how to do a cover letter for a fax

[[techsoupTitle]] 👋

Enjoy iFax services at 50% off!

Your discount will be applied during checkout.

• Solutions Partners Resources Pricing
• Contact Sales
• Start Free Start Free
• Email to Fax
• One-Time Fax
• Broadcast Fax
• Scan and Fax
• Unlimited Documents
• Get Fax Numbers
• Port a Fax Number
• Company Fax Page
• Annotate & eSign
• Fax Automation
• Microsoft 365
• Google Workspace
• Google Drive
• Programmable Fax API
• API Documentation
• EHR Fax Integration
• CPaaS, UCaaS & MSPs
• Marketplace Resellers
• SaaS Vendors
• Healthcare Solution Providers
• White Label Partners
• Service Providers
• Affiliate Partners
• Knowledge Base
• HIPAA Resources
• Fax Cover Sheets

HIPAA fax, reimagined.

How to Write a Fax Cover Letter

A fax cover letter or fax cover sheet is a must to protect sensitive documents from accidental disclosure. Without it, you risk exposing confidential information, especially if you regularly send faxes to healthcare, legal, and financial institutions.

Depending on the severity of the situation, you may face severe consequences, such as paying hefty fines for noncompliance. You also risk losing your client’s trust, which could negatively affect your sales and business reputation.

Luckily, learning how to write a fax cover letter is relatively easy. Here’s what you need to do.

What to put on a fax cover sheet?

A fax cover sheet typically includes the recipient’s name and fax number, the sender’s name and fax number, the number of pages being sent, and a brief message or subject line. It may also include the date, the fax machine’s phone number, and any additional information or instructions.

Table of Contents

Is a Fax Cover Letter Necessary?

• What Should a Cover Sheet Include?

Fax Cover Letter Example

Yes, including a fax cover letter is essential. For one thing, it tells your recipient who you are and your purpose for faxing. If your fax contains confidential information, the person who receives it can forward the document to the correct recipient using the information provided in the cover sheet.

Besides, you can’t always guarantee a successful transmission. What if you entered the wrong fax number? The office you’re trying to send your fax probably has a shared fax machine, so there’s a possibility that your document could fall into the wrong hands.

There’s no telling when things could go wrong, so including a cover letter can help secure your faxes . It also helps your business stay compliant, especially if there are privacy and confidentiality standards like HIPAA , GDPR, GLBA, and UETA that you need to uphold.

What Should a Fax Cover Sheet Include?

The first step in writing a fax cover letter is knowing what information to include. Make sure it contains the following:

Sender’s name and contact information

This section should include your name, office address, fax number, email, and mobile number. Displaying these details on the cover sheet will make it easier for recipients to contact you. An excellent example would be when you are broadcasting promotional messages. You can have recipients send their replies via email or a toll-free fax number .

Sender’s company name and logo

For business fax cover letters, it’s a must to include your company name and logo. Even if your fax might be treated as spam, your recipients can tell at first glance whether the fax comes from a trusted and reliable source. They simply need to see the cover letter logo.

Date and time of fax transmission

This is crucial if you’re sending faxes with time-sensitive information. You can refer to the time and date shown on the cover sheet to verify the validity of a transaction. It also serves as proof in case there’s a need to confirm the document’s authenticity or double-check whether the fax has been successfully delivered.

Total number of faxed pages

Displaying this information can help recipients verify whether there are missing pages. When showing the total number of pages, you should always include the fax cover sheet in the count. For example, the total page count should be six when faxing a five-page membership form.

Recipient’s name and contact information

Including this information is a must whether you are faxing documents to single or multiple recipients. This way, the person or department can quickly identify the document’s addressee. If you cannot provide a specific name, you can indicate your recipient’s job position or title. For example, you can address your fax to the head of marketing or external relations officer.

Confidentiality notice

A confidentiality or privacy notice is necessary to warn recipients about the prohibited use of confidential information. You must include this notice every time you fax a document that contains private information, like a laboratory request or financial report. You can also include a notice asking the recipient to destroy the document copy in case they receive it by mistake.

Summary or description

When applicable, you can also write a summary or overview of your fax message. This way, your recipient will have a general idea of what your fax message is about. You can also include a list of all the documents attached.

Relevant notes

Adding relevant notes can help identify whether your fax message requires urgent attention. It can be as simple as a checklist displaying the actions that you’d like your recipient to do. Here are a few examples of the options you can include in your relevant notes:

• Please reply
• Please comment
• Please review

As long as you keep these pointers in mind, you’ll learn how to write a fax cover sheet or letter in no time.

Below is a fax cover letter sample that you can use as a reference.

No time to write a personalized fax cover letter ? There are professionally designed fax cover sheet templates that you can customize to suit your needs and preferences. With templates, you can spend less time writing and more time faxing.

Effortlessly Create Fax Cover Letters With iFax

With iFax , you can save yourself from the hassle of creating fax cover letters from scratch. All you need to do is send a fax, then choose a cover page from the menu. You may also customize it to suit your needs and preferences.

To add a cover letter to your fax, you simply need to:

• Log in to your iFax web dashboard.
• Click New Fax > Compose Fax.
• Select a cover letter by scrolling through the menu.
• Remember to add the receiver’s information, sender’s information, privacy notice, and relevant notes.
• To add your company logo, click the three dots icon at the top-right of the compose window. Select Add Logo, then upload your logo. Click Save.
• Add the documents you want to fax and click Send.

Try it yourself and see how easy it is to fax with professionally designed fax cover letters.

Create an account for free or request a demo .

Kent is a content strategist currently specializing in HIPAA-compliant online fax. Her expertise in this field allows her to provide valuable insights to clients seeking a secure and efficient online fax solution.

HIPAA-compliant and lightning-fast.

Learn how to fax multiple pages without frustration with our practical tips and tricks.

If you want an easy yet secure way to fax Word documents online, check out this comprehensive guide.

Learn how to set up an online fax account with step-by-step instructions.

Fax cover templates

Use customizable fax cover templates for seamless communication. make a fax cover sheet for your business using these templates in minutes..

Free fax cover page templates

If you or your business still use fax machines, it’s important that you have a professional fax cover sheet. Fax cover sheets will make communication a breeze. They can also protect the content of your fax if it contains sensitive information. Explore a variety of fax cover page templates that you can quickly and easily edit in Word. There are a variety of fax cover sheet templates available: choose from simple fax cover sheet templates or colorful fax cover sheet templates. You can customize each fax cover page to match your company branding. For example, you can add your company colors to the fax cover page for a professional look. These fax cover page templates include space for your logo, your company name, and contact information like your phone number and email. You can also enter the number of pages in your fax and the subject. Explore more templates that you can use for your business .

WTO / Letters and Emails / Cover Letters / Free Fax Cover Letter (Sheet) Templates

Free Fax Cover Letter (Sheet) Templates

A Fax Cover Letter , sometimes referred to as a fax cover sheet, goes at the beginning of any faxed document. It displays important information that lets the recipient know whom the document is intended for.

