If you are someone from the Human Resources department and you have received 100's of application for a job post, then what will determine as to whom you will call for interview? Well this will be based on the first impression that has been created.

The first impression, because you haven't met the person would mean that how the resume and the cover letter that you have sent are.

The first impression is very important it may also mean that here the rejection and the selection would also happen.

So let us understand the overall process and the format.

The resume cover letter is very much like any business letter.

Be careful about the following:

1. Write your name and address on the top of the envelope. The format on the cover letter should be same as that of the resume. Even the font size and color should be exactly the same.

2. Also mention the recipient's name and designation with the necessary details.

3. Write on the bottom of the envelope about the enclosures. Give a heading of enclosures and write what all is enclosed inside the envelop

Along with what is on the cover letter, one more thing that is important is what is in the letter. This forms the major part of the texts that is most significant.

The letter would be structured well and will have 3 sections in the form of 3 paragraphs

1. Introduction

The first paragraph is the introduction paragraph. This should summarise the main objective of writing this letter. This should be short and brief but at the same time, well informative.

Also here the position for which you have applied should be clear. What your have written here will be carried on in details in the paragraphs to come.

2. Body

The body of the cover letter forms the largest section of the letter. It will talk in elaborate form as to you what is it that is your primary as well as the other objective.

There you might highlight a point or a two that is most important so that it is emphasized and it stands out well.

The length will range from half a page to almost one full page.

3. Closing

The closing of the letter would be made in the third paragraph.

This will talk about the call for action and will also explain the actions and initiatives that you are expecting after the letter is read. But all of this will have to be made politely and humbly.

Repeat your details here.

About your resume

While writing the resume the following are the major points that have to be kept in mind.

They are:

1. It has to be brief but at the same time well informative.

2. All the information, which includes the education qualification, as well as the achievement, should necessarily be in chronological order.

3. There should be no grammatical or spelling mistake. Get is checked by someone else.

4. Write only that information for which you can produce evidence. Don't talk about an achievement of an event, where in you have already lost the certificates.

5. Check the alignment of the different paragraphs.

6. Let it be fact based and not be in a praising tone.

Grandpa Simpson from the hit TV series "The Simpsons" is one of my favourite characters. His character flaw is that he rambles on and on without actually saying anything useful. The consequence is that he struggles for attention, he alienates those around him and he is frequently ignored or overlooked. If you think about it, this is exactly the kind of attention, or lack thereof, that we dread when we submit a job application.

And although Grandpa Simpson is not real, his actions and the reactions of those around him are certainly funny because they are a realistic - slightly exaggerated - reflection of real people's emotions. In other words, poor old Grandpa could easily be a champion for overworked cover letters and resumes. They may well provoke the same emotions in employers as Grandpa does with his family.

From an employer's viewpoint the tendency for boredom is amplified by the sheer volume of applications that need to be considered. One after the other - claims of excellence, claims of expertise and claims of highly developed skills dominate the messages presented in the job application pile. The only thing more boring than the relentless barrage of self-promotion is the long winded application that was naively written as if the reader was interested in every irrelevant aspect of the job applicants' life.

Yes, the Grandpa Simpson style job application is destined to be overlooked as the busy employer strives to get through all applications on schedule. Even if the employer was patient enough to read it, what message would he/she take from the multitudes of facts and experiences? How can one ensure that the key points are absorbed?

Consider this example: If I asked you to tell me what experiences make you unique as a person would you describe people and events from the distant past that you have long forgotten and had minimal influence on you even when your paths did cross? Or would you describe turning points, revelations, key decisions, heartbreak or other moments that caused you to reflect and were powerful enough to inspire change?

The concept is the same with job applications, the irrelevant parts are...irrelevant. And the key points need the space and the limited time to shine. To represent the journey and experiences that make you capable of performing the job. To be noticed at a glance and to tell a story of growth and development without having to filter unnecessary information.

Don't let the Grandpa Simpson effect rob your key experiences of exposure. Ensure that every word in your job application is important and relevant to the reader. Be clear, concise and convincing as you describe the experiences that helped you to develop the skills that you are now advertising.

Want to see some examples? Find sample Resumes here. Or perhaps you want some assistance narrowing down the career pathway that you want to pursue?