Let's face it, employers are much smarter than we might think they are. In fact large corporations pay large salaries to their HR department staff. That's because they are being paid to sift through thousands of resumes each year and filter out the ones that are worth looking at. Corporations are looking to build organizations that are made of the right type of staff with the right mental attitude. These corporations recognize that 'People are their greatest assets'. Your cover letter is your first step in getting the attention of those potential corporate employers. Remember the HR department's job is to recruit and hire employees so the need to be able to stand out from others goes a long way in capturing and retaining the attention of these people whose main job is to recruit people and coordinate with the workforce.

A well-written cover letter will engage the recruiter to spend more time reading the details of your resume. Before you start writing your cover letter you should write down what the message is you want to convey on your cover paper. Read it several times to make sure it sounds right and makes sense. Make sure it's captivating and packs the power you want. It should be 400 or 500 words that can make the difference.

Before you start writing think about these tips:

• Make sure you keep your sentences short to ensure your message is clear and concise. You don't want the recruiter to have to read it over and over because they won't so get to the point.
  
  
• Use simple language and forget the fluff and over emphasis on the company. Boring! The recruiter already knows everything there is to know about 'the company' but what they don't know about is you. Using a 'I look forward to working with ABC Industries' is okay but that's it!
  
  
• Be sure to organize the content of your cover letter into small paragraphs or bulleted points. Do not have more than four paragraphs in your cover letter. You must also be sure not to use slang or spoken words like 'Lookin.' Big mistake!!
  
  
• Check both your cover letter and your resume) for spelling or grammatical errors. That's the quickest way to get your application tossed! Make sure both your resume and your cover letter deliver what the employer wants.
  
  
• A good way to start writing is with the correct greeting phrase. If you know the name of the person you are addressing then you can start with 'Dear Mr. Brown.' Address it as Hi Jim' and you can be guaranteed your application will go into file 13.
  
  
• The first paragraph should reference the position they are hiring for or you can put in a separate line such as Re: Your advertisement on Job.com Ref # 1111.
  
  
• Second paragraph should tell why you applied for that position and reference your skills and how those skills match the requirement but put it in your own words. Avoid mentioning skills you don't have or projects you have never worked on. If there are more achievements you want to include, make bulleted points which are easier and quicker to read and comprehend.
  
  
• Your final paragraph should make an impression that stands out. It should also tell them your resume is attached and that you are 'looking forward to meeting to further explore this opportunity.' Make sure your address and telephone number are present. Then sign it 'Yours Truly' with your full name.