You open the Sunday paper and flip right to the job classified section. This has now become your routine. You couple this tedious task with hours of scouring the Internet for that job you have been looking for. Determined to get calls back on your resume, you want to stand out above the rest before you're lost in the pile of resumes your future employer is tossing aside after a quick perusal. Here are tips for writing a successful cover letter that will spark interest in your resume:

1. Format your cover letter formally. At the top of the page, flush left or flush right, start with your contact information. Include your name, address, phone number, fax number (if applicable), and email address. You want to be sure that the reader of the cover letter knows who the cover letter belongs to as well as how to reach you. This is helpful in cases where a cover letter and a resume are separated.

Address the letter formally, including the name and title of the person who will be reading it if you know that information. If you are not sure who will be receiving your cover letter and resume, addressing it "To Whom It May Concern" is completely appropriate.

2. Follow an outline. You want to start out by letting your future employer know why you are writing. Include the specific job title you are applying for. Let your future employer know you are going to detail information about your work and education history, as well as skills that are pertinent to the position.

In the second paragraph, describe your educational history. Explain where you went to school, what you studied, and when you graduated. Include any internships and trainings/courses that gave you knowledge specific to the position for which you are applying.

In the third paragraph, summarize your work history, focusing on the most pertinent positions you have held. This paragraph should not be a regurgitation of the list of duties that are on your resume, but sentences of brief explanations that reference and explain the duties you held in your pertinent past jobs.

In the fourth paragraph, describe any additional awards you've earned, trainings you've attended, and skills you have mastered that will help you be successful in the position. You don't want to simply list them, but you want to explain how you plan on utilizing these tools to be an exemplary employee.

Close by summarizing key points and stating confidence that you would be a great asset to the company and to the position. Thank the person for their time and consideration, and reference your resume for further information. Then sign formally, listing any credentials pertinent to the position.

3. Address the job duties in the ad. You can re-word your resume's objective statement to mirror that of a specific position you are interested in. You can even re-word skills and past job duties to help make clear to your future employer that you have the experience and qualifications to be successful in fulfilling each and every job duty. Then, in your cover letter, be sure you have touched on these in the appropriate sections.

4. Have someone review your resume and cover letter for spelling and grammar errors and quality before submitting them. You are trying to sell yourself, and pride in presentation is important during that process. Most hiring managers will immediately toss a resume and cover letter full of mistakes, as well as one that appears rushed.

Refer to these tips as you prepare to send off your resume and cover letter, and you will be one step closer to landing that job you've been looking for.

Learn more about this author, D. K. Olsen.
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