The Formatting of Cover Letters: What to Do and Not To Do

Posted by Murray Bridge Resume on 4 Jun 2025

When it comes to the process of applying for a job having a professional resume and cover letter are crucial. But, having good content doesn’t suffice. The format of your cover letter is as important as the content. A badly formatted cover letter could leave a bad impression on your hiring manager, while a well-formatted one can make you stand out from your competition. In this article, we’ll cover the best practices and pitfalls of formatting your cover letter and discuss why it may be beneficial to have an expert such as Murray Bridge Resume handle the formatting for you.

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

  1. Do make sure to use a professional typeface. Times New Roman, Arial and Calibri are all options. Avoid using overly fancy or hard-to-read fonts.
  2. Do use a consistent layout. Use the same font, size and format across the entire cover letter.
  3. Do include proper spacing. Choose single line or 1.15 line spacing. Also, leave sufficient white space in between the paragraphs to make your letter easily read.
  4. Do include your contact information in the upper right-hand corner of the email. Include your name, address as well as your phone number and email.
  5. Personalize the letter. Use the hiring manager’s name as much as you can, and customize your letter to the job and the company which you’re applying.

Now, let’s discuss the essentials of cover letter layout.

  1. Don’t use a template. Each cover letter should be unique and customized to the specific job and company you’re applying for.
  2. Limit the letter to one page. Make sure the letter is concise and to the main point.
  3. Do not use fancy formatting. Keep it simple and professional layout.
  4. Don’t neglect to proofread. Double-check grammar and spelling errors before sending the letter.
  5. Don’t forget to acknowledge the note.

While it’s vital to be aware of the structure of your cover letter, it can be time-consuming and overwhelming to do it yourself. This is why a professional resume writing service like Murray Bridge Resume comes in. Our team of experts knows how to structure a cover letter that will allow you to stand out the other applicants. We’ll take care of the formatting so that you can concentrate on the contents of your letter.

In addition, our team will assist you in adjusting your cover letter to fit the job and the company which you’re applying. In addition, we’ll review for grammar and spelling mistakes and make sure that your letter is concise easily read.

In the end, a well-formatted cover letter could make all you stand out in the job hunt. If you follow the do’s and don’ts of cover letter formatting or perhaps hiring a professional like Murray Bridge Resume to handle the formatting on your behalf then you’ll be on your way to writing a professional cover letter that makes you stand out from the other applicants. Do not hesitate to contact us at 1300 694 635 or use the contact form to contact us with any questions you may have.

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The Importance of Formatting in Cover Letter Writing

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