A cover letter is your sales pitch — its importance must not be underestimated.

Like any effective sales pitch, it, first and foremost, must be tailored to the “prospect.” Make sure your message does not appear to be mass marketed. “To whom it may concern” or email “To” lines that include multiple recipients guarantee a hasty push of the delete button.

So how can you improve your chances of having your resume opened?

First, send the letter to the correct person, with their correct title. Don’t use fancy phraseology, or too much jargon and abbreviations — keep it short and simple. Spell check and proof it — twice.

The first paragraph should state which position or type of position you are applying for. If someone has referred you, list that person’s name.

A second paragraph can contain additional information not found on your resume. You can also highlight some part of your background that will make you a particularly good fit for that position. If salary information is requested, this is a good place to mention it.

Your closing should thank the addressee for their consideration, request an interview and list the best way to reach you.

And, as usual, contact me first, not last.

I find that some of the worst crafted resumes are submitted by partner-level candidates.

Is this because they have not written one in years? Or, perhaps, they feel so much has gone on in their lives they couldn’t abide to not include every little detail?

Whatever the reason may be, let’s start with what doesn’t belong on a resume: Photos, marital information, names and ages of children, race, birth place, height, weight, condition of health, religion, political information and unrelated activities or “honors” (Who’s Who, Book of the Month Club, etc.). You also don’t need an “objective.” And please, do not write a resume in first person.

Here’s what to include: Name, address, cellphone number and personal e-mail address. Begin with a summary description of your practice, then your employment history in reverse chronological order, including dates. Education (with dates) is listed after employment history followed by professional memberships and affiliations, professional honors, publications and speaking engagements.

Last, if you want to have help managing your search on a confidential basis, contact me.

As the market becomes tighter, I am receiving many more calls than normal from associates looking for help. Since I cannot work with everyone, and goodness knows I wish I could, here are some tips that might prove helpful in your job search.

Plan to attach a resume (more on that in a minute) a copy of your law school transcript, and a separate sheet highlighting your representative transactions if you are a corporate lawyer. If you are a litigator, a writing sample should accompany the other documents. (Remember to use something that has been filed — please don’t compromise your current firm or their clients with privileged information).

Here’s what I like to see on a one page resume:

It should include your name, home address, cell phone number and personal, (non provocative) e-mail address. Don’t include an objective — your objective is to change jobs.

Begin with your Education and include any honors or journals, and GPA or class ranking if you are proud of them.

Next is Legal Experience. List the name of your current position, date to present, and describe your background, including both the functional duties and types of matters you handle — this section can be several sentences. Prior jobs are listed in descending chronological order with shorter descriptions.

Non Legal Experience is only included if you had a career between undergraduate and law school. Leave off jobs held during school. You can list that you financed all or part of your education without the particulars.

Memberships and Affiliations are next. Include state bar memberships, federal court or circuit admissions, professional organizations and sections, etc. Civic activities can be included here, but do not include political or religious affiliations.

If you have them, mention publications, speaking engagements or other languages you speak. Forget “references upon request,” it is assumed.

Oh, and send it to me first, not after being rejected by everyone in town. I can’t help you then.