A cover letter is your first chance to make a great impression. It is essential to have a cover letter, not only to entice the employer to consider your application amidst potentially hundreds of others, but also because it provides the first opportunity to introduce yourself.

A cover letter should clearly state the position you are applying for and be personalised to the company to show that you have done your homework and are serious about working for them. It should highlight your strengths, relevant skills and provide accomplishments from recent positions that will impress prospective employers.

Your intentions and qualifications should be stated early on in the letter and you should emphasise your skills, talents and experiences to identify what makes you different and the value that you could add to the team.

Your letter should reflect your personality but don't try to be someone else or something you are not. You should communicate your career goals and substantiate any claims you make about your abilities and strengths with specific examples.

Be direct, precise and accurate. A clear, error free, well presented document will stand out from the crowd. Don't write more than one page unless you are specifically asked to provide a highly detailed letter.

A proactive approach is required, indicate that you are contactable, available for interviews and provide all of your contact details including email and mobile phone numbers.

If required, you should address any key selection criteria outlined in the job advertisement or position description. Don't waste precious space regurgitating your CV in the cover letter. Instead, use it as a document that supports your CV and leaves the employer hungry for more information.

No negative information should ever be included in your cover letter (or your CV for that matter!). Conflicts, pending litigation, nasty comments about a previous employer or sarcastic remarks have no place in any job application. Unless asked, salary or relocation information should also be excluded from your cover letter.

And proof read! After you have read, re-read and re-re-read your document, have an independent person proof read it also. Typos, grammatical errors and spelling mistakes stand out like a sore thumb and could mean the difference between being short listed or receiving a 'no thank you' letter.

Never handwrite your cover letter or CV unless specifically asked to. Handwritten documents may be difficult to read, judged as unprofessional and have the potential to negatively influence the manner in which your total application is received.

If your cover letter is a 'cold call', that is you are seeking employment but not applying for a vacant position, make your letter as appealing as possible. Clearly identify what you can bring to the company and why they would benefit from employing you. It is imperative that you tailor your letter to the organisation you are writing to and in the event of sending a letter to many different companies make sure you change details for each letter! You should also phone the company prior to writing and obtain contact names, titles and mailing addresses to ensure your application is received by the correct person. You can use this opportunity to do some homework about the company, if possible.

Always keep a copy of your cover letter and read it prior to any interview. This will not only help you prepare for the job interview, but by reminding you of your strengths, achievements and successes, will build your confidence and assist you to keep these positive attributes in the front of your mind when answering interview questions. Reading your cover letter prior to an interview will also refresh your memory about the position you applied for, how you responded to any key selection criteria and the relevant skills and attributes you can bring to the company.

Finally, try to remember that a cover letter displays your communication skills and is your first contact with a prospective employer. The company will judge your ability to communicate when they read your cover letter. Use positive language, convey confidence and enthusiasm, be professional, organise your thoughts and importantly, be yourself.