Cover letters, cover letters, cover letters...

Most people don't look forward to sitting down and writing the dreaded cover letter, but you shouldn't view this document as your adversary. A cover letter does not take much time to write once you know who you are and how you want to present yourself to a potential employer. A cover letter should be a breath of fresh air for you, where you're in control and you choose what your potential employer sees.

Contrary to popular belief, a cover letter is not a reiteration of your resume. You should not go step by step through your professional and educational experiences and list what you did. A) that's not interesting, and B) that's why you write a resume. Stretch yourself a little.

With your cover letter, you have a chance to show WHO you are, not what you've done. A potential employer is obviously very interested in your experiences, skills, and abilities, but they also want to hire someone who fits in with the company culture and has a personality more engaging than a robot. Your cover letter should show something about you that both sets you apart and shows that you belong. This could be a set of values, a personal story, or an opinion on a current trend. These kinds of things don't go on your resume, but they do belong in your cover letter. You want to come across as an interesting, thoughtful person, so take a little time to think conceptually about what it is that makes you a good fit for this particular job.

Know who you're writing to, know who you are, and know what you can share. Don't view cover letter writing as a pulling-teeth experience. This is your chance to talk about yourself and reflect on who you are in the context of your profession. Cover letters are not the enemy.

Amanda Gravel owns and operates Editing by Amanda, a complete writing resource for students and professionals. Based in Boston, Mass., Amanda specializes in paper editing, cover letter editing, college essay development, ESL writing help, grammar help, outlining and brainstorming techniques, SAT writing exam tutoring, AP Writing help, Web copy editing and writing, and general language advice. With a growing client base and a passion for great writing, Amanda aims to save the world, one writer at a time.

To learn more about Editing by Amanda, visit http://www.EditingbyAmanda.com.