Formal Cover Letter Do's and don'ts

If you’re seeking a job, having a professional resume and cover letter is essential. However, simply having good content doesn’t suffice. The format of the cover letter you send out is as important as the content itself. A badly formatted cover letter can make a bad impression on your hiring manager While a professionally formatted one can make you stand out among the competition. In this article, we’ll discuss the rules and guidelines for the format of your cover letters, and also discuss the reasons why it might be beneficial to have an experienced professional such as Bendigo Resume handle the formatting for you.

First, let’s talk about the rules of formatting a cover letter.

1. Make sure you use a professional font. Times New Roman, Arial and Calibri are all excellent choices. Avoid using overly fancy or difficult to read fonts.
2. Do use a consistent layout. Use the same font size, and layout across the entire cover letter.
3. Do include proper spacing. Choose single line or 1.15 line spacing, and leave plenty of white space to make the letter easier to understand.
4. Do include your contact information near the beginning of the letters. This should include your name, address, phone number, and email.
5. Do personalize the letter. Make use of the name of the hiring manager If possible, and then tailor the letter to the specific job and company you’re applying to.

Let’s get to the dos and don’ts of cover letters format.

1. Don’t use a template. Each cover letter should be original and tailored to the specific position and organization you’re applying to.
2. Don’t go over one page. Make sure the letter is concise and to the essential.
3. Do not use fancy formatting. Use a simple, professional layout.
4. Don’t forget to proofread. Double-check for spelling and grammar errors prior to sending your letter.
5. Don’t forget to acknowledge the note.

While it’s vital to pay attention to the format of your cover letter, it can be time-consuming and overwhelming to do it yourself. That’s where professional resume writing services such as Bendigo Resume comes in. Our team of specialists knows how to write an effective cover letter that will ensure that you stand out from the competition. We’ll handle the formatting, so you can concentrate on the contents in your cover letter.

Our team can help you tailor your cover letter to match the job or company the job you’re applying to. In addition, we’ll review for spelling and grammar errors and make sure that your letter is short in its writing and simple to understand.

In the end, a well-formatted cover letter could make all you stand out in the job hunt. By following the do’s and nots of the format of your cover letter and perhaps hiring a professional like Bendigo Resume to handle the formatting on your behalf then you’ll be on your way to writing a professional cover letter that will help to stand out in the competition. Do not hesitate to contact us at 03 5420 1572 or use the contact form to get in touch for any queries.