You have been searching online and in newspaper ads for weeks, when suddenly, there it is: the perfect job for you, and they have an opening!

After the initial excitement, it is time to get down to business and put your application packet together. Maybe you had a professional write your resume, so you feel pretty good about it, but what that cover letter? Is it really that important, if you are qualified anyway?

You bet it is!

On the surface, one resume is pretty much like the next, unless there are glaring grammar, spelling or punctuation errors in it. The cover letter, however, is your advertisement... the first impression the recruiter is going to get will likely be made by that handful of words.

Do not get nervous, however. If you keep one key question in mind, you can write a very effective cover letter without any trouble at all.

"How can I help the company?"

That is it. Let's face it: you will be hired to do a job that will help the company succeed. You want to write a couple of paragraphs that show them you can do that.

The key is to focus on the company and the job, and not on you. Avoid using the word "I" as much as possible. Instead, do some research on your potential employer, and describe how your knowledge or background will enable you to contribute to their success.

If you can describe how you will help the business instead of why you are so great, you will be miles ahead of your competition, and well on your way to landing that plum job.



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