These cover letters usually include a brief description of the contents, its purpose, and how to contact the sender.

It is different from a regular cover letter.  A regular cover letter is usually sent with resumes and other business reports to non-familiar entities to introduce applicants and their qualifications.  On the other hand, it usually precedes a document detailing what information the recipient will find in the fax. In most cases, these accompany documents whose correspondents are somewhat familiar with each other.

Whereas sending important documents and messages using a fax machine is not common in the contemporary technological world, some companies may still prefer to use fax over electronic mail. If you are applying for a job position using the machine, you can include both the fax cover sheet and the regular cover letter along with your resume. The ideal format for sending these documents will be a fax cover letter, a traditional cover letter, and your resume.

Free Templates

Need for a Fax Cover Letter

A fax cover letter is essential anytime you send professional correspondence or classified documents using the fax machine.

For instance

If a company requests that you fax a copy of your company’s financial data, it is crucial that you include a cover sheet describing what you sent, why, and whom it is intended for.

In some cases, employers may be specific about how they want job applicants to apply and submit their job application documents. In such cases, applicants must follow the submission guidelines to ensure that their documents reach the potential employer safely and at the right time. If an employer requires a paper copy of your job application forms and resume, sending them via fax can be quicker than traditional mail. Given such a case, including a brief, strong, and professional cover letter along with your application documents will certainly help the recipient determine the importance of your fax.

Benefits of Usage

These cover letters are essential anytime you send information or important documents using the traditional fax machine or the eFax. They not only provide context for your document but also give it a more formal and professional look.

The following are the main advantages/benefits of using these:

Keeps information safe

When you send information or communicate to another person through fax, the recipient will receive the message as a paper copy. And in most cases, companies and businesses usually have one fax machine accessible to everyone within the company. Including a cover letter that discloses who the fax is from, whom it is intended for, what is in the fax, and whether it is confidential will help keep your private information safe.

Helps your information reach the intended person

It usually discloses where the document needs to go and whom it is intended for. This is important, especially where the receiving company or business uses one fax machine for the entire employee pool, in that it ensures the document ends up in the hands of the right person.

It makes it easier for the recipient to contact you

The cover letter usually includes the sender’s contact information. If the recipient of the faxed document wants to contact you for clarification or further questions, this will be helpful as it displays your contact details.

What to Include in the Cover Letter

The contents of the cover letter may differ, as different companies follow different formats or different templates.

However, the following are the general contents that are used for official correspondence in most corporations:

Company name and logo

A professional fax cover letter should contain the sender’s company name at the top of the page. If the company has a business logo, it should also be prominently displayed at the top of the page, so that the recipient immediately knows which company sent the fax.

Sender’s contact information

A covering sheet must include the sender’s contact information. You can include your relevant contact details, including your name, phone number, email address, and your company’s business address. If you are applying for a job position, including your contact details in the cover sheet makes it easier for the potential employer to contact you for an interview or additional clarifications.

Recipient’s name

If the faxed document is intended for a single person that you are already familiar with, you can include the recipient’s name on the cover letter. However, if you are sending the fax to an unknown recipient, the company in general, or multiple people within the company, you can include the company name in your cover letter.

If you are applying for a job position, it is important to conduct some background research to find out more information about the company and the hiring manager’s name. If you are unable to identify the name of the hiring manager, you can include a general title on the cover letter, such as Dear Hiring Team/Manager.

Date and time of fax transition

Including the date and time of transition in the cover letter is crucial, especially when sending time-sensitive information. Generally, the traditional fax machine and the eFax automatically print the date and time of transmission at the topmost part of the cover letter. However, in some cases, the machine’s calendar and the clock may be off, meaning that you will have to manually include the date and time of transmission on your faxed document.  

Number of pages of the faxed document

It is essential that you include the total number of pages of the document in your cover letter. When filling out the number of pages, ensure that you include the cover letter sheet as part of the total pages. This ensures that the recipient receives all of your attached documents, and in case they find that some pages are missing, they will let you know.

The subject of the fax

The subject includes a brief description of what the fax is all about and why you are sending it. From this section, the recipient gets a fair idea about its importance.

Summary or description of the document attached

An official fax correspondence cover page may also include a summarized description of the attached documents. This can include information on what the document is all about, the document’s total number of pages, a privacy notice (if applicable), the urgency level of the attached materials, and any other relevant information.

Confidentiality statement, if required

If you are sending sensitive data, such as medical information, personnel records, or company financial data, it is essential to include a confidentiality statement at the bottom of your cover letter. The confidentiality statement typically states that the fax contents are solely meant for a certain recipient, and any unauthorized use or disclosure of that information is prohibited. Some cover letters also include a notice to unintended recipients asking them to contact the sender if they receive the fax in error.

Using a few sentences, let your recipient know what they will find in your fax. This encourages them to read the rest because they have already established its importance. If you have attached several documents, such as your resume and covering letter, you can use this section to list all the documents you have attached in the order you sent them.

Clear instructions

If you expect the recipient to follow up or perform other action upon receipt of your documents, you can state that in your cover letter.

Relevant notes

The cover sheets typically include an additional note section or a blank area for further instructions.

The most relevant notes include:

• Please reply
• Kindly comment

Type your relevant notes clearly, and include a phone number or email where the recipient can contact you. The relevant notes section is especially important when sending company documents that need to be reviewed, but you can always omit this section when applying for a job.

A cover letter template is a pre-designed document that serves as a front page for your fax communication, providing essential information and enhancing the professionalism of your correspondence. Our selection includes a range of professionally designed templates, each tailored to different purposes and industries. Best of all, these templates are readily available for free download, ensuring the utmost convenience for you. Whether you are a business professional or an individual seeking to streamline your fax communications, our templates offer a hassle-free solution with numerous benefits.

company name and logo

[sender’s name]

[sender’s mailing address]

[sender’s phone number]

[sender’s email address or website(optional)]

Recipient’s name and title]

Recipient’s company name and address]

Recipient’s fax number]

[sender’s name and fax number]

Date and time of fax transition]

[Total number of pages, including the cover letter sheet]

SUBJECT LINE: [Write the subject of your fax, for example, Hr Assistant Job Application Materials]

[Paragraph one: using a few sentences, describe the contents] for example;

I have attached the following documents:

• Cover letter for Hr assistant job

• Relevant academic certificates

• Employer recommendation letter

[Paragraph 2: Let the recipient know why you are sending the documents].

For example, I am sending this fax in response to your job posting for an HR Assistant date August 21, 2021. Based on the job description and qualifications criteria, I am well suited for the job. Kindly review my attached job application materials to see my qualifications, skills, and relevant experience.

I look forward to positive feedback from you.

[Relevant notes: Mark on the appropriate note that is relevant to your contents]

• FOR REVIEW

• PLEASE COMMENT

• PLEASE REPLY

Following are some free samples for you:

Dear Ms. Doe,

I am pleased to forward the requested technical specifications and contract details for the “GreenTech Innovations” project. These documents provide comprehensive information on our proposed renewable energy solutions, including solar panel installations and wind turbine integration for your Techville campus.

