heard back from the company within one to two weeks, consider sending a follow-up message via LinkedIn.

Remind the hiring manager or recruiter of your qualifications, highlight why you’re a great fit for the role, and let them know you’re enthusiastic about the possibility of an interview to discuss how you can be of value to the company.

“While social media platforms can seem casual, that doesn’t mean you should take your cover letter and application any less seriously.”

Use LinkedIn to your advantage in your search for the perfect role

As easy as it is to apply for a job on LinkedIn, it’s still important to ensure that your cover letter and application come across as poised and professional.

Before applying, familiarize yourself with the platform functions and use them to research the recruiter or hiring manager’s name. When you write your cover letter, personalize your greeting using that name instead of going with something more generic.

Additionally, give context to the experience and skills you’ve listed and explain why you’re a good fit for the role, using your LinkedIn profile as a resume example of sorts. Include a call to action at the end, and don’t forget to proofread your letter before sending it off.

If you’re coming up blank trying to compose your letter, consider using a LinkedIn cover letter example as your guide.

Reviewing cover letter and resume examples can help you determine the appropriate structure and maintain a professional tone throughout. With the right resources, you can draft a standout cover letter that gets your application moved to the top of the digital stack.

Get ahead of the competition

Make your job applications stand-out from other candidates.

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How to Start a Cover Letter: 30 Creative Opening Sentences Recruiters Will LOVE

Wondering how to start a cover letter? Traditional cover letter wisdom might tell you to begin with something like, “Dear Hiring Manager, I am writing to apply for the marketing manager position with the Thomas Company.” But we say: A cookie cutter cover letter intro feels as outdated as a Hotmail address.

A cover letter is your chance to introduce yourself to a hiring manager—who you are, what you have to offer, and why you want the job—but you have an extremely limited amount of space to do it. If you really want to get noticed, you’ve got to start right off the bat with something that grabs your reader’s attention.

What do we mean? Well, we won’t just tell you, we’ll show you. Keep reading to find tips on how to start a cover letter, along with 30 creative cover letter opening lines and sentence examples.

Still looking for that perfect next role? One of these open jobs on The Muse just might be the one »

5 tips on how to start off a cover letter

Here are a few pointers to guide you as you use our example cover letter openings—we’re getting there, we promise!—to craft your own:

1. Avoid boring or overused openers

Recruiters have read cover letters that start with lines like “I’m excited to apply for the front-end engineering position,” or “Your job posting on The Muse prompted me to…” so often they could wallpaper their homes with them. While those are OK and still acceptable, you'll have a better shot at impressing potential employers with a less cliché opening line.

2. Be lively and personable

People like reading interesting, engaging stuff—the kind that paints a picture, tells a story, and maybe even makes them smile. People like it when you’re human, genuine, and memorable. So figure out something about yourself and your background that relates to the company or position you're interested in, and use that to build a connection.

3. Show what you bring the company

You’ll get more into the details after your opening paragraph, of course. But your cover letter opener should still tell the reader, “This person can do something for us,” rather than, “This job would really help them.”

4. Stick to the point

Your opener, while creative, should still be relevant to the job. Don’t begin by highlighting an unrelated accomplishment or recounting an anecdote that never connects back to why you’re applying for the job. Part of writing an effective cover letter is curating key information that relates to that specific job opportunity and shows the reader that you're a good fit for the role.

5. Don't start with “To Whom It May Concern”

Find an alternative to “ To Whom It May Concern .” Seriously, banish those five words from your cover letter vocabulary forever. Nowadays, this phrase is seen as outdated, overused, and even rude—especially when better options exist.

30 cover letter opening sentence examples

We’ve come up with 30 creative cover letter opening sentence examples and separated them by the method they use to grab the reader’s attention. We don’t recommend copying and pasting because, well, your cover letter should be unique to your stories, background, and interests.

But you can most definitely use these examples to get inspired for your next application. (If you’re looking to see what an entire cover letter might look like, check out our article on the best cover letter examples for every type of job seeker .)

Start with passion

Employers want to hire people who care about what they’re doing. If you start your cover letter off talking about your passions and how they relate to the job, you’re telling the reader that you’ll be an engaged and motivated employee who’s likely to stick around. Plus, it’s a good way to tell the company a bit about who you are as a person right off the bat. Just be honest and realistic.

If truly loving data is wrong, I don’t want to be right. It seems like the rest of the folks at [Analytics Company] feel the same way—and that’s just one of the reasons why I think I’d be the perfect next hire for your sales team.

I’ve been giving my friends and family free style advice since I was 10, and recently decided it’s time I get paid for it. That’s why I couldn’t believe it when I found an open personal stylist position at [Company].

