Prepare a professional-looking covering letter and resume that can be emailed, printed or mailed.

Your resume or job application should be accompanied by a short, succinct covering letter that packs a punch.

Consider these tips when preparing your letter:

• Address the letter to the person mentioned in the advertisement and ensure that his or her title is correctly reflected.
• Keep it short and to the point. No-one has the time or the desire to wade through verbiage.
• Link the job requirements to the skills, qualifications, strengths and experience detailed in your resume, without duplicating the resume. Stress why you are the ideal candidate for the job.
• Ask someone to check it for content, but also for spelling and grammar – a spelling mistake, particularly if it involves the recipient of the letter, will ruin your chances.

Your resume or curriculum vitae is an extremely important document as it opens the doors to an interview. It is your personal marketing tool so sell yourself well and ensure you stand out from the competition.