Though the resume will detail why you are right for a position, the resume cover letter will explain why employers should bother with the resume. Though often overlooked, the cover letter is an essential part of the interview process. It is your first impression. Potential employers will scan this for the facts, seeing if they should even bother with your resume. If you present a well structured and informative cover letter, you are sure to get a second look; if not.... your resume is likely to be tossed aside.

A resume cover letter, therefore, must be given the same amount of attention the resume gets. To do this, we will outline some simply steps for you to take:

One: remember the intention. A cover letter is supposed to be a brief--yes, brief--look at why you are suited for the position. It should only tell facts and accomplishments related to the job. This is not a recap of your life so don't treat it as such.

Two: be wary of templates. Often, people will copy and paste an already-written cover letter and just fill in the blanks. This is potentially dangerous. Employers are used to seeing these templates, for they all use the same clich