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The importance of resume cover letters is often underestimated by jobseekers. A well-written cover letter may mean the difference between a serious perusal of someone's resume, and a glance before it enters the circular file.

The most common mistake regarding cover letters (besides plain forgetting to write them!) is using them to duplicate information already in the resume. Instead, the cover letter should complement and expand upon the resume.

Imagine sitting at a desk with piles of resumes in front of you. All of them are printed on decent white paper. They all boast of each applicant's skills and objectives.

Quite a few of them have letters, some of them very long. Overwhelming, isn't it? Set yourself apart. You want to write a cover letter that gets attention and gives persuasive reasons for the reader to look at your resume.

So where to start? You can always learn by example. There are many example resume cover letters online. They are available in several formats, for dozens of different types of jobs. You can find them all by using your favorite search engine.

Don't be afraid to mention the name of someone who has both referred you and is well known to the company or interviewer-- provided you have that person's permission, of course. Employee or networking referrals can go a long way towards ensuring your resume gets considered.

Next thing you need to do is study the job description. Write references to it and describe how your skills make you suited for the job. 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.

Above all, picture the interviewer reading the cover letter and asking, "What's in it for me?" Chances are that's exactly what the interviewer's thinking every time he or she is reading resume cover letters. The interview is sure to be yours if your answer sounds good!