When you've created a great resume, you need to have an excellent cover letter to send out with it. You may only have a few seconds of your reader's attention to convince her that you're a strong contender for the job you want and that it's worth her time and trouble to read your application. You can impress a prospective employer by sending a letter that focusses on key information and makes it clear that you have the skills and experience that the position requires.

An effective cover letter is usually no longer than a page. A useful technique to help you write a tightly focussed letter is to draft a longer version and then pare it down to essentials:

Your opening paragraph should state why you're writing and refer to the specific position you wish to apply for.
The body of the letter should identify how your skills and work history make you a great fit for the position. You also need to give evidence to substantiate your claims.
The closing paragraph allows you to relate your letter to the resume that accompanies it and take the initiative to follow up.

Here are seven favorite tips for writing a succinct but attention grabbing letter:

Personalize it: address the letter to a specific person who has hiring responsibility. A generic salutation such as 'Dear Sir or Madam' conveys the impression of a mass mailing. If you don't know the name of the hiring manager, why not call the company and make some discreet enquiries?

Put your compelling content first: as with your resume, it's the section near the beginning of the letter that's best placed to catch the eye. Don't expect your reader to trawl through a series of paragraphs before reaching your most persuasive material. Excite interest by saying why you're a good fit for the position, what value you can add to the company and giving appropriate evidence.

Make sure your letter passes the 'scan' test: a busy HR department may have to deal with hundreds or even thousands of applications for a vacancy. Don't hide your strongest qualifications and experience in densely worded paragraphs. Bullet points will help the reader absorb key information quickly.

Take the initiative to contact the employer after she's received your resume and letter: give yourself the opportunity to remind the reader of your application later on -- don't allow a more proactive candidate to pip you to the post! Mention that you will call the office on a specific day and time to follow up.

Project a professional image: Use the same high grade paper and print quality for the letter as you used for the resume. Unless you're applying in a field or industry where creativity is expected, choose a conservative style and layout. Black ink on white paper will photocopy well.

Check your spelling: even the most careful writers can sometimes slip up. Don't torpedo your chances by letting spelling mistakes stay in your letter. Print your letter and check the hard copy -- mistakes can be harder to spot on the computer monitor.

Proofread for style: a fluent and carefully composed letter showcases your professionalism. Check each paragraph for typos, errors of punctuation and wrongly used words. Even if your English is top-notch, a second pair of eyes can sometimes detect mistakes that you have missed.

Busy hiring managers are looking for quick ways to screen out applicants who don't match their needs. You have a single but powerful chance to overcome this 'skepticism factor' by instantly showing your potential value to the employer. Your cover letter delivers the first punch -- the resume provides the knock-out!

Nigel Patterson
http://1stClassResume.com