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what is the heading of an application letter

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what is the heading of an application letter

What do I include in my cover letter heading?

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"Writing Your Cover Letter" is a series of short documents that walks you through the creation of a cover letter. Here you can see the information in the "Quick Tips for Cover Letters" and "Preparing to Write a Cover Letter" pages put to use. This page guides you through adapting your experiences to the content in your cover letter and its different sections.

The heading provides your contact information, the date you are writing, and the address of the company to which you are applying.

For your contact information, you will want to include the following:

Then, you will skip a line and write the full date ( month, day, year ). Follow this by skipping a space and writing the contact information for the person to whom you are writing:

Craig M. Leroix 2987 W. Taylor Dr. Portland, OR 45720 890-372-1262 [email protected]

February 2, 2005

Amy Kincaid, Human Resource Director Western Electric, Inc. 387 Collier Lane Atlanta, Georgia 30051

Job seekers at Purdue University may find value in the Purdue career Wiki here .

The following are additional Purdue OWL resources to help you write your cover letter:

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Cover Letter Heading & Header Template (4+ Examples)

Cover Letter Heading & Header Template (4+ Examples)

Creating the perfect cover letter header is easy. Actually, there are only two rules you need to follow. Here’s where you’ll learn them & see ready-to-use examples.

Michael Tomaszewski, CPRW

As seen in:

The heading of your cover letter might seem like such an irrelevant detail.

After all, it’s the main body that matters, isn’t it?

Sure, but— 

(And it’s a huge but!)

The cover letter header is the first thing a hiring manager sees. 

Mess it up and it will make your whole application look sloppy and unprofessional. And yourself—unfamiliar with the business etiquette.

That, for most jobs, is a dealbreaker. But don’t worry.

Using the proper cover letter header format is very easy. You’ll learn everything you need to know from this guide. But before we move on, consider this—

Want to write your cover letter fast?  Use our cover letter builder. Choose from  20+ professional cover letter templates  that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.

Create your cover letter now

sample resume and cover letter set

Sample Cover Letter for a Resume— See more cover letter examples here .

Key Takeaway

There are just two things you need to remember about the cover letter header:

If you have any more questions, drop me a line in the comments, I’ll get back to you straight away!

Michael Tomaszewski, CPRW

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How To Write a Job Application Letter (With Examples)

Alison Doyle is one of the nation’s foremost career experts.

what is the heading of an application letter

What is a Job Application Letter?

Tips for writing a job application letter, how to get started.

Simple Formatting Using a Template

Tips for writing an effective letter, sample job application letter, sending an email application, review more letter examples.

Do you need to write a letter to apply for a job? Most of the time, the answer is yes. Even when employers don’t require a job application letter , writing one will help you highlight your skills and achievements and get the hiring manager’s attention. The only time not to send one is when the job listing says not to do so. It can help, and it definitely won't hurt to include an application letter with your resume.

A job application letter, also known as a cover letter , should be sent or uploaded with your resume when applying for jobs. While your resume offers a history of your work experience and an outline of your skills and accomplishments, the job application letter you send to an employer explains why you are qualified for the position and should be selected for an interview.

Writing this letter can seem like a challenging task. However, if you take it one step at a time, you'll soon be an expert at writing application letters to send with your resume.

Melissa Ling / The Balance

Before you begin writing your job application letter, do some groundwork. Consider what information you want to include (keeping in mind that space is limited).

Remember, this letter is making a case for your candidacy for the position. But you can do better than just regurgitating your resume—instead, highlight your most relevant skills, experiences, and abilities.

Analyze the Job Posting

To include the most convincing, relevant details in your letter, you'll need to know what the employer wants.

The biggest clues are within the job advertisement, so spend some time decoding the job ad . Next, match your qualifications with the employer's wants and needs .

Include Your Most Relevant Qualifications

Make a list of your relevant experience and skills. For instance, if the job ad calls for a strong leader, think of examples of when you've successfully led a team. Once you've jotted down some notes, and have a sense of what you want to highlight in your letter, you're ready to get started writing.

