Job seekers without a flair for writing and storytelling may find it painfully difficult to put together an impressive cover letter. The most common way they start their cover letter is with words like, “I’m very pleased to submit my application.” But do you realize just how awfully stiff these words sound to employers? Related: 4 Inside Secrets To Writing A Great Cover Letter A cover letter is your personal introduction to the employer. It has to communicate your professional journey so far, or how you acquired the skills that you've listed in your resume. In the recruitment industry, narrating a story and driving home a point is considered a “very good” practice, really. You can also mention common contacts, crack a mild joke, and carefully build the interest of the person reading it. But before telling you how to do that, let’s find out what a cover letter is, and why it is so important: