In addition to a resume, you need a good cover letter when searching for a new job. But what makes a letter to a potential employer successful? Although you can find plenty of tips, tricks and tutorials to help craft the perfect resume, there’s not as much material on cover letters. Lucky for you, building one that will separate you from the rest of the pack isn’t as difficult as you might think.

An effective cover letter can introduce you to your potential employer before you ever find yourself seated across a desk from him or her. That said, take your time selecting what content you want it to include. Try to highlight your strengths and leave your shortcomings off the page. Cover letters shouldn’t give a potential employer any reason not to hire you!

A great cover letter is an excellent way to make a good first impression. Yours will say a lot about you, so take the time and effort to write a letter that will help put your best foot forward. Here is a basic, three-paragraph outline to use for your cover letter:

Introduction
Start your cover letter off strong and concise. Your cover letter should get right to the point, so choose your opening words carefully. It’s a good idea to make it clear why you are reaching out to the company. Mention the title of the position you want and where it is located (if applicable) specifically. You don’t want any confusion as to which job you are applying for. Also, the first paragraph is the perfect place to make a positive comment about the company. Not only will this demonstrate your genuine interest in the organization, but will show you took the time to do a little research.

Body paragraphs
Following the first paragraph, it’s important to make sure you use a format completely different than your resume. Moreover, the content should be unique in each type of document. Resumes should be about your past, while cover letters should speak to your future with a company. That said, your subsequent paragraphs should highlight relevant experience and education that prove you will excel at the job. Since this is a cover letter, it’s OK to get a little personal. Offer both concrete examples of professional experience and more intangible qualities about yourself (hardworking, dedicated, etc.) to give potential employers a look at who you really are.

Conclusion
The final paragraph in a cover letter should establish the next step in the job-application process. Request an interview or state that you will make a follow-up call to the company. Try to be as specific as you can when mentioning another correspondence. Give a specific date and time of the day you’ll be calling, and make sure you follow up when you say you will! If you think a phone call would be considered rude or overly aggressive, use an follow-up email instead.