Linda Spencer, associate director and coordinator of career advising at Harvard Extension School, says that a solid cover letter answers two key questions: Why are you the right fit for the job? How will you add value to the organization? “It takes the average employer about seven seconds to review these documents,” says Spencer.

That’s where the cover letter comes in. Including a cover letter to complement your resume can be an effective way to impress hiring managers: It displays your strong writing skills, sets you apart from other applicants and shows that you went the extra mile.

First, start by setting up your header. Your cover letter should have the same header and font as your resume. You want them to look like a set and not like completely separate documents. If your resume header is aligned with the right-hand side of the page, your cover letter should mirror this.

You can generally expect to write your letter using a 10 to 12 point font size and single spacing, but it is vital to check each business school you are applying to for their specific guidelines and make note of these requirements. Step 2: Include the date your letter will be sent and the name of the recipient.