Formal Cover Letter Do's and don'ts

Posted by Bendigo Professional Resume Writers on 7 Sep 2025

When it comes to the process of applying for a job well-written resumes and cover letter are crucial. However, simply having good content isn’t enough. The design that you write your letter in is as important as your content. A poorly-formatted cover letter could leave a bad impression on your hiring manager however a well-formatted cover letter can make you stand out from your other applicants. In this article, we’ll discuss the best practices and pitfalls of the formatting of your cover letter, and explain why it could be beneficial to let an expert such as Bendigo Professional Resume Writers handle the formatting for you.

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

  1. Use a professional font. Times New Roman, Arial as well as Calibri are all options. Avoid using overly fancy or difficult-to-read fonts.
  2. Do use a consistent layout. Use the same font size and format throughout the cover letter.
  3. Do include proper spacing. Make use of single lines or 1.15 lines, and allow enough white space between paragraphs to make the text easily read.
  4. Include your contact information in the upper right-hand corner of the email. Include your address, name along with your telephone number and email.
  5. Do personalize the letter. The name of the manager you’re hiring If you can, and tailor your letter to the job and the company the job you’re interested in.

Let’s get to the essentials of cover letter design.

  1. Don’t make use of a template. Every cover letter must be unique and tailored to the specific position and business you’re applying to.
  2. Do not exceed one page. Keep your letter short and straight to the point.
  3. Don’t use overly fancy formatting. Choose a simple, professional layout.
  4. Don’t forget to proofread. Double-check spelling and grammar errors before sending the letter.
  5. Make sure to acknowledge the note.

While it’s important to pay attention to the format the cover letter you write, it’s time-consuming and overwhelming to do it yourself. That’s where a professional resume writing service such as Bendigo Professional Resume Writers comes in. Our team of experts knows how to write an effective cover letter that will help you stand out from the other applicants. We’ll handle the formatting so that you can concentrate on the contents in your cover letter.

In addition, our staff can help you tailor your cover letter to fit the job and company that you’re applying for. We’ll also check for spelling and grammar errors and ensure that your letter is clear as well as easy for readers to comprehend.

In the end, a properly formatted cover letter can make all it’s worth in your career search. If you follow the do’s and guidelines for formatting your cover letters and maybe employing a professional such as Bendigo Professional Resume Writers to handle the formatting on your behalf and you’ll be well on your way to writing a cover letter that will help you stand out from the other applicants. Contact us at 03 5420 1563 or use the contact form to get in touch should you have any concerns.

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The significance of formatting your Cover Letter Writing

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