OK my friend, you now have completed that resume and it looks great. But what about a cover letter? Is this still a wise business practice or have cover letters gone the way of pet rocks? No sir, if you plan on succeeding in the business world, you must have a great cover letter that serves as a basic introduction to the resume that follows. As with the resume, there are certain guidelines that help to separate a great cover letter from the pack. So without further ado, here are some basic tips to help you craft that introductory document.

1. Cover letters shouldn't be complicated, in fact, try to keep it short and simple using bullets if possible to structure the document. This also helps the reader keep your strong suits in mind when perusing the page.

2. Get the contact person's name and title in the company. Avoid if at all possible a generic title such as hiring manager or human resources. Also using "Mr. Jones" instead of "Dear Sir" will give you an advantage over your competition since it is clear that you did your homework on the company.

3. Use the first paragraph to grab the employers attention by putting one of your best accomplishments or positives that you bring to the company. By putting yourself in a favorable light, it is clear that you have the confidence necessary to succeed.

4. The next paragraph should provide example of how you can help the company. Try to cite prior examples of how you turned around a poor situation at a prior stop. This will show that you are willing to work.

5. In the final paragraph, make sure that you list your preferred contact information and state that you would like to make contact as a follow up to the correspondence. This can be done through phone call or email, whichever you prefer.

By constructing a winning cover letter, you are giving your resume an advantage over the others because human resources personnel already have a good idea that you have what it takes to fill the position. Make sure to follow through each of the steps confidently and you too will have a great cover letter. Good luck!

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Best regards,

Brian