How to Write a Resume Cover Page That Stands Out

What Is a Resume Cover Page?

A resume cover page is a one-page document that accompanies your resume when you’re applying for a job. Just like an elevator pitch, its purpose is to introduce yourself, explain your interest in the position, and highlight exactly how your skills and experiences align with the role. 

While resumes provide a concise, bullet-point summary of your qualifications, a cover page tells a more detailed story of why you're the perfect fit for a specific role.

The resume cover page is meant to:

• Introduce you professionally and make a strong first impression
• Explain your interest in the specific position and company
• Highlight your most relevant achievements that align with the job requirements
• Provide context for any employment gaps or career changes
• Show off your communication skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role and organization

Resume Cover Page vs Cover Letter

At this point, you might be wondering – isn't this just a cover letter?

Yes, it is. A resume cover page and a cover letter are the same thing. The terms can be used interchangeably across most of the job market.

Some people prefer the term "resume cover page" because it emphasizes that this document is the "cover" or first page of your full application package. Others prefer to use "cover letter," since this is traditionally formatted as a business letter.

To keep things consistent, we’re going to stick with "resume cover page" for the rest of this guide. Just keep in mind that the same advice applies whether you want to call it a cover page, cover letter, or application letter.

8 Steps to Write a Resume Cover Page

Writing a resume cover page doesn’t have to be difficult. Just follow the steps we’ve outlined, starting with:

#1. Create an Eye-Catching Header

Your resume cover page should start with a professional header that highlights your name. This section sits at the very top of the page and includes all your essential contact information.

The header’s most prominent element should always be your name. Use a larger font size (16-18 points) and consider making it bold so it stands out more from the rest of your contact details.

Next, include your key contact information:

• Email address. Use a professional email address, preferably some combination of your first and last name.
• Phone number. Double-check to make sure there aren’t any typos that could cost you an interview. Include the country dial code if you’re applying for a remote job or a position overseas.
• Address. Your city and state/country are usually enough.
• LinkedIn profile URL. Hiring managers often check candidates’ LinkedIn profiles, so make sure you update yours and include a link on your resume cover page.
• Relevant links. If they’re relevant to the position you’re applying for, you can include links to a portfolio, personal website, or other profiles.

Just make sure your resume cover page matches the formatting and style of your resume. A cohesive application package is going to look a lot more polished than visually mismatched documents.

Just look at how eye-catching our perfectly matched resume and cover page templates look, and get started on yours:

#2. Include the Hiring Manager’s Contact Details

Next, you need to include the hiring manager's contact information. This detail shows professionalism and proves you've done your research instead of just sending out generic applications for different positions.

Besides, finding the hiring manager's name is always worth the extra effort, as it helps your application stand out. Start by checking the job posting for any mention of specific names, department heads, or contact information. Sometimes the hiring managers are listed in the application instructions.

But if the job ad doesn't include any names, it's time to do some research. LinkedIn is your best tool here. First, search for employees at the company using titles like "Hiring Manager," "Talent Acquisition," or the head of the department you're applying to. 

For example, if you're targeting a marketing role, look for "Marketing Manager" or "Marketing Director" at that company.

Don't forget to check the company website for team pages or leadership sections. Lots of companies list their department heads or key personnel, so that can help you identify who's likely reviewing your application.

Here’s what information to include:

• Full name. Use their name as it appears on their professional profiles.
• Job title. Include their actual title, whether that’s "Hiring Manager" or "Head of Marketing."
• Company name. Write out the full name of the company.
• Company address. The city and state/country are usually enough, but if they have multiple locations in the same city, you can specify the exact address.

Pretty simple, right? Here’s what it looks like in practice:

#3. Greet Them Directly by Name

After adding the hiring manager's contact details, it's time to address them. A personalized greeting sets a professional tone and shows you're genuinely interested in the role.

When you know the hiring manager's name, just address them formally with "Dear" followed by their title and last name. This is the most professional approach that works in any industry or company culture.

However, you might not be sure about what title you should use. Academic titles can be confusing, and some first names are gender neutral, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. In that case, you can use their full name instead, like so:

But what if you can’t find the hiring manager’s name? In that case, you should still personalize your greeting. Instead of something generic and overused like "To Whom It May Concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam," address the department or the company as a whole. Here’s how:

And here’s what this looks like in practice:

#4. Write an Engaging Opening Paragraph

How you start your resume cover page can make or break your job application.

