Fantastic Formatting Tips for Your Cover Letter

This article will show you how to format a professional cover letter in 2022. Look at examples of cover letter formats and secure your dream job today!

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How to Format Your Cover Letter This Year

If you’re going to land your dream job, you’ll need a professional-looking cover letter to impress your potential future employers. A well-presented cover letter with the right formatting will stand you in good stead and make an impression on recruiters.


Here at CVHelp, we’re here to help you with everything related to CVs and cover letters. With helpful blog posts, CV and cover letter templates, and our online CV and cover letter builders, you can rely on our expertise to give you a helping hand up the next rung of the career ladder.


We’ll explain how to format your cover letter so it looks professional, reads well, and catches the attention of hiring managers. We’ll explain how to lay out your cover letter, what information to include, and provide you with cover letter format examples so you can see how it’s meant to look.


Create Your Cover Letter

How to Format Your Cover Letter

Here’s exactly how you should write and format each section of your cover letter for the recruiter.

List contact details

As with any formal letter, your cover letter should begin with your contact information and the contact information of the person or company you’re sending your application to. Include these in the header of your document. Your details should be at the top, on the right-hand side. You should include your full name, address, phone number, email address, and any relevant social media links, like your LinkedIn profile. Include any contact information you have for the company on the left-hand side, including the company name and company address.

Add a greeting

Start the main part of your cover letter with a salutation. This is usually in the form of, “Dear,” followed by the name of the person the letter is addressed to. If you don’t know the name of the person responsible for the recruitment process, you could simply write “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Sir or Madam.” It’s ill-advised to use old-fashioned salutations, such as “To Whom It May Concern.”

Write your introduction

Underneath the greeting, leave a double line space, then write a brief introduction in your opening paragraph. This should state the role that you’re applying for. The best cover letters will grab the reader’s attention in the first paragraph to make a great first impression.

Write your body paragraphs

A good cover letter addresses one topic per paragraph, with a double space between each paragraph. Topics for your second paragraph and third paragraph might include your current role and the experience it’s given you, previous relevant roles, qualifications you hold, as well as your interests and relevant skills. You can also include why you want to work for this company, what you admire about their company culture, and why you’re applying for this particular role. You should reference the company website and job description for inspiration here. The hiring manager should understand why you are the perfect candidate after these paragraphs.

Add your calls to action

To end the effective yet simple cover letter, write one or two paragraphs encouraging the reader to take action. Usually, you’ll invite them to get in touch with you to invite you for an interview. You can also encourage them to get in touch with you if they have any questions. And if you have a portfolio of work, mention that you have a link to it (or is attached to your application) in this paragraph.

Sign off your cover letter 

If you’ve used the person’s name, then sign off with “Yours sincerely,” or if you haven’t, then you can use “Yours faithfully.” Alternatively, you can simply use “Best wishes” or “Kind regards.” Follow this sign-off with your name underneath after a double line break.

Examples of a Standard Cover Letter Format

If you’d like more help with writing your cover letter, as well as polishing up your CV, we’ve got plenty of resources available to help job seekers, from tips and templates to our online cover letter and CV builders. Also, check out our free cover letter templates and cover letter examples. Explore today and use our career advice to help kickstart your career.


FAQ: Cover Letter Formats

Q: Do I need to write a cover letter?

Yes. You should always write a cover letter for each new job application. It’s your chance to catch the hiring manager’s attention and show your potential employer why you’re perfect for the role. The perfect cover letter will set you apart from other candidates by not just outlining your skills and work experience, but also reflects your personality.

Q: Should I tailor my cover letter?

Always tailor your cover letter for each job posting. Recruiters want to see that you have read the job description in the job ad carefully so it’s a good idea to use keywords and key phrases that are used in the ad (e.g., specific skills or qualifications). During your job search, note what seems to be important to the recruiter and address this in your cover letter.

Q: What help is there online for a cover letter?

You can find plenty of cover letter tips online at CVHelp. For your cover letter, use our cover letter builder, our cover letter samples, templates, and examples for inspiration. It’s a hub of helpful advice and guidance on crafting both the perfect cover letter and the perfect CV for a great job application combination.

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