A professional cover letter for a resume is a worthy investment in your career. While some sample cover letter services charge hefty fees, there are ways to achieve professional results without spending thousands of dollars.

There are many free sample resume and cover letter resources available online featuring samples of quality cover letters, resumes and even thank you notes. If you don't have the ability to customize cover letter templates yourself, consider resume cover letter writing services that offer a variety of comprehensive career resources. When researching the pricing and costs of sample cover letters, consider the following:

1. Shop around to find the best deals for pricing and costs of sample cover letters and cover letter writing services. Evaluate free online cover letter resources before spending money on resume writing packages.

2. Read the fine print to make sure you are getting the best professional sample cover letter or cover letter writing service for your money. For a good value, look for packages that include a selection of career resources.

3. Select sample cover letter providers who guarantee results with their sample resumes and cover letters or cover letter preparation services.

Action Steps to Write Perfect Cover Letters
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose sample cover letter providers with competitive prices

The pricing and costs of sample cover letters depends on how much you are willing to spend. There are many helpful free sample cover letter resources online. For truly professional results, consider hiring a resume and cover letter writing company with basic packages ranging from $100 to $1,000; typically, the more advanced you in are your career, the higher the price.

I recommend: Perfect Cover Letters offers affordable professional cover letter samples, thank you letters, follow-up letters, networking letters and job offer letters. QuickandAffordableResumes.com features resume and cover letter services priced by career experience. Access affordable cover letter examples and custom cover letter writing services at LetterRep.com.

Research the terms of your sample cover letter services

When evaluating the costs for sample cover letter services, remember that the old adage 'you get what you pay for' is true. For the best value, consider packages that include resumes and electronic versions of documents in addition to your cover letter. Carefully review all cover letter service contracts before completing any paperwork or submitting online transactions.

I recommend: A and A Resume offers affordable cover letter writing services, as well as competitively priced resume and cover letter packages. Get free cover letter resources and cover letter templates at Quintessential Careers.

Look for sample cover letter providers that offer a money back guarantee

Don't waste money on cover letters that aren't guaranteed to get you results. Select cover letter examples vendors and writing services that will return your money if you're not satisfied with the final cover letter, or if you are unsuccessful in obtaining interviews with your new resume and cover letter.

I recommend: Employment911.com guarantees that job candidates who use their service will get an interview in six weeks, or they will re-write your resume and cover letter for free. ResumePublishers.com will re-write your resume and cover letter for free if you do not get an interview within 30 days.

Tips & Tactics for Writing Smart Cover Letters

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Rather than traditional cover letter writing services, consider cover letter editing services. Some cover letter templates providers will critique your current cover letter at no charge. Of course, most companies are seeking return business for their comments and suggestions on how they can improve your cover letter, but it can be a good -- and free -- place to start with improving your cover letter.

Not everyone who’s reading resumes will ask for a cover letter. Everyone who’s sending resumes, however, should most definitely write one. That’s because a cover letter is your chance to build upon your resume in order to tell potential employers not only what you’ve done in the past, but also what you will do—for them—in the future.

Cover letters are among the most powerful sales tools in a job applicant’s toolbox. They are a value-add to the run-of-the-mill resume and they allow job hunters to showcase, in addition to their work history, their personality and qualifications, not to mention their writing skills. Good cover letters are short and sweet, and the very best:

1. Are free of spelling errors.
2. Are addressed to the person who can hire you.
3. Are written in your own voice.
4. Show that you know something about the employer.
5. Highlight skills important to the employer and the industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Identify yourself in your resume cover letter

A good resume cover letter starts with a professional heading and an appropriate salutation. Put your name, address, phone number, fax number and e-mail address at the top of the page, along with the date. Include the contact information for your potential employer, as well.

I recommend: Consider printing your resume cover letter on your own custom letterhead, which may help it stand out in a stack of cover letters that otherwise look identical. You can invest in letterhead for your home office at PrintingforLess.com or design and print your own with free Word templates courtesy of HP or Microsoft.

Use sample cover letters to help you write a great first paragraph

A great resume cover letter is useless if nobody reads it. Make sure somebody does by writing an interesting, attention-getting first paragraph. Be creative. Include important information—such as where you found out about the job opening, what position you’re applying for and why you’re interested in it—but start with a memorable opening sentence that will truly distinguish you from other candidates.

