How to format a cover letter: Do's and Don'ts

Posted by Gympie Resume on 23 Nov 2025

If you’re seeking a job, an impressive resume and cover letter are essential. However, simply having good content isn’t enough. The format that you write your letter in is just as important as your content. A badly formatted cover letter can make a bad impression on the hiring manager however a well-formatted cover letter can make your application stand out from the competitors. In this article, we’ll discuss the rules and guidelines for the format of your cover letters, and discuss why it may be beneficial to let an experienced professional such as Gympie Resume handle the formatting for you.

Let’s start by discussing the do’s of formatting your cover letters.

  1. Do make sure to use a professional typeface. Times New Roman, Arial and Calibri are all excellent choices. Avoid using overly fancy or difficult to read fonts.
  2. Do use a consistent layout. Make use of the same font, font size, and formatting in the letter of cover.
  3. Do include proper spacing. Choose single line or 1.15 line spacing, and ensure that you leave sufficient white space in between the paragraphs to make your letter easily read.
  4. Include your contact information near the beginning of the letters. This includes your name, address as well as your phone number and email.
  5. Personalize the letter. Use the hiring manager’s name as much as you can, and customize the letter to the specific position and company the job you’re interested in.

Let’s get to the rules of cover letter design.

  1. Don’t make use of a template. Every cover letter must be unique and specific to the particular job and company you’re applying to.
  2. Don’t exceed one page. Make sure the letter is concise and to the point.
  3. Don’t go overboard with your formatting. Stick to a simple, professional layout.
  4. Do not forget to proofread. Double-check spelling and grammar mistakes prior to sending the letter.
  5. Make sure to acknowledge the note.

While it’s crucial to pay attention to the format in your resume cover letter it can be time-consuming and overwhelming to do it yourself. That’s why a professional resume writing service like Gympie Resume comes in. Our team of specialists knows how to format a cover letter that will make you stand out among the other applicants. We’ll handle the formatting so that you can concentrate on the content that you want to convey in the cover letter.

In addition, our staff can assist you in tailoring your cover letter to the specific job and company that you’re applying for. We’ll also check for grammar and spelling mistakes and make sure that your letter is clear as well as easy for readers to comprehend.

In the end, a well-formatted cover letter can make all an impact on your search for a job. By following the do’s and don’ts of cover letter formatting and perhaps hiring a professional company like Gympie Resume to handle the formatting on your behalf and you’ll be well on your way to writing a professional cover letter that makes you stand out from your competitors. Don’t hesitate to call us on 1300 993 659 or use the contact form to reach us if you have any questions.

Fantastic I highly recommend this company they compiled an amazing resume and cover letter in PDF format and word, don't worry if you find computers frustrating as I do they will book an interview with you over the phone. The consultant took about a hour (less if you have everything organised which I did not). Also they will sort out your LinkedIn profile if you have one. Again amazing. Thanks again for your help. Rob
Rob Warner
Got a good paying job because of their resume.
Stalin Sunny
Absolutely stoked with the quality of service and expertise provided. The finished product was way beyond my expectations and couldn't be happier. I totally recommend A+++++
Jason Turnbull
Tanja and the rest of the team are professionals and amazing. I had issues, but they went out of their way to help. To ensure my resume is quality and the best. Tanja is a supersta. Her work is second to none. I would recommend anyone that’s needing an updated resume to go to them. Best in Gympie.
KB B
Very happy with the level of service and the end product. Highly Recommended. Thanks again Tanja.
Yab
Highly reccommemd Gympie Resume. Tanja produced a complete face lift on my resume. Also got a cover letter and selection critera done within the time frame i needed.Cost is very reasonable also. Thank you Tanja!!!
Matt Chung
I am very happy to have gone with Gympie resume. Great customer service, and the work they put in writing resumes and cover letters is outstanding. Thank you!
Edmon Toma
I wanted to apply for a last minute job and these guys were so helpful to prioritising my application needs. The results provided were outstanding and achieved a level well above my expectations and what I was capable of writing myself. Quite possibly one of the best investments I have made in my professional career development. I highy recommend their services.
Robert Staff
Gympie Resume were approached by me 2 years ago to complete my professional CV and Cover letter, the service was fast, efficient and of the highest quality. Recently I once again approached Tanja to update my CV and cover letter at short notice, the service provided was once again of the highest standard.
Gavin Derks
I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere with my job hunting so I thought I would give the professionals a go. I was so pleased with the thoroughness from Gympie Resume. They make you do a little bit of work for them so they can get a really good feel of who you are about, they then take your talents and showcase them in a truly polished professional series of documents. Thanks for getting me out of the jobhunt blues!
Colin Strike
Formal Cover Letter Do's and don'ts

Resume

We provide professional resume writing services.

Formal Cover Letter Do's and don'ts

Cover Letter

We provide professional cover letter writing services.

Formal Cover Letter Do's and don'ts

LinkedIn Profile

We provide professional linkedin profile writing services.

Formal Cover Letter Do's and don'ts

Contact Us

Click the button below to get in touch.

About Us &

What We Do

We provide professional resume writing services and our very seasoned resume writers will make sure that your resume stands out from the rest.

We are a team of highly certified and seasoned Recruiters, consultants and HR Professionals who are dedicated to delivering an exceptional, well-written cover letter or resume.

We pride ourselves on our extensive knowledge of best-practice hiring methodologies and Australian recruitment standards. Also, our expertise in a wide range of professions, industries, and areas means that we can deliver a high-quality, powerful resume that meets your personal needs.

Our goal is to provide you with an impressive, striking resume that is perfectly optimised for success in Gympie‘s competitive job market.

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our writing services, so you can be sure that you will be happy with your new resume or cover letter.

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Make an Enquiry

Request a Quote

Fill out the form below to get in touch or call us today on
1300 993 659