Cover Letter Format A cover letter should be formatted like a business letter with these sections: Header with date and contact information Salutation or salutation Opening paragraph Middle, Cover rental spacing Outline. Cover letter spacing guidelines. Use of samples and template letters. View examples of formatted cover letters. Photo: PeopleImages, Getty Images. When, start by including the date and your contact information in the upper left corner. Address the letter to the hiring manager. Start your cover letter with a common greeting, such as "Dear Alex Johnson." Introduce yourself and explain how the position fits your career goals. Mention any current employees who recommended this position to you.1. Use an industry-appropriate font and format. Employers in the financial sector prefer cover letters that are formal, succinct and logically structured. Write your cover letter as you would any formal business letter, limiting the length of your cover letter to words broken into short, scannable paragraphs. Throughout your document, you should apply the following APA format guidelines: Set page margins in inches on all sides. Double-up all text, including headings. Indent the first line of each. Use an accessible font, for example Times New pt. point. or pt.