Cover Letters Cover Letter Formatting and Structure 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which section of a cover letter is typically placed immediately after the salutation?
- The opening paragraph (Correct answer)
- The closing paragraph
- The work history list
- The education section
Correct answer: The opening paragraph
The opening paragraph follows the salutation and introduces your purpose for writing.
Question 2: What is the purpose of the closing paragraph in a cover letter?
- To request an interview and state next steps (Correct answer)
- To repeat your entire work history
- To list your references
- To describe your educational background in detail
Correct answer: To request an interview and state next steps
The closing paragraph wraps up the letter by expressing enthusiasm and requesting an interview.
Question 3: Which complimentary close is most appropriate for a formal US cover letter?
- Sincerely (Correct answer)
- Cheers
- Later
- Yours Forever
Correct answer: Sincerely
'Sincerely' is the standard professional closing used in formal US business correspondence.
Question 4: When sending a cover letter via email, where should the letter body typically go?
- Directly in the email body (Correct answer)
- As a password-protected PDF attachment
- In the email subject line
- As a zip file attachment
Correct answer: Directly in the email body
Placing the cover letter in the email body ensures the hiring manager sees it immediately without opening attachments.
Question 5: What should the subject line of an email cover letter typically contain?
- The job title and your name (Correct answer)
- Only your phone number
- A question mark to grab attention
- The word 'URGENT' in capitals
Correct answer: The job title and your name
Including the job title and your name makes it easy for the recruiter to identify your application.
Question 6: Which alignment is standard for the body text of a US professional cover letter?
- Left-aligned (Correct answer)
- Centered
- Right-aligned
- Justified with hyphenation
Correct answer: Left-aligned
Left-aligned text is the standard in US business documents because it is easiest to read.
Cover Letters Cover Letter Formatting and Structure 2
Which section of a cover letter is typically placed immediately after the salutation?