what cover letter format is most prevalent

The best format for most cover letters is the same as a standard one-page business letter. It should contain the following sections: a header with the applicant and hiring manager’s contact information, a salutation, an opening paragraph, one or two short body paragraphs, a closing paragraph and a signoff.

Follow these guidelines to format your cover letter correctly for both human and computer readers: Font : Stick to the default fonts that come with your word processor—classics like Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, Cambria, Calibri, and Georgia.

When you write your cover letter, format it like a business letter with the following sections: Heading with contact information. Salutation. Introduction. Body paragraphs. Call to action. Sign-off. Here’s a breakdown of how a cover letter should be structured: 1. Add your name and contact information to the header.

The best cover letter format. An excellent cover letter uses business letter formatting with: your name and contact information at the top; the hiring manager’s name and company contact details; a salutation addressing the hiring manager by name; 3–4 paragraphs and a bulleted list; a polite sign-off (like “Sincerely,”) and your name

A cover letter usually is three paragraphs long and outlines why you are applying for a specific position, a brief overview of your professional background and what makes you uniquely qualified for the job. While some employers require a cover letter to apply, others make it optional.

Submission tips. How to structure your cover letter. Let’s begin with the structure of a winning cover letter, which generally looks like this: Letterhead. Date and inside address. Professional greeting. Opening paragraph. Middle paragraph (s) Closing paragraph. Complimentary close.