What to Include in a Cover Letter

Knowing what to include in a cover letter can be challenging, especially with the sheer number of examples across the web. We're here to make it easier for you to draft your cover letter and give you the best shot at your job application.

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# The Structure of a Cover Letter
# How to Write Each Section of a Cover Letter
# How to Edit the Cover Letter Template

Structure Cover Letter Template

This is a free structure cover letter template. Free Download and customize it according to the sample text below.

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What to Include in the Structure of a Cover Letter

The components of a cover letter are simple, but when the right details are put together the letter becomes something individual, which an employer can use as their first impression of who you are and what kind of worker you'll be.

This is the basis of what to include in a cover letter, broken down into easy-to-read key points to ensure full understanding of the cover letter sections:

Heading: Your name, address, and contact details, as well as the company's contact details, and the date.
Salutation: The opening greeting to the employer.
Opening paragraph: The first paragraph, telling the employer why you're writing to them, and what position you're currently in.
Second paragraph: Used to detail your relevant skills and experiences to the employer.
Third paragraph: Used to further elaborate on your skills and relate them back to the job position.
Closing paragraph: The closing paragraph can be used to create a call for action, telling the employer that you'll follow up with them, or asking to speak to them.
Formal closing: This is one or two lines to thank the employer for their consideration, and then signing off with your name.
Postscript: This final section is optional. It's a bottom line that you can use to tell the employer something impressive about your career or note that you'd be happy to provide them with more details if requested.

What to Include in Each Section of a Cover Letter

In this section, we'll show you an example of each section of the cover letter, so you know exactly what can be included in a cover letter, and what should be included in a cover letter.

• Heading:

"Your Name
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
Address Line 3
Postcode
Phone Number
Email

Company Manager
Company Name
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
Address Line 3
Postcode
Phone Number
Email

Day/Month/Year"

• Salutation and subject line:

"Dear Mr. Blue", "Dear Sir/Madame", or "Ms. Joan Woods" are all acceptable salutations. For the subject line, something like this is perfect:

"Re: Manager position at Car Co."

• Opening paragraph:

"I would like to express my interest in the Manager position at Car Co. I am currently working as an Assistant Manager at Red Race Cars, and I resolutely believe that the skills and the experience that I have gained in my current position would make me an ideal candidate for this open position."

• Second paragraph:

"This is my second year as an Assistant Manager, and in the time that I've been in this position, I have gained vital experience in leadership, team ethics, organisation, and planning. I am a self-confident individual who has worked in a large team for a number of years, and I am well versed in communication and customer service."

• Third paragraph.:

"I have extensive experience in customer service, sales, and supervisory roles, and due to the range of positions I've held in the past, I find it easy integrate myself into a team dynamic without upsetting the balance. In my current position, I am responsible for a large number of the car sales we make per year, as well as training new car salespeople in the art of upselling."

• Closing paragraph:

"I feel this role with Car Co. would allow me to grow as a manager and take that extra step I've been looking for. I'd like to head down a career path that could help benefit your company. This position would allow me to fully progress onto management level, but also allow me to bring some of my methods aboard to the company. I believe in a positive attitude to work, and good team ethics above all else. Because of this, and my current managerial experience, I feel that I would be a good fit for your company.

• Formal Closing:

"I hope to hear from you soon to discuss my application further.
Warm regards,
Your Name."

• Postscript:

"Last month alone I sold over 50 cars to our valued customers. I would enjoy talking to you about my application and what I can do to boost the sales of your company."

Always leave the employer wanting more from you. Impress them with your training, your experience, and (where applicable) a statistic regarding your employment, as demonstrated in the postscript above.

Knowing what to put in a cover letter is only part of the challenge, you need to be smart about how you word you experiences and achievements to get the best impact and really wow the employer with your application.

How to Edit the Cover Letter Template

If you like our beautiful PDF cover letter, you can free download the template and then edit it with a PDF editor, PDFelement . This tool can help you make changes to the texts, images, graphics and signatures in the template.