Cover Letter Checklist

Does your cover letter include…

OVERALL FORMAT, LAYOUT, MECHANICS, AND STYLE YES NO
OVERALL FORMAT, LAYOUT, MECHANICS, AND STYLE Single spacing and balanced page layout margins (using Microsoft Word is strongly recommended) YES NO
OVERALL FORMAT, LAYOUT, MECHANICS, AND STYLE Appealing and easy-to-read fonts and font sizes (e.g.,Times New Roman, Arial, 11-12 point) YES NO
OVERALL FORMAT, LAYOUT, MECHANICS, AND STYLE One page in length (unless an employer contacts you directly and asks you to address specific topics requiring a longer document) YES NO
OVERALL FORMAT, LAYOUT, MECHANICS, AND STYLE Consistent layout/neat, clean, and well-presented (headings, fonts, spacing, etc.) YES NO
OVERALL FORMAT, LAYOUT, MECHANICS, AND STYLE Concise and error-free (spelling, proper grammar and punctuation, consistent verb tense, limit abbreviations except states) YES NO
LETTERHEAD YES NO
LETTERHEAD Letterhead matches resume and includes: Full name, address, phone number, and professional email address at the top of the page – it may also include your LinkedIn, a blog and/or personal website YES NO
RECIPIENT ADDRESS YES NO
RECIPIENT ADDRESS Date written out in full (Example: January xx, 20xx) YES NO
RECIPIENT ADDRESS Contact information for the employer: name, title, organization name, address (even if the letter will be emailed) YES NO
ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT YES NO
ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT Address the hiring manager whenever possible and instead of using Ms. /Mr. use their title (Dear Director Last Name:) YES NO
ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT Identify the position you are applying for, how you found out about the opportunity and why it is of interest to you YES NO
ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT Make reference to your resume and highlight how you possess the key skills for the position YES NO
ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT Bullet Points or Paragraphs: Select 3-5 job requirements from the job description that match your strongest qualifications and provide evidence of your related experiences and accomplishments YES NO
ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT Reiterate your enthusiasm for the position YES NO
ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT Express appreciation to the reader and suggest a way to continue the conversation YES NO
ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT Have at least one other person proofread the letter YES NO
DELIVERY YES NO
DELIVERY If emailing save as a PDF first so that formatting does not change YES NO
DELIVERY If mailing or bringing to interview, print on quality paper (81⁄2×11) YES NO