I recommend: Start by looking at sample cover letters written by other people. Download a sample cover letter by job type at BestCoverLetters.com or About.com. Use a sample cover letter only as a guide, however; if you read it in a sample cover letter, chances are it’s not original enough to catch an employer’s eye.

Research the company before you write your resume cover letter

Show early on in your resume cover letter that you know something about the company at which you’re applying to work. Demonstrate right away that you know what the company does, what its values are and what it looks for in its employees. Use words in your cover letter that the company uses on its Web site or in its job posting to show that you understand its culture and its language.

I recommend: Read as much about the company you want to work for as possible and let your knowledge shine through in your cover letter. Monster’s Company Boulevard, Hoovers and EDGAR Online all are great places to do company research.

Highlight your qualifications in your resume cover letter

Cover letters are a place to build upon your resume—not to reiterate it. In your second and third paragraphs, then, explore your unique qualifications and take time to authentically describe them. Show; don’t tell. In other words, instead of saying you’re a good problem solver, offer an anecdote from your work history that effectively illustrates your problem-solving skills. Be specific, not general, about your accomplishments and focus on what you can bring to the job, not on what the job can bring to you.

I recommend: If you lack confidence in your writing skills, you may benefit from using a resume cover letter writing service such as ResumeWriters.com, ResumeEdge.com or any of the companies listed in Business.com’s directory of resume consultants. Software like the Perfect Cover Letters Starter Package, which includes writing tutorials as well as a full library of sample cover letters and templates, might also prove helpful.

End your cover letter on a professional note

End your resume cover letter by asking for an interview and by reminding the employer that you will follow up to confirm receipt of your resume. Promising to follow up—and then actually doing so—demonstrates the kind of persistence and follow-through that many employers look for.

I recommend: Your cover letter and resume are only half of the job-hunting battle. Once your letter is in the mail, make sure you’re ready for the job interview that will hopefully follow. Consult Business.com’s job interviewing directory for tips. Be ready with a thank you note to seal the deal, too; you can purchase pre-written thank you letters from Business.com’s directory of thank you letters for jobs.

Edit your resume cover letter before you send it

Make sure your cover letter is laid out professionally and formatted appropriately. Check for spelling and punctuation errors and make sure you’ve used good grammar and a professional vocabulary. Finally, ensure that your cover letter is short—less than one page—and easy to read.

I recommend: Use standard business letter formatting when you’re putting your final cover letter together. Download guidelines and samples from About.com, which offers a complete guide to writing business letters. Don’t forget to print your cover letter on the same professional grade paper on which you print your resume; consider a heavier weight specialty paper, which you can find at OfficeMax, FedEx Kinko’s and Office Depot.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember: The resume tells and the cover letter sells. Keep facts in your resume and fill your cover letter with personality and panache, instead.
• •  Address your cover letter to a specific person—the hiring manager, for instance, or the human resources officer—rather than a generic “Sir or Madame.” If you don’t know who to address the letter to, call the company and ask.
• •  If you’re applying for several positions within the same company, send a separate cover letter for each. Letters often are separated into piles and sending just one cover letter and resume might mean that you’re only considered for one position.
• •  If you’re e-mailing your resume, paste your cover letter into the body of your e-mail rather than as an attachment; the fewer documents to keep track of the better.
• •  When it comes to addressing your cover letter, always follow the employer’s advertised instructions.
• •  Don’t use your cover letter to explain reasons for leaving your previous job; save that for the interview.
• •  Never send a photocopied cover letter or a form letter. Ever.
• •  Avoid putting a salary history in your cover letter, unless the employer specifically asks for it.

In today's competitive job market, a professional cover letter for a resume can make or break your future career success. Most job candidates will be chosen or rejected for an interview based solely on the quality of their resume and cover letter. Before spending hours laboring over your cover letter, check out the myriad of cover letter templates available.

