Formal Cover Letter Do's and don'ts
If you’re applying for jobs, having a professional resume and cover letter is crucial. However, just having great content doesn’t suffice. The structure of the cover letter you send out is as important as the content. A badly formatted cover letter can leave a bad impression on your hiring manager, while a well-formatted one can help you stand out from your competition. In this article, we’ll cover the rules and guidelines for formatting your cover letter and then discuss why it could be beneficial to have an experienced professional such as Hamilton Resume handle the formatting for you.
Let’s start by discussing the essentials of cover letter formatting.
- Make sure you use a professional font. Times New Roman, Arial, and Calibri are all great choices. Beware of using too fancy or hard-to-read fonts.
- Do use a consistent layout. Use the same font, the size of the font, and formatting for the covering letter.
- Do include proper spacing. Choose single line or 1.15 line spacing and ensure that you leave sufficient white space in between the paragraphs to make the text easier to understand.
- Include your contact information at the top of the letter. It should include your name, address along with your telephone number and email address.
- Personalize the letter. Include the name of the hiring manager as much as you can, and customize your letter to the job and the company the job you’re interested in.
Now, let’s discuss the don’ts of cover letter layout.
- Don’t make use of a template. Each cover letter should be unique and tailored to the particular job and business you’re applying to.
- Don’t exceed one page. Make sure the letter is concise and straight to the essence.
- Don’t go overboard with your formatting. Use a simple, professional layout.
- Don’t neglect to proofread. Double-check grammar and spelling errors before sending the letter.
- Make sure to sign the letter.
While it’s crucial to pay attention to the format of your cover letter, it’s tedious and stressful to complete it yourself. That’s why a professional resume writing service such as Hamilton Resume comes in. Our team of specialists knows how to write the perfect cover letter that will help you stand out from the crowd. We’ll take care of the formatting so that you can focus on the contents that you want to convey in the cover letter.
In addition, our staff can assist you in tailoring your letter of cover to the particular job and company which you’re applying. Additionally, we’ll look for spelling and grammar mistakes and make sure that your letter is concise easily read.
In conclusion, a well-formatted cover letter could make all the difference in your job search. By adhering to the do’s & do’s of formatting your cover letter and maybe hiring a professional company like Hamilton Resume to handle the formatting on your behalf and you’ll be well on your way to creating a cover letter that can help you stand out among the crowd. Do not hesitate to contact us at 0800 024 129 or use the contact form to get in touch for any queries.