Please review the attached specifications and contract at your earliest convenience. I am available for any queries or further discussions at (555) 123-4567 or [email protected].

I look forward to a fruitful collaboration.

Best Regards,

Senior Consultant

EcoTech Enterprises

456 Renewable Road

EcoCity, OR 97035

Subject: Submission of Grant Proposal for “Youth Empowerment Program”

Dear Ms. Johnson,

Enclosed, please find the detailed grant proposal for our “Youth Empowerment Program.” This initiative aims to provide career-oriented workshops and mentorship programs to underprivileged youth in Edutown. The proposal outlines our objectives, program structure, budgetary needs, and the projected impact on the community.

Your review and feedback on this proposal are highly valued. For any further information or discussion, feel free to contact me at (555) 987-6543 or [email protected].

Thank you for considering our proposal. We are eager to make a positive impact in our community together.

Warm regards,

Linda Brown

Program Director

Community Connect

321 Unity Blvd.

Hope City, NY 10010

The provided fax cover letters serve as useful instructional guides for individuals seeking to compose professional fax correspondence, due to several key elements that they incorporate. Firstly, they adhere to a clear and formal structure, which is essential in business communication. Each letter begins with the date, followed by the recipient’s details, including their name, position, company, and address, thereby ensuring that the fax is directed to the appropriate individual. This is a critical aspect, as it personalizes the communication and aids in proper routing within an organization.

Moreover, the subject line in the second sample provides a succinct summary of the content, an approach that enhances clarity and aids the recipient in understanding the context of the letter immediately. Both samples exhibit a professional tone, using courteous language and a respectful salutation, which is essential to maintaining professionalism.

The body of each letter is concise yet informative, outlining the purpose of the correspondence and the contents of the fax. This clarity of purpose is crucial in business settings where time is often of the essence. The letters also include the sender’s contact information, an important aspect that facilitates easy follow-up or clarification.

In conclusion, these samples are instructive in demonstrating the key components of effective business fax cover letters: clear structure, personalized addressing, concise content, and professional tone. Such attributes are vital for ensuring that the communication is received, understood, and acted upon appropriately in a professional environment.

Tips for Writing the Cover Letter

Once you have understood the general format of the cover letter, you can easily input the information that you want to communicate in the letter. However, while writing your cover sheet, there are essential tips that you need to consider to ensure effective communication and to make your fax look neat and professional.

These include:

Check for repeating information

Naturally, the receiver of your documents will read your documents as soon as they read the cover sheet. Therefore keep it brief and avoid including any repeated information as this will make it too long. Keep in mind that long cover letters are less likely to be read.

Offer sufficient details

Make sure to include enough descriptive details in your cover letter, including your name, the number of pages, the recipient’s name and contact information, the purpose, and your reason for sending it, to keep the recipient wanting to read through the rest of the fax. However, avoid providing too much information as the recipient will think that they have read enough to get its gist.

Consider the Recipient Business Hours

If you want the recipient to read the letter on the same day, you should send it before they close business.

If the recipient closes the shop at 5.00 pm, if the cover letter is received past the time, they will probably read it the next day.

Confidentiality

If the fax is confidential, the cover letter should also be marked as“ confidential” to ensure the intended person only reads the information.

Keep it Neat and Professional

You should avoid slang and unofficial language in your cover letter. The details in the letter will inform the recipient of what to expect in the fax.

Key Takeaways

A cover letter is a sheet that precedes documents sent through the fax machine.  To write an effective cover letter that immediately communicates the essential information to the recipient, include the sender’s contact information, company name and logo, recipient’s contact information, and briefly state the purpose and contents of your fax. Your cover letter should also include the document’s total pages to ensure that the recipient receives all the documents. Finally, make sure to include the date and time of fax transmission-especially for time-sensitive documents.

About This Article

Was this helpful?

Great! Tell us more about your experience

Not up to par help us fix it, keep reading.

Cover Letters

7 great examples of cover letters for job application.

Product Manager Cover Letter (Free Templates)

Real Estate Cover Letter Examples (Expert Tips)

New Graduate Nurse Cover Letter (18 Best Examples)

Graphic Designer Cover Letter (Templates & Sample)

Pharmacy Technician Cover Letter Examples (Expert Tips)

Administrative Assistant Cover Letter Examples + Tips

Business Analyst Cover Letter Examples (Free Templates)

Authorization

12 free credit card authorization letter templates.

Free Eye Doctor Note Templates

Authorization Letters to Travel with Minor

Sample Landlord Reference Letters for a Tenant

Thank you for your feedback.

Your Voice, Our Progress. Your feedback matters a lot to us.

How to Write a Fax Cover Sheet

Effectively sending a fax takes more than just transmitting the pages of the actual document. Without also including a fax cover sheet as page one, you expose yourself to a few easily avoidable risks, like disclosing confidential information, creating uncertainty about the intended recipient or document purpose, or simply appearing unprofessional. 

Luckily, it’s easy to create a fax cover sheet and include one with every fax you send. We’ll show you how.

Write Your Fax Cover Sheet in 3 Easy Steps

If you’re going to send a fax, you want to make sure to include a fax cover sheet with every transmission. The cover sheet makes the who, what, and why about your fax crystal clear to the receiver. A fax cover sheet also serves as a layer of protection for confidential or sensitive documents.

Fax cover sheets are easy to create, and it takes just three steps.

• Decide How You Want to Send Your Fax
• Identify All Essential Cover Sheet Information
• Create A Fax Cover Sheet Template

Ready to level up your faxing game? Let’s get to it.

1. Decide How You Want to Send Your Fax

Today, you have options when it comes to faxing documents. The option you choose dictates how you’ll create a fax cover sheet. 

Use a Traditional Fax Machine

Readers of a certain age surely remember fax machines of old. These are standalone units where you manually type in the recipient’s fax machine telephone number on a keypad, then listen to ringing and the random beeps and hums until your call is connected to the recipient’s fax machine. 

If you haven’t had to fax anything since the early 2000s, you might think those old-fashioned fax machines are obsolete. But you’d be wrong. There are many businesses and organizations that still rely on traditional fax machines to send important documents.

Why? Fax machines can be used without any internet connection, you just need a working telephone line. If your internet connection goes down, you can still fax. Plus, with a traditional fax machine, you don’t have to worry about your physical fax being sent to someone’s spam email folder where it is overlooked. 

Likewise, your faxed documents don’t become part of internet traffic. This eliminates the risk of being intercepted during transmission. And you’ll never question whether your fax was successfully sent, since the confirmation page that prints out at the end offers proof of when, where, and to whom your fax was sent. 

So don’t write off using a traditional fax machine. Depending on your business needs, it may be the preferable way to share important documents with third parties.

Subscribe to an Online Fax Services

Of course, there’s a higher-tech solution for faxing, too. With the advent of online fax services, you can leverage the power of your computer or smartphone to share documents with others–no fax machine or dedicated telephone line needed.

Online fax services offer a number of other benefits, too. They keep all your faxes digitally organized in a single location. They also secure your faxes with 256-bit SSL encryption, the most secure protection publicly available, to keep your information protected as it moves through the cloud.

