A cover letter is often your first contact with a prospective employer. But the real purpose is more than just acting as a written handshake. The bottom line in writing a cover letter is for you is to convince the reader of the letter to look at your résumé. The keys to achieve this are to
This site from Virginia Tech covers different types of cover letters and gives a few examples.
Create a Winning Cover Letter Tips on what to include in a cover letter and what should stay in the résumé.
myFuture.com includes some common mistakes in cover letters and gives an example of an online cover letter.
Ask a Manager contrasts a poor and a good letter.
The Purdue Online Writing Lab gives a down and dirty guide to writing cover letters.
The Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Job-Search Cover Letters
Entry Level Cover Letter Examples
Email Guidelines and Etiquette Covers using a clear subject line, who to address your email to and why you should not apply for a job using your seXXXygirl@ email account.
Sending a thank you note is an important part of the interview process. It is not only proper etiquette but it will single you out from other interviewees who might not have sent one. It is best to write the note the day after the interview but don’t let more than three days go by without doing so. The letter should go to the “host” for the interview and others with whom you spoke. Thank them for their time and consideration. If you are interested in the position, make this known. If you are not, tactfully convey that information.
Some sample thank you letters.
Monster.com says the thank you letter can help improve your chances.
Virginia Tech discusses the purpose and form of the thank you letter.