1. ADDRESS your cover letter to a REAL PERSON!

Do your best
to find out TO WHOM you should address your cover letter. "Dear
Manager" is lifeless.
2. OPEN with an attention-grabbing first sentence to really
grip the reader. This approach will almost guarantee your cover
letter and resume get a much closer look.
3. REMEMBER -- Less is MORE! The best cover letters have
plenty of white space. Clear, focused, short and sweet gets the
interview every time.
4. FOCUS on what you can do for the employer. How can you
benefit the company specifically? Do a little research and relate
this value-added simply and clearly in your letter.
5. CHOOSE WORDS that show enthusiasm and passion for the
position you seek ...(big, big secret!) Then, carry this passion
into the interview with you.
6. REQUEST ONE ACTION you want the employer to take: "I
would really like the opportunity for a personal interview this
week." (You never know until you ASK)!
7. END your cover letter with enthusiastic and telling
verbiage, such as, "I look forward to being interviewed at your
earliest convenience. Thank you so much for this opportunity.
Sincerely, Jane Jobseeker." (Notice how Jane assumesshe'll land
the interview? This approach is clever, smart, and it works like a
charm).

Think of your cover letter as a sales letter. The only purpose of

your job-search cover letter is to land you job interviews. That's
the bottom line. By using the proven marketing strategies I've
outlined above, you will land a great number of quality job
interviews than your competition.

You must get your foot in the company door first to have any
chance at all. With the right cover letter, you can blow several
doors wide open immediately. More job interviews translate to a
wider range of opportunity and (drum roll, please) ... more job
offers.

Finally, the most important advice I can offer you is this: Follow
up every job lead, contact, and communication. Following up is
the "golden key" to getting hired for the job of your dreams. Use
follow-up cover letters, thank-you letters, and follow-up phone
calls. Following up actually doubles your chance for success. It is
also the one missing ingredient in 99 percent of all job seekers
recipe book. Good news for you.

Now go out there and make your own luck!

Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone Number
Email Address

Date

Employer Contact Information (if you have it)

Name
Title
Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Salutation
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name, (leave out if you don't have a contact)
Body of Application Letter
The body of your application letter lets the employer know what
position you are applying for, why the employer should select you for
an interview, and how you will follow-up.
First Paragraph
The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why
you are writing. Mention the job you are applying for and where you
found the job listing. Include the name of a mutual contact, if you have
one.
Middle Paragraph(s)
The next section of your application letter should describe what you
have to offer the employer. Mention specifically how your qualifications
match the job you are applying for.
Final Paragraph
Conclude your application letter by thanking the employer for
considering you for the position. Include information on how you will
follow-up.

Sincerely,

Signature

What to Include in Your Letter

As with all cover letters, the body of this job application letter is
divided into three sections: the introduction, which details why the
applicant is writing; the body, which discusses relevant qualifications;
and the closing, which thanks the reader and provides contact
information and follow-up details.

Also see below for how to to email your application letter.

Sample Job Application Letter

John Donaldson
8 Sue Circle
Smithtown, CA 08067
909-555-5555
john.donaldson@emailexample.com
Date

George Gilhooley
XYZ Company
87 Delaware Road
Hatfield, CA 08065

Dear Mr. Gilhooley,

 I am writing to apply for the programmer position advertised in
the Times Union. As requested, I am enclosing a completed job
application, my certification, my resume, and three references.
The opportunity presented in this listing is very interesting, and I
believe that my strong technical experience and education will make
me a very competitive candidate for this position. The key strengths
that I possess for success in this position include:

 I have successfully designed, developed, and supported live use

applications

 I strive for continued excellence

 I provide exceptional contributions to customer service for all

customers
With a BS degree in Computer Programming, I have a full
understanding of the full life cycle of a software development project.

Please see my resume for additional information on my experience.

I can be reached anytime via email at

john.donaldson@emailexample.com or my cell phone, 909-555-5555.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking
with you about this employment opportunity.

Sincerely,

Signature (for hard copy letter)

John Donaldson