Want a job interview? Work on your cover letter! It’s your first and best opportunity to pitch yourself to a prospective employer and should be short and sweet, businesslike and make you look perfectly employable.

When to use a cover letter.
You typically need one any time you mail, email or fax your resume. But you can skip drafting a letter if you’re presenting your resume in person, if you’ve already gotten an appointment for the interview or the ad says you don’t need one.

Basic presentation.
Plain bright white paper is fine to use. For an executive position, use a higher grade of paper, such as vellum. Don’t use fancy fonts or italics—10 point or 12 point Times New Roman, New York, Arial or other straightforward fonts are best for a conservative, easy-to-read look. Also, make sure your margins are at least one-inch wide.

Start the letter right.
Design yourself a letterhead that is businesslike and will let the recruiter know how to contact you—include your first and last name, mailing address, phone number and email address.

Address your letter to a person, if possible. Don’t know the person’s gender? Avoid using “Mr.” or “Ms.” Try “Dear M. Lescynski.” No name whatsoever? Avoid the old “Dear Sir” or “To Whom It May Concern” and simply start right in.

State why they should interview you.
Zero in quickly on how you are what they are looking for. Cite specific accomplishments and skills, like: “While at the Ripperton Companies, I was promoted to customer service director after demonstrative superior customer service and the ability to diplomatically handle situations,” or “I have great editing skills, and I work very quickly in QuarkXpress and InDesign.” Bullet points are a good way to get these points across quickly and clearly.