7 Ways to Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out

Do make the letter as concise as possible
Employers are spending less time reading cover letters than they used to. Ideally, your letter should be about four paragraphs, and one of those should tell a story.

Don't neglect the "story line" in the rest of the letter
Even if only one paragraph in your letter is in story form, try to integrate the story's theme throughout your letter and tie it together by briefly referring to the story in your final paragraph.

Do make your stories specific and quantify results whenever possible
It's always easier for the reader to picture you succeeding on the job when you describe a specific situation. In addition, employers are attracted to numbers that indicate results.

Don't write your autobiography
Telling a story doesn't mean describing your entire career; that's what your résumé is for.

Do tell relevant stories
Tell only the stories that are relevant to the employer's requirements, the problems you can solve, and the results you can achieve. If the relevance isn't immediately obvious from your story, help the reader make the connection by pointing out the skills and qualifications the story illustrates.

Don't overlook story cues in want ads
Study the want ad that describes the position that interests you. When writing your cover letter, strive to ensure that it responds to the ad's intent. To do this, incorporate the job posting's keywords and the tasks or responsibilities that are mentioned into your cover letter.

Do use some of the employer's messages and language
Go to the employer's Web site or pick up print publications about the organization. Pick out buzzwords and phrases. Play these back to the employer in your story. Employers who read language-mirroring stories conclude that the job seeker "gets it."