A cover letter is more important than a résumé and is much harder to craft effectively. When sending a cover letter, first personalize to whom you are writing. It’s not the same in all fields. If you were seeking a marketing position at an advertising agency, you would write to the director of account services. If you were approaching General Motors regarding a position in the engineering department, you might write to either the director of human resources for the entire company or a special human resources director in charge of engineering. Your academic adviser or career counselor, or even the Internet, can help you address your letter to the right person. Never write, “To whom it may concern.” Use the proper formats for date, address, and salutation. Hiring managers pay attention to these details, and if not done accurately, they may cost you an interview.

A cover letter is an excellent way of marketing yourself to a potential employer, but it is not a story about what you’d like to get out of the position. It should be written in such a way as to explain how your hire will benefit the organization. When writing a cover letter, focus directly on what you can do for the company and why you wouldbe a good fit. It is important to review the company’s Web site and determine what skills and experience make you valuable to the organization. Use the cover letter to demonstrate your qualifications for every requirement of the position. Your career center can help you craft a cover letter that talks about your education and experience related to the qualifications of the position. Spending quality time on writing an excellent cover letter also prepares you for the interview because you are reflecting on how your background aligns with the needs of that position and the company.