Most job seekers understand the value and importance of a well-organized resume but spend far less energy on crafting a strong cover letter. What they fail to realize is that resumes and cover letters go hand-in-hand.

Employers are very busy and receive hundreds of resumes leaving little time for individual review. Submitting a thoughtful and well-written cover letter can help you outshine your competition and get you one step closer to an interview. Don't let the energy you've spent on developing the perfect resume go to waste by failing to deliver an effective cover letter.

Here we offer some tips to help you craft the perfect cover letter that will get you noticed:

1. Understand what the Cover Letter Must Achieve

A cover letter is basically a sales letter. You are trying to motivate a specific action - an invitation for an interview. In addition to reinforcing the key skills and experience you reference in your resume, a cover letter provides you with the opportunity to:

• demonstrate your desire to work for the employer
• identify specific ways your expertise can benefit the organization
• differentiate yourself from other job seekers
• demonstrate your individual personality
• explain anomalies that may stand out in a resume such as gaps in employment
• arouse interest that will help you get that interview.

Article courtesy of Salary.com®