Home » Education & Career » International Job Search » Remember Your Cover Letter Part I: The Format

Remember Your Cover Letter Part I: The Format

© Tracy Bowens

Many people know the importance of having a good resume or CV when they a looking for a job. And, many people know as well that a cover letter accompanies a resume or CV. But, not many people realize the true importance of a cover letter, nor do they realize its real purpose.

The Importance of a Cover Letter

A cover letter does not repeat the content of a resume or CV. It compliments it. While resumes and CVs allow little room for creativity, your cover letter is your chance to really let potential employers know who you are and what you can do for the company. It serves as an introduction and a resume or CV should never, ever be sent without one. This is true whether you are applying for a job in the U.S. or abroad.

Cover Letter Format

The format of a cover letter is basically the same as that of any letter. The top right hand or left hand corner should contain your home address (street, city, state, and ZIP code) and the date.

Your potential employer's full name and address (street, city, state, and ZIP code) appears one space below the date and above the greeting, flushed left.

The following line contains the greeting. Remember, this is a business letter so the greeting should be followed by a colon, not a comma. Also address the intended reader as one would in a business letter - Dear Ms. Jones or Dear Mr. Brown, not Dear Sue or Dear James. While first names are not used, do not go to the other extreme and use the greeting "To Whom it May Concern." If you cannot find the name of your contact, use "Dear Human Resource Manager" or just "Dear Manager" instead.

The body of you letter follows the greeting. Block paragraphs, with a space between each, are fine. This is the area where you can get creative so use bullets if necessary to highlight important points.

Finally, close the letter with the word "Sincerely," followed by enough space to actually sign your name (I usually leave four lines), and then type your name.

If you are sending your cover letter to companies in the U.S., it should be typed. However, if you are sending it to companies outside of the United States, don't be surprised if they ask for a handwritten version. These companies may analyze your handwriting to help judge your character. If you don't like that idea, try to stay with companies headquartered in the United States but with offices abroad or companies with a high number of international employees. They are less likely to follow this custom.