er letter may be exactly what you need to make it from the “Maybe” pile to your future boss’ desk.

Appropriately mentioning connections to the company makes you a known quantity — it’s like being pre-screened for the job and passing. One caution, though: employers often follow-up with contacts you mention in your cover letter, so be sure to be straightforward and honest in your name dropping, lest you find yourself in a sticky and embarrassing situation

You wouldn’t just waltz into an office building and start schmoozing with the first person you see in the HR department and expect it to lead to a job, would you? Probably not. But when you send your resume off all alone, that’s essentially what you’re doing. The resume is your key to a job interview, but your cover letter is the key to getting your resume read — and here’s why.

A letter of introduction

If nothing else, your cover letter is a way to say, “Here I am, here’s what I want, and here’s my resume.” It’s a quick and easy course in You 101. The cover letter is an opportunity for you to truly introduce yourself to a prospective employer. Let them know where you’ve been, where you’re going, and how their organization can help you get there.

Mention some of your accomplishments, and share a little about the responsibilities you’ve shouldered at past jobs that prepare you for the position you seek. The goal is not to reiterate your resume, but to augment it with some personalized, you-centric information.

A sales pitch

And while you’re giving a quick rundown of your qualifications, take the opportunity to really drive home some of your more appealing qualities. If your last boss said you were “a real go-getter with a bright future,” include it. If you have experience that’s not on your resume but is relevant to the job you want, detail it. You know they can’t live without you, and this is your time to tell them exactly why.

A venue to drop names

Did someone who works for the company refer you? Did a friend of a friend who knows a guy high up suggest that you would be perfect for the job? Do you have contacts from previous employment or elsewhere in the industry? Check with them first, but adding some familiar names to your cover letter may be exactly what you need to make it from the “Maybe” pile to your future boss’ desk.

Appropriately mentioning connections to the company makes you a known quantity — it’s like being pre-screened for the job and passing. One caution, though: employers often follow-up with contacts you mention in your cover letter, so be sure to be straightforward and honest in your name dropping, lest you find yourself in a sticky and embarrassing situation.

letter is a way to say, “Here I am, here’s what I want, and here’s my resume.” It’s a quick and easy course in You 101. The cover letter is an opportunity for you to truly introduce yourself to a prospective employer. Let them know where you’ve been, where you’re going, and how their organization can help you get there.

Mention some of your accomplishments, and share a little about the responsibilities you’ve shouldered at past jobs that prepare you for the position you seek. The goal is not to reiterate your resume, but to augment it with some personalized, you-centric information.

A sales pitch

And while you’re giving a quick rundown of your qualifications, take the opportunity to really drive home some of your more appealing qualities. If your last boss said you were “a real go-getter with a bright future,” include it. If you have experience that’s not on your resume but is relevant to the job you want, detail it. You know they can’t live without you, and this is your time to tell them exactly why.

A venue to drop names

Did someone who works for the company refer you? Did a friend of a friend who knows a guy high up suggest that you would be perfect for the job? Do you have contacts from previous employment or elsewhere in the industry? Check with them first, but adding some familiar names to your cover letter may be exactly what you need to make it from the “Maybe” pile to your future boss’ desk.

Appropriately mentioning connections to the company makes you a known quantity — it’s like being pre-screened for the job and passing. One caution, though: employers often follow-up with contacts you mention in your cover letter, so be sure to be straightforward and honest in your name dropping, lest you find yourself in a sticky and embarrassing situation

r the position you seek. The goal is not to reiterate your resume, but to augment it with some personalized, you-centric information.

A sales pitch

And while you’re giving a quick rundown of your qualifications, take the opportunity to really drive home some of your more appealing qualities. If your last boss said you were “a real go-getter with a bright future,” include it. If you have experience that’s not on your resume but is relevant to the job you want, detail it. You know they can’t live without you, and this is your time to tell them exactly why.

A venue to drop names

Did someone who works for the company refer you? Did a friend of a friend who knows a guy high up suggest that you would be perfect for the job? Do you have contacts from previous employment or elsewhere in the industry? Check with them first, but adding some familiar names to your cover letter may be exactly what you need to make it from the “Maybe” pile to your future boss’ desk.

Appropriately mentioning connections to the company makes you a known quantity — it’s like being pre-screened for the job and passing. One caution, though: employers often follow-up with contacts you mention in your cover letter, so be sure to be straightforward and honest in your name dropping, lest you find yourself in a sticky and embarrassing situation

elevant to the job you want, detail it. You know they can’t live without you, and this is your time to tell them exactly why.

A venue to drop names

Did someone who works for the company refer you? Did a friend of a friend who knows a guy high up suggest that you would be perfect for the job? Do you have contacts from previous employment or elsewhere in the industry? Check with them first, but adding some familiar names to your cover letter may be exactly what you need to make it from the “Maybe” pile to your future boss’ desk.

Appropriately mentioning connections to the company makes you a known quantity — it’s like being pre-screened for the job and passing. One caution, though: employers often follow-up with contacts you mention in your cover letter, so be sure to be straightforward and honest in your name dropping, lest you find yourself in a sticky and embarrassing situation

er letter may be exactly what you need to make it from the “Maybe” pile to your future boss’ desk.

Appropriately mentioning connections to the company makes you a known quantity — it’s like being pre-screened for the job and passing. One caution, though: employers often follow-up with contacts you mention in your cover letter, so be sure to be straightforward and honest in your name dropping, lest you find yourself in a sticky and embarrassing situation.

An example of you doing your homework

Find out who makes the hiring decisions at the company you’re applying to, and address the letter to that person. Pick up the phone, search the Web, or talk to your contacts if you’re not sure who it should be. And above all, make sure you spell their name correctly. By taking the time to seek out the decision maker and to go the extra mile by addressing your resume and cover letter to that person, you show a potential employer that you know their organization, that you know how to get information, and that you care enough about the job to put forth some serious effort.

An easy way to tailor your job applications

If you’re sending out a ton of resumes, consider using a generic resume where appropriate and tailoring your cover letter to each employer. At the bare minimum, make sure your letter is addressed to the appropriate company and individual, that it mentions the correct position, and that it highlights a few of the most important and relevant points on your resume.

A resume without a cover letter is like peanut butter without jelly, macaroni without cheese, peas without ... Well, you get the idea. If you get a solid outline in place for your cover letter, you can plug in the appropriate info fast and send out a perfectly customized application packet every time.

* This article originally appeared in desire Los Angeles in August 2005.