How to Format a Cover Letter (With Example)

When you are applying for a job, it is common for employers to request both a resume and a cover letter. In around three paragraphs, your cover letter should highlight what makes you a great fit for the job and motivate the hiring manager to set up an interview. Before we delve into how to format a cover letter here is a quick list of what should be in a cover letter:

1. Start by including the date and your contact information on the top left of your letter.

2. Address the letter to the hiring manager.

3. Begin your cover letter with a common salutation such as ‘Dear Nina Mittal’.

4. Introduce yourself and show how the role aligns with your career goals.

5. Mention any current employees who referred you for the position.

6. Connect the position’s required skills with your previous accomplishments.

7. Thank the employer for their time and consideration.

8. Close the letter with a friendly yet formal signature such as ‘Sincerely’.

Now let us, deep dive, into formatting a winning cover letter. Below, we have broken down everything you need to know about it, along with a few cover letter examples to help you create your own.

What Is A Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a one-page document you send to employers with your resume to apply for jobs. Typically, a cover letter’s format is three paragraphs long and includes information like why you are applying for the position, a brief overview of your professional background and what makes you uniquely qualified for the job. While some employers might require a cover letter to apply, others might make it optional or exclude it from your application entirely.

Elements Of A Cover Letter

• Date and contact information

• Salutation/greeting

• Opening paragraph

• Middle paragraphs

• Closing paragraph

• Complimentary close and signature

Date and contact information

There are two ways to list contact information on your cover letter depending on whether you are providing a digital or hard copy.

If you are submitting a digital copy online, feel free to leave your specific address and just use your city and state, phone number and email. Do not include the company and hiring manager’s contact information either.

Date
Your Name
City, State
Phone Number
Email Address

Although it is becoming less common, there may be a time when you are required to submit a paper copy of your cover letter. In this case, the top left corner of your letter should include the following elements.

Date
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Pin Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email Address
Hiring Manager’s Name
Company Name
Company Address
Company City, State, Pin Code

Salutation/greeting

Start your cover letter off on the right foot by addressing the hiring manager. If you can, find the name of the hiring manager for the role you are applying for. Reread the job description to see if it is listed there or check the company website. It is also a good idea to call the company and ask for the hiring manager’s name. Explain that you are applying for a job and would like to address your cover letter to the correct person. It is not necessary to add Mr, Mrs or Ms since it may require some guesswork about gender and marital status on your part. Just use their first and last name (e.g. Dear Sara Sayed.)

If you can not find the hiring manager’s name, stick with ‘Dear Hiring Manager’.

Opening paragraph

The opening paragraph is your chance to catch the hiring manager’s attention, introduce yourself and enthusiastically tell the employer why you are applying for the job. You will want to make this paragraph specific to each position you apply for.

Include why you are excited about the job and the company and how the job lines up with your career goals. Avoid making this paragraph sound formulaic by including keywords from the job posting and matching your skills to the employer’s requirements.

If you were referred to this job by someone who knows the hiring manager or already works at this company, you may want to mention this referral in your opening paragraph.

Middle paragraphs

Now that you have introduced yourself and established your enthusiasm, it is time to dig into your most relevant experience and talk about the specific qualifications and skills that make you the perfect candidate.

In one or two paragraphs, make the connection between your previous accomplishments and your readiness for this new role. Think of these paragraphs as a way to pitch yourself as the ideal match for the role. Employers will likely have read your resume already so avoid repeating the bullet points. Instead, include details that further illustrate those highlights.

Closing paragraph

The main goal of your closing paragraph is to thank the employer for their time and consideration. You also have the option of making any clarifications. For example, you can justify any major gaps in your employment history. You can also use this space to sum up your qualifications for the role and express an interest in continuing to the next stage in the hiring process.

Complimentary close and signature

Choose a complimentary closing that is friendly yet formal, followed by your first and last name. Closings you might consider include:

• Sincerely

• Regards

• Best

• Respectfully

• Thank You

• Thank You for Your Consideration

Avoid closings such as Cheers, Warm Regards, Thanks a Ton or Yours Truly, which may be considered too casual or affectionate.

If you are providing a hard copy of your cover letter, make sure to handwrite your signature and your full name.

