Your cover letter will work if it conveys a professional message in a professional tone. The important thing is that the format will change to the position you're applying for. If you're writing a cover letter for an accounting position at a legal firm, you will have to stick with a more traditional document format. You will have to opt for a different approach altogether when you're applying for the position of Imagineer at Disney. Namely, you need to conduct some research about the company as well as the available position to learn how to format a cover letter.
How to Format a Cover Letter
Letter Head
It is important to write typical details right at the very top of the page. This should include your address, date, name of the employer, company name, company's address, and salutations.
Opening Section
In the opening section, give the reader information about which job position you've been applying for and why. Here, you should start by mentioning the reason for writing. Your opening section is also the right place to share the names of people you already know in the organization. Finally, you need to give some compelling reasons to explain why you're applying for a particular company or position. Be sure to keep it short and simple.
Body Section
Use this section to convince your employer that you're the right candidate for the job, including your skills, experience and achievement. Prepare three real cases for your main achievement as illustration.
First, start with an intro focused on your skills and achievements. Just write about your skills or experience that may be a good match for your new job.
Second, persuade your prospective employer with specific experience on specific positions, and provide details about your skills that match the job requirement.
Also, keep it concise but crisp and make it impress the reader. Write short sentences to keep things interesting, and move to the next accomplishment at proper time.
Finally, wrap it all up with one final sentence while emphasizing again that you as the most suitable candidate for the job.
Closing Section
In the closing section, you need to inform the reader that you have attached your resume with the cover letter, which can be also placed in the beginning part. This will reveal that you're quite interested in winning an interview.
Also make it clear that until a specific date you will be waiting for their reply. At last, thank them for their time and consideration.
Signature
Finish it off with "Yours Sincerely" followed by "signature" and "Your name". The format can be as below:
Sincerely,
Your Signature (optional)
Your Name
Attachment(s) (if any)
Note: although we have made a proper cover letter format for you, you need to customize your cover letter to the specific job you are applying.
Choose Your Cover Letter Style
Standard Style
This style is suitable for sectors such as law, business, retail, and accounting. Below is a sample cover letter with standard, conservative style.
Your Address
Date
Mr. /Ms. (Name of Employer)
Title
Company Name
Their Address
Dear Mr. /Ms.:
Please find enclosed my CV in response to the advertisement posted in the Newspaper on 15 January.
The nature of my degree course has helped me develop skills required for this position. It involved extensive research, required self-motivation, initiative, and a variety of skills. For [mention course name], it was important to have a deep understanding of the [mention sector] industry, and I was very good at it.
I consider myself a fast writer with a habit to pay attention to finer details, and I shall be very thankful if I am granted with the opportunity to work with you. I am ready to take all responsibilities and good at managing stressful situations. I sure will be a good addition to your team.
Thank you for taking the time read my application and I hope to hear from you soon before the next Monday.
Yours sincerely,
Name
Speculative Style
The format will change a bit with different industry and organization you've selected. Below is a sample letter with speculative style.
Your Address
Date
Mr. /Ms. (Name of Employer)
Title
Company Name
Their Address
Dear Mr. /Ms.:
I'm writing this letter to find out if you have any new job openings available in your company. I have attached my CV for further reference.
I have good vacation work experience in different settings. I have worked in the retail sector, office environments, and service industries as well. This has helped me learn new skills and hone those learned in previous job experiences. I really believe it will be easy for me to fit into your team.
I do my work sincerely and always pay special attention to detail. I'm a quick learner and take little time to learn new skills. I'm a good team player and know how to achieve the toughest of goals while working in a team. It will definitely be a privilege getting a chance to work with a high profile company like [insert company name].
I will now look for a chance to meet you in person and discuss other job details. In case there are no vacancies available now, I would be grateful if you could keep my CV in your record for future reference.
Yours Sincerely,
Name
Letter for Creative Jobs
This type of cover letter works fine for creative jobs like that of a copywriter. It will show your employer about your creative side and special skills as well.
Your Address
Date
Mr. /Ms. (Name of Employer)
Title
Company Name
Their Address
Dear Mr. /Ms.:
Do commas confuse you?
Do you feel keyed up using parenthesis?
Do you find it difficult to write correct spellings?
Do you wonder how to master punctuation?
You're not alone here because writing is an art and not everyone can have that artistic bend of mind to create flawless content. The problem is that you can find hundreds of thousands of avid readers who can spot a gaffe with utmost ease. It is therefore important that you write your content only when you know you won't commit a grammatical, stylistic, structural, and typographical mistake. If you're not sure, I can be of great assistance.
I have been a copywriter for so many top websites. You can go have a look at [website address], a multilingual website with copies I've created from start to finish. If it sounds interesting, I can send some more samples in 24 hours to help you make a decision. I assure you that if you choose to work with me, you will no longer have to worry about the quality of your content. Write me back and sleep soundly at night!
With kind regards,
Your signature
Name
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