After about three years of trying out different roles at early-stage startups around San Francisco, watching more “ find your passion “ keynotes than I’d like to admit, and assuring my parents that, yes, I actually do have a real job, I’m starting to come to terms with the fact that I’m happiest when I’m doing two things: writing great content and getting it out into the world.

The other day, I took a career assessment , which told me I should be a maritime merchant. I’m not quite sure what that is, but it did get me thinking: A role that combines my skills in business development with my lifelong passion for the ocean would be my absolute dream. Which is how I found this role at Royal Caribbean.

As a kid, I once gave up a day of a family vacation to transport an injured lizard I found by our hotel two hours each way to the nearest animal hospital (and talked my dad into driving me pre-GPS!). When I was a bit older, I found out I could care for animals every day for a living, and I’ve been working toward that goal ever since.

I am constantly checking my LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds—and not because of FOMO. Because I’m someone who wholeheartedly believes in the power of sharing ideas in online communal spaces, and I’m positive that I can help spark meaningful conversations as your next social media assistant.

When I was growing up, I wanted to be one of those people who pretend to be statues on the street. Thankfully, my career goals have become a little more aspirational over the years, but I still love to draw a crowd and entertain the masses—passions that make me the perfect community manager.

Start with admiration

Companies often want to hire people who already know, love, eat, and sleep their brand. What better to kick off your cover letter than a little flattery? Of course, remember when you’re telling a company why you love it to be specific and genuine. Because while everyone likes a compliment, no one likes obvious self-serving B.S.

I pretty much spent my childhood in the cheap seats at Cubs games, snacking on popcorn and cheering on the team with my grandfather. It’s that memory that’s shaped my career—from helping to establish the sports marketing major at my university to leading a college baseball team to an undefeated season as assistant coach—and what led me to apply for this position at the Chicago Cubs.

It was Rudy, my Golden Retriever, who first inspired me to apply to your operations assistant opening—not only have we used your app to find other dogs to play with in our neighborhood, he’s really excited about the prospect of coming to work with me every day. As I learned more about how [Company] is using modern tech to help pets thrive in cities, I couldn’t help but get excited to be part of it, too.

Example 10:

When I was seven, I wanted to be the GEICO gecko when I grew up. I eventually realized that wasn’t an option, but you can imagine my excitement when I came across your events manager position, which would have me working side by side with my favorite company mascot.

Example 11:

When I attended SXSW for the first time last month, I didn’t want to leave. So I decided I shouldn’t—and immediately went to check out job openings at the company.

Example 12:

If I could make the NYC apartment rental process better for just one person, I would feel like the horrors of my recent search would all be worth it. So a customer service role at [Apartment Search Company], where I could do it every day? I can’t think of anything more fulfilling.

Example 13:

[Vacation Rental Company] is synonymous with luxury and escape, known for spaces that inspire. I’ve felt this firsthand every time I’ve stayed at one of your properties—whether I was throwing a bachelorette party or working from home in a new locale—and I would love the chance to contribute to this reputation as your destination manager.

Example 14:

I was an hour out from hosting my first big dinner party when I realized I had forgotten to pick up the white wine. In a panic, I started Googling delivery services, and that’s when I first stumbled across [Delivery Service Company]. I’ve been hooked ever since, so I couldn’t help but get excited by the idea of bringing this amazingness to nervous hosts like me as your next social media and community manager.

Example 15:

Though I’m happily employed as a marketing manager, seeing the job description for your company’s PR director position stopped me in my tracks. I’ve been wearing your glasses for many years, and have always been impressed by the way the company treats its customers, employees, and the community at large.

Example 16:

A group of us IT folks were sitting around talking about our favorite Pacific Northwest companies this morning (coincidentally, over coffee). As you might figure, Starbucks was among the first names that came up. What makes you such a standout among Seattle-based corporations? Here’s the list we compiled:

Start with accomplishments

For any given job, you’re going to be competing with a lot of other job seekers—presumably, a lot of other similarly qualified people. A great way to stand out in your cover letter is to highlight something about yourself—a character trait, an accomplishment, a really impressive skill—that’ll quickly show how you stand out.

Example 17:

My last boss once told me that my phone manner could probably defuse an international hostage situation. I’ve always had a knack for communicating with people—the easygoing and the difficult alike—and I’d love to bring that skill to your open office manager position.

Example 18:

Among my colleagues, I’m known as the one who can pick up the pieces, no matter what amount of you-know-what hits the fan. Which is why I think there’s no one better to fill this customer service leader position.

Example 19:

Last December, I ousted our company’s top salesperson from his spot—and he hasn’t seen it since. Which means, I’m ready for my next big challenge, and the sales manager role at your company is exactly what I’m looking for.

Example 20:

After spending three years managing the internal communications for a 2,000-person company, I could plan a quarterly town hall or draft an interoffice memo in my sleep. What do I want to do next? Put that experience to work as a consultant for executives looking to level up their communications strategy.