But one of the biggest features is convenience. With an online fax service, you can send and receive faxes from your computer, tablet, mobile device, and even a fax machine. Yes, that’s right–if you do have a traditional fax machine, it can be incorporated into your online fax service, giving you even more flexibility.

Best of all, online fax services include the option to automatically include a fax cover sheet with every fax you send. You set up your preferred cover sheet options once, and the service takes care of it after that. A fax cover sheet is automatically created for you every time you use the service.

If this type of convenience sounds good to you, check out our comparison guide to the best online fax services . Whether you send just a few faxes each month or are a power faxer, there’s a service that’s perfect for you.

2. Include All Essential Cover Sheet Information

As you create your fax cover sheet, keep in mind that its purpose is to make things crystal clear for the recipient. The more information you include, the better the chance of your document getting to the right person right away.

The information you include also depends on the nature of what you’re sending. Private documents, business contracts, and employment agreements are just a few things that demand a specialized fax cover letter noting the confidential nature of the documents. In some cases, like medical records, specific disclaimer language is required by law.

Basic Information to Include on Every Fax Cover Sheet

No matter what you’re sending, at a minimum your fax cover sheet should include the following:

• Sender’s company info : Display this information clearly to make it easier for the recipient to recognize your fax as a legitimate business communication. 
• Sender’s direct contact information : Include a direct dial telephone number or extension for the fax sender, so they can be quickly contacted with questions or issues related to the fax transmission. 
• Recipient’s name and fax number : Note this on the cover sheet so the fax can be easily sent by anyone and quickly delivered to the correct recipient upon arrival.
• Number of total pages : Include the fax cover page in your total page count so the recipient can verify they received all pages.
• Date of transmission : Include the date you sent the fax so the recipient can easily see when you sent it, no matter when they personally receive it.
• Short message : Explain the purpose of the fax and any special instructions, so the recipient knows why they received it and what they need to do next.

Special Requirements for Confidential Fax Cover Sheets

If you’re faxing anything that contains sensitive or confidential information, you’ll want to be sure that it is clearly noted on your fax cover sheet. While such a notice won’t eliminate the possibility that someone other than your intended recipient will view the information, it does provide a warning, which is the best you can do when sending a fax.

In addition to all the basic information listed above, there are two additional things to include when sending private documents. 

The word CONFIDENTIAL should be prominently displayed on the fax cover sheet. Use a large font and capitalize all letters for maximum impact. The point is to make it easily known that the pages that follow are intended only for the named recipient’s eyes.

A confidentiality clause should also be included, usually at the bottom of the page in smaller font. Again, it isn’t going to eliminate the chance that your fax is viewed by someone other than the receiver, but it at least explains the importance of the confidential materials. You can find many examples of confidentiality clauses, like the one in the example below, by doing a basic Google search.

As a general best practice, you can create a single fax cover sheet that includes these confidentiality notations, and then use the same cover sheet no matter what you fax–confidential or not. Here’s an example of what such a multipurpose sheet might look like.

HIPAA-Compliant Fax Cover Sheets

There’s a separate category of faxes that have special legal requirements for their cover sheets. Any time you transmit a patient’s healthcare information via fax, you’re governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This set of U.S. laws is more commonly known as HIPAA.

It’s very important to be HIPAA compliant when sending faxed medical records. Violating HIPAA can result in large fines.

While HIPAA laws themselves don’t spell out exactly how to design a compliant fax cover sheet, there are basic elements that must be included. In addition to the bullet list above, a HIPAA-specific disclaimer is required. This can replace or be in addition to the general confidentiality disclaimer discussed above. 

Here’s an example of what a HIPAA-compliant fax cover sheet might look like.

Now that you know what to include on your fax cover sheet, it’s time to create your own. 

3. Create A Fax Cover Sheet Template

Let me help you streamline all your future faxes. The best way to do that is with a template.

A template helps you avoid reinventing the wheel every time you send a fax and saves you cumulative time and effort.

If you choose to use an online fax service, it should provide a template you can customize. The service will walk you through the process to create your fax cover sheet when you sign up for a plan.

But even if you intend to send most of your faxes through the online service, there still might be an occasion when you need to send something manually on a fax machine. For those situations, you’ll still want to have a fax cover sheet available. 

And if you’re not using an online fax service, you’ll need to create a fax cover sheet on your own. So no matter what, it’s a good idea to design and keep a fax cover sheet template on hand.

Using Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or other word processing software is the fastest and easiest way to create a fax cover sheet template that you can use again and again. You can find and modify these templates in the software’s template library or import a template from a third-party source.

We picked Microsoft Word for this example since they have a very robust library of fax cover letter templates. Here’s how to create a personalized fax cover sheet template.

From the Word main menu, select File > New from Template .

In the search bar, type in Fax to display all the available fax cover sheet templates.

Select the template you prefer, then choose Create .

Edit the template to your specifications, then click File > Save as Template .

Name your new template , then click Save . Note: The default location will be Word’s template directory, and the default file extension will be .dotx . Do not change either of these settings.

Your new template should now appear at the top of the screen anytime you visit the Word start screen, as shown below.

And that’s all there is to it. Once you create a new fax cover sheet template, it will be ready to electronically fill in anytime you need it. Alternatively, you can print a few and keep them close to the fax machine for those last-minute transmissions. 

Final Thoughts About Writing a Fax Cover Sheet

Whether you use an online fax service or still rely on your trusty fax machine, a fax cover letter is an essential part of the faxing process. They’re easy to create and should be included with every transmission you send.

Make sure you include key information on your fax cover sheet and that it is the first page of your fax. This way the person on the receiving end knows exactly what and why they’re getting something from you.

Fax Cover Letter

Fax cover letter template.

Author : Brent Weight and Jon Wittwer

License : Limited Use

Fax Cover Letter vs. Fax Cover Sheet

There is a difference between a fax cover letter and a fax cover sheet . The cover letter is a more personal detailed informative page whereas the cover sheet is less personal and usually includes much less information. A cover letter usually is sent along with resumes and other business reports to non-familiar entities. A cover sheet usually accompanies a document where the correspondents are somewhat familiar with each other. For a cover sheet, you can download our Fax Cover Sheet Template .

Tips for Fax Cover Letters

• Keep it simple. Too much information will quickly throw off your recipient and make them less likely to care about what's in the rest of your fax.
• Keep it neat and clean. Your fax cover letter is a representation of what your recipient will see in the rest of your transmission. Use clean and concise language. Just because you understand a word does not mean the recipient will, so avoid using slang terms and technical jargon.
• Give as much information as necessary to keep the recipient wanting to read through the rest of the fax. If you give them too much information, the recipient will think they have read enough to get the gist of it.
• Pay attention to the recipient's business hours. Some businesses may be open until 8 or 9 but they only want to get faxes between the hours of 8 to 6. If received later, the information may be marked as received the following business day.
• Long letters are less likely to be read, so keep your fax cover to one page.
• Make sure a fax cover letter is marked as CONFIDENTIAL if the accompanying documents are confidential.

