What Does a Cover Letter Look Like?

What Does a Cover Letter Look Like?

Even the most well-written cover letter will fail without the right presentation. Learning how to structure and format your cover letter is an essential step in the cover letter writing process and will go a long way to helping you secure a new job. This guide will show you: - How to structure your cover letter - Best practices for cover letter presentation - Tips to make a good first impression with your cover letter

How to Structure Your Cover Letter

While the contents of your cover letter will vary depending on the role you’re applying to, the essential structure stays the same. Every successful cover letter is made up of the following six elements:

1. Your contact details. These appear in the cover letter header and should include your full name, professional email address, phone number, and address. You can also add a link to your professional profile, such as your LinkedIn.

2. The hiring manager’s details. As you would with any other type of business letter, add the hiring manager’s contact information above the opening paragraph. This includes their full name, job title, company name, and company address.

3. The opening paragraph. Once you’ve addressed the hiring manager with a formal salutation, use the first paragraph to express your interest in the role and briefly describe what makes you the perfect candidate. This will hook the hiring manager’s interest and encourage them to continue reading.

4. The main body. The main body consists of one or two paragraphs that focus on your key skills and experiences. This is where you describe your biggest accomplishments to convince the hiring manager that you’re the best person for the role.

5.The closing paragraph. In the final paragraph, thank the recruiter for their consideration, reaffirm your key selling point, and include a call to action (e.g., a request for a follow-up call to discuss the job opening in greater detail).

6. The close. Finish with a formal sign-off and your full name. A salutation, like “Sincerely” or “Best regards”, works best.

Once you’ve put these elements together, your cover letter should be about 250–400 words or around three-quarters of a page long. To see this structure in action, take a look at our industry-specific cover letter examples. Use our cover letter samples as a source of inspiration for your cover letter.