Cover Letters

No resume should ever be sent without an explanation. Anything else would be like sending spam or junkmail. The receipent needs to know who you are and why you are sending the resume.

The traditional way to send a resume is through the U.S. mail, with a cover letter. Often, resumes are sent electronically, so the explanation is made in a covering email with the resume attached as a .pdf or .doc file. (You would not send an email with a cover letter attached; the email is where you need to make the excellent first impression!)

As with the resume, the cover letter should present yourself in the most positive way possible.

You must tell the truth, of course, but you should pick the information that is most relevant and most positive to the prospective employer.
This is a marketing document, not a plea for a chance. Consider what the employer needs in an employee, not what you need in the way of salary or vacations.
Present a businesslike image. As in any letter, be clear about your purpose, provide relevant and convincing evidence, and end with an appropriate action step.