Cover Letter Structure Guide: Sections & Best Practices
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Cover Letter Structure: The 4-Part Blueprint
Part of our Cover Letter Hub — Complete guides for writing winning cover letters.
🚨 Don't Improvise. Excellent cover letters follow a proven formula. Creativity belongs in the content, not the structure.
A chaotic letter signals a chaotic employee.
👉 Skip the formatting struggle. Auto-generate a structured letter.
Or analyze your resume + get a tailored cover letter that addresses your gaps.
Think of your cover letter like a well-architected building. It needs a foundation, a core, and a roof.
Part 1: The Header (The Foundation)
Keep it clean. Match exactly what is on your resume.
- Name
- Phone & Email
- LinkedIn URL
- Date
- Recipient Details
Part 2: The Hook (The Introduction)
Goal: Grab attention immediately. Don't say: "I am applying for X." Do say: "With 5 years of experience scaling SaaS products, I am excited to apply for..."
Part 3: The Pitch (The Core)
This is the "Meat" of the letter (1-2 Paragraphs).
Formula: Problem + Your Solution + Result
- Identify a key requirement from the JD (e.g., "Project Management").
- Describe a time you used that skill.
- Quantify the win.
"At [Previous Company], I led the implementation of Agile methodologies (The Solution) which reduced deployment time by 40% (The Result)."
| Do This | Avoid This |
|---|---|
| Use bullet points for readability | Write massive block paragraphs |
| Quantify results (Numbers, $s, %s) | Vague claims ("I am a hard worker") |
| Mention the company name | Copy-paste a generic template |
Part 4: The Close (The Call to Action)
Reiterate your enthusiasm and ask for the next step.
- "I look forward to discussing how I can help [Company] grow."
- "Thank you for your time and consideration."
A Note on Formatting
- Font: Sans-serif (Arial, Calibri, Open Sans) is easiest to read.
- Size: 10pt to 12pt.
- Margins: 1-inch standard.
💡 The Shortcut: Our AI tool isn't just a writer; it acts as a professional designer. It handles margins, spacing, and font selection automatically.