About this template
The Minimal Dotline template is a minimal cover letter where the only graphic element is a fine dotted rule beneath the header instead of a solid line. Same neutral sans-serif body, same wide margins — the dotted pattern adds a single texture beat without breaking the discipline. Compatible with every text-based ATS (Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS, Cornerstone) because the dotted rule is rendered as a reproducible typographic character.
Who is it for?
It suits candidates who want minimal without going bare: mid-level profiles in publishing (Penguin Random House, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, Faber & Faber), communications agencies (Publicis, Havas, Wieden+Kennedy, BBDO, Ogilvy), education (Sciences Po, INSEAD, LSE, Stanford GSE) and junior consultants. The dotted line reads as a hand-drawn detail and softens the page just enough to feel personal without becoming decorative.
How to use it
The dotted rule stays beneath the header, never doubled or extended elsewhere — its isolated visual signature carries the register. The hook enters the subject with a declarative sentence: "Following the publication of the [role] opening...". Paragraph 2 cites your signature achievements in editorial reference ("4 years as commissioning editor at Penguin Classics"). A handwritten signature in black ink, scanned at 600 dpi, completes the register — no stylised paraph.
Frequently asked questions
Is it suitable for publishing applications?
Yes for Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Faber & Faber, Macmillan, Bloomsbury — which appreciate the minimal-dotline register for editor, commissioning editor and author care roles. Mention your signed authors and acquired titles in paragraph 2.
Should I name the authors or brands I have worked with?
Yes in shorthand in paragraph 2 — by genre or segment: "4 years as humanities editor at Penguin Classics, followed 12 established authors and 3 debut novelists". Publishing HR teams recognise editors by the imprints they have followed, more than by individual titles.
Is the letter suitable for communications agencies?
Yes for Publicis, Havas, Wieden+Kennedy, BBDO, Ogilvy, McCann, AKQA — which appreciate the minimal-dotline register for account-director and junior-strategy roles. Mention your managed accounts and awards (Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show) in paragraph 2.
