Really? In my industry (municipal government management) it’s still super common. I put a lot of stock in them when I hire, and I’ve gotten the sense that I’ve gotten several jobs due in part to a well written cover letter. But maybe that’s just because persuasive communication and writing about technical topics for a general audience are crucial skills for what I do.
I work in the public sector also (in HR and Operations).
I've had hiring managers require a cover letter simply to verify that the applicant read the job posting all the way through. They won't even look at a resume without the requested cover letter, because the applicant clearly "doesn't know how to follow instructions".
The hell.
Cover letters are reason why I have gotten my jobs to this day. My CV is almost empty but in cover letter I have managed to over come that lack of content for CV.
Here its norm that you send cover letter.
Yes if I see gaps in between jobs or lack of scope of role the person is applying for. People should write cover letters to explain something in their CV such as rational for switching careers or looking to move to a new state or country. Other than that, your skills should align with the job so a cover letter isn’t necessary.
I have a cover letter because I'm looking for in Individual Contributor role when my last role was as a COO. Employers want an explanation for that to even give me a phone screen.
Why gaps matter so much for recruiters? I have never understood it.
"You would be perfect candidate but you did not work on your field past 6 months so bye bye"
I have +1 year gap in my CV, because Ukraine war and Covid literally killed my field of industry here.
I tried to apply even as basic cashiers without luck as I was seen overeducated.
Because often most companies care about this. Remember, at the end of the day business is business. The cost of growing companies is expensive and it’s that much more expensive if you need to replace a person for a role often due to productivity, time to hire, etc. So, a lot of CEOs create a culture where they want to hire people for longevity. So let’s say you changed jobs every year it’s a high likelihood you’ll leave within a year with the next one. Of course there’s exceptions to these things like a person moving to another country, contract work, lay offs, etc.
I think your current situation is one where in a cover letter you can maybe mention you are looking for a career change. You’re getting rejected because it’s likely the recruiter thinks you’ll be asking for more money given you are overqualified.
I’m sorry you’re in this situation. I am seeing the same pattern for some roles in hiring for.
If your most recent job you were laid off IMO you don’t have to. Recruiters should be up to speed on lay offs. I feel like given the current times if a resume shows the person is not working right now it’s due to a lay off. You can also put it in parenthesis in your resume next to the company so you don’t waste space in a cover letter.
This may get downvotes on a recruiting subreddit, but I’m a hiring manager and I read them. Says a lot about the person writing them and answers questions I have about why they want this job. I want someone hat wants THIS job, not just any job
I read them too because someone put extra effort into applying. Also my facilities are in rural areas so it helps to know that someone understands they’re applying to a job a couple hours from any major city/airport, because a lot of the towns I recruit for have NOTHING going on.
Yes.
It helps shorten the list down for me.
Whenever we have a remote role there can sometimes be dozens of qualified applicants that we don’t have the time to screen and any form of written sample they have expressing their excitement about the company’s history, product, the role, etc can go a long way helping narrow things down, especially when it’s a role in customer support for example where writing skills and past experience with our consumer product are qualities we look for.
We have a very simple “why did you apply for the opportunity?” question in the application. I’d rather speak to the person with a great cover letter/written response versus the person that just puts “.” in the field, which happens more often than you’d think.
I tailored my cover letter specifically for those companies that I truly interested in. Spend so many hours just want to make it right and make sure the message is not too long. Results: get the rejection next day.
You already have the answer. Spending hours on a cover letter is just plain inefficient vs just putting in applications.
The hiring manager doesn't care. They just want to know are the people I'm putting forward match the requirements.
You are better spent making sure the key skills and technologies mentioned in the req are easy for the recruiter and hiring manager to see.
You are speaking specifically to your industry. We reject out of hand anyone without a cover and I am a hiring manager. The other hiring managers do the same - we read them and we think about them.
What industry are you in?
I'm mostly supporting contract fills for defense, intelligence, and infrastructure.
Not a single hiring manager I work with cares about cover letters.
If it's an architect or tech writing role, maybe a sample of your work, but that's about it.
The point I'm making is that, on the whole, it seems like cover letters are just not worth the time writing them vs. just tailoring a resume and putting in more applications.
Legal and nonprofit. That is the thing- these things are industry specific. A lot of industries absolutely require covers and people here like you are generalizing like your experience is the only experience. It is bad to do that without noting that this just based on your own limited experience.
Samsies. In the rare times I get a cl, I skim it for anything interesting or applicable to the role. 9xs out of 10, the letter is generic and poorly written. Many times, they refer to the wrong company and for a different position. I prefer not getting them at all. My company doesn't require them.
