HOW TO WRITE
A COVER LETTER

1. YOUR CONTACT DETAILS
● Letterhead with your name.
● Contact details including your physical address,
telephone, email address and link to your professional
social media profile.

2. APPLICATION DATE
● The date when you wrote the cover letter.

3. HIRING MANAGER’S NAME & TITLE
● The Hiring Manager's name and title if known.

4. CONTACT DETAILS OF THE COMPANY
● Company name and hiring department if known.
● Company’s physical address, city, state and zip code.

5. SUBJECT/REFERENCE
● Include the job title on the subject or reference line.
● Include any unique job reference number shown on
the job listing.

6. SALUTATION/GREETING
● Address your cover letter to a specific person e.g.
“Dear Mr. Brown:” or “Dear Ms. Smith:”
● If you don’t know the name write “Dear Hiring
Manager:”

7. OPENING/INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
● Say why you are interested in this company.
● Indicate where you saw the job posting and the date
of the posting.
● If you have not stated the job you are applying for on
the subject line, then specify it in this paragraph.
● If someone referred you then mention their name
here.

8. SECOND PARAGRAPH
● Explain in bullet points specific stories, examples and
quantifiable results that you have achieved.
● Show how you would provide specific value or direct
contributions to the Company.
● Demonstrate a keen understanding of what problems,
situations & challenges the Company wants to
resolve.

9. THIRD PARAGRAPH
● This is the closing paragraph.
● Restate your enthusiasm for the position, wrap up
and ask for an interview.
● Thank the reader for example - “Thank you for your
time and consideration.”

10. COVER LETTER CLOSING
● Write the word “Sincerely” followed by a comma.
● On a new line include an electronic scanned
signature.
● Include your name below your signature.

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