A cover letter is an introductory letter which is sent along with your resume. Though this letter can take several different forms, its basic purpose remains the same: to help you land a job interview.

Here are some important tips that can help you create a more effective cover letter. Presentation can be just as important as content, so make sure the letter looks professional.

Most resumes begin with the person's name, address, and phone number at the top. It used to be common to include such personal data as your birthdate, marital status, and health, but now employers mainly look for information that's directly relevant to your career, or your potential as an employee.

Chances are, the person reading your resume is a very busy individual. He or she may have many other resumes to go through. So it's best to keep yours brief, concise, and to the point.

On most resumes, the education section comes after the personal data, and before work experience. However, if you feel your education is not as impressive as it could be, consider placing it after the experience section.

Once you've decided on the content of your resume, you'll want to consider various styles for presenting the information. First, there are graphic elements to choose, such as the typeface and layout.

For most job applications, the only resume attachment you'll need is a good cover letter. However, in certain fields like writing, graphic design, or illustration, the interviewer may ask you to submit samples of your work.

At some point in the interview process, if a potential employer is seriously interested in you, they're likely to ask for references. Have them prepared in advance, on a separate sheet of paper.