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Jobseekers frequently underestimate the importance of resume cover letters. Will your resume be read, or will it be thrown into the circular file with barely a glance? A well written cover letter can make all the difference.

Apart from just plain forgetting to write them, one of the most common cover letter mistakes is to use them to duplicate everything you already wrote in the resume. But, one really should look at the cover letter as a way to build upon the resume.

Imagine that you're the one sitting at a desk with piles of resumes to look at. They're all printed on nice, white paper. All of them are covered in objectives and skills.

Lots of them are accompanied by cover letters, some of them very long and rambling. 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? Look for examples of resume cover letters posted 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.

Now, if someone that the company or interviewer knows well has referred you and also gave you permission to use their name in your cover letter, do it! You'll be using the power of networking referrals, which can go a long way in making sure that your resume gets serious consideration.

Next, look carefully at the job description, and reference it, applying your skill set in the appropriate places. This is where it can be tempting to simply repeat what's in your resume, but it offers a great chance to go a step further. Use the job description to show the reader how your skills will benefit the company.

"What's in it for me?" Imagine that this is the very question that the interviewer is asking. 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!