Sample Fax Cover Letters

Example 1 - fax containing documents to sign.

The ABC Barn 123 S. 1000 E. Ste. 1 Business Town, Business State 12345 (123) 456-7890 www.abcbarn.com

TO: C.E.O. Gary Fischer (987) 654-3210

FROM: C.E.O Sarah Tobler (123) 456-7890

DATE: 1/1/15 Pages: 5 (Including cover letter)

The following pages contain the summary of our plans to incorporate your recently acquired company into our business circle and will outline what we plan to do with everyone that worked for you. Also included is a copy of the purchase agreement that we have both signed as part of this merge.

I am sending this fax to you so that you and I both have a copy of the plans and an extra copy of the purchase agreement and I would appreciate it if you could send me back a signed copy so that I know that you received my fax and that you are ok to proceed with our company's plans.

Example 2 - Fax Cover Letter for Submitting a Resume

James Henry III 1 Fiji Way Your Town, Your State 98765 568 974-2013 www.myresume.com

TO: Taco Tower H.R. (987) 654-3210

FROM: James Henry III (123) 456-7890

DATE: 1/1/15 Pages: 3 (Not including cover page)

This fax contains my Resume and the accompanying cover letter for the position as Assistant Manager at your 2398 Kings Way location.

I am sending this fax in response to the ad I found on craigslist advertising for the Assistant Manager position and, once you read the contents of this fax, you will see that with my background I am extremely qualified for the job and I hope to hear back from you soon.

References and Resources

• Microsoft Template Gallery - templates.office.com - Includes a few Fax Cover templates.
• The Scanner-Friendly Resume - www.njit.edu - Provides tips for making a resume that can be easily and correctly read by a scanner.
• Choosing an Online Fax Service - labnol.org - This article can help you figure out what to do when you need to send a fax without access to a fax machine.
• How to Make a Simple Cover Letter - yourbusiness.azcentral.com - A step-by-step guide to making a fax cover letter using different computer programs.

Follow Us On ...

Letter Templates

Create a fax cover sheet in Word for the web

It's quick and easy to make a fax cover sheet like this while you're online.

Choose one of our fax templates , and open it in Word for the web to make it yours.

To print the fax cover sheet, press Ctrl+P, and wait for the Print dialog.

Note:  If you don't see a Print dialog box, click the link for opening a PDF version of your fax cover sheet. From there, use the PDF program's Print command.

Need more help?

Want more options.

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Ask the Microsoft Community

Microsoft Tech Community

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

Free Fax Cover Sheet

How To Make a Simple Cover Letter For Fax [Step By Step]

In today’s digital era, the Simple Cover Letter For Fax machine might seem like a relic of the past, overshadowed by the convenience of email and cloud-based document sharing. However, it’s essential to recognize that the fax machine continues to hold its ground in specific industries and scenarios, where security, authenticity, and compliance are paramount.

• How To Send Fax From iPad
• Basic Fax Cover Sheet
• Professional Fax Cover Sheet
• Confidential Fax Cover Sheet
• Personal Fax Cover Sheet
• Google Docs Fax Cover Sheet
• Make a Simple Cover Letter For Fax

Whether you’re navigating the intricacies of healthcare, dealing with legal documentation, or communicating with government agencies, faxing remains a trusted means of transmitting sensitive information.

What makes faxing persist in this digital age? The answer lies in its unique attributes. Faxes provide physical, hardcopy records of document transmissions, offering a level of assurance and permanence that digital methods often lack. Moreover, faxes are considered more secure than email, as they operate on dedicated phone lines, reducing the risk of data breaches.

In these contexts, the fax cover letter emerges as a critical component of the faxing process. It serves as a formal introduction to your transmitted documents, providing essential information about the sender, clarifying the fax’s purpose, and furnishing any specific instructions necessary for the recipient’s understanding.

This guide is your comprehensive resource for mastering the art of crafting a simple yet effective fax cover letter. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the world of faxing, you’ll discover valuable insights to create a fax cover letter that not only conveys professionalism but also enhances the clarity and efficiency of your fax communications.

Fax Cover Letter

In the digital age, where emails, cloud storage, and instant messaging dominate our communication landscape, the fax machine may appear as a relic from a bygone era. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that in specific industries and situations, faxing remains a steadfast and indispensable method for transmitting documents.

Whether you’re dealing with confidential medical records, legal contracts, or sensitive financial information, the fax machine continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring secure and authenticated document exchange.

Why, you might ask, does faxing persist when more modern alternatives are readily available? The answer lies in its unique qualities. Fax machines provide a tangible, hardcopy record of document transmissions, a feature especially prized in fields where legal and regulatory compliance is paramount. Additionally, faxes are often deemed more secure than email, as they operate over dedicated phone lines, reducing the risks associated with digital communication.

At the heart of the faxing process is the fax cover letter, a document often underestimated in its significance. It serves as the gateway to your transmitted documents, offering critical information about the sender, clarifying the fax’s purpose, and providing specific instructions for the recipient.

In this guide, we will delve into the art of crafting a simple yet effective fax cover letter, whether you are a seasoned professional or a newcomer to the world of fax communication.

How To Make a Simple Cover Letter For a Fax

In an increasingly digital world, the fax machine might seem like a relic of a bygone era. However, it remains a relevant and necessary tool in various professional contexts. 

In these sectors, where sensitive information and compliance with regulations are paramount, faxing offers a level of security and authenticity that digital methods often struggle to match.

The Simple Cover Letter For Fax is a fundamental element of this traditional yet enduring communication method. It serves as an introduction to the documents being transmitted and provides essential context for the recipient.

Beyond basic identification of the sender and recipient, a well-constructed fax cover letter can clarify the purpose of the fax, highlight any urgent or critical information, and specify actions the recipient should take upon receiving the documents.

This guide is designed to help you navigate the process of creating a simple yet effective Simple Cover Letter For Fax. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to faxing, these insights will enable you to craft a cover letter that not only conveys professionalism but also enhances the clarity and efficiency of your fax communications, ensuring that your important documents reach their destination securely and with precision.

Simple Cover Letter For Fax

In an age where electronic communication has taken center stage, the fax machine might seem like an outdated technology. However, it’s important to acknowledge that in various professional sectors, faxing remains an essential means of transmitting documents.

Industries such as healthcare, legal services, and finance rely on faxes for secure and authenticated document exchange. Faxing offers a level of tangible, hardcopy security that digital methods often cannot replicate.

When it comes to sending a fax, the fax cover letter is an often underestimated but crucial component. It acts as a window into your transmitted documents, offering vital information about the sender, clarifying the purpose of the fax, and providing any specific instructions necessary for the recipient’s understanding. A well-constructed fax cover letter not only conveys professionalism but also enhances the clarity and efficiency of your fax communication.

Creating a simple yet effective Simple Cover Letter For Fax is a valuable skill, even in our digital age. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to craft a fax cover letter that ensures your documents are not only securely transmitted but also clearly understood by the recipient.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to faxing, these insights will help you make the most of this traditional yet enduring method of document transmission, ensuring that your important documents reach their destination securely and with precision.

