It’s no secret every element of your cover letter is important from top to bottom. But the cover letter introduction may be just a bit more significant simply because it works as the bait to lure in your readers, encouraging them to learn more about you. To make sure your introduction does its job, take a look at four goals every cover letter introduction should accomplish.

1. Advertise Your Skills and Accomplishments

Advertising your skills and accomplishments early on in a cover letter works well to pique the interest of hiring managers. This is because many are more intrigued by intros that start with: ”Searching tirelessly for a top-level executive chef with 20 years of restaurant, casino, and hotel experience? Look no further!”—rather than: “I want to thank you for the opportunity to apply for the executive chef position.”

Candidates have found that managers respond more willingly to the creative introduction that lists reasons they should be hired. Keep this concept in mind as you write your own.

Long gone are the days where employers review all resume submissions manually. And even if there are still a few who are doing that, their eyes are quickly scanning over your resume for keywords that align with their view of the position.

A majority of today’s employers rely on scanning technology to go through the enormous volume of resumes that come in to their offices for each open position. It is a process similar to how websites and search engines operate. If your resume contains the right keywords and is “keyword rich” according to what the employer enters for the scanning technology, your resume has a greater chance of getting to the top of the stack for review.

So, regardless of how qualified you may be for the position, your chance at an interview will likely be missed if the scanning technology or human eye does not see keywords that tell them you are relevant for the job.

Through the process of working with and coaching all levels of leaders, I’ve discovered some consistencies in qualities that distinguish those who are high potential and emerging talent.

These are not only the qualities I actually see in these individuals but also the qualities senior leaders speak of when they look for new leaders. These are the traits that make others say, “I’d love to have him or her on my team" and, "I'd love to work for him or her." So, what qualities actually make others say these things?

First, these emerging high potential leaders have an extremely calm demeanor and exude quiet confidence when they speak.  They are not boastful but extremely confident in their abilities.They know what they want to do with their careers and are confident they will reach their goals.The energy they convey is calming.They are flexible, go with the flow yet, are not afraid to make a decision and take a risk to better themselves, their team, and their company.

As a Certified Professional Resume Writer and former Executive Recruiter, I am often approached by highly qualified job seekers frustrated by weeks and often months of costly unemployment. Job seekers who have sent hundreds of resumes yet are never called to interview.

If they were lucky, they were told early that their resume doesn’t meet today’s standards and needs to be rewritten. However, many job seekers wait and hear nothing; having simply been absorbed by the black hole of the employer’s applicant tracking system software.

There is no question that unemployment is expensive; but choosing the wrong resume writer can be equally disastrous. In today's highly competitive job market, your career path and financial future are often determined by the quality of your resume.

In a previous post on my blog, I emphasized the importance of "keeping your online ID squeaky clean."

This is so vital in preserving your online reputation while you search for a job, prepare for an interview or change careers. Employers, hiring managers and recruiters are scrutinizing job candidates, whether they are actively or passively engaged in a job search. Don't fool yourself into believing otherwise. A compromising online identity can ruin your chances of being considered a potential job candidate.

Recently, I read a story on ResumeBear.com that featured "Linkedin avatars gone wrong." All the more reason to choose how you want to be portrayed online.

"JT & Dale Talk Jobs" is the largest nationally syndicated career advice column in the country and can be found at JTandDale.com.

Dear J.T. & Dale: I remember being told my resume should be one page. Recently, my employer was hiring and we were getting two- to three-page resumes. One person even had a section with her personal information: kids, hobbies. What are the rules? - Shiloh

J.T.: There are no set rules these days. Honestly, that's a problem: Without rules, resumes come in so many different styles hiring managers feel they are comparing apples to oranges. It's starting to seem inevitable that online profiles will take the place of resumes, creating more consistency in how people present their credentials.

"JT & Dale Talk Jobs" is the largest nationally syndicated career advice column in the country and can be found at JTandDale.com.

Dear J.T. & Dale: I just returned from overseas and am looking for a job in the private sector. All my Army friends say not to bother, because civilians don't understand the military and don't hire us. How do I get companies to consider me? - Bradley

J.T.: One online resource you should check out is ClearedJobs.net. This is a job board for positions that require security clearance, but it also offers extensive job search resources. As for getting companies to consider you, it starts with convincing yourself. Where do you see yourself working in corporate America? What jobs have you identified that you are confident you could do successfully? If you can articulate reasons why you will succeed, you'll have the right information to share with employers.

"JT & Dale Talk Jobs" is the largest nationally syndicated career advice column in the country and can be found at JTandDale.com.

Dear J.T. & Dale: I've been applying for jobs recently, and several companies have requested I send writing samples along with my resume. What are they looking for? Is there a certain format or length that is appropriate? — Anastasia

J.T.: The key is to assess the kinds of writing you would be doing in the job you're applying for. A person applying for a sales position would consider sending in examples of proposals to potential clients, while a training manager would send in samples of employee handbooks or training support materials. As for length, send two or three samples of varying lengths — a one-page summary and then a multi-page document, each displaying a very different style of writing as a way to also showcase your versatility.

"JT & Dale Talk Jobs" is the largest nationally syndicated career advice column in the country and can be found at JTandDale.com.

Dear J.T. & Dale: I have worked for the same company for 11 years. I can retire in 15 months. I know I live in a "right to work" state and that I could be fired at any time. Are there any laws that protect me from being fired before I retire? I am honest, dependable and hardworking, yet a few times recently my boss has threatened to let me go. He did this for no reason. - Nicole

DALE: Time to turn once again to our favorite employment attorney, Scott Gordon of Rodey Law in Albuquerque, N.M. First, Scott, remind us of the general position of most employees.

"JT & Dale Talk Jobs" is the largest nationally syndicated career advice column in the country and can be found at JTandDale.com.

Dear J.T. & Dale: We just found out our company is closing the plant where I and others have worked for more than 20 years. There isn't a final closing date, but it will close in three to six months. In this job market, does it make sense to wait until the plant is closing to look for a new job and thus retain severance (close to a year's pay)? Or should I start looking now and leave without the severance? - Andre

DALE: Most people don't just wait for their severance to start - they wait for it to end. There's even an old line among cynical outplacement counselors: When the newly laid-off employee asks, "How long will it take me to find a job?" the outplacement counselor responds, "However long your severance is, plus two months."