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Resume cover letters are extremely important, though many jobseekers don't fully realize it. A well-written cover letter can mean all the difference in the world, or at least become the deciding factor in whether your resume gets read or cast into the circular file.

Jobseekers commonly make the mistake of duplicating their resume when they write the cover letter-- although many of them just plain forget to write the cover letter to begin with! However, you need a cover letter that expands on and complements your resume.

Put yourself in someone else's place and imagine that you have to sort through a bunch of different resumes. All of them are printed on decent white paper. All of them are covered in objectives and skills.

Many of them have letters, some of which are quite long. Overwhelming, isn't it? Set yourself apart. The cover letter needs to get attention from the reader and give them plenty of good reasons for them to turn the page.

But how do you begin? You can find many examples of resume cover letters on the internet. They are available in several formats, for dozens of different types of jobs. Use your favorite search engine to find them easily.

Of course, if someone well-known to the company or interviewer has referred you and given you permission to use their name in your cover letter, do so! Networking referrals are a powerful tool, and can ensure that your resume at least gets read.

Next thing you need to do is study the job description. Write references to it and describe how your skills make you suited for the job. It might be tempting to just repeat everything you wrote in your resume, but consider that this is a great chance to go even further. Remember the job description, and tell the readers how your skills will benefit the company.

Above all, picture the interviewer reading the cover letter and asking, "What's in it for me?" On some level, that's probably exactly what the interviewer is thinking when he or she reads resume cover letters. The interview is sure to be yours if your answer sounds good!