An emailed cover letter has a different format then the traditional cover letter. While certain aspects of traditional cover letters remain the same, some key things change.

No Fancy Fonts: As in standard cover letter rules, keep it simple. Don’t make your cover letter green or type it in confusing, hard to read fonts. Plain and simple fonts are truly the way to go for your emailed cover letter, so choose clear, professional styles like Arial or Times New Roman. Also, remove email formatting.

Subject Line: The subject line on your emailed cover letter should be direct and should include your name and the position you’re applying for. Remember, your letter is one of many, so stay away from generic email titles that could get easily lost in the shuffle such as “Hi” or “Position Opening.” Instead, try something like Mary Smith for [Position Title]. It’s also a good idea to reference the job number if it’s available.

Letter Format: In an email, you don’t need to add your address or the company’s address. However, do add a date in the upper left hand corner (that stays the same from traditional cover letters). Also include a reference line and then simply go into the text of the letter as you normally would. Include all pertinent contact information at the end after your signature – and yes, include your email address for easy reference.

Proofread and Test: Be sure to proofread your cover letter several times. Simply put, the more time you spend working on a document, the more used to it you become. Try reading it aloud slowly to really hear your errors. Once you’ve corrected and found mistakes, email yourself a copy of the letter so that you can see how it looks. I’d recommend doing this a few times in order to ensure that it’s as clean as possible.

Picture By Jon Gosier

By Marissa Cohen