What to Include in a Cover Letter

A cover letter is comprised of several parts: contact information, a salutation, the body of the cover letter, and an appropriate closing.  Here is an overview of each part of a cover letter and how to format a document and an email cover letter.

When you are writing a cover letter to mail or to upload to a job board or company website, the first section of your cover letter should include information on how the employer can contact you.  When you send an email cover letter, instead of listing your contact information at the top of the message include your contact information in your signature.

It's important to include an appropriate salutation at the beginning of the cover letter or message. If you have a contact person for your letter, be sure to include their name in your letter. Here is a list of letter salutation examples that are appropriate for cover letters and other employment-related correspondence.

When you're writing a cover letter to apply for a job it's important to close your letter in a professional manner.  Here is a list of letter closing examples that are appropriate for cover letters and employment related correspondence.

What is included in a cover letter signature depends on whether you are sending or uploading a cover letter document or using an email message as your cover letter.  Here are examples of signatures to use in both cases.

Email cover letters are formatted differently than document cover letters.  Here's what to include in an email cover letter, how to format your letter, and how to send an email cover letter.

It can be time consuming to write a custom cover letter for each job you apply for, but it's important to take the time and effort to show the company why you are a good match.