For a student whether high school or college, gaining a job or beginning their career can be a challenge. In this economy it’s very difficult to obtain a new position let alone a first one and you need a way to stand out from the crowd. A drawback a student might have is the fact that they may not have any experience in the field they are trying to enter. There is a lot of competition for one position and many of them will have much more expertise than the student may have.

In order to stand out from the pack and have a potential employer look beyond the fact that you are a student, you must write a resume that really highlights what you are capable of doing. If you are a top student, make a point of letting them know. Did some volunteering? Make sure you put that into the resume as well. Anything that is relevant to the position is important as well as any skills previous work experience and volunteer work you have done that you can bring to the job.

Your first impression though is the cover letter. This is your introduction to the company and the very first thing they will see and know of you. Always tailor it to the position and company you are applying for - as a generic one will be spotted and the company may pass you by as not putting in enough effort. Make the letter personal and professional and let the company know why you would be the best choice for the job.

If you are unsure on how to compose an effective cover letter, there are online websites that offer free formats and templates you can follow when creating your letter. Make sure you change the wording and make it fit your own qualifications.

Some sites you might want to look at are:

SouthWorth

http://www.southworth.com/page.php?id=187

Technical Job Search

http://technicaljobsearch.com/letters/cover-letters.htm

Quintessential Careers

http://www.quintcareers.com/cover_letter_samples.html

Job Search: About.com

Http://jobsearch.about.com/od/teenstudentgrad/a/studentresume.htm