In the digital age, cover letters are as antiquated and unnecessary as thank-you notes.

WRONG! (Thank-you notes are important too, but that’s another post.)

It does show some extra effort when you submit a cover letter. After all, anyone can make a bazillion copies of their resume and fax ‘em out to every agency that may or may not be hiring. A customized cover letter, on the other hand, conveys your interest in a particular company and can push your resume to the top of the pile.

Don’t believe me? Check out this excerpt from a recent New York Times article:

Ms. Piotrowski recently had a job opening at her small company, Career Solutions Group, and she was dismayed when about a quarter of the 200 applicants did not send cover letters. Most were within five years of graduating from college, she said, reflecting a more informal mind-set among younger people.

So consider this a mini-course in how to make your cover letter work for you:

>> Get a name.
How hard is it to Google a company and get the decision maker’s name to put on your cover letter? The extra few minutes it takes to procure that info can save your resume from the recycling bin with all the other “To Whom It May Concerns.” Take it from Katharine Hansen, Ph.D., creative director and associate publisher of Quintessential Careers, who wrote: “The largest employer in Central Florida tosses cover letters in the circular file if they are not addressed to him personally.” Wow!

>> Keep it simple.
Three or four paragraphs should suffice. In your first paragraph, explain why you are writing. In the middle paragraph or two, highlight why you are a good candidate for the position, convey a clear story about your career, and detail what you can do to help the company reach its goals. Your closing paragraph should indicate how you will follow up on your submission.

>> Send it twice.
Submit your letter once in the body of your e-mail (with your resume attached), and then go double-duty by mailing a hard copy of your letter and resume. It’s a proven strategy for success:

Attach a handwritten note that says, “Second submission; I’m very interested,” Ms. Piotrowski said. “I’ve had clients double their rate of interviews simply from doing that,” she said.

With a little effort (and lot of proofreading), you can write a cover letter that dazzles potential employers and gets you an interview. Best of luck!

-Robyn Tellefsen