Grabbing the reader's attention is of paramount importance whether you realize it or not. Failing to attract and keep the attention of the reader most likely will result in failing to get an interview. Hiring managers are inundated with cover letters and resume and we all have busy personal lives. So how do you stand out from the crowd and get noticed?

There are many effective tactics to accomplish the task. Perhaps the most effective tactic is to write a headline that can't be ignored. It's not different than the headlines you see in magazines and newspapers. The articles you choose to read are the ones with the most intriguing headlines, aren't they?

If you think headlines are effective in newspapers, wait until you use a headline on your cover letter. You're not going to stand out by doing what everyone else does but put a headline on your cover letter and suddenly your different, interesting and worth a second look. Cover letters with attention-grabbing headlines have proven to be so effective that I wish I had discovered this tactic sooner.

Imagine you're at a fraternity party and you see an old friend across the dance floor. For this example, your friend's name is Jim. What's the best way to get Jim's attention? Would you start waving your arms and screaming, "Hello! Look this way!" That could do the trick. But you'd have better luck if you screamed "Hello Jim! What's Up!" You'd be more likely to grab Jim's attention that way, wouldn't you? It's because Jim hears his name being called. When people hear (or see) their name, the message is personalized and stands a better chance of getting noticed.

Let's take that concept one step further as it pertains to the headline on your cover letter. A personalized headline is proven to increase the response rate. Your cover letter is much more likely to be noticed and read if it's personalized. Hiring managers don't normally get cover letters with personalized headlines which means they'll read the few they get out of curiosity. They can't help themselves; it's human nature. Send out a few dozen cover letters with headlines. You'll be shocked at all the attention you get.