As author of the newly released book "Think Like an Interviewer: Your Job Hunting Guide to Success," I'll show you how to put together a winning accounting cover letter. And you can be confident in the information here because I've taught accounting and job hunting, and am currently taking additional accounting classes.

Accounting and bookkeeping are very structured and organized fields. So your cover letter should be extremely well organized and in the proper format. If not, then they'll picture your financial reports not being done right. And transactions being recorded incorrectly. Therefore, your cover letter must begin with the reason why you are writing to me. Now there are two choices: a) You are responding to an ad b) You are inquiring if there are any positions available.

If you are responding to an ad, then your first paragraph should tell me which ad you're responding to. This means telling me the job name and/or number, where you saw it, and the ad's date. You should also tell me you're providing your resume. If you are sending an inquiry on the hopes that there is a job for you, then you should begin with that. In other words, tell me that you are writing to see if there are any jobs available for someone with your background and skills. And then say you are providing me with your resume.

The next paragraph or two should discuss your accounting or bookkeeping background. This is where you'll tell me how much experience you have in the field, what training you've had, any certifications you have (CMA, CPA, etc.), accounting software, and other skills or traits you have that are needed. Now this is the most important section! It's purpose is to WOW me and convince me to read on and look at your resume. So it has to push the right buttons. Some of these buttons are your: a) Command of accounting principles, practices, and terminology b) Having he necessary training--formal and/or on-the-job c) Paying close attention to detail--accuracy and proper formatting d) Successfully meeting deadlines e) Handling pressure well f) Ability to conduct research and verify information g) A high degree of honesty--trustworthy and responsible h) Peachtree and Quickbooks--the most commonly used accounting programs i) Strong organization and logical thinking--advanced prep and analysis These are many of the important qualities someone who wants to work in the accounting profession must bring to the table. So I suggest you include many of them. How many is a personal choice, but the more, the better! This section should not exceed 3 paragraphs in length! The reason is because you need to show an ability to bottom line things. And that means being brief. So 1 to 3 paragraphs should be more than enough. Your goal here is to impress me enough to look at your resume. So it doesn't have to include everything. It just has to tell me what major things you bring to the table.

Now that you've WOW'd me, it's time for you to let me know how to reach you. So your next paragraph would indicate your willingness to come for an interview, give me ways to reach you, and a quick summary of why you are a good fit with my company. This way, you start on a high note and end the same way! And you're showing the ability to connect the dots and draw conclusions. Both KEY skills in the accounting profession. And if you have multiple phone numbers, make sure you list which is which. In other words, tell me if a particular number is your home, message, or cell. That way, I can decide which I feel is the best one to use. And it shows your attention to detail and strong organization!

This is critical! It's rude and unprofessional not to thank the reader for taking time to look at your letter. I'm busy and didn't have to devote my valuable time to your cover letter. So the nice thing to do is thank me. Make sure you do!