A cover letter should accompany EVERY resume you send. 

- Like a resume, a cover letter is tailored to each job or position. You should NOT use one basic cover letter for all employers.  Employers tell us that general letters show a lack of interest on your part, and are not taken seriously.

- Address the letter to a specific person. Do not use “to whom it may concern” as your salutation unless you are responding to a “blind ad” (one with only a P.O. Box listed).  You may need to call the business or organization and ask to whom the letter should be addressed.

- Proofread your letter! Your cover letter will show your prospective employer a great deal about your communication skills, so make a good impression. Also, employers tell us that poor grammar and misspelled words indicate a poor work ethic on the writer’s part (after all, your new career should be worth the extra effort to create an error-free piece of writing).  A career counselor can help you proofread and revise your cove letter.

- Be brief. A cover letter should not go on for pages. In fact, one page is the general rule.