Check and check again for spelling errors. Don't rely on your Spell Check alone. Read your letter backward to catch your spelling errors and typos. Check for grammatical errors by reading your letter out loud carefully from beginning to end. Have other people check for errors as well.
Nothing shatters a good first impression faster than work that appears carelessly done.
Phrases from prior performance appraisals, letters of commendation, and letters of recommendation. Current and past job descriptions and standards of performance that clearly express job expectations and responsibilities. Desirable characteristics and requested skills for similar jobs advertised in the employment classified section of the newspaper. Newspaper editorials and business sections to help write paragraphs about your industry, occupation, or the economy. Besides providing you with a record of your search, you can use portions of these letters in future ones. - To be efficient, develop two or three basic paragraphs and modify them slightly to personalize each letter.