I have mixed feelings about this, but I'm more leaning towards yes. Are cover letters absolutely neccecary? No. Is it nice to read through a candidate's honest introduction about themselves and their true intentions about joining the company? Yes. I think it's great reading through a cover letter from a candidate that went the little extra mile to show interest in the company for sure.
I usually skim them, but only because they’re so rare to see nowadays so I’m like ‘ooh what did they say’ lol. Or if I have a question about their resume I’ll look for a cover letter to see if they explain it (eg switching careers or industries)
Lots of companies don’t require them, and when you set up the job you can choose if you want it to be required or not in the ATS. My company has cover letters as optional for all our job postings and probably 5% of applicants submit one.
That sounds insane. Here there might be 100 engineers applying for single position, so after CV, Cover letter is the one that filters people who get called on Interviews.
I don't like cover letters. I don't want cover letters. Most people suck at writing cover letters, and it does more harm than good.
But if you send one, yes I read it. It's my job.
Couple of reasons.
1. Sometimes it tells part of their story or fills in a gap that is on their resume.
2. I feel like if they take the time to write and upload it, that I can give the 30 seconds to read it.
3. Sometimes, it will give me something that I can bring up in our call.
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No. Almost every single one is the same template just *insert my company’s role* and *insert my companies name*. They’re bland and use broad strokes like “I would like the opportunity to be an asset to your thriving organization”
I don't understand. As a job seeker, I use the cover letter to directly address the mandatory and preferred requirements.
My resume is extensive and I wouldn't expect any recruiter worth their salt to go through it in minute detail to find where I've led a team for example.
My resume is generic, my cover letters are tailored to each particular vacancy
I think it depends on what type do recruiting you do. I do high volume professional staff recruitment plus senior manager level professional staff recruitment and I recruit differently for each level but I know a lot of recruiters that suck lol
How the hell does a resume match up with a job description? They are two totally different things for two totally different purposes.
Yeah, I get it for junior positions, but realistically recruiters are absolutely not up to date on a huge majority of technical terms and what they involve.
Unless of course you want a 20 page resume.
Scanning a resume for buzzwords without an understanding of what they actually mean is a recipe for employing the wrong people.
I don’t think anyone spends more than 2 minutes reading a resume, ain’t nobody got time to read a cover letter on top of that.
A resume is just a sales pitch to get to the interview stage, nothing else. Less is more.
I disagree (other than less is more). I think a resume is "what you've done" and a cover letter is "this is how what I've done applies to this role".
I think it's pretty much essential especially when you've been in more senior roles
Judging by what they post elsewhere they’re not in HR and over 60 so likely referring to things they saw previously or in niche areas as a job seeker not sure why they’re being so steadfast on this when there are several recruiters explaining that they don’t need to spend their time crafting a cover letter and instead match their resume to the JD
You're quite correct. And yes, speaking as a job seeker.
Tbh the point I was trying to make is fairly moot anyway because linked in does most of the work for me. Idc about the format of my LI CV, but it has all the relevant buzzwords, which (even though I'm semi retired) still attracts recruiters for a specific skillset. Often, the recruiters contact me and suggest that I apply for a specific role with one of their clients, addressing specific selection criteria in a cover letter, which then goes to a client.
Having been on both sides, as a hiring person and as a prospective employee, if I've only requested the top 6 candidates, then I will absolutely read their cover letter. I already know that they meet the technical skills for the role because if they don't, the agency won't be getting any more work from me.
The cover letter allows the candidate to address specific selection criteria to demonstrate where they have used that particular skill.
Perhaps I'm old fashioned, and I'll really admit that. I'm also speaking from pre AI days too. I realise that the world moves on but I think the principles still apply.
So yes, I've probably not tailored my response to this forum, and I definitely see the point that recruiters *should* scrutinise the resume for the technical skills - hence I now see the recruiters pov.
I think it's basically different strokes for different folks. That is, I believe that both are still required, but by different people for different purposes, so I think the advice not to use the cover letter is perhaps not completely correct, but also not completely wrong. It just depends on which point of view you're coming from.
So, my apologies for not realising the forum I was in.
Do you think recruiters have time to review 100 resumes + 100 cover letters. Hell no. No one reads cover letters, and it’s a waste of time if you’re tailoring your cover letter for every position you apply to.
If someone uploads it, I usually do. But it’s rare anyone adds a cover letter these days.
For more entry level roles, I’ve noticed that half the time people upload a generic cover letter. I can tell by your application and resume if you’re a good fit for the role within 3 mins.
My company uses iCIMS for applications. Cover letters aren't particularly accessible. I very rarely check them. Usually only if I'm trying to use it to make a case for someone to the hiring manager like for entry-level roles or roles that benefit from "lived experience" (for example community support roles when hiring for non-profits). The hiring managers at my company don't read cover letters at all, unless I ask them to.
