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Jobseekers frequently underestimate the importance of resume cover letters. A well-written cover letter may mean the difference between a serious perusal of someone's resume, and a glance before it enters the circular file.

Apart from just plain forgetting to write them, one of the most common cover letter mistakes is to use them to duplicate everything you already wrote in the resume. However, you need a cover letter that expands on and complements your resume.

Imagine that you're the one sitting at a desk with piles of resumes to look at. Pretty much all of them are printed on good white paper. They're all covered in skills and objectives.

Lots of them are accompanied by cover letters, some of them very long and rambling. Overwhelming, isn't it? Set yourself apart. Write a cover letter that grasps the attention of the reader and gives them several reasons to turn to the next page.

But how do you begin? You can find many examples of resume cover letters on the internet. There are examples that cover several different jobs in dozens of different formats. Use your favorite search engine to find them easily.

Now, if someone that the company or interviewer knows well has referred you and also gave you permission to use their name in your cover letter, do it! You'll be using the power of networking referrals, which can go a long way in making sure that your resume gets serious consideration.

Next, look carefully at the job description, and reference it, applying your skill set in the appropriate places. It might be tempting to just repeat everything you wrote in your resume, but consider that this is a great chance to go even further. Remember the job description, and tell the readers how your skills will benefit the company.

Above all, picture the interviewer reading the cover letter and asking, "What's in it for me?" The interview is more than likely thinking that exact thought when he or she is reading through a bunch of resume cover letters. If you answer well, the interview will be yours!