Employment today is more diverse, but competition is stiffer than ever before. Not only do you have to be well-educated, you also have to be a well-rounded employee with a lot of experience, not to mention personality. Such traits can be difficult to deduce from someone's resume or transcript: after all, a resume is only a list that shows how much education was given to you, and how many times you have been employed, while a transcript will show what grades you got. All these records will not show how much you learned, what you did with your education, and if you have learned anything from your past forays into employment.

In a job application, a cover letter can show your prospective employer all these and more. Sadly, today's job applicants, although more competitive, also tend to be lazier than usual. They will look for generic cover letters online, change a few facts, print it out, and send it to only one employer. They will address the letter to no one in particular, and will usually stick to the safe, “Dear Sir or Madame,” or worse, “To whom it may concern.” Lastly, the applicant will wait for a reply, often for weeks on end, before repeating the cycle.

This self-defeating cycle is something that you want to avoid if you are applying for a job. Your goal is not simply to get the application over with: you should shine and stand out above all the other job applicants, and you should get a job interview, at the very least. A few cover letter tips should get you going, so follow these cover letter tips and you just might find yourself getting the job that you want.

First, do as much research as you can about the company. Sure, they have a job opening that you think you will excel at, but are the company's goals also your own? Is the company's mission and vision in line with your own mission and vision? How well do you know the company? Have you visited its website? Who is your employer?

You will need to take note of all these facts before you even craft your letter. Moreover, address your letter to the person who will hire you, not to anyone in particular. Remember, the more personalized your letter is, the easier it will be for you to get a job. However, do not go overboard on being personal: you also want to look professional, not sensational, childish, or hyperactive. As long as your values, goals, vision, and mission are aligned with those of the company, then you can be sure that you have one foot into their doors already.

Next, make your letter brief. Usually, a single page of about four short paragraphs of text will do the trick. Employers have little time to browse through piles and piles of letters all saying the same thing. You need to stand out, so say as much in as few words as possible. Your goal is to take the employer's attention within the first few lines of your letter, and to make the employer read all about you and want to hire you – or, at the very least, call you in for an interview.

State specifically that you are available for an interview, then provide all your contact details. Make sure that your email address is up and running, and that you will be available to answer all telephone calls. Send the letter according to the information provided in the job opening, and wait patiently – for about two weeks.

If you have not heard from the company, send a fresh cover letter and another resume, and indicate that you are making a follow up. This might increase your chances of getting an interview, or even getting the job, if the employer sees how persistent you can be. If this doesn't work out, keep applying, and never say die! If you work hard enough, you will get the job that you want in no time.