Avoid the Autobiography Letter.

This letter rambles on and on without focus, telling the reader of the writer's exploits, but doing little to connect those experiences with the kind of job the writer seeks:

Dear Ms. Peters:
I am currently a senior (July 2003 graduation) finance student at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. After receiving my bachelor's degree in July, I will be relocating permanently to Hungary to seek full-time employment. Recently, while researching material for a term paper, I learned of Doppler Systems' presence in Central Europe.

I am very interested in working for a reputable American firm with interest in establishing and expanding business in this area of the world. As a part of my degree requirements, I have taken courses in marketing, multi-national finance and have emphasized both investments and financial corporate reporting. My minor is in the German language, and I satisfied the requirements of this study, partially, by studying one year abroad at Albert Ludwig's University in Freiburg, Germany.

During the two semesters spent in Freiburg, I took advantage of semester breaks and vacations to travel with fellow exchange students to their homes in Hungary. I also took introductory Hungarian while attending Albert Ludwig's University.

In addition to my scholastic pursuits in Germany, I spent three and a half years as a U.S. soldier stationed just outside of Frankfurt, and one year as a track worker for a firm under contract to the German railroad. The latter position took me to various locales throughout the country.

The combination of formal training and real-life experience has allowed me to become extremely fluent in German. My intention now is to become equally proficient in Hungarian.