Example 21:

While you won’t find the title “community manager” listed on my resume, I’ve actually been bringing people together online and off for three years while running my own blog and series of meetups.

Example 22:

If you’re looking for someone who can follow orders and doesn’t like to rock the boat, I’m probably not the right candidate. But if you need someone who can dig into data, see what’s working (and what’s not), and challenge the status quo, let’s talk.

Example 23:

I recently relocated my family to Texas. As we neared our new home, I noticed with intrigue the many wind turbines dotting the landscape. Suddenly, it hit me: “This is the career for me.” After unloading the moving van, I promptly researched companies in this sector that may benefit most from a skilled field engineer with expert electromechanical skills. And I discovered that [Company] is where I want to be.

Example 24:

You might be wondering what a 15-year veteran of the accounting world is doing applying to an operations role at a food startup. While I agree the shift is a little strange, I know you’re looking for someone who’s equal parts foodie and financial expert, and I think that means I’m your person.

Example 25:

Over the last 10 years, I’ve built my career on one simple principle: Work smarter. I’m the person who looks for inefficient procedures, finds ways to streamline them, and consistently strives to boost the productivity of everyone around me. It’s what’s earned me three promotions in the supply chain department at my current company, and it’s what I know I can do as the new operations analyst for [Company].

Start with humor and creativity

OK, before you read any of these, we have to stamp them with a big, blaring disclaimer: Do your homework before trying anything like this—learn everything you can about the company and the hiring manager to gauge whether or not they’d appreciate some comedic relief or a bit of snark. If it seems like they would, it’s a great way to make them smile (then call you). If they don’t? Try a different approach.

Example 26:

Have you ever had your mom call five times a day asking for a status update on how your job search is going, and then sound incredulous that you haven’t made more progress since the last phone call? That’s my life right now. But I’m hoping that soon my life will revolve around being your full-time social media manager. The good news is, I bring more to the table than just an overbearing mom. Let me tell you more.

Example 27:

Thank you so much for offering me the marketing manager position at [Company]! I wholeheartedly accept. OK, I know we’re not quite there yet. But if we were, here are just a few ideas for what I would do once in the role.

Example 28:

I considered submitting my latest credit card statement as proof of just how much I love online shopping, but I thought a safer approach might be writing this cover letter and describing all the reasons I’m the one who can take [E-Commerce Company]’s business to the next level.

Example 29:

I never thought that accidentally dropping my iPhone out of a second story window would change my life (it’s a funny story—ask me about it). But thanks to my misfortune, I discovered [Phone Repair Company]—and found my dream job as an expansion associate.

Example 30:

If we were playing “Two Truths and a Lie,” I’d say: I’ve exceeded my sales quotas by at least 20% every quarter this year, I once won an international pie-eating contest, and I have an amazing job at [Company]. The last, of course, is the lie. For now.

Frequently asked questions

How do you start off a cover letter.

When unsure how to open a cover letter, a good rule of thumb is to steer clear of clichés or overused opening lines. Instead, start by highlighting a passion or accomplishment relevant to the company or role you're applying for. You could also mention something about the company that caught your attention. Get creative, but keep it professional and make sure your narrative makes sense in that context.

How to start a cover letter greeting?

Try to find the hiring manager's name on LinkedIn or the company's website and address them directly, like “Dear Jane Doe”. If you can't find their name, “Dear Hiring Manager” is a good alternative. Avoid using “To Whom It May Concern” as it sounds outdated and impersonal.

How do I introduce myself in a cover letter?

Introducing yourself in a cover letter is straightforward: just share a bit about yourself. For example, “I'm a copywriter with seven years of experience in online content writing. At least officially. Since my first year of college I've been working on personal projects and keeping a track record of my accomplishments throughout the years.” No need to repeat your name since it's already in your contact information at the beginning of the letter.

How to start a cover letter without a name?

If you don't know the name of the person receiving your cover letter, start with “Dear Hiring Manager” or similar. Other possibilities include: “Dear Hiring Team”, “To the Hiring Team”, “To the Hiring Team”, “Dear Recruiter/Recruiting Team”, or “Dear Hiring Committee” if your industry evaluates cover letters and applications through a board.

Jenny Foss , Erica Breuer , Regina Borsellino , Amanda Cardoso also contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article.

Professional Product Discovery and Validation

Live Virtual Class, September 18, 2024

Class Overview

This one-day training course offers a hands-on learning experience to participants, enabling them to enhance value creation by applying discovery and validation skills in product development. What is learned throughout the course is essential for developing new products and enhancing existing ones.

Experimenting with new ideas and collecting evidence on those experiments is more important than ever in today’s ever-changing business environments. Learning from potential or current users is essential to delivering the right product capabilities to market which is why this course teaches the essential techniques needed to drive targeted learning while collecting evidence to validate or invalidate potential capabilities.

