COVER LETTER FORMATTING

Your name
Address Can use same header
Telephone # as your resume
Email address

Today’s Date

Contact Person
Title
Company/Organization
Address
City, Province Postal Code
If name is unknown, use
Dear _________________: “Dear Hiring Manager:”

1st Section:
• What position are you applying for and where/when did you hear of the opening?
• Why, generally, are you qualified (articulate 2-4 skills/qualities you can offer)?
• Why do you want to work specifically in this position and for this company?

2nd Section:
• Why should the employer believe that you can do the job?
• Indicate past or current experience, specialized knowledge, education, appropriate skills
and abilities, suitable work related values, appropriate personal attributes – give one or
two tangible examples (STAR)
• Explain how you see yourself applying these skills/qualities at the company

3rd Section:
• Thank employer for their time, request an interview
• Answer any question(s) that the company wants you to address in your cover letter (e.g.
salary expectation)

Sincerely,

Your Signature

Full Name

www.ryerson.ca/career
 COVER LETTER CHECKLIST
Layout and Appearance Yes No
Cover letter is 1 page in length.

Cover letter looks professional (laser quality printing) and is on

appropriate paper (white, cream or another neutral).
Header (name, address, phone, e-mail, LinkedIn URL) is centered or
laid out in a visually appealing way and easy to read. Your name is in
a font size between 14-16 points; bolded and/or in upper case.
Font size used in cover letter body is between 10-12 points.

Formatting is consistent (e.g. font, text alignment). Good balance

between white space and text.

Content Yes No
Introductory paragraph starts with a “hook” and is interesting to read.
You mention the top 2-3 reasons why you are the best job candidate.
You briefly state why you are interested in working for the
organization/company.
STAR stories are used to highlight transferable skills, experiences and
achievements within the body of the cover letter.
You conclude your letter with a summary line, thank you, and express
your interest in an interview.
No spelling or grammatical errors. Writing is clear and concise.

Keywords are used to tailor your cover letter to the job advertisement.

You qualify (relevant details) and quantify (#, %, $) your

accomplishments, when possible.
Writing style: present tense is used for current roles and past tense is
used for previous roles.
Irrelevant and inappropriate personal information has been excluded
(i.e. photo, height, weight, gender, age, marital status).

Organization Yes No
Chosen cover letter format (e.g. standard, bulleted, T-style) allows you
to express yourself in an attention grabbing manner.

www.ryerson.ca/career