Though it may seem outdated, a professionally written business letter can make all the difference in landing a deal, building relationships with potential clients or successfully navigating a dispute.

Amanda Smith is a freelance journalist and writer. She reports on culture, society, human interest and technology. Her stories hold a mirror to society, reflecting both its malaise and its beauty.

Johnny C. Taylor Jr. tackles your human resources questions as part of a series for USA TODAY. Taylor is president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest HR ...

Something that should always go alongside your resume is your cover letter. Cover letters help you stand out to employers.

Over the course of my career, I’ve read probably tens of thousands of cover letters. (And yes, that’s as boring as it sounds.