5 Do's and Don'ts to follow for Writing the Perfect Cover Letter

Posted by Palmerston North Resume on 1 Sep 2026

When you are applying for jobs, having a professional resume and cover letter are crucial. However, simply having good content doesn’t suffice. The format that you write your letter in is as crucial as the content. A badly formatted cover letter will leave a negative impression on the manager who is hiring, while a well-formatted one will help your application stand out from the competitors. In this article, we’ll discuss the rules and guidelines for cover letter formatting, and also discuss the reasons why it might be beneficial to let an experienced professional such as Palmerston North Resume handle the formatting for you.

The first thing to discuss is the rules of cover letter format.

  1. Make sure you use a professional font. Times New Roman, Arial, as well as Calibri are all good options. Avoid using fancy fonts or hard-to-read fonts.
  2. Do use a consistent layout. Use the same font size, and layout throughout the cover letter.
  3. Do include proper spacing. Choose single line or 1.15 line spacing. Also, ensure that you leave ample white spaces between each paragraph to make the text simple to comprehend.
  4. Include your contact information in the upper right-hand corner of the email. This includes your address, name telephone number, address, and email address.
  5. Personalize the letter. Use the hiring manager’s name as much as you can, and customize your letter to the position and company which you’re applying.

Now, let’s discuss the rules of cover letter format.

  1. Do not use a template. Each cover letter should be unique and customized to the specific position and organization you’re applying to.
  2. Don’t go over one page. Keep the letter brief and straight to the essence.
  3. Avoid using fancy layouts. Stick to a simple, professional layout.
  4. Don’t forget to proofread. Double-check for spelling and grammar mistakes before you send the letter.
  5. Don’t forget to sign the letter.

While it’s crucial to pay attention to the structure in your resume cover letter it’s time-consuming and overwhelming to do it yourself. That’s where professional resume writing services like Palmerston North Resume comes in. Our team of experts knows how to format a cover letter that will make you stand out among the competition. We’ll take care of the formatting, so you can concentrate on the content the letter.

In addition, our team will assist you in adjusting your letter of cover to the particular job{ and company|| and the company| or company} that you’re applying for. Furthermore, we’ll check for grammar and spelling mistakes, and make sure your letter is short and easy to read.

In the end, a properly formatted cover letter can be the difference in your job search. By adhering to the do’s & nots of the format of your cover letter or perhaps hiring a professional service like Palmerston North Resume to handle the formatting on your behalf and you’ll be well on your path to creating a cover letter that will help to stand out in the other applicants. Contact us on 0800 215 100 or use the contact form to reach us if you have any questions.

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The Formatting of Cover Letters: What to Do and Not To Do

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