I am always amazed when people tell me they ‘don’t believe in’ cover letters. What is not to believe? ‘Uh, my aunt works in a human resources department and she said they don’t even read cover letters.’ Well, your aunt is in the minority. According to a study by Careerbuilder.com, two-thirds of hiring managers prefer to receive a cover letter with a resume. With a statistic like this, it would be a mistake to send a resume by itself.

Look at it this way: Your resume is your brochure; your cover letter is your salesman. Don’t miss this opportunity to sell yourself to an employer. A good resume is only half the battle!

Here are 3 ingredients for writing a compelling cover letter:

Target it: What is your goal? It is important to let an employer know exactly what position you are seeking. Hiring managers are far too busy to take the time to assess your background to see where you fit in the company. It is up to you to clearly state the position you want. And if it’s impossible to name an exact job title, make sure you state the type of position you seek (e.g. sales, accounting, purchasing). Don’t make them guess!

Sell it: What are your unique strengths and qualifications? What makes you stand out among the competition? What results will you be able to achieve for the company? How does your background relate to the specific needs of the organization? In other words, why should you be called in for an interview? Don’t simply repeat what is on your resume. Here is your chance to knock their socks off with the top reasons why you are the perfect candidate.

Close it: Every good cover letter ends with a call to action. In most cases, the call to action is selecting you for an interview. You’ve stated your case; now it’s time to close the sale. Keep it simple and to the point: My resume is attached for your review. I look forward to a personal interview to discuss how my talents can best assist ABC Company.

There you have it: A perfect recipe for an award-winning cover letter. Don’t send another resume without a powerful cover letter — no matter what your aunt says!

Robert Mandelberg founded The Creative Edge Resume Service in 1987. Since that time, he has helped thousands of clients reach their career goals. Rob is a published author, a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and a Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP). Receive Rob’s free career articles at http://www.ResumeRob.com

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