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.

Words that sell.
To get ideas about how best to pitch yourself as a company asset, comb through want ads and see what terms and adjectives employers in various industries use to describe ideal candidates. These shift from job to job: While a sales recruiter seeks someone aggressive, a customer service recruiter may be looking for someone who is diplomatic. Words that are always flattering are: successful, strong, effective, accomplishment, initiative, manage, develop, create, complete, establish, innovative, thorough, capable, competent, professional.