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Office Management
• Office Equipment

How to Send a Fax

Last Updated: March 4, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Mitch Harris . Mitch Harris is a Consumer Technology Expert based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mitch runs his own IT Consulting company called Mitch the Geek, helping individuals and businesses with home office technology, data security, remote support, and cybersecurity compliance. Mitch earned a BS in Psychology, English, and Physics and graduated Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 982,247 times.

Whether you are a young whipper snapper who's never heard of a fax before, or you've been around the block but just forgotten, you'll probably need to know how to send a fax at some point. Keep in mind that there are a number of variations between fax machines, so you should consult the manual or instructions for your personal machine if you have them on hand. Using most machines requires inserting a cover letter, dialing the fax number and sending your fax on its way.

Before Sending the Fax

• The cover letter includes information like the recipient’s name, the content of the fax, and how many pages it includes. It should also include the sender’s information, such as name and fax number, so that the recipient will know whom it came from and can reply if necessary.

• The country code (the number 1 for US phones and fax numbers) will also sometimes need to be dialed before local numbers but only when the area code is also required. The country code is almost always necessary to dial long distance numbers.
• You will often also need to dial 9 before dialing long distance numbers. Check the specifications for or ask about your individual fax machine.
• Be sure that the number you are using is the fax number and not the phone number of the person you are trying to reach. Often the numbers will be listed next to each other on business cards and it is easy to misread it or look at the wrong number.

• If the folded-down corner has the lines, this means the sheets must be fed into the fax machine with the blank side facing you.
• If the folded corner is blank, this means you must feed the machine with the front side of the paper facing you.

• The most common size paper for fax machines, as with printers, is A4 or American letterhead.

Sending the Fax

• You will notice that, after pressing send, the machine will make a series of beeps and whirring sounds. This is normal. These sounds are how fax machines communicate with each other. When a fax has successfully gone through, you will usually hear a long, clear beep after a few minutes. When a fax encounters a problem and does not go through, you will usually hear it make a horrible sort of death-keen. If you hear this horrible sound, you should check on the fax machine to assess the problem.

• PamFax is an excellent faxing service for Skype. This program charges a small fee, however.
• HelloFax is a service that integrates well with Google Drive, allowing you to easily fax Google documents. It includes a certain number of free faxes and then charges a fee.

Brandon Phipps

You can send a fax from your computer without a traditional fax machine. There are several services available that allow you to send faxes online. It can be a convenient option if you don't have access to a fax machine or if you prefer to handle your faxing needs electronically.

• You can check if the fax number is covered by looking online.
• Use this formula to create the address to which you will send the email: “[email protected]”
• Remove the quotations, exchange the numbers for the fax number (including country and area code), and first and last for the name of the person you are sending it to.
• Note that only the text in the text box will appear on the fax. You cannot attach PDFs or any other material with this method.

Community Q&A

• Always enter the entire number, including the area code and a number 1 for long distance. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Most fax machines will have instructions by them. Let the wisdom of those that have come before you guide you on your journey... Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• If you are sending confidential information, be aware that ANYONE can read a fax that is printed. Double-check the number before you send it, and make sure the recipient is expecting your fax. Thanks Helpful 41 Not Helpful 9

Things You'll Need

• Cover Letter
• Papers to be faxed
• Recipient's fax number
• Fax machine or computer

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/faxing-a-cover-letter
• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/how-to-send-fax/
• ↑ https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-send-or-receive-a-fax-online

About This Article

To send a fax using e-mail, start by checking online to see if the fax number you wish to send something to is able to receive faxes this way. If it is, compose a new e-mail and select the address line. Then, type the first and last name of the recipient with an underscore in between, followed by the “@“ symbol. After the “@“, add the fax number with the country and area code, then “.iddd.tpc.int” to finish the address. Finally, include what you want to fax within the body of the e-mail and hit “Send.” For tips on how to send a fax using a regular fax machine or an internet service such as HelloFax, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Nov 16, 2017

Did this article help you?

Ana Serrano

Sep 28, 2017

Susannah Lewis

Nov 7, 2016

Nov 14, 2016

Svetlana Pasternak

Jul 21, 2016

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Develop the tech skills you need for work and life

How to Write Fax Cover Sheet A Simple Step By Step Guide

How to write Fax cover sheet : Everyone is aware of the fact that we have grown with very high technological advancements. But even today, fax machines remain an important method of disseminating documents.

Here we are going to guide you on how to write Fax cover sheet. But before this, it is important to know that what exactly a fax cover sheet is. A fax cover sheet is that kind of sheet that is sent to your recipient before the actual document is faxed.

As you know that Fax machines are useful for submitting paperwork, providing required information and sharing business data. When you send a fax , the recipient gets a hard copy of the same documents you have, making it easier to share information and collaborate on projects.

There are a few important points of etiquette to keep in mind when sending a fax. Faxes are concerned with business communication, and they are subject to the same rules as letters, memos and other official correspondence.

How to write a fax cover sheet?

Before using the fax machine, we should know that how to write fax cover sheet?

Writing and setting up a fax cover sheet is very simple. Once it is set up, you can re-use it again and again.

• Firstly, add a letterhead to the top of the fax cover sheet.
• The letterhead can be for an organization or for an individual.
• The letterhead must include the company name, address, telephone number, fax number, and email address.
• List the data in a couple of lines down from the letterhead.

• Write the company name followed by a colon.
• Then you can write down the name of the company where you are sending the fax.
• Write “To” followed by a colon a couple of lines down.
• Fill the name of the person who is going to receive the fax.
• In the next step, Write ‘From’ and then a colon on the next line. List the sender name.
• Write recipient fax number and then a colon.
• Fill in this line with the right fax number where you are sending the fax.
• After that write down the number of pages of the fax including the fax cover sheet, followed by a colon.

Count the number of pages that you are faxing and add one of the fax cover sheets. Enter the number on this line. This helps the recipient to make sure that any of the pages is not missing. Write Notes and then a colon. Enter any additional information that may be needed.

Making of Fax cover sheet

In this section, we will discuss how to make a Fax cover sheet. Compared faxing and emailing is a more easy method of getting information from one point to another. But you should also remember that fax machine is also that much essential than any other communication device.

There are some worthwhile benefits of using fax machine such as larger documents can be sent.

Some people view them as a more professional form of business communication and signed signature on fax messages are considered very legitimate.

It is very helpful while making a professional fax cover sheet

You can simply start writing the basic fax cover sheet with the name of the recipient and sender of the fax in the ‘To’ and ‘From’ sections of the fax cover sheet. Also, write the phone number in the relevant fax and phone number fields.

Insert the total number of pages included in the faxes, adding the cover sheet in the total number of pages of the cover sheet. In the next step, write down the one to three words describing the purpose of the fax in the RE section of the cover sheet. Include a reference number if applicable in the cover sheet.

Fill in the concerned box or circle the appropriate word description indicating the urgency of the fax or your response wishes from the recipient.

