After spending days polishing the perfect résumé, you may be tempted to let it speak for you on its own. Sorry, but the cover letter is seldom, if ever, optional in the job search. That’s the word from employment professionals, based on feedback from employers and search firms.

Setting yourself apart
A well-written, introductory letter personalizes and customizes your résumé. What you say and how you say it reflects your personality and communication skills. More than an embellishment, the cover letter explains why you’re interested in and uniquely qualified for a position. While cover letters should not duplicate résumé information, they can highlight those particular qualifications that suit you to a specific position or distinguish you from other candidates. "The cover letter is the finishing touch to a résumé package; it shows why you’re an attractive candidate," says Amy Hoag, a university career planning and job placement counselor. "It should succinctly make the connection between the qualifications listed in your résumé and the position’s requirements."

Getting specific
For example, if you’re seeking a position in communications management, you might refer to your degree in that area, briefly describe work experience in the field, and note several on-the job achievements. If you developed a well-received corporate newsletter or Web site, mention it. Any achievements that result from personal initiative impress prospective employers. No place for modesty, a good cover letter emphasizes personality traits and transferable skills that would help you perform well on the job. Those might include creativity, resourcefulness, critical thinking, or interpersonal skills. "People making career transitions and recent graduates who may not have much work experience especially should concentrate on their transferable skills, on how those skills can benefit an organization," says Hoag.

Getting their attention
That’s the meat of the letter. It should follow an introductory paragraph capable of attracting the attention of a busy manager or executive. Directly and sincerely express your interest in a position. "I noted your ad for a Corporate Planning Manager in the Daily News with considerable interest," you might begin, and then explain why the position is a good match for your background. Employment experts agree that the "Dear Madam or Sir," salutation is generally a turn-off. If you don’t know exactly who is doing the hiring, find the name of a department manager or supervisor who would be the most likely person to handle job applications in your area of interest. In sum, "Address a person, not a title, show an interest in the profession, then cut to the chase," says Martin Yate in his book Cover Letters That Knock ’Em Dead, The chase, of course, is your pursuit of a job through a quick sell of your qualifications.

Your next move
The final paragraph should be action oriented, expressing the desire to follow up with a meeting or phone conversation at a suggested time. Vague statements such as "I look forward to hearing from you," seldom get results. Use standard business letter format and type or have the letter typed with a word processing program. Even when flawless, a typewriter-generated letter simply looks outdated, notes Yate. Moreover, you can save a computer-generated letter on a disk and easily revise it as needed. Limit the letter to one page and use a conversational, yet professional composition style, says Hoag. "Only in rare cases – such as someone seeking a job in the entertainment or advertising industry – should you use a very unconventional or casual writing style in a cover letter. When in doubt, it’s best to be on the conservative side." Yet avoid overusing those stock phrases such as "I look forward to your reply at the earliest convenience." They don’t do anything for that originality and creativity you’re trying to project.

One chance to make an impression
Since your letter will create the employer’s first impression of you, grammar, spelling, and appearance should be impeccable. "Don’t rely solely on your computer’s spell-checker. Have a friend proofread your letter after you’ve proofed it yourself," says Hoag. "Employers tell us that a few typos cause them to view even the most qualified candidate with caution – to the point of not hiring the person." After all, the cover letter is your professional calling card. It shows the employer whether you are precise, articulate, and logical – or otherwise. Compare your cover letter with the many samples in these books:

Cover Letters That Knock ‘Em Dead by Martin Yate
Published by Adams Media Corp.,
Holbrook, Massachusetts

175 High-Impact Cover Letters by Richard H. Beatty
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
New York and Canada

Gallery of Best Résumés (Includes cover letters)
By David F. Noble Published by JIST Works, Inc.,
Indianapolis, Indiana

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