Even though only about half of all cover letters are actually read, every resume nonetheless needs a cover letter. A strong one may not help you get an interview or land a job - but a poor one may kill any chance you otherwise would have had. By keeping the following in mind, you can write a cover letter that will increase your chances of making a good first impression.

• Don't use trite phrases, such as "enclosed please find" or "as you can see on the attached." If the person you're writing to can open an e-mail, assume her or she can find your resume.
• Write your cover letter in the body of your e-mail (rather than as a separate attachment), make it original, and address it to a specific person (not "Dear Sir" or "To Whom It May Concern"). If you don't know the name and title of the hiring official, do some research online or call the organization to ask for the information you need.
• Use action verbs to describe your work history. Descriptions like "responsible for" or "duties included" don't say what you actually accomplished. They indicate what your boss wanted you to do. There's a difference.
• Your cover letter and resume should have no mistakes. Misspellings, poor grammar, and typos are killers.
• As more hiring officials rely on Internet applications or search candidate databases, it's important to use keywords to make your cover letter and resume searchable on the Internet. Tailor your cover letter and resume to the specific job you're applying for through appropriate keywords.
• As the organization may have several job openings, spell out what job you're interested in obtaining.
• It's your responsibility to follow up with the hiring official. Don't assume that they will be contacting you - but be sure to include your contact information.

Letter Perfect

Here's an appropriate sample cover letter:

Date
Name of Hiring Official
Organization
Re: Job Title

I am very interested in joining (name of organization) as (title). As you can see from my resume, I have a background that uniquely qualifies me for this position. For (years of experience) I have (managed a team, planned and executed high-level events, etc.), which can be transferred to meet the needs you are
facing today. I look forward to speaking with you in the very near future and will be following up with you in the next week. If you would like to contact me in the interim, my contact information is noted on my resume and
on the attached card.

Respectfully,
Your Name

Take Away

Keep your cover letter short and to the point. Do not retell the story of your resume.

Both your cover letter and resume should address the specific attributes you bring to the job at hand. It should help the employer to answer the question, "Is this the person I want
to hire?"

Dawn Penfold has been in the hospitality industry for more than 25 years. As president of The Meeting Candidate Network Inc., The Meeting Temp Job Network, Meetings ESP (Webinar education), as well as the job board (www.meetingjobs.com), she plays an integral role in the operations, recruitment, and career-management activities of the only search firm committed to the placement of full-time and temporary meeting professionals
nationally.