Most faxes consist response descriptions such as ‘For’ review, Please comment, Urgent, confidential or please reply. This is also used in the making of confidential fax cover sheet .

Write down any additional notes that you want to the recipient to read it to be aware in the blank bottom section of fax cover sheet.

Insert the date you are sending the fax at the top of the sheet and after reviewing the fax and ensuring that all relevant sections of the cover sheet are complete.

Some important points to remember while writing the cover sheet.

Always print clearly and legibly to make sure the cover sheet is readable. Use black or blue ink in case the cover sheet is scanned or photocopied. You can directly find the readymade Fax cover sheet templates in PDF on many websites.

Sending the fax cover sheet over the fax machine

A complete step by step process:

• Create a fax cover sheet for transmission. Most business companies use a standard cover page with the company logo and space for the number of pages to be transmitted, including the cover page.
• Include contact information of the sender in case there is a transmission problem, and recipient information so the document can be delivered to the right person.
• Place the page on the tray so that the cover page will transmit first. Most of the fax machines have an input tray or slot to receive the document to be transmitted.
• Be always sure you orient the document according to the instructions that are mainly found on the machine.
• Enter the phone number of the destination fax machine on the fax machine keypad. Your business phone system may need you to enter a number to acquire an outside line, so make sure follow your internal procedure for phone calls.
• Press the start button to be the transmission. The fax machine scans the document, dials the destination number and transmits the documents. While completing the process, it prints a transmission status page with either an Ok or a transmission failed message. If the latter is the case, again repeat this process.

Now after discussing all these important aspects of fax cover sheet, we will move to our next section FAQ about fax cover sheet. You have understood how we will use the fax machine and how to make fax cover sheet. Now you may be thinking how do I make a fax cover sheet in Word? So here is the answer:

1) Launch MS Word. Click the File tab. Then click New.

2) Double click the faxes button. Scroll through the fax templates and double-click one that will be right for your own template.

3) Highlights the first placeholder text on the fax cover sheet, which may be Name or sender and the placement text will differ on the template is chosen. Type over it with your own name or information and write down the relevant information. 4) Replace the other template details with the information you will want to use on your fax template. Add an image as a company logo by clicking the Insert tab.

5) Click the File tab. Click Save As. Enter a name such as Fax Template o0kthe file name box. Click Save.

6) In the last step, reopen the template each time you are ready to fax. Fill out the information on the cover sheet then resave the document with a new name such as Fax Template so your template is always in its original form ready to use.

Now I think you have learned about how to write a fax cover sheet. This is a very important technique to send effective fax for a better communication. If you have liked this article, you can share it with your colleagues and it will help them also to send effective faxes.

Related Posts

Free printable microsoft blank fax cover sheet templates.

What is Cover Letter Template and How to Write Them

How to Use Google Fax Services to Send Fax from Gmail

Learn How to send fax from Computer in a Complete Guide

I like the nuance in this article, however I would like to read more info from you at some point.|

Write A Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

[Free]^^ Fax Cover Sheet Template

Printable/ Blank in PDF & Word Fax Cover Sheet

How to Fill Out a Fax Cover Sheet

July 6, 2020 by Author Leave a Comment

A fax cover sheet essential for all those businesses that use both faxing services as well as traditional faxing method. Different companies have a different cover sheet as they designed the cover sheet according to their signed and logos. So, fax sheet is important in today’s business life. If you need to fill out the fax cover sheet and you really don’t know how to fill it then don’t worry because today we will tell you that how to fill out a fax cover sheet. Before that, we will tell you how to open a fax cover sheet template.

How to open a fax cover sheet template

Step 1: first of all, you have to open the word. Then you have to click on “file” and then “new” option.

Step 2: you have to type “fax cover” into the search for your online template field which is at the top and then press “enter”. The results of the search will show a list of templates which can be used as a cover sheet.

Step 3: select one template for the cover sheet either it is standard fax cover sheet or normal fax cover sheet. Now, click on the left or right arrow button to view the adjacent cover sheet template. Some addition software or apps may require to purchase or subscription to extend its functionality.

Step 4: Now you have to click on the create button and then open the selected template and then download the template before editing.

Now, you have learned that how to create a fax cover sheet now lets learned that how to fill out a cover sheet.

How to fill out a fax cover sheet

Step 1: on the first step you have to open word and have to create a new document that is based on a fax cover sheet template. You can also choose to fill your all information on any separate line.

Step 2: first of all, you have to enter the information of fax recipient like fax number, contact number etc.

Step 3: enter your all information on the cover sheet like your fax number, your contact phone number, you can also write your contact address on the fax cover sheet.

Step 4: now enter all the rest information that you need to fill. For example, the date on which you are going to fax the document, subject, and current date and if you want then you can also add some comments or notes.

Step 5: at last you have to click on the “file” option and you have to click on the “save” option and then save your fax cover sheet on the preferred storage location of your device.

So, above we have told that how to open and how to fill out a cover sheet in a very easy and simple manner. You just need to fill all the information in the cover sheet that is required and doesn’t forget to fill the contact details of both receivers and senders in the fax cover sheet. So, we hope that you will not find any difficulties while filling out the fax cover sheet.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

About This Website

Our website Faxcoversheet.info specializes in providing fax coversheets to our customers. We understand that it can be difficult to find accurate information about fax covers.

• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Terms & Conditions

Most Popular

Plain Fax Cover Sheet | Confidential Fax Cover Sheet | Healthcare Fax Cover Sheet | Editable Fax Cover Sheet | Free Fax Cover Sheet

The Higher Education Review

• Engineering
• Jobs and Careers
• Media and Mass Communication
• Education Consultancy
• Universities

How to write a fax cover letter?

Download now complete list of top private engineering colleges.

How To Write a Cover Letter in 3 Easy Paragraphs

Application Materials Career Center Career Services Interviewing Job Search

Although you might have written a resume before, cover letters can be a bigger mystery. The good news is: by following a simple, three-paragraph process, you can quickly write a cover letter that will get attention and likely lead to a job interview!

What Is a Cover Letter?

Imagine you’re handing your resume to someone in person. Maybe you’re at a job or career fair, going into an employer’s office, or even handing it to an acquaintance so that they can get it to the hiring manager. You wouldn’t just give that person your resume, turn, and walk away without saying a word. You would probably take the time to  introduce yourself  and explain why you’re giving that person your resume, how you found out about the job, and why you think you’re qualified for it.

That’s the  purpose of a cover letter .

The cover letter is a more personalized introduction than your resume. It’s a message that represents what you would otherwise say in person, face-to-face. It should be uniquely written for each company and position, follow a standard; one-page business letter format, and consist of three to four paragraphs. If possible, it should also include the hiring manager’s name.

The cover letter usually accompanies a resume. It allows you to expand on the  information in the resume  or explain something that might appear as a red flag or barrier to employment. However, just as important is that the cover letter allows the recruiter to assess your written communication skills!

Why Do I Need a Cover Letter?

