You should be aware that the cover letter is the fundamental step to a great career. The path to your success will depend first on how well written your cover letter is. Depending on the structure and message of your letter, you can either catch the employer’s attention or not. Nevertheless if you do so, the hiring manager will think that your resume is worth reading. Otherwise, even if you have the best resume, you are only throwing your chances with a badly written letter.

A well-constructed letter is determined by the planning prior to producing one. Preparation mostly will take up most of your time if you are in a job hunt. Though it can eat up a lot of your time and effort, preparation is still a vital part in a job pursuit. Without right preparation, it is anticipated that your cover letter will be badly written, generic and misguided. There are many ways to write cover letter. It may depend on the employer, job position, and even the mode of transmission. To make your letters stand out, preparation is essential.

· Build or Update Your Resume. Some people believe that cover letter should be constructed before a resume, but then this is rather the opposite. The substance of your cover letter will be dependent on your resume. If you do not have one right now, construct a resume that lists down your experiences and skills. From here, list down relevant skills and experiences so that you can tailor your cover letter to a particular job position you are considering. It should also highlight your strengths and desire to be a part of the company.

· Research Your Prospective Employer or Target Organization. For you to be able to display your interest to a particular company, you should include information that verbalise about the desired industry. The information should be real and concise. Most frequently, this process is really time consuming. On the positive note, the information you had gathered can be made functional during your job interview.

Technically speaking, you must have an idea what the company’s mission is, what do they provide, and what makes them competitive. Moreover, you should also search on the type of clients they are catering or aiming. In General, the five elements to study are: the employer’s values, service, innovation, diversity and sustainability. Studying the history of the company may also be vital.

· Study Your Targeted Position. As a savvy job seeker, it is essential that you study the job description and requirements carefully. Typically, this type of information can be read on advertisements on newspapers, television and the Internet. Learn the conditions and tailor your letter to meet these requirements. If you can, determine what are the most important skills and experiences that company wants.

· Know the Employer or Hiring Manager’s Name. As much as possible, utilize your network. Research for the name of the employer who is in charge of the hiring process. It will be on your advantage if you know somebody in the company or the industry. All The Same if you have no connection with the company, ring and ask directly the Human Resource Department.