Writing Guidelines for Job Application Letters

Writing a job application letter is very different from a quick email to a friend or a thank-you note to a relative. Hiring managers and potential interviewers have certain expectations when it comes to the letter's presentation and appearance, from length (no more than a page) to font size and style to letter spacing :

Length: A letter of application should be no more than one page long. Three to four paragraphs is typical.

Format and Page Margins: A letter of application should be single-spaced with a space between each paragraph. Use about 1" margins and align your text to the left, which is the standard alignment for most documents.

Font: Use a traditional font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. The font size should be between 10 and 12 points.

What To Include in Each Section of the Letter

There are also set rules for the sections included in the letter, from salutation to sign-off, and how the letter is organized. Here's a quick lowdown on the main sections included in a job application letter:

Heading: A letter of application should begin with both your and the employer's contact information (name, address, phone number, email) followed by the date. If this is an email rather than an actual letter, include your contact information at the end of the letter, after your signature.

Salutation: This is your polite greeting. The most common salutation is "Dear Mr./Ms." followed by the person's last name. Find out more about appropriate cover letter salutations , including what to do if you don't know the person's name, or are unsure of a contact's gender.

Body of the letter: Think of this section as being three distinct parts.

In the first paragraph , you'll want to mention the job you are applying for and where you saw the job listing.

The next paragraph(s) are the most important part of your letter. Remember how you gathered all that information about what employers were seeking, and how you could meet their needs? This is where you'll share those relevant details on your experience and accomplishments.

The third and last part of the body of the letter will be your thank you to the employer; you can also offer follow-up information.

Complimentary Close: Sign off your email with a polite close, such as "Best" or "Sincerely," followed by your name.

Signature: When you're sending or uploading a printed letter, end with your signature, handwritten, followed by your typed name. If this is an email, simply include your typed name, followed by your contact information.

Overwhelmed by all these formatting and organization requirements? One way to make the process of writing a job application easier is to use a job application letter template to create your own personalized job application letters for applying for a job. Having a template can help save you time if you are sending a lot of application letters.

Be sure that each letter you send is personalized to the company and position; do not send the same letter to different companies.

Numerical values offer concrete evidence of your skills and accomplishments.

This is a job application letter sample.  Download the letter template (compatible with Google Docs or Word Online) or read the example below.

Sample Job Application Letter (Text Version)

Elizabeth Johnson 12 Jones Street Portland, Maine 04101 555-555-5555 elizabethjohnson@emailaddress.com

August 11, 2020

Mark Smith Human Resources Manager Veggies to Go 238 Main Street Portland, Maine 04101

Dear Mr. Smith,

I was so excited when my former coworker, Jay Lopez, told me about your opening for an administrative assistant in your Portland offices. A long-time Veggies to Go customer and an experienced admin, I would love to help the company achieve its mission of making healthy produce as available as takeout.

I’ve worked for small companies for my entire career, and I relish the opportunity to wear many hats and work with the team to succeed. In my latest role as an administrative assistant at Beauty Corp, I saved my employer thousands of dollars in temp workers by implementing a self-scheduling system for the customer service reps that cut down on canceled shifts. I also learned web design, time sheet coding, and perfected my Excel skills. 

I’ve attached my resume for your consideration and hope to speak with you soon about your needs for the role.

Best Regards,

Elizabeth Johnson (signature hard copy letter)

Elizabeth Johnson

When you are sending your letter via email include the reason you are writing in the subject line of your message:

Subject Line Example

Subject: Elizabeth Johnson – Administrative Assistant Position

List your contact information in your signature, rather than in the body of the letter:

Email Signature Example

Elizabeth Johnson 555-555-5555 email@emailaddress.com

Review more examples of professionally written cover letters for a variety of circumstances, occupations, and types of jobs.

CareerOneStop. " How Do I Write a Cover Letter ?" Accessed July 14, 2021.

University of Maryland Global Campus. " Frequently Asked Questions ." Accessed July 14, 2021.