I never required cover letters but we did an in person interview and we had a fairly easy time narrowing down applicants from just the resumes, so it made the notion superfluous. If someone did submit a good cover letter, it'd be far more likely to get them an interview. But again, we had very specific things we needed in a resume.
But most recruitment doesn't work like this. Most recruitment involves faceless ATS platforms. Many of which require a cover letter. If they require it, it's kinda disappointing to see how few people it seems actually read them.
Lol another post full of comments and smarm that make us all understand what an arbitrary crapshoot recruiting is. I especially loved "I don't read them and don't pass them on to hiring managers". What a load
Srsly! If I was rooting through applications to fill a job, I would definitely want to know everything I could about the candidates. Also I consider cover letters the place to show a little bit about yourself…unless all you are is a list of jobs you’ve had.
I read cover letters that are a short, non-templated, non-AI generated paragraphs. They stand out and often are actually helpful to show their interest in our company or the specific job. When it pulls up with the office address at the top, a “ to whom it may concern,” and 15 paragraphs of 3 sentences each…. i don’t bother because chat gpt wrote it.
I got one the other day that said “I am interested in the position at [company name] because…”. Brackets and everything. Was literally the second sentence.
Usually not. Most people don’t write them properly and it irritates me.
Occasionally it will let me know a little background information that’s helpful but 99.999/100 they aren’t helpful.
Sure, yes! Cover letters are kinda important when you are applying for a job. How you present yourself in it makes you stand out. In your resume, you can highlight all your skills, experiences, and achievements. And the cover letter is where you get to highlight why you would be a good fit for the job. So, don’t skip out on it. If you are thinking that the recruiting process is starting to get super automated and this is a good reason to skip it, it's actually not. You do not have to customize it for EVERY application, of course. Have a standard template for yourself, and just make the necessary changes for whatever role you are applying. Write a concise, compelling cover letter. Mention why they should hire you out of everyone else applying for the job who is just as qualified as you. Bring in your past experience and how it equips you for this role, and so on and on.
If I have a light req load, it's for a writing or editorial-focused role, and/or it's a career pivoter then I do. For tech roles in general, no. I don't have the time. There have been submissions where people submit their cover letter in the resume section, and by default I'll have already started skimming it.
Fun story.
I applied for a job via a recruiter. Suddenly they called me 10-15 minutes before the job posting was due and asked me to write a cover letter. They even told me to use Chat GPT. Anyway, I got the cover letter completed in 6 minutes and sent it to them.
I got a job once because I wrote a cover letter. I did not have the background they were looking for, but they loved the enthusiasm and interest I showed in my cover letter enough to ring me up for an interview. It's the first thing they told me in my interview actually haha. It went well enough that I got the job! Sometimes it can be worth it!
Yes, and I put a lot of weight on them too.
I work in city government and hire for roles that require a good amount of persuasive and technical writing/ communication skill. A big part of the job is being professional and polished in the way we present information to elected officials and the general public.
If someone has a decent cover letter that doesn’t seem overly AI generated, I have a lot more confidence that they understand the importance of putting time into how they present themselves and their work to get the details right. I don’t even care if it is actually 100% AI generated as long as it reads well.
I always add a cover letter but make it very crisp, highlighting key areas where I fit the job criteria.
Sure my strike rate is not 100 percent but a cover letter written by myself does help me structure my thoughts in job interviews as to why I am applying for the job.
I do skim through them most of the time. It can sometimes help convey their interest and whether they’ve done their research on the company. I’ve been told not to forward cover letters to the higher ups though because they don’t want to be influenced by personal details that may be shared in the cover letter.
Alot of people here must be non European.
Here cover letter is often "Essential", meaning that you cant even submit the application without cover letter attached.
Most of the time yes. I don’t require them when posting a job so usually people don’t submit one, and that’s okay. If someone has attached a cover letter I skim through it and if i get the feeling it’s generalized or not tailored to the specific job or company it’s a major turn off (Like seriously you didn’t have to submit a cover letter, so just don’t attach a crappy one!) However, if I find a well-written and thoughtful cover letter it’s usually an indication of a very strong candidate, which has almost always proved to be the case.
I hate writing them but when hiring, I find them really useful. I won’t reject applications that don’t include one, but lots of people really make a good case in their letters and they make me look forward to meeting them.
I read them if someone goes the extra mile to combine their resume and Cover Letter into one file. That way I have to open it in order to view the resume.
I don't apply to jobs that require a cover letter. My qualifications are in my resume. I'm applying for this job because it's a better opportunity than the one I have now... just like the dozens of other jobs I've applied to. If I write a custom cover letter for every job I apply to, that would take a ridiculous amount of time, especially when it usually results in "thank you for applying, but...". However, if I use the same cover letter for every application, then it's usually the same BS "I'm awesome and you should hire me" going to every company that everyone else writes. Cover letters are pointless. Read my resume. If you have a question about something, ask me in the interview.
