It's so hard to "sell yourself"

Ever made a cover letter?

It's basically something I was never taught how to make. They taught us how to make resumes but when did cover letters become a thing? So a cover letter is supposed to "praise" the company you're applying for and "sell yourself" to them so that they'll choose you over a bunch of other applicants who are vying for the same thing you want... a prestigious position in their elite company. That's all well and good.. I have no problem with that... but OH MAN! It's so hard to sell yourself. You have to talk yourself up while still remaining humble and at the same time make yourself the best option to capture their interest so that they'll invite you in for an interview.

Well I've never done the whole marketing thing and selling thing.. after all I tried to avoid the whole finance part when we had projects. Even just trying to raise money for things like yearbooks, my loving parents always helped me out by contacting their friends. Now it's my turn to step up and do the contacting. I guess sticking it out for 7 years, there has got to be a reason. I hope that it means that my opportunity, the one that I've been waiting for, is ready for me and I for it. That's why it has taken me this long to actually take the scariest step in my career and actually put myself out there and take a chance.

The first step was the resume which was more or less easy enough since it's just cold hard facts about yourself. You don't actually sell yourself there but put your life works and achievements there in cold hard facts complete with year of accomplishment. Then the next part, the research... where do you want to apply to and what exactly do you want. This is a tedious process that can make one very dizzy. I could only do a few options of researching per night before things got confusing. After that's done, put the companies in order of where you want to apply the most and get to work on that cover letter. So since I've never actually done a cover letter before I had to google it.. Thank you google! Even though you can google the format you can't make google make the letter for you, so I got to making the cover letter. The first paragraph was tough but made easier since I really want to get in to the company (and the research you did on the company factors in to this paragraph). Then comes the second paragraph (on which I am currently stuck on)... the one where you actually "sell yourself" so to speak. Where you put in your good points and how you can benefit the company. It's the hardest to make since what points exactly do you put in and how do you put it eloquently enough that it is convincing. And how exactly do you sell yourself beyond your resume without it becoming an essay? I know I have to be clear, concise and to the point. Here we go...

Oh and before I end this.. the last paragraph of a cover letter is probably the easiest since you just reinforce your interest and thank them for taking the time to read your letter and resume and hope that they'll contact you.