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How To Craft an Eye-Catching Cover Letter Header (Examples and Template)

Article Image

What is a cover letter header?

Cover letter header format, resume and cover letter headers: similarities and differences, cover letter header template, final thoughts.

Of all the things to worry about when applying for a new job, the header of your cover letter might not seem high on the list of your priorities. But creating a clear and organized cover letter header allows you to differentiate yourself from piles of job applicants.

An organized cover letter header shares your personal details professionally. It forces a recruiter to read on to learn more about what makes you unique.

A well-crafted header created with a custom cover letter builder can attract the attention of a hiring manager through an aesthetically pleasing font, color and design elements.

Think of it as the first impression you make with a hiring manager. You wouldn’t show up for an interview without shoes on, and you wouldn’t send a cover letter without having a header.

Ready to put your best foot forward with a well-crafted header for your cover letter?

In this article, you’ll learn:

If you want to create a cover letter that leaves a distinct impression, Enhancv has over 500 examples of professional cover letters to draw inspiration from.

Your cover letter tells a story about you: your triumphs and successes in your career, what makes you the best candidate for the role, and how you can add more than just technical skills to a company.

It should be short and sweet, getting straight to the point about who you are and why you will contribute substantially to the company.

In the same way, a header for your cover letter gets to the point by sharing important details about yourself. Your header is the place where you share your contact information with your hiring manager, while also informing them of the date that you wrote the cover letter.

Your header can also show that you’ve gone above and beyond expectations by addressing the letter to a specific person from the company you are applying to. If you’re able to find the name of the hiring manager and their position within the company, this will create a more personalized  header.

A header for a cover letter typically sits in the top upper left corner of your cover letter. However, you can also include the whole header portion of the top of your page with a customized cover letter header.

There are three distinct sections for the cover letter header format: your personal information, the date of writing, and contact information of the hiring manager.

Let’s dive into what you should include in your header:

1. Include your personal Information

2. Date of Writing

Next, skip a line and include the date that you’re writing the letter. Include the full name of the month, followed by the day and year of the day that you’re writing your cover letter.

It’s going to look something like this:

April 18, 2022

You may also want to include the city that you’re writing the letter in at the beginning of the date:

Chicago, April 18, 2022

3. Hiring manager’s name

Skip another line and include the hiring manager’s information. Finding the hiring manager’s information can be difficult, but don’t worry, you can usually find it on a job application. If you’re applying to a company without a job application, just search through a company’s “about us” page, or look through the company’s LinkedIn page.

There are three things that you should include:

If you can’t find one, don’t sweat it too much. Just skip this information, and address it to “hiring manager”.

Optional things to include

There are other optional things that you can add to your header which help to personalize it. Here is some other personal information that you can include in your header:

Things to exclude from your cover letter heading

Your resume and cover letter are the best places to share about your skills and abilities, but try to keep them professional. Exclude really personal information, and try to avoid giving more than one phone number, as this can frustrate the hiring manager.

A cover letter header and a resume header are similar in format. They both share personal information, like your name, phone number, and email address. You may also want to format them similarly, with the same font, color and design elements being used for both.

According to a recent study, the average recruiter takes 7.4 seconds to scan each resume and cover letter that crosses their desk. One of the first things that a recruiter looks for is whether the header of the cover letter matches the resume’s header. A simple mistake, like having mismatched headers, can cause your resume to be tossed out.

The major difference between the two is that you write a cover letter with a specific person in mind: the hiring manager.

Like any formal letter, both the sender’s name (the job applicant) and the receiver’s name (the hiring manager) should be found on the cover letter.

A resume header simply includes your own personal information, but it can also be a great place to put springboard links, hyperlinks that lead to a personal website or portfolio. In our digital age, most recruiters view applicants’ resumes online, and having some handy hyperlinks available can point them in the right direction.

If you’d like to learn more about how to upgrade your resume’s header, check out Perfecting Your Resume Header so You Get Noticed.

