![Outline for a Cover Letter: Guide for 2024 [+ Examples]](https://cdn-images.resumelab.com/pages/outline_rl_us_header.jpg)
Do you have trouble writing your cover letter? Need help figuring out how to start? No more! Plan your cover letter the right way with our cover letter outline guide.
Career Expert
Picture this: You’re searching for the next great job opportunity and found more than a dozen applications that caught your eye. So you prepare your resume, upload it, and just when you’re about to hit “send,” you realize all of these companies require a cover letter.
Don’t let these opportunities pass you by. With this guide, you’ll learn how to create the perfect outline for a cover letter that will help you secure your next big job.
In this guide, we’ll show you:
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Looking for more helpful articles about cover letters? Check out our other guides:
Or take a look at some of our many cover letter guides for specific jobs:
A cover letter outline is divided into several vital sections. Let’s discuss them in detail:
Just like a resume, cover letters require your contact information. But unlike a resume, you need to personally address the hiring manager or recruiter to make it look proper.
A cover letter header needs this information in this specific order:
Can’t you find the recruiter’s information? Refer to our guide on how to address a cover letter.
Always personalize your cover letter opening. If you start with a generic: “To whom it may concern,” you can pretty much throw your application out. The proper cover letter etiquette demands that you use the hiring manager’s name. It shows you took the time to read through the application and research the company. And a dedicated applicant has a much higher chance of landing an interview.
So start your cover letter with a “Dear [Recruiter’s Name]” for the maximum impact.
And the next step in writing your outline for a cover letter is the hook. Use the first paragraph to entice the reader and make them want to know more about you. How do you do that?
Do it right, and they’ll proceed to the next paragraph. Speaking of which…
Now that you managed to hook the recruiter, it’s time to reel them in. And what better way to do that than to show them how incredible your work achievements are?
Showcasing a couple of your best professional accomplishments is a proven way to vastly improve your chances of getting hired. Here’s how to do that:
This part of the cover letter outline is going to be the longest. Take your time creating it, pick your achievements carefully, and flesh them out with numbers.
We also recommend you do a bit of research on the company’s culture. The result of poor culture fit due to turnover can cost an organization between 50-60% of the person’s annual salary. For example, if the company puts emphasis on learning and continuous improvement, show them you’re always looking for opportunities to further your own knowledge and expertise. A course you’re currently taking or a certificate you recently received will show the recruiter
Expert Hint: No matter how many achievements you have, pick only a couple of them so that your cover letter is only one-page long. A single page is the only correct length of a cover letter.
Remember why you’re creating a letter of application. It’s a tool meant to persuade your future employer to hire you. And how do you usually convince people to do something? That’s right—you ask them to do that thing.
So begin the last paragraph by restating your interest in the job. You can remind the recruiter of your values and that you’d be honored to work for them. And try to avoid saying “your company.” Instead, use the company’s name.
After such a short reminder, it’s the perfect time to ask to schedule a meeting. Offer a chance to talk to you about the solutions you can provide for their company. Present yourself confidently, and you’ll be recognized as the right person for the job.
The only step left is to end the cover letter the right way. Start with “Sincerely,” and then repeat your contact information. Just your contact information. Adding your contact at the bottom lets the recruiter contact you immediately after reading your cover letter.
Expert Hint: Double-check your cover letter for typos—they make you look completely unprofessional. And the last thing you want is not to land a job because of unfortunate misspellings. You can use a program like Grammarly to help you out.
This step is entirely optional, and you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. You already have a perfect cover letter ready. But, a well-tailored P.S. can bring it one step further.
A P.S. is an extension of your call to action. Here, you promise to tell the recruiter the story behind your most significant work achievement, like increasing sales by 22%. This part needs to have a serious impact, so if you don’t have a jaw-dropping accomplishment, you can skip adding a P.S. to your cover letter outline.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Now that you know how to craft a cover letter outline, let’s turn the theory into practice. Below, you’ll find an expertly crafted cover letter outline plus five different formats created in our builder.
