There are a number of effective techniques, and A:  Dear Mary,

In A. Applying online is as popular today as it was non-existent 15 years ago. Here are some pointers for workers who may have been out of circulation for a decade or more. 

Even in today’s electronic world, a cover letter can be vitally important. Regardless of how you send or submit your resume, a well-written cover letter can be the single most important differentiator in helping you land the job. So, brush up on the rules of writing a dynamic cover letter before you do anything else. Spherion’s Career Center has some helpful tools to help you get started.

The ways in which a potential employer accepts applications for an open job vary widely. Some ask that candidates attach their resume and cover letter as two separate documents. Others ask for the resume, cover letter and references to be saved as one single document for submittal. Some only accept cover letters if they are pasted into a resume text field, while others don’t even encourage cover letters. 

To be safe, visit a potential employer’s application Help or FAQ section before you apply. There you should find very specific instructions on what to submit for a particular job and how to do it (some specify rich text format; others portable document format and so on). 

If you happen to have the hiring manager’s e-mail address or are applying to a general email box, here are some tips on sending cover letters electronically.

• Use the subject line effectively.
  Many applicants either overlook the subject line or insert something basic like the job title for which they are applying. Use this brief space to sell yourself and provide incentive for the hiring manager to read your e-mail.
• Fancy is not your friend. 
  Now is not the time to be fancy. Keep all e-mails and your cover letter in ASCII format or plain text.  If you choose to upload your resume rather than cutting and pasting, be sure it’s in a format accepted by the employer.
• Build “searchability” into your cover letter.
  Most likely, your cover letter will join hundreds of others in a database or repository maintained by the company. By using as many keywords or industry jargon as you can, you’ll increase your chances of coming up at the top of the list in a database search.
• Proofread! 
  Last, but not least, proof your work and your correspondence. In fact, have a friend or family member proof it as well—and do it before you hit that ‘Submit’ key. Remember, you’ll never have a second chance to make a first impression!

Good luck!
Seymour