A Guide to The Perfect Cover Letter Heading

Understanding the Cover Letter Heading

The heading of your cover letter can help set the tone for both your letter and the rest of your application. The header design, and its content, both play their part in helping the employer form an opinion on you and the strength of your application. While you might think of a letter heading as a mere formality, it’s important to think about every element of your application, so you can give the best possible account of yourself. As such, a careless cover letter heading can set back your chances even if the rest of your application is strong.

The heading of your cover letter gives you the chance to set the tone for the rest of your application. The content you choose to include will go some way to indicating your professionalism, and your familiarity with job application customs and conventions. The design and layout of your header can also help you to set out a consistent style that you can carry across to your CV.

"Adding a job title or a headline to your cover letter heading can help you to include relevant keywords that can boost your chances of success."

Structuring the cover letter heading

However you decide to structure the heading of your cover letter, it’s essential to keep it clear, concise and easy-to-read. Consider using bold font, a larger text size or a different typeface to help the header stand out. You could also add your name in a larger or different font to the rest of the header.

Introducing other design elements such as colour accents or backgrounds, or presenting your heading in a separate column to the rest of your letter can help to establish a design language. You can apply this across your application by using a matching resume template. Take a look at these CV examples for tips on how to structure your CV.

Your cover letter heading should typically include the following information:

• Full name: add your first and last name, and any relevant professional titles or credentials after your name if they’re required for the role (such as MBA, MD, LLB or any honours or titles).
• Current job title: this is optional, but can be useful if it matches, or is similar to, the role you’re applying for.
• Location: while you may prefer to add your full address, it’s usually only necessary to include your location, such as your town or city. The employer is unlikely to need your postal address for correspondence, so are likely to just need an indication of your proximity to the workplace.
• Phone number: your mobile phone number is typically the most useful to add here. If you have a home phone number, you could also include it if you wish.
• Email address: include a professional-looking personal email address. Suitable email addresses usually consist of a combination of your name and initials, but if you need to include something else to differentiate your address, you could use your year of birth or something related to your profession.
• LinkedIn profile: employers often check your LinkedIn profile as part of their decision-making process, so it’s worth including it here to save them searching for your profile.
• Other social handles or URLs: if there are any other social media channels relevant to your application, add them here. You could also include personal websites or links to portfolios if you have one.

For more tips on what to include in your cover letter, read our library of cover letter articles.

Effective Cover Letter File Names and Submission

There are several things to consider when you save and submit your cover letter. Follow this guide to make sure your cover letter gives you the best possible chance of success:

Best practices for naming your cover letter file

Naming your cover letter file in a suitable and professional manner helps you to make a further positive impression with hiring managers and recruiters. It’s important to use a clear heading that makes it easy to identify your document. Recruiters may save it to a folder containing numerous other applications or documents, so it’s really helpful if it stands out with a clear and obvious label.

Name your cover letter file with your first and last name, and the job you’re applying for. For example, ‘Ben McCann – Sales Executive Application – Cover Letter’.

Tips for saving and submitting your cover letter

When it comes to saving your cover letter, it’s always best to save it as a PDF. If you’re creating your cover letter in MS Word or a similar word processor, save the file as an accessible PDF or for electronic distribution, rather than a document for printing. If you’re using a resume builder to create your cover letter and CV, make sure you export it as a PDF.

Send your CV and cover letter together with clear, consistent filenames. If you’re sending your application via email, it’s usually only necessary to write a brief message explaining the role you’re applying for and directing the reader to the attachments. Provide a concise subject line such as ‘Claire Peterson – Account Manager Job Application’. Our resume articles can provide you with further guidance on how to structure your applications.

Tips for Creating an Effective Cover Letter Heading

Follow these tips for your cover letter heading to create a positive impression with recruiters and hiring managers:

• Use relevant keywords: adding a job title or a headline to your cover letter heading can help you to include relevant keywords that may boost your chances of success. Including keywords in your heading can help you to pass the ATS stage of the recruitment process. 
• Check the job description: review the job description to see if there are any critical details you should include in your cover letter heading. These may include professional titles, social media profiles or other critical details, such as visa status and driving licence information. 
• Test different versions: experiment with different cover letter heading designs and layouts until you find one that works best. Ask for feedback from employers, or evaluate them yourself based on the performance of your application.
• Proofread your heading: when you’re proofreading your cover letter and resume, it can be easy to overlook your document headings, creating the possibility of errors creeping in that can undermine your chances. Proofread your headings in the same way you would proofread the rest of your application.
• Use a professional cover letter template: you can ensure a clean, professional-looking cover letter header by using a resume builder that offers cover letter templates, such as Jobseeker. These can help make your cover letter stand out from the crowd. On Jobseeker you can also find CV templates that will ensure consistent styling across your application.

Key Takeaways for a Perfect Cover Letter Heading

The perfect cover letter heading is clear, contains all the necessary information and helps to create a design language that you can roll out across your application. Check the job description for any critical information you should include in your header, and decide on a design and layout that helps to catch the eye of the reader. Jobseeker’s cover letter templates and resume examples can help you craft a winning application with standout design features and beautiful formatting. Sign up today to get started, and access a wealth of CV articles to help with your applications.