Crafting your own cover letter header template doesn’t have to be difficult. Here’s an easy-to-use example of a cover letter header for your use:

Dwayne J. Nicole

312-456-5555

[email protected]

Linkedin.com/in/dwayne-nicole

Bryanna Bartlett

Human Resource Director

Northern Electric, Inc.

450 Pullman Road

Chicago, Illinois

Cover letter headers help to share your personal details with a hiring manager, and what you choose to include in them can share a lot about you. Consider these key points we discussed in this article when you’re writing your header:

When you’re applying for a new job, you want to do everything in your power to create a perfect first impression.

You can do this easily with a perfectly crafted cover letter, and you don’t have to do this alone.

At Enhancv, you’ll be able to find a lot of resources to help you craft the perfect cover letter. We have over 500 sample cover letters for you to draw information from to make your own.

Also, you can find a lot of information on the Cover Letter Help blog, which can give you all sorts of top-quality articles, like the Cover Letter Checklist, which is everything that you need to write a cover letter that sets you apart from other applicants.If you’d like to streamline the resume and cover letter building process, use the Cover Letter and Resume builder .

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Job Search Questions & Answers from the Experts at Resume Genius

Should a cover letter have a header?

Yes, a cover letter should have a header. A cover letter header should include the following:

The header should be typed in a clear, readable font at the top of your cover letter, as pictured in the example below:

An example of how to include a cover letter header

To see what an appropriate cover letter header looks like, it’s a good idea to look over a cover letter sample or two.

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Cover Letter Header Examples for 2023 (+Heading Templates)

I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your cover letter.” Patrick I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work! Dylan  My previous cover letter was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful! George

1. Sample Cover Letter Header Template

2. what to include in a cover letter heading, cover letter heading: personal information, cover letter header: date of writing, cover letter head: recipient’s information, 3. match cover letter headings with resume headers, 4. how to head a cover letter quickly & easily, was it interesting here are similar articles.

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IMAGES

  1. A SAMPLE OF AN APPLICATION LETTER

    what is the heading of an application letter

  2. Sample Cover Letter For Resume Jobs

    what is the heading of an application letter

  3. 25+ Conventional Heading Application Letter Pics

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  4. STUDY SOLVE: Job Application Letter Format

    what is the heading of an application letter

  5. 25+ Conventional Heading Application Letter Pics

    what is the heading of an application letter

  6. Letter Of Job Application Example / Sample Cover Letter For A Job Application / · i am writing

    what is the heading of an application letter

VIDEO

  1. Writing a Compelling Application Letter

COMMENTS

  1. What do I include in my cover letter heading?

    The heading provides your contact information, the date you are writing, and the address of the company to which you are applying.

  2. Cover Letter Heading & Header Template (4+ Examples)

    1. What to include in the cover letter header: · Your full name · Your job title (optional) · Home address (optional) · Phone number · Email address

  3. How To Write an Application Letter (Template and Example)

    Begin with a professional salutation, such as "Dear X," and address the hiring manager by name whenever possible. If thorough research doesn't

  4. How To Format a Cover Letter (With Outline and Examples)

    "Cover Letter Format" is the title of this infographic that shows an image of an example email. On the left side of the infographic, a numbered

  5. How To Write a Job Application Letter (With Examples)

    Heading: A letter of application should begin with both your and the employer's contact information (name, address, phone number

  6. How To Craft an Eye-Catching Cover Letter Header (Examples and

    There are three distinct sections for the cover letter header format: your personal information, the date of writing, and contact information of the hiring

  7. 7+ Cover Letter Header Examples

    Traditional cover letter headers ... A traditional or standard cover letter header is horizontally aligned and states your contact information

  8. Should a Cover Letter Have a Header?

    Yes, a cover letter should have a header. A cover letter header should include your name, email address, and phone number.

  9. Writing a Job Application Letter

    Writing Job Application Letters. The purpose of a job application or résumé cover letter is to improve your chances of being called for an interview, by.

  10. Cover Letter Header Examples for 2023 (+Heading Templates)

    Technically, a cover letter's header is just the topmost portion—the part with your (the sender's) information. It can stand out visually by