You could have the most qualified, awe-inspiring résumé on earth, but a boring cover letter will ensure you remain jobless.

The cover letter introduces you to the recruiter in a personal way. It briefly highlights your strengths and expresses your interest in the position.

Recruiters often discard 80% of applications based on the cover letter alone. If you want the recruiter to even glance at your résumé, your cover letter has to impress.

Put yourself inside the head of your employer. If you had a huge stack of applications in front of you, what kind of cover letter would make you place a candidate in the “maybe” pile? What mistakes would place an application straight into the trash?

Writing a stand-out cover letter employs the same techniques as writing a marketing campaign or sales letter. This time, you’re selling yourself. Here are some tips for writing professional cover letters that stand out.

Read more