Employers spend a few seconds on your cover letter. This is why you need to make is short, precise and clear, using bullets and white space is a good way of doing so. Your cover letter should not repeat what has already been mentioned in your résumé. Here you can explain to them how you are eligible for the advertised post. It is important that you go through it again, just in case you might have mistakes.
The paper you use to print your résumé and your cover letter must be of the same color and size. A black or a bluff colored paper sized 24 lb is preferable. Never use a fancy color. You can use a 100% watermarked paper if you want to make an impression and in case you have extra money to spend. Make sure that the printing is done well. Your résumé and your cover letter must look neat and clean. The envelope you choose must also match. Use the envelope that fits your résumé perfectly. Avoid folding your resume. In case you print labels, look for the ones that will look as if it has been typed on your envelope rather than just pasted. A neat looking envelope will definitely attract any employer.
Doing things correctly is important. If the ad instructs you to e-mail your résumé, then you must e-mail your résumé first and then follow-up with your mailed résumé, and vice versa. Write down in your log the date you sent your e-mail/mail to the company.
Call your employer at least three days after you have sent them email/ mail. This is important, yet many people do not do this. Be careful of what you say on the line. Saying that you have called to know whether they got your résumé will no doubt, ruin your chances. It might help if you express your desire to know more about the job and also tell them how you might be the right person for it. You can do this by asking them a few questions related to the posting. By expressing your views on it, you can try to highlight some of your job skills and experiences to the other person. A telephonic conversation can be a great tool to help you build a good rapport with the employer. If he likes you, he may hire you. While speaking on the phone, do not sound too excited or so cold, nor overconfident or diffident. Be your usual self, but talk in a professional manner, yet a little friendly. You don't want to this to be your last conversation, therefore take care of what you speak and how you speak. In the end do not forget to ask, if you can call them again in the coming week to know about the progress that has been made in the selection process.
Following these steps will ensure that your résumé is noticed.