The truth is that hiring managers get hundreds of applications for a single job opening. So, it’s likely they don’t read every cover page end-to-end. Instead, they skim through and decide in under ten seconds if they want to read more.

So, your resume cover page needs to grab their attention from the very start.

A common mistake here is making the opening paragraph too generic. Here’s an example:

The problem is that this could be copied and pasted into any marketing-related application. It doesn't really say anything besides "I exist and I want this job."

The work experience by itself is just not impressive – pretty much all other applicants will have the same work experience as you. So why should the hiring manager be interested in you in particular?

That’s why your opening paragraph needs to do two things: highlight your best relevant achievement and show that you want to work at this specific company. Don't just tell them what you've done – show them what you can do for them.

Now that is an introduction that gets attention. The hiring manager immediately sees specific results, knows you've researched their company, and understands why you're genuinely interested in working there.

#5. Provide More Context In the Body

The body of your resume cover page, which should be around two to three paragraphs long, is where you get to tell the full story behind your resume. This is your chance to elaborate about the experiences and impressive achievements that make you perfect for the role.

But don't just repeat what's already on your resume. Instead, use this space to explain what went into your accomplishments.

Your body paragraphs should focus on two main things. First, show why you're the right person for this job by highlighting your most relevant skills and experiences. Second, prove that you're genuinely interested in working for the company.

Start by scanning the job ad. What are the top three to four requirements they're looking for? Use the body paragraphs to address each of the criteria you meet directly with specific examples from your experience.

For instance, if they want someone with project management experience, don't just say, "I managed projects." Instead, explain what kind of projects you handled, how big your team was, what challenges you overcame, and what results you achieved. 

Showing you care about the company isn’t difficult either. Do some homework on what they do, what they value, and what makes them different from their competitors. Then connect your experience to their specific needs and goals.

Finally, your cover page body is the perfect place to talk about things your resume can’t explain – like career changes or gaps in your work history. 

For example, if you took a break from work to travel, your cover page is where you can explain how that experience helped you grow. Maybe you developed better communication skills or gained a fresh perspective on what you want in your career. Rather than leaving a gap unexplained, you can turn it into something that adds value to your application.

#6. End With a Strong Call to Action

Your final paragraph is your last chance to make an impression, so don't waste it with a weak ending. This is where you recap your key selling points and propose a clear next step to the hiring manager.

Briefly recap why you're the perfect fit for the role. You don't need to repeat everything you've already said, just the highlights. Connect your most relevant experience, greatest accomplishment, or unique skillset to what makes you stand out from other candidates.

And here's the thing most people get wrong: they end with something passive. "I look forward to hearing from you," is fine, but it doesn't encourage the hiring manager to do anything. Be more direct about what you want to happen next!

A strong call to action tells the hiring manager exactly what you'd like them to do. Maybe you want them to call you for an interview, review your portfolio, or schedule a meeting to discuss how you can contribute to their team. Just be clear about your interest in moving forward without being pushy.

Here's what a good closing paragraph looks like:

#7. Use a Professional Closing Line

After your call to action, you need a professional closing line to wrap up your resume cover page. This small detail might seem insignificant, but it's what makes the final impression of your professionalism and attention to business etiquette.

As such, your closing line should match the formal tone you've maintained throughout your cover page. Stick to more traditional, widely accepted closing lines that could work in any industry or company culture.

The most common and safest options include:

Avoid overly casual closing lines like "Cheers," "Talk soon," or "Best wishes." These might work in some creative industries or even in work emails, but they can come across as unprofessional. When in doubt, stick with "Sincerely" or “Thank you for your time.”

The closing line should always end with a comma, and you should leave several blank lines after it if you plan to add your signature.

Here’s how it should look:

#8. Sign Your Name at the Bottom

The final step is signing your name below the closing line. This completes the formal business letter structure and shows attention to detail.

You have two options here.

If you're submitting a physical copy, just sign your name by hand right after the closing line. Your handwritten signature adds authenticity and shows you took extra care with your application.

But if you’re only submitting your application as a PDF, you can create a digital signature using online tools or simply type your full name in the document. Applicant tracking systems and email submissions work better with typed signatures anyway, so don't worry if you can't add a handwritten one.

