Preparing an effective cover letter is equally as important as writing your resume.  The cover letter is used to sell your resume by communicating to your potential employer how your skills and experiences are a match for the position for which you are applying.  However, preparing a poorly written cover letter is worse than not doing one at all. This post will give you a few pointers on how to make your first impression a lasting one.

Cover Letter Do’s

• Tailor each cover letter to a specific employer.
• Type the cover letter in the same font as your resume.
• Use paper that matches your resume.
• Keep it short and sweet!  Three to five paragraphs maximum.
• Use the recruiter’s name and title.
• Market yourself as a good solution to the employer’s needs.
• Highlight the key points of your resume.
• Conclude with a commitment to action…tell employer what you will do next.
• Fit the letter on one page with one-inch margins on every side.
• Sign the letter using black ink.

Cover Letter Dont’s

• Mention personal weaknesses or perceived shortcomings.
• Say that you will do “any” job.
• Forget to include your telephone number and e-mail address.
• Use abbreviations.
• Use a type font smaller than an 11 point.
• Send form letters.
• Forget to spell-check.
• Exaggerate, brag or lie.
• Forget to read, edit and re-read your letter for typos, spelling mistakes, and grammatical errors.

If you have any additional advice for how to write an effective cover letter, please share with our readers by entering your thoughts in the comments section below.  We appreciate any additional advice for our readers.

To find out more career advice, follow us on Twitter @NetWorks_Sports

In Their Own Words with Benita Fitzgerald Mosley

Benita Fitzgerald Mosley - Chief of Sport Performance, USA Track & Field

A native of Northern Virginia, Benita Fitzgerald Mosley has leveraged her success in the classroom (majored in Industrial Engineering at the University of Tennessee) and on the track (as a student-athlete at Tennessee in addition to being a Gold Medalist in the 1984 Summer Olympics) to launch quite an impressive career where she has had widespread influence on a global platform.

Benita has always been a leader and influential voice amongst her peers, so it wasn’t a surprise that after participant on a committee aimed at assessing the current state of USA Track & Field, she was called to take the lead in helping to bring back the sport to the level of success we all had witness when she was wearing the red, white, and blue in Los Angeles back in 1984.

Her career now comes full-circle as she takes on a newly created role with USA Track & Field as Chief of Sports Performance.  A role that will undoubtedly play a huge role in the performance of the track & field team as we approach the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

This week’s NetWorks Sports’ Recommended Book is Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton by Jeff Pearlman.

This week’s book review is actually a “preview” for Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton, which will officially be released on October 4th.  Sweetness, written by New York Times bestselling author (and friend of NetWorks Sports Consulting) Jeff Pearlman, is sure to inspire sports fans, NFL fans, and anyone who wants to hear a story about a man, Walter Payton, who lead a legendary career on the field while carrying himself with so much grace.

Several books have been written chronicling Walter Payton’s life.  Most focused on his career and on-field achievements.  Others dabbled into his personal life.  But Jeff Pearlman has endeavored to find out more about this mysterious man who inspired many through his thrilling runs and awe-inspiring touchdown dives throughout the course of his career.

We could go on & on in support of Pearlman’s book, but we think there is no better way to find out about the content of this book than through the author’s own words.

Writing this book was obviously a meaningful journey for Pearlman, which is surely conveyed in the eloquent prose and honest insight into the true story behind the man we call Sweetness.  With that said, Pearlman has offered up some amazing tidbits about his journey through various video vignettes that you can find on YouTube.

There are about 10 videos for you to enjoy, but the one that struck a chord with me was “SweetSpot3: Jeff Pearlman on his book The Enigmatic Walter Payton.”  Here Pearlman gives us a little insight into what was so interesting about Payton…the fact that the wrong birth date is published in nearly every book or article about Payton.

Fascinating stuff!  Here’s my favorite clip….Jeff Pearlman’s Sweet Spot 3:

Check out the videos & then go to www.jeffpearlman.com to order a copy of Sweetness for yourself!  You can follow Jeff on Twitter @JeffPearlman

Follow NetWorks Sports on Twitter @NetWorks_Sports

NetWorks Small Business Profile on Athletes Chef LLC and its founder, Kyle Coleman

Kyle Coleman - CEO & Executive Chef, Athletes Chef LLC

Name: Kyle Coleman

Title: CEO & Executive Chef

Company Name: Athletes Chef, LLC

Company Website: www.athleteschef.com

Blog/Twitter/Facebook: http://www.twitter.com/athleteschef

When did you start your company and what was your inspiration for starting it?
I started Athletes Chef in 2011. My inspiration for starting my business was to reach out to youth athletes in urban areas and their parents and introduce healthy yet affordable meal options that promote wellness and meal options that optimize sport performance.

