How do I format a cover letter?

What is a cover letter? Why do I need it?

A cover letter is a short, one page letter which accompaniesthe resume when applying for a job. It gives you an opportunity to make your first impression on the recruiter about:

• your skills and experiences,

• how you can bring value to the company, if accepted,

• give more description about your resume

Why does the cover letter format matter?

According to the Society of Human Resources Management, a cover letter and resume only gets a 15-second glance, so your first line either grabs the reader’s attention or loses it. (source: Linkedin)

A well formatted cover letter is easy to read which highlights your skills. This increases your chances to land an interview.

A cover letter has the following sections:

1. Head — include the date, your contact info, and a greeting to the hiring manager

2. Body — paragraphs that capture the hiring manager's attention, explain why you fit the job, and end with a call-to-action

3. Closing — finish with a professional sign-off and signature

To hear an audio version of the text in the above cover letter, click the play button in the player below:

Photo by Viktor Talashuk on Unsplash

This section will include:

• The date you send the letter

• Your contact information (name, email, city, state, phone number)

• Hiring manager's information (name, company name and address)

Make every effort to locate the hiring manager's name so you can personalize the cover letter. Check out this Byte to learn ways to find out the hiring manager's name.

This section contains 3 paragraphs. Here are some suggestions about what information should be put in each paragraph.

First Paragraph

Here you will draw the recruiter's attention and express your enthusiasm for this job. You will:

• introduce yourself

• mention which role you are applying for (title of the job posting)

• tell them why you're applying

• mention your referral (person who referred you to this job)

Second Paragraph

Here you will explain why you're the best fit for this job. You will mention your:

• past relevant experience

• skills

• education and qualifications

Make sure to align your explanation with the job requirements. Be precise yet impactful.

Third Paragraph

This is a call-to-action paragraph where you express enthusiasm for an interview while inviting the hiring manager to contact you if there are any questions.

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Lena is an experienced project manager. She's applying for a new position and is considering putting the following statements in her cover letter:

A. I have worked as a project manager for 5 years.

B. In my five years as a project manager, I have worked on 30 projects with an average value of $2 million.

C. I was a project manager at a multi-million dollar corporation.

Here you will close the cover letter using formal professional language. Consider using one of the following sign-offs:

• Thank you for your consideration,

• Best regards,

• Thank you,

• Sincerely,

Signature

Insert your digital signature and make sure your name is typed below the signature.

Some quick do's and don'ts which will help you write an impactful cover letter:

Do's

• keep it brief yet impactful

• talk about how you can add value to the company

• talk about your specific skills and experiences that align with the requirements of the job

• use specific keywords

• Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri fonts sizes 10-12 are appropriate

Don'ts

• repeat information from your resume

• focus on your current job title or education

• submit an unedited cover letter — make sure to proofread it or have someone else look at it

• submit a generic letter — always personalize it with appropriate names and details