Every single one. If it isn’t well written, doesn’t mention the correct job (obviously recycled), or sounds like it was written by AI, I won’t even look at the attached resume.
I can see this being the case. I wrote a cover letter with an internal application for a role that I'm absolutely capable of, but am under-experienced and not qualified for according the requirements of the external posting.
In my case, I'm outlining role-adjacent individual projects since I've started to show I'm serious and have been gearing up for this role since the day I started.
I figured that the worst-case is that it reads like you said (accurate) and I'm asking them to take a chance based on recs from key members of that team and my own boss, or they don't read it at all.
How else are you supposed to get a job? This is the typical catch 22 scenario where you need experience to get a job but you can't get a job to get experience.
If the cover letter is written very enthusiastically and it shows great interest about the company it doesn't make a difference?
Not if you do not meet the required qualifications. I work at a major tech company and we’re bound to what we put in the job description. If you do not meet those marks no cover letter is going to help.
We mandate them. No cover letter, we don't read your resume. It's right up front in the posting.
Tests someone's ability to read and follow instructions. Validates that they can write (or get someone to write for them which is an important skill).
Filters out the "clock to apply" bs that indeed and LinkedIn wasn't to bill us for. Wtf, makes me mad. You showed up for an interview and don't know anything about the company you're applying to? Gbye...!
It's pretty much a perfect alignment - previous hires with good cover letters have been excellent staff. Candidates who did not submit cover letters mostly don't survive the interview process and if they do are generally poor hires.
If we get a real cover letter, it's usually a promising candidate.
Industry is IT.
Genuinely asking: if cover letters are generally disliked this much then is finding the right candidate not the priority anymore? It’s just about hiring someone who already has the open job on their resume? What about quality people with transferable skills? Who are looking for a change? Who never got a fair shot at the job they’re applying for because their resume doesn’t satisfy algorithms or people avoiding cover letters? How do people looking to grow or change their path break through to the opportunity they want if they can’t pitch themselves or contextualize their resume?
No, just a paper version of linked in as far as I’m concerned, I’ve been a hiring manager for a good few years now, my personal tips would be to
- check your spelling
- keep your resume to two pages
-I am actually interested in your personal interests and hobbies.
As a hiring manager, they make a huge difference. Some recruiters don’t have the incentive or aptitude to understand why they matter. I would never require one but I would also never forbid one.
Whats a cover letter?
*drops to knees* All those hours, wasted!
No, and I don’t apply to places that require it.
Same! It’s ridiculous when companies require them.
Really? In my industry (municipal government management) it’s still super common. I put a lot of stock in them when I hire, and I’ve gotten the sense that I’ve gotten several jobs due in part to a well written cover letter. But maybe that’s just because persuasive communication and writing about technical topics for a general audience are crucial skills for what I do.
I work in the public sector also (in HR and Operations). I've had hiring managers require a cover letter simply to verify that the applicant read the job posting all the way through. They won't even look at a resume without the requested cover letter, because the applicant clearly "doesn't know how to follow instructions".
No. It isn’t really at all. It is a writing sample and it is way to highlight what the candidate finds important.
Ok 👍 you do you.
The hell. Cover letters are reason why I have gotten my jobs to this day. My CV is almost empty but in cover letter I have managed to over come that lack of content for CV. Here its norm that you send cover letter.
Cool and in my industry it’s not the norm.
I just copy their job description into chat gpt and tell the robot to make me one. Boom, perfect tailored cover letter for them to skip over.
No. Almost never.
Yes if I see gaps in between jobs or lack of scope of role the person is applying for. People should write cover letters to explain something in their CV such as rational for switching careers or looking to move to a new state or country. Other than that, your skills should align with the job so a cover letter isn’t necessary.
I have a cover letter because I'm looking for in Individual Contributor role when my last role was as a COO. Employers want an explanation for that to even give me a phone screen.
Why gaps matter so much for recruiters? I have never understood it. "You would be perfect candidate but you did not work on your field past 6 months so bye bye" I have +1 year gap in my CV, because Ukraine war and Covid literally killed my field of industry here. I tried to apply even as basic cashiers without luck as I was seen overeducated.
Because often most companies care about this. Remember, at the end of the day business is business. The cost of growing companies is expensive and it’s that much more expensive if you need to replace a person for a role often due to productivity, time to hire, etc. So, a lot of CEOs create a culture where they want to hire people for longevity. So let’s say you changed jobs every year it’s a high likelihood you’ll leave within a year with the next one. Of course there’s exceptions to these things like a person moving to another country, contract work, lay offs, etc. I think your current situation is one where in a cover letter you can maybe mention you are looking for a career change. You’re getting rejected because it’s likely the recruiter thinks you’ll be asking for more money given you are overqualified. I’m sorry you’re in this situation. I am seeing the same pattern for some roles in hiring for.
