Part - I

You're planning to work in the United States. You've got a great American-style resume, and you feel you are the perfect candidate for a job that has just been advertised. But how do you advertise yourself? American employers demand a Cover Letter.

What exactly IS a cover letter? If you can think of your job search resume as the "dinner" of the job search meal, then your Cover Letter is your resume's "appetizer". A cover letter's primary purpose is to act as an employer's introduction to your resume. Put simply, it is a brief outline of your career objectives, a summary of your previous work experience, and a list of some notable career highlights. This letter is all about who you are and what you do. The idea is to make this introductory topsheet interesting and so well written that, after reading it, the employer's interest will be piqued enough to go on to read your resume.

The first step to your dream job in the USA is to have the best possible cover letter and resume - first impressions, to an American employer, count the most. Having a perfect cover letter with your resume can mean the difference between being asked for an interview and your document being thrown in the trash. Here are some helpful Do's to keep in mind when you are crafting your great new cover letter: -

• DO - keep your cover letter to one page. Any longer, and it may end up inspiring the employer to stop reading - and even to skip reading the attached resume all together.

• DO - include career successes. Examples make your experience stand out.

• DO - address the cover letter to the Human Resources Manager by name if possible. The more the letter seems "personalized" and less like a mass mail-out, the better chance it will have to be read by the right person.

• DO - include the company's name and address in the cover letter if possible. If you are doing a "mass mail-out" (sending the same copy of cover letter and resume to many employers), then you can exclude the name and address of the companies being applied to. Remember, if applying for a specific job with one company, try to include the company name and address in the letter and try to include the name of the hiring person. Remember - first impressions count!

• DO - try to imagine what the employer would like to hear about how you can contribute to the company right away and help the company realize its goals.

• DO - provide a sampling of your greatest workplace accomplishments. Try to include statistics and measurable results to document your successes.

• DO - If you are in a technical industry, list a few of the technical programs that you specialize in. This helps the employer understand your strengths as a potential employee.

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* Sacha DeVoretz is an established author & international career-consultant. Created and developed an international employment agency and has lectured world-wide to audiences who were eager to learn how to effectively obtain employment. With offices in USA & Canada, she is also the founder and president of Americajobnet.com, publisher of international employment self-help manuals. Currently, member of the National Employment Counseling Association USA.