Cover letters can be referred to as the sales copy of the job seeker. They are used by managers as a means to separate candidates based on their communication skills and past performances. People looking for jobs should use resume cover letters as a way to promote themselves and to start a dialogue with a potential employer early on, even before they land an interview. In this day and age of extremely competitive job markets, having an advantage is important to landing that dream job. A professional cover letter can be that small difference that pushes you past the other applicants in your field.

Application packets shouldn’t read like an autobiography. While you should include important details about your past and your experience, you should not give a potential employer every minute detail about your life. There is more than enough time for getting to know each other personally later on. The cover letter should simply get your foot in the door so that you can “sell” yourself in person. There are a few specific ways that a cover letter can do this:

1. A cover letter shows professionalism – Drafting up a clear and concise cover letter explaining why you should get the job is one of the best ways to show that you are professional and were born to work in this field. More than a memo to the employer, the cover letter can a mini report of your background and education.

2. Cover letters allow you to brag – The cover letter is one of the only places in business that it is not only okay, but recommended that you brag on yourself. Pull out all the stops and discuss every accomplishment that is applicable to the job you are pursuing. Talk about how you kept your last project under budget even through hard economic times or how you were the number one seller at your last company three years running. Make sure that all of the accomplishments are relevant or at least “spin” them in such a way to make them relevant. It is never easy to figure out what will be of interest to a potential employer and what will not be, but make your decision based on their job ad.

3. Cover letters show attention to detail – A well constructed cover letter that zeros in on the aspects of the job mentioned in the job ad, indicates that you not only pay attention but that you care about what it is that the company does. Do some research on the company on the web and through old newspapers and find out about some of the issues surrounding the corporate structure. Knowing your interviewers names and addressing them personally in the header of the cover letter is one of the best ways to show attention to detail and showcase your researching skills.