What if you have been laid off? Should you write a cover letter and tell the company you were let go?
If your most recent job you were laid off IMO you don’t have to. Recruiters should be up to speed on lay offs. I feel like given the current times if a resume shows the person is not working right now it’s due to a lay off. You can also put it in parenthesis in your resume next to the company so you don’t waste space in a cover letter.
Yes because they’re so rare in my industry.
What’s your industry?
Healthcare.
I'm in healthcare IT/EMR implementation and I include a curated intro paragraph in lieu of a cover letter since nobody asks for it. Acceptable?
Yes. Worst case someone doesn’t read it. Best case it sets you apart from other applicants.
I’m in healthcare and I can’t think of the last time any of us read a cover letter 🫣
I rarely receive them and when I do, I don’t read them
This is such a bummer. We’re wasting so much time writing them
This may get downvotes on a recruiting subreddit, but I’m a hiring manager and I read them. Says a lot about the person writing them and answers questions I have about why they want this job. I want someone hat wants THIS job, not just any job
I read them too because someone put extra effort into applying. Also my facilities are in rural areas so it helps to know that someone understands they’re applying to a job a couple hours from any major city/airport, because a lot of the towns I recruit for have NOTHING going on.
You’re wonderful :)
No
Yes. It helps shorten the list down for me. Whenever we have a remote role there can sometimes be dozens of qualified applicants that we don’t have the time to screen and any form of written sample they have expressing their excitement about the company’s history, product, the role, etc can go a long way helping narrow things down, especially when it’s a role in customer support for example where writing skills and past experience with our consumer product are qualities we look for. We have a very simple “why did you apply for the opportunity?” question in the application. I’d rather speak to the person with a great cover letter/written response versus the person that just puts “.” in the field, which happens more often than you’d think.
I tailored my cover letter specifically for those companies that I truly interested in. Spend so many hours just want to make it right and make sure the message is not too long. Results: get the rejection next day.
You already have the answer. Spending hours on a cover letter is just plain inefficient vs just putting in applications. The hiring manager doesn't care. They just want to know are the people I'm putting forward match the requirements. You are better spent making sure the key skills and technologies mentioned in the req are easy for the recruiter and hiring manager to see.
You are speaking specifically to your industry. We reject out of hand anyone without a cover and I am a hiring manager. The other hiring managers do the same - we read them and we think about them.
What industry are you in? I'm mostly supporting contract fills for defense, intelligence, and infrastructure. Not a single hiring manager I work with cares about cover letters. If it's an architect or tech writing role, maybe a sample of your work, but that's about it. The point I'm making is that, on the whole, it seems like cover letters are just not worth the time writing them vs. just tailoring a resume and putting in more applications.
Legal and nonprofit. That is the thing- these things are industry specific. A lot of industries absolutely require covers and people here like you are generalizing like your experience is the only experience. It is bad to do that without noting that this just based on your own limited experience.
Samsies. In the rare times I get a cl, I skim it for anything interesting or applicable to the role. 9xs out of 10, the letter is generic and poorly written. Many times, they refer to the wrong company and for a different position. I prefer not getting them at all. My company doesn't require them.
I applied for this opportunity because I need to eat
I have mixed feelings about this, but I'm more leaning towards yes. Are cover letters absolutely neccecary? No. Is it nice to read through a candidate's honest introduction about themselves and their true intentions about joining the company? Yes. I think it's great reading through a cover letter from a candidate that went the little extra mile to show interest in the company for sure.
I usually skim them, but only because they’re so rare to see nowadays so I’m like ‘ooh what did they say’ lol. Or if I have a question about their resume I’ll look for a cover letter to see if they explain it (eg switching careers or industries)
How are they rare? They are literally marked as essential file in Nordics atleast. You can't send an application without CV and cover letter attached.
Lots of companies don’t require them, and when you set up the job you can choose if you want it to be required or not in the ATS. My company has cover letters as optional for all our job postings and probably 5% of applicants submit one.
That sounds insane. Here there might be 100 engineers applying for single position, so after CV, Cover letter is the one that filters people who get called on Interviews.
I don't like cover letters. I don't want cover letters. Most people suck at writing cover letters, and it does more harm than good. But if you send one, yes I read it. It's my job.
Never. Huge waste of time.
Yes I do.
May I ask why?