How to Format a Resume Cover Page

Your resume cover page needs to look just as polished and professional as your resume. After all, they work as a team to create your complete application package. The right formatting ensures your cover page is easy to read and makes a strong visual impression.

Here are the essential formatting guidelines for your resume cover page:

• Use one-inch margins. Sticking to one inch on all sides creates proper white space and prevents your content from looking cramped or stretched out.
• Choose a professional font. Pick something professional but not overused, like Loro or Roboto, and stick to an 11 to 12 pt size for body text and 14-16 pt for section titles.
• Adjust the line spacing. Anywhere between 1.0 and 1.5 perfectly keeps your content well-organized without wasting valuable space on the page.
• Left-align all your text. This makes for a clean, traditional business letter appearance that hiring managers can easily scan.
• Limit it to one page. Hiring managers don't have time for a novel-length resume cover page, so keep your content focused and concise. Ideally, it should be between 250 and 400 words..
• Save as a PDF. This is the best file format since it preserves your formatting when hiring managers open your application on different software programs or devices.
• Use a professional filename. Name your file something like "John_Doe_CoverPage.pdf" so it's easy for the hiring manager to find it later.
• Match your resume's design elements. Use the same fonts, colors, and header style to create a cohesive, professional application package.

Or Use a Professional Template Instead

Making a job application from scratch can be hard.

You’ll spend ages adjusting the margins and trying out different font styles and sizes, all while trying to make sure your cover page looks good and matches your resume.

But there's good news: you can skip all the hassle with one of our cover page templates!

Each of our resume and cover page templates is created in close collaboration with HR experts from around the world to ensure they’re easy to read, ATS-friendly, and stylish. Just choose a template that matches your style and industry, and use our free resume builder to finish your matching job application in minutes!

Check out how one of our templates compares to an average text editor resume:

7 Tips to Write a Resume Cover Page

Your resume cover page can tip the scales in your favor, but nailing this vital part of your application requires more than just following the best structure.

Here are some resume cover page tips you can follow to help boost your chances:

1. Research the company thoroughly. Explain why you want to work there. Look up their recent projects, company values, or industry reputation and reference something specific. This shows genuine interest and proves you're not just sending random applications everywhere.
2. Tailor it to the specific job. Use keywords from the job posting and address the exact requirements it says they're looking for in a candidate. A tailored cover page always beats a generic one, no matter how well-written it is.
3. Quantify your achievements with numbers. Instead of saying you "increased sales," specify that you "increased sales by 30% over six months." Concrete data make you more credible and memorable than vague statements.
4. Address any employment gaps. If you have any gaps in your work history, address them instead of pretending they didn’t happen. Otherwise, HRs will assume the worst, and you won’t stand a chance.
5. Show enough enthusiasm. You should always express genuine excitement about the job, but keep it professional. Hiring managers want to see passion, not flattery. They need to know you're serious about the work itself, too.
6. Proofread multiple times. Typos and grammar mistakes can mean instant rejection, no matter how qualified you are. Read your cover page out loud, use spell-checking tools, and ask someone else to review it before you send it.
7. Keep it concise. Every sentence in your cover page should serve a purpose by either highlighting your qualifications or showing what a good fit you are for the company. If it doesn't directly support your application, cut it from the final version.

5 Resume Cover Page Examples

Now that you know the steps and formatting tips, it's time to see how everything comes together in real-life examples.

These cover pages will show you exactly how to apply what you've learned across different situations and experience levels:

#1. Recent Graduate Cover Page

#2. Research Assistant Cover Page

#3. Middle Management Cover Page

#4. Career Change Cover Page

#5. Senior Executive Cover Page

Key Takeaways

You've made it to the end of our guide – amazing! 

Now, you have everything you need to write a resume cover page that grabs attention and lands you an interview.

But before you start writing, let's recap the most important points we covered:

• A resume cover page and cover letter are the same thing, so don't get confused if you see them used interchangeably.
• Your cover page should complement your resume, not repeat it. Use it to provide context for your achievements, explain employment gaps, and show genuine enthusiasm for the specific role and company.
• Personalization is a great way to stand out. Research the hiring manager's name to address them directly, and tailor your content to match the job requirements.
• Using matching resume and cover letter templates creates a polished, professional application package that hiring managers will notice and appreciate.
• Keep it concise, professional, and error-free. One page maximum, professional formatting, and thorough proofreading make the difference between getting an interview and being rejected.