What’s your Elevator Pitch?
Athletes Chef specializes in prepared meals for ahletes and those with dietary concerns. We provide healthy food demostrations to youth athletes, their parents, schools, organizations and adults with dietary concerns.

What is your company’s Mission Statement?
To promote healthy nutrition education to youth, collegiate, professional athletes, fitness enthusiast, weekend warriors and everyday Americans through cooking demonstrations with various organic products and hormone free meats, presentations and social media.

What is your favorite part of owning your own business?
I enjoy being able to make healthy food exciting and delectable to achieve the dietary goals required. I simply enjoy being a chef and being involved with sports at the same time.

Tell us about your career before you became your own boss.
At a very young age, I became intrigued with food while laying on the kitchen floor watching my mother prepare meals, and assisting my father with barbecuing in the backyard. As I grew older, I developed a passion for food as I experimented in the kitchen baking cookies and cakes and preparing meals. Because of this passion, I took an educational leave of absence from Ford Motor Company, and enrolled in Schoolcraft College’s Culinary Arts Program.

I graduated from Schoolcraft College in April, 2005 with an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts with honors. I was a student assistant in the Culinary Arts Program and worked as a private chef for several families, and also catered private parties when not taking classes. I was part of a development team at Schoolcraft College, which worked with new oven technology and conducted testing for Subway. With the TurboChef Schoolcraft College partnership, I studied and taught oven programming, development of cook cycles, and product development.

After graduation, I became a full-time employee of TurboChef Technologies as a Corporate Chef. During my tenure with TurboChef, I was the company’s representative to Starbucks, Sara Lee, and Tyson to name a few, where I developed opportunities and supported numerous customers that remain with TurboChef to this very day. I also led the efforts to expand the customer base into U.S. Military Bases as they became familiar with TurboChef ovens and what this technology could do for them.

Later I served as a contract employee to Concerto Foods as Corporate Executive Chef where I developed 19 menu items and developed food service items for Hyatt Hotels and Tim Horton’s. I later was employed by Smoky Market Foods, and during this tenure I served as Corporate Executive Chef and Director of Foodservice Operations. I oversaw the building of the company’s pilot restaurant, authored the standard operating procedures, and developed training platforms among many other tasks.

After leaving corporate America, I decided it was time to refocus my career and combine my passions and joys which are food, sports, healthy nutrition and children. To ensure the highest nutritional meals for my clients I have become a Certified Fitness Chef, Certified Sports Nutrition Specialist and Certified in Kid’s Nutrition Specialist so I can assist them in performing at optimal levels on a daily basis. Additionally, I’m also involved with First Lady Michelle Obama’s child obesity initiative- Chef’s Move to Schools.

Were you previously involved in the sports industry?  If so, what capacity?
I played high school football.

What was your goal when starting the company?  Has that changed?  What is your long-term vision for your company?
My goal is to educate athletes on the meal options they have to help them meet their preformance goals.

What is it like running your own company?  Give us a “day in the life.”
I can’t put into words how rewarding it has been to go in the urban community and educate the youth on healthy food options and provide affordable meal options to the parents as well.

What are the greatest challenges of owning your own business?
The biggest challenge of owning your own business is owning the process of successfully marketing your own business and and growing the business.

What has been the biggest surprise you’ve had in being an entrepreneur/business owner?
The biggest surprise in being a business owner for me has been all the formal procedures required to proceed forth.

What are the greatest rewards of entrepreneurship & business ownership?
The greatest reward of being a business owner is follwing your dreams and passions and being compensated at the same time.

Is there a mentor (or mentors) that has helped you along the way?
I don’t have a mentor at this time. I am relying on a lot of research combined with a passion for the business.

Please share any advice for readers who are considering starting their own business.
I cannot stress enough to others considering their own business to do a lot of research and if you cannot find the answer seek someone that can lead you in the right direction.

Favorite Book: Mind Gym

Favorite Movie: The Blind Side

Hobbies: Attending various sporting events

What’s playing on your iPod: Various artists

Mac or PC: Mac

Favorite TV Show: Any Food Network shows

Favorite Restaurant: Too many to name

Favorite Quote: “Nothing fails you but a try”

For more information on Kyle & Athletes Chef, log on to www.athleteschef.com

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Today’s NetWorks Sports Future Leader is Chris Chaney