Couple of reasons. 1. Sometimes it tells part of their story or fills in a gap that is on their resume. 2. I feel like if they take the time to write and upload it, that I can give the 30 seconds to read it. 3. Sometimes, it will give me something that I can bring up in our call.
Depends on the position I guess but it's so rare these days, might as well take 20 seconds to see if it's worth reading.
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No. Almost every single one is the same template just *insert my company’s role* and *insert my companies name*. They’re bland and use broad strokes like “I would like the opportunity to be an asset to your thriving organization”
No. Especially in a day and age where I see a good number that are clearly written with Chat GPT or whatever it’s called.
Nope. Waste of time
I don't understand. As a job seeker, I use the cover letter to directly address the mandatory and preferred requirements. My resume is extensive and I wouldn't expect any recruiter worth their salt to go through it in minute detail to find where I've led a team for example. My resume is generic, my cover letters are tailored to each particular vacancy
If your resume matches the job description, you can write a novel. A good recruiter will know if you're a fit, on paper, in 1-2 minutes
I tell people the average recruiter spends 10-30 seconds on your resume I can control F what I need to find, I’m not reading your cover letter
This all day, every day and twice on Sunday.
The problem may be that there are too many average recruiters.
I think it depends on what type do recruiting you do. I do high volume professional staff recruitment plus senior manager level professional staff recruitment and I recruit differently for each level but I know a lot of recruiters that suck lol
How the hell does a resume match up with a job description? They are two totally different things for two totally different purposes. Yeah, I get it for junior positions, but realistically recruiters are absolutely not up to date on a huge majority of technical terms and what they involve. Unless of course you want a 20 page resume. Scanning a resume for buzzwords without an understanding of what they actually mean is a recipe for employing the wrong people.
I don’t think anyone spends more than 2 minutes reading a resume, ain’t nobody got time to read a cover letter on top of that. A resume is just a sales pitch to get to the interview stage, nothing else. Less is more.
I disagree (other than less is more). I think a resume is "what you've done" and a cover letter is "this is how what I've done applies to this role". I think it's pretty much essential especially when you've been in more senior roles
Are you speaking as a recruiter or a job seeker?
Judging by what they post elsewhere they’re not in HR and over 60 so likely referring to things they saw previously or in niche areas as a job seeker not sure why they’re being so steadfast on this when there are several recruiters explaining that they don’t need to spend their time crafting a cover letter and instead match their resume to the JD
You're quite correct. And yes, speaking as a job seeker. Tbh the point I was trying to make is fairly moot anyway because linked in does most of the work for me. Idc about the format of my LI CV, but it has all the relevant buzzwords, which (even though I'm semi retired) still attracts recruiters for a specific skillset. Often, the recruiters contact me and suggest that I apply for a specific role with one of their clients, addressing specific selection criteria in a cover letter, which then goes to a client. Having been on both sides, as a hiring person and as a prospective employee, if I've only requested the top 6 candidates, then I will absolutely read their cover letter. I already know that they meet the technical skills for the role because if they don't, the agency won't be getting any more work from me. The cover letter allows the candidate to address specific selection criteria to demonstrate where they have used that particular skill. Perhaps I'm old fashioned, and I'll really admit that. I'm also speaking from pre AI days too. I realise that the world moves on but I think the principles still apply. So yes, I've probably not tailored my response to this forum, and I definitely see the point that recruiters *should* scrutinise the resume for the technical skills - hence I now see the recruiters pov. I think it's basically different strokes for different folks. That is, I believe that both are still required, but by different people for different purposes, so I think the advice not to use the cover letter is perhaps not completely correct, but also not completely wrong. It just depends on which point of view you're coming from. So, my apologies for not realising the forum I was in.
If the skills on the resume match, I'm making a call. I don't care what the cover letter says. I need to hear it.
Do you think recruiters have time to review 100 resumes + 100 cover letters. Hell no. No one reads cover letters, and it’s a waste of time if you’re tailoring your cover letter for every position you apply to.
These recruiters are telling you they are good. I would bet they are not.
Nah, its really easy to get a basic understanding of technical terms and what type of experience relates to them
Unfortunately, my personal experience has been very different. Especially in the first couple of years of a new technology
How’s that job search coming with those cover letters? Exactly.
My applications dont even allow them to be submitted. Waste of everyone’s time.
Not usually. I did / do if I’m recruiting for executive positions.
No and I ask candidates not to submit them.
If someone uploads it, I usually do. But it’s rare anyone adds a cover letter these days. For more entry level roles, I’ve noticed that half the time people upload a generic cover letter. I can tell by your application and resume if you’re a good fit for the role within 3 mins.
My company uses iCIMS for applications. Cover letters aren't particularly accessible. I very rarely check them. Usually only if I'm trying to use it to make a case for someone to the hiring manager like for entry-level roles or roles that benefit from "lived experience" (for example community support roles when hiring for non-profits). The hiring managers at my company don't read cover letters at all, unless I ask them to.
