Resume cover letters are intended to more thoroughly explain a candidate's qualifications. The main focus should be to uncover skills that are relevant to the job description that are not obvious in the resume. A cover letter reveals much more than a thorough explanation of your work experience; it also allows the reader to get a feeling for your personality and ability to communicate. An effectively written resume will exude professionalism, personality and the soft skills you posses.

Create your letterhead and add the addressee's contact information. A resume cover letter should be typed and used on your personal letterhead. The information should be organized to include the person you are writing to, his/her job title, company name, company address and the current date. For example:

Jane Smith
HR Coordinator
Gamble Corporation
2344 East Street
Austin, TX 78759

Write the opening paragraph introducing yourself. The first paragraph should state who you are (i.e. a student at XYZ college, a marketing professional, biologist, etc.), why you are valuable and what position you would like to obtain with the company in question. For example:

Mrs Smith:
I am a dean's list marketing and business student at XYZ college here in Austin, Texas. I am interested in the marketing coordinator internship with Gamble Corporation. I am currently a junior in standing and vice president of fund-raising for the American Marketing Association XYZ collegiate chapter.

With your resume and the job description in hand, explain how you are qualified. Use the verbiage on the job description regarding qualifications and expand on how you meet those listed by referencing your resume with work experience. For example:

I have experience with writing sponsorship proposals through the American Marketing Association. Last year our chapter collaborated on creating a proposal and sent them out to Austin-area marketing firms. We raised $2,000 and received many in-kind donations.

Write your closing paragraph thanking the reader and addressing how the reader can contact you. Rewrite your contact information, such as phone number or email, so that the reader does not have to look for this information elsewhere. End with a salutation and typed name with room enough to sign it once printed. For example:

I appreciate your time for considering me for the marketing coordinator internship. You can contact me via email at janedoe@mail.com or 512.555.5555 between 8 am-5 pm Monday through Friday. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Jane Doe

Tip: Avoid lengthy paragraphs and cover letters that are longer than one page. Keep the language easy to read and avoid jargon--you want the reader to feel confident in what you are writing and not as though you are trying to hide something behind the jargon. Use the keywords from the job description in both your resume and cover letter; this will help solidify your qualifications for the job. Be as specific as possible; vague language and underlying connections are unlikely to be discovered.