If you don’t have a cover letter, you are basically shooting yourself in the foot. If you don’t know how to write a cover letter, get a cover letter template to help.

In today’s work force you do not always have the opportunity to present and introduce yourself to a prospective interview. However, you do have a resume. You, more than likely, put a lot of careful consideration into the creation of that resume.

But, who is introducing you? Who or what is showing that your resume is the one to read in the massive sea of resumes just recently received by the company? Your cover letter is. Don’t put all that work into a resume and then forget to introduce yourself! Use a cover letter template if necessary to help you get that letter of introduction.

Here’s a few things to know about the cover letter, and or the cover letter template that you search for. It should cover these points.

Know your audience

Take whatever steps you can to find out who to address the cover letter to. Who will be interviewing you? Perhaps you can get the name of their assistant who will be helping in the interview process if you can’t get their name. Address the cover letter to a person if at all possible.

Why you want this job

What job and why you want it. Make sure you mention this rather important point.

It’s your cover letter, not your memoir

You’ve got one piece of paper to say the pertinent information that needs to be said. Keep it on point. Two or three paragraphs is enough. If you are using a cover letter template, you’ll see they are only one page. Stick to that!

Don’t Reveal too Much of the Resume

Illustrate a point from your resume (concisely), but do not provide so much info in your cover letter that is already in the resume there is no reason for the person to read the resume.

Show the “Professional Working You”

If you are a friendly, pleasant worker with a positive attitude. Make sure you show that. We don’t mean being disrespectful here. Just friendly professionalism. The structure of your cover letter template should help you with this point as well.

Complete Contact Info Please

Many people today pass out emails like they once passed out phones and addresses. Give it all. Don’t just expect them to hire you or contact you via your email. Address, phone, cell phone, email, and even an alternate contact or additional message number should you be unavailable

Quality Control

You already know how important a cover letter is, so don’t rush through it. Treat it with the same care you used for your résumé. Check your facts, your grammar, your spelling, and even get a second reading by another. It is your presentation of you. Make it matter!

Remember, the more you can do to create a presentation and introduction of yourself that makes that potential employer want to turn to the resume and read it, the better your chances of getting an interview will be. Don’t think that the cover letter can be rapidly dashed off or a short written note that you didn’t put much professionalism into. Do yourself a favor and get a cover letter template to help you get the work done right. The cover letter is your potential employers’ first impression of you.

Image taken on 2009-04-16 12:37:23. Image Source. (Used with permission)