We also use iCIMS at my gig. I hate it lol
I skim; takes 30 seconds or so.
No, because the hiring managers don’t even care about them. Recruiters can care all day, but they don’t typically have any leverage that matters
I never required cover letters but we did an in person interview and we had a fairly easy time narrowing down applicants from just the resumes, so it made the notion superfluous. If someone did submit a good cover letter, it'd be far more likely to get them an interview. But again, we had very specific things we needed in a resume. But most recruitment doesn't work like this. Most recruitment involves faceless ATS platforms. Many of which require a cover letter. If they require it, it's kinda disappointing to see how few people it seems actually read them.
Lol another post full of comments and smarm that make us all understand what an arbitrary crapshoot recruiting is. I especially loved "I don't read them and don't pass them on to hiring managers". What a load
Srsly! If I was rooting through applications to fill a job, I would definitely want to know everything I could about the candidates. Also I consider cover letters the place to show a little bit about yourself…unless all you are is a list of jobs you’ve had.
These are terrible recruiters.
I read cover letters that are a short, non-templated, non-AI generated paragraphs. They stand out and often are actually helpful to show their interest in our company or the specific job. When it pulls up with the office address at the top, a “ to whom it may concern,” and 15 paragraphs of 3 sentences each…. i don’t bother because chat gpt wrote it.
The fucked up part is when the candidate by mistake mentions a different company 😂
I got one the other day that said “I am interested in the position at [company name] because…”. Brackets and everything. Was literally the second sentence.
Ain't nobody got time for that!
Never. It's a waste of time.
Usually not. Most people don’t write them properly and it irritates me. Occasionally it will let me know a little background information that’s helpful but 99.999/100 they aren’t helpful.
Nope
Never
Rarely!
Hell to the no
I get annoyed when I see them.
People still do those? No. Never.
No
No ❤️
Sure, yes! Cover letters are kinda important when you are applying for a job. How you present yourself in it makes you stand out. In your resume, you can highlight all your skills, experiences, and achievements. And the cover letter is where you get to highlight why you would be a good fit for the job. So, don’t skip out on it. If you are thinking that the recruiting process is starting to get super automated and this is a good reason to skip it, it's actually not. You do not have to customize it for EVERY application, of course. Have a standard template for yourself, and just make the necessary changes for whatever role you are applying. Write a concise, compelling cover letter. Mention why they should hire you out of everyone else applying for the job who is just as qualified as you. Bring in your past experience and how it equips you for this role, and so on and on.
If I have a light req load, it's for a writing or editorial-focused role, and/or it's a career pivoter then I do. For tech roles in general, no. I don't have the time. There have been submissions where people submit their cover letter in the resume section, and by default I'll have already started skimming it.
Yes.
May I ask why?
No
Never
Fun story. I applied for a job via a recruiter. Suddenly they called me 10-15 minutes before the job posting was due and asked me to write a cover letter. They even told me to use Chat GPT. Anyway, I got the cover letter completed in 6 minutes and sent it to them.
No. Useless and I don't have time.
No, your resume tells me what I need to know.
Nope
Nope, just scan
I skim the 2nd paragraph, if it isn't a copy and paste, sometimes I read more. Less that 1/100 say anything worthwhile.
No
No, but there are rare cases of super egocentric managers that read then
I got a job once because I wrote a cover letter. I did not have the background they were looking for, but they loved the enthusiasm and interest I showed in my cover letter enough to ring me up for an interview. It's the first thing they told me in my interview actually haha. It went well enough that I got the job! Sometimes it can be worth it!
Never. Great cover letters are pointless if the candidate doesn’t have the required experience. We don’t require them.
I saw cover letter in the title and just skipped the post entirely...
I’ve been in recruitment for 7 years and have never read a cover letter
Yes, and I put a lot of weight on them too. I work in city government and hire for roles that require a good amount of persuasive and technical writing/ communication skill. A big part of the job is being professional and polished in the way we present information to elected officials and the general public. If someone has a decent cover letter that doesn’t seem overly AI generated, I have a lot more confidence that they understand the importance of putting time into how they present themselves and their work to get the details right. I don’t even care if it is actually 100% AI generated as long as it reads well.
if im lacking info maybe
I always add a cover letter but make it very crisp, highlighting key areas where I fit the job criteria. Sure my strike rate is not 100 percent but a cover letter written by myself does help me structure my thoughts in job interviews as to why I am applying for the job.
no
Not once
No, not normally. They are a waste of time.
I do skim through them most of the time. It can sometimes help convey their interest and whether they’ve done their research on the company. I’ve been told not to forward cover letters to the higher ups though because they don’t want to be influenced by personal details that may be shared in the cover letter.
