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

A. Hilde,

It is becoming increasingly more prevalent for resumes to be sent via e-mail to potential employers. E-mail boosts the efficiency of the traditionally time-consuming job search process, but it also presents new challenges. Though there are some differences sending resumes via e-mail rather than through the mail, don’t think you can get away without including a cover letter. Here are some tips for making your cover letter ready to send at the click of a mouse:

• Maximize your subject line.
  Don’t ever leave the subject line of your e-mail blank or waste it by just inserting the job number. Use it to entice the employer into your cover letter.  For example: “high-tech product-marketing executive for director of marketing.”
• Short and sweet. 
  Online cover letters don’t need to be as lengthy as traditional cover letters, but their basic elements should remain the same. Keep it to two concise paragraphs or under 150 words. Hook your employer in the first paragraph. It should not be any longer than one screen in length. However, use standard cover letter protocol – salutation, standard closing, blank lines between paragraphs, etc.
• Use keywords. 
  Include keywords pertinent to the position because your cover letter may be filed into a database. Using critical keywords will enhance the likelihood that your cover letter and resume will be retrieved in a future search.
• Insert rather than attach.
  Paste your cover letter in the body of the e-mail. You can always make the notation “hard copy to follow.”
• Remove formatting. 
  Use plain text – black font, normal size and typeface (i.e. 10 point, Arial or Times Roman) on a white background. Practice sending it via email to yourself and a friend who uses a different Internet service provider to ensure the letter is clean and professional-looking.
• Always proofread. 
  Never hit “send” without thoroughly spell checking and proofreading your e-mail cover letter. Surveys show that just one typo is enough for hiring managers to eliminate a candidate for consideration. Let another set of eyes read your letter to recheck for content and style. Make sure that what you send by e-mail is something you’d want printed out and shown to a prospective employer.

No matter how your cover letter is sent, it should be clear, concise and professional looking. Use e-mail as a tool to your advantage – employers often prefer it, it’s faster, and demonstrates your technology skills.
Good luck!

Seymour