Font

When it comes to font, keep it simple and professional. Choose a basic, clear font like Arial, Calibri, Verdana or something similar. Avoid using fancy or decorative fonts.

Many employers use applicant tracking systems—software that allows automated sorting of job applications based on specific keywords, skills, job titles or other fields. Complicated fonts can make it harder for the software to read your letter, which might prevent your application from moving forward.

Use 10 and 12 font size for easy reading. Anything smaller and you will leave the hiring manager squinting; anything larger and your letter will look unprofessional. In general, you should use the same font and font size that you used in your resume.

Spacing

Good spacing is essential for your cover letter. Whitespace in the right places will make it easier for the hiring manager to read quickly. Follow these guidelines:

• Make your cover letter single-spaced.

• Add a space between each section: contact information, salutation, opening paragraph, middle paragraphs, closing paragraph and complimentary closing. There is no need to indent any of your paragraphs.

Length

Keep your cover letter to a single page made up of three paragraphs. You can add an extra middle paragraph if absolutely necessary. Before doing this, however, always ask yourself if you can communicate the essential information in fewer words.

Margins And Alignment

Align your text to the left and use standard 1-inch margins on all sides. If your letter is spilling off onto a second page, first reread it and see if there is anything you can cut. If you can not cut anything, you can consider shrinking the margins to ¾” or ½” but avoid going smaller than that so your cover letter does not look squished on the page.

File Format

Since an applicant tracking system may be parsing your cover letter, make sure you save your document in a compatible file format—.doc or PDF. An applicant tracking system is a software that companies typically use to keep track of candidates that apply for jobs at their company.

It is also a good idea to rename your file to something specific especially since hiring managers can see the file name of your online submission. Follow the format of First Name-Last Name-Cover-Letter (e.g. Manish-Pal-cover-letter.doc) to make it more convenient for the person downloading it.

Cover Letter Format Example

Finally, here is a cover letter format example:

Sheetal Iyer
(91) 302-45678900
sheetal.iyer@email.com
January 23, 2019

Dear Hiring Manager,
I am excited to be applying for the Web Developer position at [Company Name]. I have been programming websites and using CSS to create user-friendly experiences since I was in middle school so it is always been a passion of mine. I have also been intrigued by your company ever since it won ‘Most Innovative’ at the National Web Development Awards two years ago. I strive to stay on the cutting-edge of web design and development so when I saw this job posting, I knew I had to apply.

During my previous role at [Company Name], I built a website completely from scratch for a recently rebranded business, both ahead of schedule and within budget. I started by gathering requirements from my clients and holding a focus group to perform user research. My favourite part about web design is building a solution that impresses the client and meets the needs of users and customers. My new website was responsive, lightning-fast and included the latest e-commerce features. After launch, I continued to lead optimisation efforts. Through A/B testing, I improved the click-through rate by 10 percent and reduced the bounce rate on the website’s landing page by 35 percent. As your Web Developer, I would bring these skills to develop websites that exceed the expectations of clients and customers and drive real business results.

One of the factors that really attracted me to this role is that [Company Name] values giving back to the community. In my spare time, I run free web development workshops for at-risk youths. In these workshops, I teach them the basics of HTML/CSS and JavaScript and serve as a mentor. As I grow in my career, applying my skills to help others and make an impact on the world becomes more important. I believe this role would give me that opportunity.
Thank you for your consideration and time. I am looking forward to learning more details about the position and company.

Sincerely,
Sheetal Iyer

Key Takeaways

Things to consider when formatting a cover letter:

• Elements of the cover letter – Ensure that your cover letter has your contact information and the appropriate salutation.

• Font – The font that you use should be simple and professional.

• Spacing – Whitespace in the right places will make it easier for the hiring manager to read quickly.

• Length – The ideal cover letter would be a single page made up of three paragraphs

• Margins and alignment – Use your margins to ensure that the letter looks professional.

• File format – Use a file format that is compatible with an applicant tracking system (ATS), typically .doc or PDF.

Related:

• Writing an Internship Cover Letter (With Examples)

• Short Cover Letter Sample (With Helpful Steps and Tips)

• How to Write a Cover Letter for Fresher Candidates (With Example)

• 6 Different Cover Letter Types (With Examples And How-To)