Cover letter examples are excellent resources for today's savvy job candidates. While there are many different types of sample cover letter websites available showcasing thousands of sample resumes and cover letters, it is important to follow some basic rules for cover letters. Before you customize a cover letter example, keep in mind these sample cover letters basics:

1. Look for attractive, easy to read samples of quality cover letters with designs that invite reader interest.

2. Select an effective sample resume and cover letter that accurately reflects your industry and job market.

3. Customize cover letter templates with action verbs and powerful sentences that highlight your skills, talents and abilities.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose a visually appealing and professional resume cover letter

Your cover letter should reflect your personal style -- whether traditional and elegant or contemporary and edgy -- and match the style of your resume. Sample cover letter services providers offer an assortment of attractive sample cover letter designs and formats to simplify your cover letter preparation. Be sure to use quality paper and an easy to read font; and for professional results, print your cover letter using a laser printer.

I recommend: Get tips for formatting and designing your cover letter at SoYouWanna.com. Choose from several attractive sample cover letter designs at Distinctive Career Services. Get advice for developing a professional cover letter design at MBA Depot.

Select a cover letter example that is appropriate to your career and industry

A great advantage to utilizing the services of sample cover letter providers is access to industry-specific samples of quality cover letters. For best results, look for cover letters that best reflect your industry and career. Industry focused cover letter examples will include helpful phrases, descriptions and terms relevant to your career field.

I recommend: Utilize sample cover letters for a variety of career fields, including technology, marketing, administration, management, customer service, education, accounting, engineering and military at Resume-Resource. Download sample cover letters sorted by industry at WorkBloom.com. ResumeApple offers customized resume and cover letter packages in more than 60 career specialties.

Tailor a sample of a quality cover letter to showcase your talents, skills and abilities

While the design of a cover letter is important, content is the key to getting an interview. When writing your cover letter, use action verbs and specific, descriptive nouns. Describe your career accomplishments -- not just your job responsibilities -- and use numbers to define success whenever possible.

I recommend: Get valuable writing tips and information about cover letters at MSN Careers. Learn the key to writing effective cover letters that stand out from the rest at Resume-Help.org. Access a list of action verbs helpful for business communications, as well as quick tips for cover letters at The Owl at Purdue.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Sample cover letters usually fall into two categories: letter of application or letter of inquiry. A letter of application is written in response to an advertised or specific job opening. A letter of inquiry is written to express interest in prospective or future job openings at a business to let the company human resources personnel know you are interested in working for their company.

You can use sample cover letters to find the correct format and heading for the job of your interest. In general, cover letters are an opportunity to share information that might be included on your resume. For example, you can use a cover letter to highlight an important life experience or express why you are interested in the position.

Cover letter key terms can help guide you through the process of writing one that is appropriate for your field. For instance, it is of vital importance that you know what an academic cover letter is and when to use one.

Action Steps
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Academic cover letters

Academic cover letters are sample cover letters that require a bit more attention to detail than your average job search. Use these when applying for educational positions and referencing your teaching goals.

I recommend: Claremont Graduate University offers information on academic cover letters and provides an example of one.

Format

A sample cover letter's format is the way in which the header, footer, body, etc. are presented. The font, indentation and alignment are all format elements. You can use the format of a sample cover letter when putting together your own.

I recommend: Virginia Tech provides detailed information on cover letter format with numerous examples of the various formats one can use.

Referral cover letter

Referral cover letters are sent by those seeking informational interviews, perhaps to make a contact. They are so-called because the writer is usually referred to the recipient by a mutual contact. The elements of a good referral letter differ somewhat from that of a cover letter written to pursue a job opening.

I recommend: About.com has a sample referral cover letter.

Cover letter headings, headers or letterheads

Cover letter headings appear first (at the top) as the name implies. The header should contain your name, address, phone number and perhaps other contact information, such as your email address.

I recommend: Writing Cover Letters has a sample heading

Email cover letter

Email cover letters differ from a regular sample cover letters, in that they are sent via email. Follow the rules of regular cover letters before attempting the email cover letter.

I recommend: Quint Careers offers detailed information about email cover letters and provides an example of one.

Blanket vs. targeted cover letters

A targeted cover letter is written for a specific job opening, unlike a blanket cover letter which the applicant simply attaches to all the resumes she sends out. To 'target' the content, the applicant looks at the qualifications the employer seeks and explains how you fit the criteria.

I recommend: Your Career Change has a sample of a cover letter that targets a specific position.