Throughout the class, students learn several discovery and validation practices that can be used immediately in their jobs.

Course Learning Objectives

• Increase user value created by deliberately designing experiments to validate assumptions about user’s needs and wants
• Reduce waste and improve ROI by consciously only investing based on evidence gathered from validation
• Improve organizational collaboration and alignment by engaging with key stakeholders using data instead of opinions
• Unlock creativity by reframing work as problems to solve rather than tasks to execute

Who Should Attend this class?

This course is appropriate for students who are currently working as a Product Owner, product manager, product leaders, business analysts and others on the product team who are looking for practical ways to increase user value created, make data-informed decisions, and better investments. This course is also suitable for members of product teams.

Professional Scrum Certification

All participants completing the Professional Product Discovery & Validation course will receive a password to attempt the Professional Product Discovery & Validation Certification. PPDV class participants who attempt the PPDV assessment within 14 days of the class and do not score at least 85% will be granted a 2nd attempt at no additional cost.

Why Learn With TheScrumMaster.co.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in the price? The price includes official course materials, up to 2 attempts at the assessment and lifetime certification from Scrum.org.

How do I take the assessment? The assessment is taken online in your own time following the course. It can be taken from any internet-connected computer

What is required to achieve the certification? The assessment is comprised of 20 multiple-choice questions that must be completed in 30 minutes. The pass mark is 85%. We provide practice assessments and a full eLearning version of the course to help you prepare.

Why learn with TheScrumMaster.co.uk?

• We have helped  25,000+ people learn Scrum since 2012.
• We have  950+ LinkedIn recommendations and are 5-star rated on Trustpilot & Google!
• We provide extensive practice assessments to ensure you gain certification.
• We provide an eLearning version of the course for reference and revision.
• Join our Community for ongoing coaching, events & resources.
• Join our  Affiliate program  and earn free courses. 
• Receive regular chances to  attend another course at no cost .

What are the course hours? The course hours are shown further up this page.

Can I attend from my country? Yes. Everyone is welcome at all of our courses. You can attend from anywhere!

Can I attend on a different date? Yes. We run courses regularly, and you can find all our upcoming dates on our  public course page .

How many people will attend? Our courses are kept small to ensure a premium experience.

How should I prepare for the course? The only preparation required is to read the  Scrum Guide . We provide a range of free  additional resources  to help you learn more in advance if you wish.

I'm not sure if I have enough experience to take the course. What should I do? Email us at  [email protected],  and we will advise you.

Can I claim PMI PDU credits for attending the course? Yes. You can claim 14 PDU's for attending a course.

Do I need to pay VAT? It depends on where you live. If you are outside the UK then usually not!  Find out more .

Do you offer discounts? We usually offer discounts for group bookings, not-for-profit organisations, and hardship cases. Find out more at our  Discounts page .

Can I pay via credit/debit card? Yes. Please select the 'Register now and pay via Credit Card' option when you register.

Can I register now and pay via invoice later? Yes. Please select the 'Register now and pay later via Invoice' option when you register. Find our company information and contact us to request a quote or invitation letter.

Where can I find more answers to common questions? Visit our full  FAQ page  for more answers to frequently asked questions.

Where can I contact the trainer with further questions? You can email us at  [email protected]

Class Details

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Delivery Method

Class format, registration & price, more information, about the trainer.

Simon’s courses come highly recommended, with 950+ personal LinkedIn recommendations . He is 5-star rated on Trustpilot and Google . His clients include Google, NASA, the United Nations, Amazon, Toyota, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Roche and many, many more. 

Simon has 25+ years of industry experience and has been using Scrum since 2005. He led the development of the Times newspaper iPad app and Dailymail.co.uk . 

He is one of only a few Scrum trainers globally able to offer the full range of Scrum.org courses. He trains and coaches Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Developers and organisations in their transition to Scrum and Agile. 

Simon is based in the UK and offers Scrum training courses with certification worldwide. He also provides private training, coaching, and consulting for organisations.

Get in touch to find out more. You can book a free online consultation with Simon to discuss your needs.

TheScrumMaster.co.uk Clients

TheScrumMaster.co.uk Reviews

Contact The Trainer:

Phone:      +44 7547 341 301 Email:        [email protected] Website:     TheScrumMaster.co.uk

This is a Live Virtual Remote/Online Course . The course is specially designed to run online and includes frequent breaks and an hour for lunch. Full details on how to participate will be sent to you by email shortly before the class.

Live Virtual Remote/Online Course Requirements:

• A Computer with an internet connection, Microphone, Speakers & Webcam.
• Free install of Zoom
• We can assist you with the set-up on the days before the class if required.
• The Trainer will be available for 30 minutes before the course to offer assistance.

Registration