# Cover letters

> A cover letter is the same file format as a resume, with a header and then paragraphs under one section that has no title.

A cover letter is a document like any other in Rejarsume, and the same file format:
your name and contacts at the top, then paragraphs. The only difference is that
it has no section headings to draw. You make one from the **New resume** dialog,
or from a resume's menu in the library. See
[Make a new resume](https://shopsalone.com/en/docs/library/new-resume.md).

```resume title="letter.md"
# Ada Lovelace

::contact[ada@example.com]{icon="envelope" href="mailto:ada@example.com"}
::contact[London, UK]{icon="map-pin"}

##

14 March 1843

Charles Babbage, Difference Engine Co., London

Dear Mr. Babbage,

I am writing about the Analytical Engine.

Thank you for your time.

Yours sincerely,

Ada Lovelace
```

## The shape of a letter

- The header is the same as a resume's: `#` is the sender's name, and the
  `::contact` lines are the details a reply would use.
- Then a line with only `##`. That is the letter's one section, and it has no
  title on purpose. The paper draws nothing for it, and the Markdown writes it
  back exactly as it is, so leave it where it is.
- Everything after it is paragraphs, one to a line with a blank line between:
  the date, the recipient, the greeting, the body, the closing and your name.
  An address set as several short paragraphs is fine, and is spaced like
  several.

## Length, and what a letter is checked for

A letter is one page. The **ATS** tab asks for that, and says so in words when
the letter runs past about 450 of them.

It does not ask a letter for an Experience section or for dates, because a
letter has none. It still reads your name and contacts, the type size and the
margins, and whether any text is hidden.

A letter starts from a larger body text, an inch of margin and more space
between paragraphs than a resume has, and keeps whatever template you chose for
its type and colour.

## Writing one with an assistant

There is a prompt written for letters, which tells a model not to invent a
recipient, a company or an achievement. See [AI prompts](https://shopsalone.com/en/docs/format/ai-prompts.md).