There are two people in the world who are looking for work in the job market. The first is the idealist who is still fresh out of college. The second is the executive who is sick and tired with a dead end job.

One of the hardest things to work on before applying for a job is the resume. This may not be a problem for a fresh grad but this will be challenging for someone who has worked in various positions and then squeezing this into just 2 pages.

The applicant has probably sent out hundreds of resumes left and right. A great way to add a personal touch is by working on a sample resume cover letter stating the things the individual has done and can do if hired by the employer.

Those who have never written a cover letter before can check out the templates offered online or in word. The person does not have to follow everything but look at the flow and then see what details can be added to make it look good in the eyes of the recruiter.

Working on a sample resume cover letter is like writing an essay. The applicant should follow the rules of writing such as avoiding lengthy paragraphs and colorful adjectives because this is a major turn off. This should be simple and concise so that the reader will be able to understand where the person is coming from.

It should also be catchy because this will entice the reader to go on further. The executive is trying to sell a package here that is namely the one applying for the job.

The applicant probably saw a vacancy in the newspaper and decides to respond to it. One of the things that must never be placed in the cover letter is the specifics indicated in the ad. This belongs in the career objective of the resume and nowhere else.

It is also not a good idea to boast of certain things that are hard to quantify. The recruiter will not be able to see the sales figures or the charts, which can verify such claims. The executive has to focus on other things such as the strengths that one possesses that will surely go a long way.

A sample resume cover letter must be personal. It pays to know who is the head of recruitment since this is the person who will screen all the applications. One way to get the foot in the door will be to start with a “Dear” rather than “To Whom It May Concern.” Those who exert a little effort will surely be called for the interview.

This also means that the applicant should avoid using fanciful fonts or cliché languages because this doesn’t really do much. won’t do that much to help sell the applicant.

The cover letter should not include personal information involving race, gender or marital status. These things are already mentioned in the resume. Those who do this are in direct violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. The applicant must remember that someone is hired based on one’s qualifications.

The last thing to remember while working on a sample resume cover letter is never to use the same document twice when this is sent to someone else. The document has to fit the desired position so the executive must learn to adapt to these conditions so that mistakes can be avoided.

Image taken on 2006-04-09 15:29:34. Image Source. (Used with permission)