They say there’s a first time for everything. Taken literally, that would mean that there is a chance that one of these days you are going to stretch your arms out, the wind will pick you up and you’ll reach a cruising altitude, really flying! You can dream. But, when the dreaming is done, the work has just begun. Although flying can be an analogy of the success you may achieve in the corporate world (or as a blue collar worker, if you so chose), let’s come back down to earth for a spell and discuss why “firsts” are important.

Remember when you were a child — think way back — when everything was fresh, and each dawn was the hatching of a new experience, and excitement over the simplest things would abound? Admit it; you were mesmerized by all the “firsts” — completely impressionable!!! Much of who you are today is a smorgasbord of all the ingredients from that which happened to you and around you as a child. All of those “first” experiences combined to paint your worldview, for good or for ill.

Sooner than you thought would happen, you realized you had a family to support, a mortgage to pay, insurance premiums, mouths to feed, etc. And whether it’s your first prospective job or you’re far into your adult working life, you will likely be finding yourself doing this one thing over and over again — for the first time: trying to impress someone you’ve never met before through the medium of the printed word on paper.

You have an amazing grasp on the obvious, even if it is on delay. Sooner or later, you came to the realization that everybody has a resume, and although they can vary a bit from person to person in the areas of education, work experience, skills, and even the format of the document itself, by and large resumes are dull and boring and do very little to attract the kind of personalized attention you need to set you apart from the rest of the dozens of applicants all competing for the same opening.

Now, follow me here — back to childhood again — your own child’s childhood this time (or if you don’t have one, make due by pretending): how are you going to explain it when the little one asks for the first time how the TV works or how an airplane stays up in the sky without falling? Are you going to be technical and dogmatic in your explanation, or are you going to be animated and imaginative, urging and inspiring the youngster?

The difference between a callback and no callback has very little to do with qualifications on a resume (that comes later), and everything to do with “firsts”. Resumes are like eating meat before you are weaned from the bottle. They’re a little hard to digest without careful and proper preparation. Why are so many resumes overlooked or simply passed by? They are too technical, dogmatic, and uninspiring. You have a serious leg up when you remember the human touch; introductions are critical.

Just like you experienced so many exhilarating “firsts” when you were growing up, you need to realize there is A) An order to the way in which we as humans are open to receiving information, and B) That when that information is received in a unique and exciting manner, it stimulates a lasting impression from which to build upon. That is why a resume cover letter is so important in the hiring process. To think that some overlook or disregard this step altogether is mind-boggling. Keep A and B in mind when submitting any resume for review. Spice up your resume cover letter, remembering the human element and that you are more than just your resume. You are full of vibrant life; an extremely valuable component of any employer’s staffing needs. Of course, you need to be relevant, but tailor your introduction (resume cover letter), your first contact with a prospective employer, in a fashion that would — while helping the employer realize your strengths and aptitude for the job — also seem like you were explaining something extremely captivating for the first time ever, to anyone!

For those needing a foundational beginning to writing cover letters, please consider Amazing Cover Letters. And remember; be fascinating — because you already are!

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Welcome to Job-Cover-Letters.com! If you need advice on landing a job in this tough market, you’ve come to the right place. Cover letters are an essential part of securing an interview, which can lead to securing a job. The three articles on this page will help guide you toward becoming a better cover letter writer.

Many people concentrate a lot of their attention toward creating the “perfect resume.” There are even professional resume writers who will help polish your resume. However, a good resume is not enough, especially in this market. Without a resume cover letter, your resume is going to end up in the circular file. According to experts, it only takes seven seconds to make a good first impression.

What would look more appealing in the eyes of a hiring manager – A dry resume accounting of your skills and work history or a personable letter that highlights what makes you an excellent candidate? Obviously, the second choice is more appealing.

When it comes to writing cover letters, there are a lot of myths out there! Here are the facts you need to know before you start creating your winning job search cover letter.

Myth #1: Your cover letter should restate your resume’s highlights.

Yes and no. While the information on your cover letter shouldn’t be different than your resume, you shouldn’t just restate the same information in a new way. Your cover letter should personalize the information and help you explain WHY you’ll be good at your job. Think of it this way: if your resume represents the “supplies” you come with, your cover letter is a “blueprint” of how they’ll all fit together. You need to explain how your previous experience will help you do the job you are applying for.

Myth #2: A cover letter should start with “To Whom it May Concern.”

For best results with your cover letter, you should try as hard as you can to find out who the actual hiring manager will be. By addressing your letter as “Dear Ms. Smith” you can put yourself ahead of the pack and show that you take initiative.

Myth #3: Your cover letter should be no longer than a paragraph.

Cover letters are your chance to really shine in front of your potential employer… why would you want to limit yourself to a paragraph? As long as you aren’t creating multiple pages, you should make your job cover letter as long as you need to.

Myth #4: You should include your salary history and your requirements in a cover letter.

This is false. The salary discussion should be saved for later in the interview process. Your cover letter needs to be about what you can do for the employer and not what they can do for you. Don’t switch the focus off of how useful you can be by writing about your expected salary. Sell yourself and your attributes only.

These myths can be overcome with a professional quality cover letter that will put you ahead of the rest of the applicants.

Cover letters are so important you might be intimidated to create them. Don’t worry! There is a lot of formatting that goes into creating a proper cover letter. Once you know the job cover letter format, putting your cover letter together is as simple as piecing together a puzzle.

First, some general formatting tips. You should use a block style business letter format with one inch margins. Be sure to use the same font style and size that you use for your resume. You should have your address and contact information at the top, either centered or left justified. The address and contact information for the hiring manager should be left justified just above the start of your letter.

There are three main sections that you need to pay attention to with your cover letter. You can use the following job cover letter template to create your own cover letter.

The first paragraph: Right after your personalized salutation, you should tell the employer why you are contacting them and which position you are interested in. A lot of times companies will post many job openings at once and they need to know which job you’d like. Make sure to mention where you saw the ad for the company. Also, briefly mention why you are interested in this particular job.

The second paragraph: Here’s where you get to show off. The second paragraph should be used to give a detailed accounting of why you are qualified for the job. From your resume, pick two to three points or positions that best explain why you are right for this particular job. You need to be very specific in this paragraph. Instead of just stating “I’m good with numbers” point to specific experiences, ie: “I managed the accounts payable department for two years while working for Tempest Technology.”

This paragraph can be longer than the first and can have a specific format. In the first sentence, hit hard with a statement of why you are the best person for the job. In the body of the paragraph, use evidence from your resume to explain why you are the best person for the job. Give strong examples. Finally, wrap up this paragraph with a summary of what you’ve discussed.

The third paragraph of your resume should refer the reader to your enclosed resume and communicate the next steps in the process. If you are planning on contacting the hiring manager, let them know when and how. Leave your contact information again (either your phone number or e-mail address depending on the nature of the job), and be sure to thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration.

This format will make it easy to create your own cover letter that will encourage the hiring manager to call you in for an interview. It will be simple to put together the pieces using this template, but you may still need a little help creating an effective cover letter. If so, Tip #3 is for you..