Great writing is just step one of the process to getting your dream job. While your text may be amazing, featuring engaging stories, relevant examples, and your vision for the position doesn't count for much unless you know how to format a cover letter.
Small things such as margins, font, and spacing matter. Many candidates feel overwhelmed by all the information that's out there, but don't worry, we're here to help.
in this guide we'll teach you:
- The principles on how to format a cover letter
- Which font is best
- Additional tips on Applicant Tracking System
Before we dive into it, let's make sure that your resume is on point. Head over to our resume builder for expert help.
Principles on How to Format a Cover Letter
While there are plenty of tips and tricks when it comes to down to formatting your cover letter, there are some core basics you need to abide by.
Margins
Cover letter margins should be at 1"-1.5"
Why is that? Because 1-inch margins will give you enough space to fit all of your vital information on one page. If you can afford to use an inch and a half margin, that's even better as it would be easier to read.
Font
When it comes to your font, do not try to be special. Keep it professional, simple, and clean.
The best fonts to use for your cover letter are:
| Calibri | Georgia | Avenir Next |
| Helvetica | Times New Roman | Cambria |
These fonts are clean and compact. The worst thing you can do is choose a quirky font that's hard to read. Spare the recruiter's eyes or otherwise, they won't be kind to you.
Alignment
Make sure that your alignment is consistent all the way through. Let's look at two examples:
Incorrect
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am excited to apply to the position of a Sales Director at your company, as I live and breathe sales.
My previous experience proves that I'm an expert at managing a team and hitting monthly as well as quarterly quota.
I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you further regarding the opportunity to join the team.
This cover letter looks like a complete mess and is hard to read due to the alignment. Choosing alignment to the left is a safe bet and it looks aesthetically pleasing.
Correct
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am excited to apply to the position of a Sales Director at your company, as I live and breathe sales.
My previous experience proves that I'm an expert at managing a team and hitting monthly as well as quarterly quota.
I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you further regarding the opportunity to join the team.
Consistency is key both on your resume and on the cover letter.
Formatting for ATS
Finally, let's talk about ATS - the Applicant Tracking System. First of all, what is ATS?
The Applicant Tracking System is a tool that reads resumes and cover letters in order to help recruiters. It screens the qualifications and keywords on your resume and cover letter in order to show the recruiter whether you match the job profile.
ATS is fully automated so in order to increase your chances of passing through, you have to make sure that you format properly. Luckily, sticking to a good font, 1"-1.5" margin and having a left alignment throughout is a big help.
Conclusion
Cover letter writing is a process and something of an art form. While you have to make sure that your content is excellent, you have to pay attention to the details as well, such as margins, font, and alignment.
Stick to the tips above and your cover letter will successfully pass through the Applicant Tracking System and land you the job.
Before you send out your application, make sure your resume looks flawless. He over to our resume builder for expert tips.
Related Articles
Are you an undergraduate or graduate college or university student?MintResume is proud to announce a $1000 scholarship for students studying in the...
What comes to mind when you hear "cover letter?" Are you thinking of a perfectly polished one-page document that goes in between your perfectly pol...
Cover letter writing isn't easy. A lot goes into it - storytelling, outlining relevant accomplishments, talking about transferable skills, and shar...
Table of Contents How to make your resume and cover letter correspond What information to include on your cover letter A cover letter sample...
When pondering how to write a cover letter, many candidates get frustrated. Where do you start? What do you talk about? Where do you find this "wow...
){kind=link}
While candidates try to do their best and convince the hiring manager that they are the right person for the job, cover letter mistakes are easy to...