Absolutely. In fact i generally disregard applications that dont send one, even if it's obviously a copy paste job
What type of jobs are you recruiting for?
Have never written nor read one.
Never
Nooooooooo
Alot of people here must be non European. Here cover letter is often "Essential", meaning that you cant even submit the application without cover letter attached.
Most of the time yes. I don’t require them when posting a job so usually people don’t submit one, and that’s okay. If someone has attached a cover letter I skim through it and if i get the feeling it’s generalized or not tailored to the specific job or company it’s a major turn off (Like seriously you didn’t have to submit a cover letter, so just don’t attach a crappy one!) However, if I find a well-written and thoughtful cover letter it’s usually an indication of a very strong candidate, which has almost always proved to be the case.
No. Back in the day, I used to charge $250 to write one🤣
Not if I can avoid it. Fortunately my current company doesn't have an option to upload one separately.
Never
I do, often it answers questions I might have from reading their CV.
I hate writing them but when hiring, I find them really useful. I won’t reject applications that don’t include one, but lots of people really make a good case in their letters and they make me look forward to meeting them.
I read them if someone goes the extra mile to combine their resume and Cover Letter into one file. That way I have to open it in order to view the resume.
No
I don't apply to jobs that require a cover letter. My qualifications are in my resume. I'm applying for this job because it's a better opportunity than the one I have now... just like the dozens of other jobs I've applied to. If I write a custom cover letter for every job I apply to, that would take a ridiculous amount of time, especially when it usually results in "thank you for applying, but...". However, if I use the same cover letter for every application, then it's usually the same BS "I'm awesome and you should hire me" going to every company that everyone else writes. Cover letters are pointless. Read my resume. If you have a question about something, ask me in the interview.
Yes, but usually after I read the resume and have some interest
do cover letters even help anymore?
Nope
no, not once and I don't really review them either.
Yes.
I’ve never received a cover letter
Every single one. If it isn’t well written, doesn’t mention the correct job (obviously recycled), or sounds like it was written by AI, I won’t even look at the attached resume.
No.
No. In my experience most folks who still write cover letters are trying to sell experience they don’t have.
I can see this being the case. I wrote a cover letter with an internal application for a role that I'm absolutely capable of, but am under-experienced and not qualified for according the requirements of the external posting. In my case, I'm outlining role-adjacent individual projects since I've started to show I'm serious and have been gearing up for this role since the day I started. I figured that the worst-case is that it reads like you said (accurate) and I'm asking them to take a chance based on recs from key members of that team and my own boss, or they don't read it at all.
How else are you supposed to get a job? This is the typical catch 22 scenario where you need experience to get a job but you can't get a job to get experience. If the cover letter is written very enthusiastically and it shows great interest about the company it doesn't make a difference?
Not if you do not meet the required qualifications. I work at a major tech company and we’re bound to what we put in the job description. If you do not meet those marks no cover letter is going to help.
I did, back in the day. I found them entertaining.
Cover letters? Never heard of her
No. There’s nothing a cover letter is going to say that a resume won’t when it comes to deciding if a candidate is worth a call.
We mandate them. No cover letter, we don't read your resume. It's right up front in the posting. Tests someone's ability to read and follow instructions. Validates that they can write (or get someone to write for them which is an important skill). Filters out the "clock to apply" bs that indeed and LinkedIn wasn't to bill us for. Wtf, makes me mad. You showed up for an interview and don't know anything about the company you're applying to? Gbye...! It's pretty much a perfect alignment - previous hires with good cover letters have been excellent staff. Candidates who did not submit cover letters mostly don't survive the interview process and if they do are generally poor hires. If we get a real cover letter, it's usually a promising candidate. Industry is IT.
Genuinely asking: if cover letters are generally disliked this much then is finding the right candidate not the priority anymore? It’s just about hiring someone who already has the open job on their resume? What about quality people with transferable skills? Who are looking for a change? Who never got a fair shot at the job they’re applying for because their resume doesn’t satisfy algorithms or people avoiding cover letters? How do people looking to grow or change their path break through to the opportunity they want if they can’t pitch themselves or contextualize their resume?
Nope and don’t include them when passing to hiring managers
No
No. Almost never.
No
👎
No, just a paper version of linked in as far as I’m concerned, I’ve been a hiring manager for a good few years now, my personal tips would be to - check your spelling - keep your resume to two pages -I am actually interested in your personal interests and hobbies.
Yes. They tell me things about the candidate that aren't included in the main part of the application.
As a hiring manager, they make a huge difference. Some recruiters don’t have the incentive or aptitude to understand why they matter. I would never require one but I would also never forbid one.