* Show Your Personality

While your writing style should be matched to your audience to some extent, as explained above, it should also reflect your personality. Start to give your prospective employer a sense of who you are and what you value.

* Research and Target Your Audience

You want to sell hiring manager on belief that you’re a great fit for company. The only way to do this is if you know enough about company to understand what makes it tick. Be sure you’ve taken time to learn a bit about their mission, their products, their history, and their goals for future. This will help you communicate hiring you will benefit them.

Always address cover letter to a specific person.

Take time to call company if necessary to learn name of person doing interviewing. This, in itself, says a lot about your initiative and attention to detail.

Tip #2: SELL YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS Your cover letter should sell you as product. So, make sure you know what skills company needs and then describe how you have what they are looking for. Pick one or two of your best accomplishments or abilities, and highlight them in your letter. Sure, they’re listed on your resume too, but this tactic makes sure hiring manager sees them right away.

If it makes sense to list a few accomplishments, then list them as bullets. This will draw reader’s attention to that section of letter right away. And after all, what you have to offer is most important part of this letter.

Tip #3: CLOSE THE LETTER Powerfully Ideally, you want to leave your reader hungering to know more about you. But you also want to be proactive. So, rather than ending your letter with common statement, "I look forward to your call," say you’ll call them in a few days to arrange a time to meet. If you don’t have a phone number, and couldn’t find on during your research, then try to provide an incentive for them to call you.

Some people say they’re going on vacation or out of town after a certain date and ask to meet prior to that. Others say they’ll be in an area at a certain date and time and ask for interview during that period. Be creative, but make it as real--and company- oriented--as you can.

Tip #4: MAKE IT PLEASING TO THE EYE Finally, it’s important that your cover letter be easy to read and professional looking.

So, question is... once you've figured out what you want to do in your new career and you've gotten training you need, how do you sell yourself to a new employer?

The first thing you want to consider is format for your resume. The traditional chronological resume format is not your best choice for a career change. Instead, you want to use either a functional--or even better, combination-- format. You can read more about different types of resume formats here: http://www.powerful-sample-resume-formats.com/formats

Second, you need to take a look at your transferable skills. That is, what current or past experience or skills do you possess (either from past jobs or in your personal life) that you could use in your new career?

For example, one of my readers recently asked how he could get into interior design without any previous job experience or training. I'm not sure you CAN get into this field without any training, but if so, then I advised him to look at any design experience he's had, perhaps with redecorating his own or a friend's home. I also encouraged him to build a portfolio of his work, which can be a very effective way to get an employer's attention.

Thirdly, you have to be honest with yourself about whether you can really make a career change without adding to your skills and credentials by getting some training in new field. There's a lot to be said for contacts you can make during such training too, that may help you network with people who can provide an entree into new career.

In summary, anyone can make a career change if they really want to. But to do so, you'll need to know what related skills and experience you bring to table. And you'll need to know how to sell yourself to a prospective employer. Career change is inevitable... you can count on it! But make sure it's on your terms by making a solid career change plan.