Cover Letter Tip #2: What is the Proper Cover Letter Format?

Cover letters are so important you might be intimidated to create them. Don’t worry! There is a lot of formatting that goes into creating a proper cover letter. Once you know the job cover letter format, putting your cover letter together is as simple as piecing together a puzzle.

First, some general formatting tips. You should use a block style business letter format with one inch margins. Be sure to use the same font style and size that you use for your resume. You should have your address and contact information at the top, either centered or left justified. The address and contact information for the hiring manager should be left justified just above the start of your letter.

There are three main sections that you need to pay attention to with your cover letter. You can use the following job cover letter template to create your own cover letter.

The first paragraph: Right after your personalized salutation, you should tell the employer why you are contacting them and which position you are interested in. A lot of times companies will post many job openings at once and they need to know which job you’d like. Make sure to mention where you saw the ad for the company. Also, briefly mention why you are interested in this particular job.

The second paragraph: Here’s where you get to show off. The second paragraph should be used to give a detailed accounting of why you are qualified for the job. From your resume, pick two to three points or positions that best explain why you are right for this particular job. You need to be very specific in this paragraph. Instead of just stating “I’m good with numbers” point to specific experiences, ie: “I managed the accounts payable department for two years while working for Tempest Technology.”

This paragraph can be longer than the first and can have a specific format. In the first sentence, hit hard with a statement of why you are the best person for the job. In the body of the paragraph, use evidence from your resume to explain why you are the best person for the job. Give strong examples. Finally, wrap up this paragraph with a summary of what you’ve discussed.

The third paragraph of your resume should refer the reader to your enclosed resume and communicate the next steps in the process. If you are planning on contacting the hiring manager, let them know when and how. Leave your contact information again (either your phone number or e-mail address depending on the nature of the job), and be sure to thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration.

This format will make it easy to create your own cover letter that will encourage the hiring manager to call you in for an interview. It will be simple to put together the pieces using this template, but you may still need a little help creating an effective cover letter. If so, Tip #3 is for you..