Cover letters are great. All that detail that you omitted on your resume can be used in your cover letter to great affect as long as you do it right.

The Basics

1. Be brief - never longer than a page, or a "screen" if you're emailing it.
2. If your'e emailing your cover letter, don't send it as an attachment, include it in the body of the email.
3. Always include all of your contact information on your cover letter. It may become separated from your resume.
4. Make sure it is free of spelling and grammar errors.
   

Writing It

The cover letter should have four parts:

1. Introducing yourself.
2. Explain why you're great.
3. Explain why you're great for this company.
   
4. Conclude.

Example:

Hello,

My name is Bob Dobbs and I'm applying for the Meat Department Manager position at IGA. I've been a Manager in Deli and Meat Departments for the last six years and prior to that I was an Apprentice Butcher and Butcher for four years.

The reason that I have been so successful in my job is that I am committed to quality and to training. My department staff are always the best trained employees who take pride in their work. As a team, we focus on quality in our product, customer service, and departmental operations. Grocery stores typically have high turnover in their employees - my team had less than 1%.

If given the opportunity, I will have a positive impact on your store by increasing the quality of your meat department and reducing the cost of hiring and training new employees.

Please feel free to contact me at your convenience, I can be reached at (555) 555-5555. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you,

Bob Dobbs
1313 Mockingbird Lane
Eerie, Indiana 00001
(555) 555-5555