by Peter Fiske, Science's Next Wave. "I've always hated the term "cover letter." It implies that the letter you send out to accompany your résumé, the opening shot in your job-hunt campaign, is merely "decoration" for your résumé. A good cover letter does far more than just cover: It engages the reader and makes her want to explore your job qualifications more fully. A good cover letter also highlights your qualifications, guides the reader through the most important parts of your work history, and demonstrates your flawless command of the English language. That's a lot to cover in only three paragraphs!"

"'In almost no time we can reject half our applicant pool just by looking at their cover letters,' says Susan Lord, associate professor of electrical engineering at the University of San Diego."

from SalaryList.com