Cover letters aren’t always required for a job application. Often, they’re listed as an optional document. Most applicants  won’t  submit a cover letter because of this (let’s face it, job applications can take a lot of time!). However, this also means that submitting a cover letter is an extra step that will help you to stand out from the other applicants — and show how interested you are in the position!

How Do I Write a Cover Letter?

Here’s how to write a cover letter in three easy paragraphs:

Paragraph 1 (About You)

This is where you briefly introduce yourself, what position you’re interested in, and how you discovered it (i.e., job posting site, flyer, social media). If someone recommended you for the position, drop their name in the very first sentence and include their title and affiliation.

Also be enthusiastic! List three of your most important or impressive qualifications from your resume to explain why you’re applying for the position. You may also wish to include the degree or program you’re currently studying.

Example: I’m applying for your Human Resource Specialist position found on LinkedIn, as recommended by John Smith, your Office of Human Resource Manager. I would be a valuable addition to your team, with my five years of administrative experience, BAS in Organizational Management, and Microsoft Office certification.

Paragraph 2 (About the Company)

Answer the question “Why do you want to work here?” by researching the company and writing about at least one way that you resonate with its culture, values, or mission. You can get great information by visiting the company’s website (check the About Us or Mission/Vision pages) or by looking them up in the news category of your favorite search engine. Emphasize how your experience meets the company’s needs and why it would be a privilege to work for them.

Example: Congratulations on your team participating in a local Habitat for Humanity build. I would love to work for an organization that is so committed to improving our local communities. I’ve personally participated in four Habitat for Humanity builds; the skills I’ve learned, coupled with the knowledge I gained, have inspired me to seek out other, similar volunteer opportunities within our community.

Paragraph 3 (Thank You and Closing)

Be sure to thank the employer/hiring manager, provide contact information, and mention that you look forward to hearing from them. Express enthusiasm about an upcoming interview!

Example: Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to discussing my professional experience in greater detail in an upcoming interview. You can reach me at [phone number] or [email address].

Is There a Cover Letter Template I Can Use?

Microsoft Word has many attractive and pre-formatted cover letter templates you can use. Simply open Microsoft Word, click new, and then search for “cover letter” to browse all the options.

You can also use this cover letter template sample for reference:

Who Can Help Me Write a Cover Letter?

Eastern Florida State College’s Career Services team is here to assist! Did you know you can  schedule meetings with an EFSC Career Services Coordinator  to get help writing a cover letter?

Whether you have questions about your career path, job hunting, or interview preparation, you can contact your campus’ Career Services Center for personalized assistance or  check our our upcoming events . We look forward to helping you succeed this semester and beyond!

• Recent Posts

• Every Student Needs Career Services: An Interview with Heather Allen - May 8, 2024
• Leave Your Legacy (Paver) at EFSC - April 24, 2024
• 5 Anime To Watch in College - April 10, 2024

Related Posts

Self-Advocacy: The Secret To Unlocking Your Potential

I Failed a Class, Now What? A Student’s Guide for Dealing with Failure in the Classroom

Managing Back-To-School Anxiety

• REQUEST INFO

• Research Process
• Manuscript Preparation
• Manuscript Review
• Publication Process
• Publication Recognition
• Language Editing Services
• Translation Services

How to Write a Cover Letter for Your Manuscript? Here are the Tips and Examples

• 3 minute read

Table of Contents

A cover letter is often the first thing an editor reads when reviewing your submission. As your first pitch to the editor, the cover letter helps them gauge the suitability of your manuscript for publication in their journal. Imagine your work shaping the future of your field, gathering citations, and sparking discussions. A powerful cover letter is thus the first step to making that vision into a reality.   

In this article, we will guide you through the process of writing an effective cover letter and explain how you can get it right every time with examples. First, let us get started with the basics!  

Getting the Basics Right  

When writing a cover letter, it is crucial to address the editor by their correct and complete name¹ . If there are multiple co-editors, you can address your letter to the right person, based on their specialization or designated responsibilities. If unsure, it is okay to go with a more general salutation, such as “Dear Editors”¹ .   

Presenting your Research  

Provide a clear and concise title for your submission and specify whether it is an article, communication, review, perspective, or a manuscript belonging to some other category. If the journal guideline recommends, consider including a list of all authors in the manuscript.   

After covering the preliminary information, briefly explain your paper’s central theme or focus to give the editor an idea of its contents. Ensure this stays a brief outline, without going into too much detail.   

Conveying the Importance of Your Work  

How you communicate the impact of your work can make or break your cover letter. To make a strong impression on the editor, articulate the significance of your research clearly, emphasizing its relevance to the field. Additionally, show how your work aligns with the journal’s scope and mission.  

Including a Formal Declaration  

Some journals require a set of declarations from you to ensure that your manuscript adheres to its ethical code and the larger ethical standards of scientific publishing. Here are the required declarations in a cover letter:  

• Originality of work:  
• Confirm that your work is original and has not been published elsewhere. This tells the editor your research is unique.  
• Conflict of interest statement:  
• Be clear about any potential conflicts of interest. This includes any personal, financial, or professional connections that might affect your research.  
• Funding source (if applicable):  
• Tell where your research funding came from, if any. This includes any support or grants from organizations.   

Including Personal Suggestions for Reviewers on a Separate Page (optional)  

If there is no part of the submission process that collects researcher suggestions for reviewers, and there are special requests from the researcher for reviewers (e.g., recommending the inclusion or suggesting the exclusion of a specific reviewer, etc.), you may also make a note about this in the cover letter.  

Combining these five points, here is a good example of a cover letter for researchers’ reference:  

(This image is intended to demonstrate the norms of formatting and tone of expression in a cover letter, it is to be used only by the researcher as a reference in writing² .)  

Conclusion  

A strong cover letter can go a long way in ensuring success for researchers looking to publish their manuscripts! Your cover letter is the opening act, setting the stage for how editors perceive your manuscript. So, look at it not as just another formality but as a crucial opportunity to make a strong impression.   

Understanding what to include, what is optional, and what is best left unsaid can be tricky. That is where our team of experts at Elsevier Language Services can step in. We will provide personalized recommendations and expert guidance to help you craft a cover letter that perfectly complements your manuscript. Reach out to us today to make a great first impression and embark on a successful academic journey!  

Reference  

• Nicholas, D. (2019). How to choose a journal and write a cover letter. Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia, 13(5), 35. https://doi.org/10.4103/sja.sja_691_18  
• Loyola University Chicago. (n.d.). JCSHESA Sample Cover Letter. https://ecommons.luc.edu/jcshesa/cover_letter_template.pdf  

Page-Turner Articles are More Than Just Good Arguments: Be Mindful of Tone and Structure!

You may also like.

Publishing Biomedical Research: What Rules Should You Follow?

Writing an Effective Cover Letter for Manuscript Resubmission

Journal Acceptance Rates: Everything You Need to Know

Research Data Storage and Retention

How to Find and Select Reviewers for Journal Articles

How to Request the Addition of an Extra Author Before Publication

Paper Rejection: Common Reasons

How to Write a Journal Article from a Thesis

Input your search keywords and press Enter.