Your resume and the cover letter you send with with it are somewhat a like but there are also some really big differences. Look at your resume as though it is a brochure of your credentials while the cover letter is a sales pitch.

There are software programs that can help you, and some of them are fairly successful if you customize them enough. Otherwise, you might want to consult with the resume service to provide one or more for you to have in your files. Resume service companies know the keywords that human resource departments look for and know which ones turn them off a potential candidate. Sometimes, its just the format and sometimes, its the approach. If you arent experienced with cover letters, get professional advice. Its all about marketing language and this time you are marketing yourself. Theres a psychology to selling and just like some people dont like being in front of a camera, others have a hard time selling themselves even if they are more than qualified for a position. Realize that employers often see thousands of resumes come across their desks, and what do they see first? The cover letter. If it looks messy, boring, insincere or doesnt all all the information - like your address and phone number - the chance of them even bothering with your resume isnt very likely. Your cover letter is the first thing to get judged and it should not only be perfect but it should compel the person opening the letter to keep reading!

In the case of a cover letter, every detail matters and your selling approach is critical. Resume services can be enormously helpful with prepping you to do your own or providing you with several different styles.