A well written cover letter is more effective at landing job interviews than a resume. Why? Because this letter gives you chance to market yourself and to really show the employer that you are the perfect person for the job. Here are 7 effective techniques you can use to get yourself noticed:

1. Address your letter to a person, not 'Dear Sir/Madam' or 'To Whom It May Concern'. This shows that you've taken the time to find out who to write to.

2. Open with an attention grabbing sentence, one that will make the employer want to read on.

3. Don't use long words and paragraphs. Keep your letter short, clear and concise. Make sure there is plenty of white space as this is easier on the eye.

4. Be clear on what you can offer the employer. This isn't about what the employer can do for you in terms of your career path - the employer doesn't care about that. They want to know why they should employ you, so make it clear for them.

5. Choose words that show how enthusiastic you are about applying for the job. Don't go overboard though! Avoid negative or weak words such as 'I feel' or 'I believe'.

6. End your letter with a call to action. Let the employer know when you are available for interview. Tell them you will phone in a week to set up an interview. This shows the employer how keen you are.

7. Follow up letters. Don't be afraid to use these if you haven't heard anything back from the employer. Again, it lets them know how enthusiastic you are.

The purpose of your job hunting efforts is to get interviews. A great cover letter can help you achieve this.

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