Listen to the Latest Podcast Episode
Episode 13: 5 Free Career Tools That Help You Find a Job Faster with Lauren McGoodwin
0:00
43:34

This 5-Minute Cover Letter Design Trick Makes You More Professional

It's like the difference between a beat-up Honda and a Lexus.

Have you ever noticed that some documents immediately appear formal and professional while others look like college homework assignments?
Aside from the level of writing, there is one thing that can instantly make your documents appear polished and professional; a letterhead.

What is a Letterhead?

Simple, classic, not too complicated. Still makes your cover letters pop. (Source)
A letterhead is a printed heading stating a person's or organization's name, contact information, and address. You’ll often find that companies use a company letterhead to formalize documents, however using a personal letterhead has the same effect.

Why is Creating a Letterhead Important?

Today, a lot is done over email, however when you are sending a formal letter or memo, it’s nice to send a formatted PDF as well. A great way to do this is to send an email saying “Hi x, Please find a formatted letter attached to this email, and let me know if you have any questions.” By attaching the formatted letter, the reader now has a formal document on file instead of just keeping email records.
By customizing a letterhead, you are automatically giving your documents an air of importance and formality. It also creates a signature look for your documents and makes them easily identifiable. Have you ever dropped a stack of papers, only to realize that they are hard to identify after they’ve been scattered on the floor? By utilizing a signature letterhead, your documents will become easily recognizable, making them less prone to blend in amongst other documents—and more likely to be read.
We love the idea of this bold graphic in grayscale. (Source)

When Should You Use a Letterhead?

Letterheads should be used whenever sending a formal document. Examples of this include:
  • Resumes/cover letters
  • Prospect letters
  • Letters of resignation
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Business proposals
  • Application essays (if there’s no online form to fill out)
  • Business memos

How To Create One

The easiest way to create a letterhead is in Microsoft Word. Remember that less is more, and simple often looks more polished and professional. Here’s a great snapshot of letterhead layout ideas.
creative cover letter designCute quote marks. A bit daring, but if you're a creative, going bold isn't a bad idea. (Source)
Looking at examples will give you a better idea of what various letterheads look like and how to accomplish the design you’re after. We've gathered some examples in this article, but you can also try searching for "cover letter design" on Pinterest for inspiration. Not feeling particularly creative? You can buy letterhead templates made for Word from Etsy. 
 

What Should Be Included

  • Name
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Address (or “City, State” if you don’t want to include your address)
It’s always good to at least indicate your city and state on a letterhead because it gives the reader a better sense of where you are, triggering an immediate connection with you. If you are applying for a job, hiring managers often want to see where you live to get a better sense of where you’re going to be commuting from. Including a city and state can also be a great conversation starter. For instance, “I see you live in San Francisco. What part of the city do you live in? I grew up there!”

Tips

Go big or go home. Why not brand all your paper goods while you're at it? (Source)
  • Stick with traditional fonts such as Garamond, Arial, Bodoni, and Gotham, but here's a great list of some unique fonts along with their reputation.
  • Stay away from using colors. Black is always the best bet, but if you really want something in a different hue than the body of your document, stick with a gray. You want the letterhead to be easy to read, to-the-point, and professional; no need for frills.
  • Be consistent. Make sure you utilize the same spacing and way of writing throughout the letterhead (i.e. either write out each number or consistently use numerals; don’t switch between the two formats)
  • Check for errors. If there are typos or misprints in your letterhead, this will immediately indicate that you lack attention to detail and are careless. Typos within your contact information could also result in the reader’s inability to contact you.

Tags:

You May Also Like

8-Hacks-for-Finding-a-New-Job-ASAP Image
Job Search
8 Hacks for Finding a New Job ASAP

Need a new job—and fast? Use this guide to find your next job ASAP—straight from a recruiter.

How-to-Tell-Your-Compelling-Career-Story Image
Job Search
How to Tell Your Compelling Career Story

Here's how to disseminate your personal career story—and how to share it with hiring managers, future connections, and future clients.

How-to-Use-ChatGPT-to-Prepare-for-Your-Job-Interview- Image
Job Search
How to Use ChatGPT to Prepare for Your Job Interview

How to Use ChatGPT to Prepare for Your Job Interview

How-to-Write-a-Dazzling-Resume-Headline-+-Resume-Headline-Examples Image
Job Search
How to Write a Dazzling Resume Headline + Resume Headline Examples

Is your resume headline ready to impress? Here's how to write a dazzling resume headline guaranteed to impress any hiring manager.

12-Ways-to-Fail-an-Interview:-Avoid-These-Interview-Mistakes Image
Job Search
12 Ways to Fail an Interview: Avoid These Interview Mistakes

Sometimes, it's just as important to know what not to do in an interview setting. Here are 12 things to avoid in order to save your next job interview.

How-to-Use-ChatGPT-to-Write-Your-Resignation-Letter Image
Job Search
How to Use ChatGPT to Write Your Resignation Letter

Can ChatGPT help you write a compelling and polite resignation letter? It sure can! Here's how to use ChatGPT and AI to quit your job.

Bad-Interview:-10-Signs-You've-Botched-Your-Interview Image
Job Search
Bad Interview: 10 Signs You've Botched Your Interview

Flubbed an interview question or feel like you failed an interview? Here are some signs your interview didn't go well—and what you can do about it.

What-Am-I-Doing-With-My-Life?-How-to-Figure-It-Out Image
Job Search
What Am I Doing With My Life? How to Figure It Out

What am I doing with my life? While you might not encounter this exact question in an interview setting, here's how to figure out the answer to this question.

9-Answers-to-
Job Search
9 Answers to "Is There Anything Else We Should Know About You?"

Anything else? What else should we know about you? Here's how to ensure that you have a few tricks up your sleeve when answering this end-of-interview question.