Formal Cover Letter Do's and don'ts

Posted by Sydney Pro Resume Writing on 9 Apr 2025

When seeking a job, having a professional resume and cover letter are crucial. However, simply having good content isn’t enough. The structure of the cover letter you send out is just as important as the content itself. A poorly-formatted cover letter will leave a negative impression on the hiring manager and a properly formatted one can make you stand out among the other applicants. In this post, we’ll look at the do’s and don’ts of the formatting of your cover letter, and explain why it could be beneficial to let professionals such as Sydney Pro Resume Writing handle the formatting for you.

Let’s start by discussing the rules of cover letter formatting.

  1. Do use a professional font. Times New Roman, Arial, as well as Calibri are all good options. Beware of using too fancy or hard-to-read fonts.
  2. Do use a consistent layout. Make use of the same font, size, and layout throughout the cover letter.
  3. Do include proper spacing. Use single or 1.15 line spacing and leave plenty of white space to make the letter easily read.
  4. Do include your contact information near the beginning of the letters. It should include your name, address, phone number, and email address.
  5. Make sure to personalize your letter. Make use of the name of the hiring manager as much as you can, and customize the letter to the specific job and the company the job you’re interested in.

Let’s get to the don’ts of cover letter design.

  1. Don’t make use of a template. Every cover letter should be unique and specific to the specific position and business you’re applying to.
  2. Limit the letter to one page. Keep the letter concise and straight to the essential.
  3. Do not use fancy formatting. Choose a simple, professional layout.
  4. Don’t neglect to proofread. Double-check grammar and spelling mistakes before you send the letter.
  5. Don’t forget to sign the note.

While it’s vital to be aware of the structure in your resume cover letter it can be laborious and difficult to complete it yourself. That’s where professional resume writing services such as Sydney Pro Resume Writing comes in. Our team of professionals knows how to design your cover letter to make you stand out among the other applicants. We’ll handle the formatting so that you can focus on the contents that you want to convey in the cover letter.

Additionally, our team will assist you in adjusting your cover letter to fit the job the job you’re applying to. We’ll also check for spelling and grammar mistakes as well as ensure your letter is short and easy to read.

In the end, a properly formatted cover letter can make all it’s worth in your career search. By following the do’s and guidelines for formatting your cover letters and possibly hiring a professional like Sydney Pro Resume Writing to handle the formatting on your behalf and you’ll be well on your path to creating a cover letter that helps you stand out from the crowd. Don’t hesitate to contact us at 02 8036 2428 or use the contact form to reach us with any questions you may have.

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How to format a cover letter: Do\'s and Don\'ts

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