Do you have to include a cover letter? The quick answer is probably not unless it is required as part of the application process by the prospective employer. I work with my job search strategy and ResumeGenie clients to ensure that all critical information for the job in question is included directly in their resume.
• With online electronic job applications, cover letters are for the most part are obsolete.
• They are useful if you have something very critical to include, such as travel dates to the market, or a confirmed move date.
Many new college grad clients are still being asked to submit cover letters with online applications. I’ve also seen cover letters required with Easy Apply on Indeed and also when applying through LinkedIn. So the cover letter lives on.
The research indicates that if required, the cover letter is still important because it allows the applicant to tell a Recruiter in their own words why hiring them over another candidate is a good choice for the company. The cover letter is an applicant’s first chance to make a good impression on the employer and if it is well-written, it can really distinguish the job seeker from all the other resumes that the employer is reviewing.
Below are some great tips on how to write an effective, relevant cover letter when you are required to submit one with your online job application:
1. Instead of repeating your resume, highlight how your experience directly meets the top 3 requirements for the job in question.
2. Comment on how what the company actually relates closely to something in which you are interested.
3. Limit the text to three paragraphs or less.
4. Include the name of your employee referrer or someone who knows the Recruiter or Hiring Manager.
5. Spellcheck. Spellcheck again. And again.
6. You don’t need to restate your name and the position for which you are applying.
7. Explain concisely what you bring to the table as it relates to what drives success in this role.
CareerRx ProTips on how to write the best cover letter:
- Instead of repeating your resume, use the cover letter to summarize how you nail the job specs.
- The best way to differentiate yourself as a candidate is to explicitly show how you meet the required skills in the job posting.
- Limit your cover letter to three paragraphs or less. Do not ramble.
- Address the cover letter to the Recruiter, who is most likely the first resume reviewer.
There are endless debates on whether cover letters are obsolete. If required, it is usually to assist employers in assessing whether a candidate can spell and communicate professionally. The cover letter provides an applicant an opportunity to make a good impression as a working professional. Always remember that resume optimization and customizing your resume against the job posting’s required skills is most important, not spending a day on a cover letter that’s not going to be read. 72% of all resumes aren’t even viewed by a human. That means it’s likely a human won’t be reading your cover letter.
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About The Career Launcher
After spending years managing Talent Acquisition for Fortune 500 companies, The Career Launcher created her CareerRx™ program along with ResumeGenie™ for resume optimization.
In CareerRx™, she reveals how recruiting and job search has been transformed by new recruiting technology including applicant tracking systems, social media, LinkedIn Recruiter, Indeed.com and how we must change our definition of “job search” to launch and continuously promote an Online Career Brand.
With over 20 years of hands-on direct recruitment experience, The Career Launcher demystifies the online job application process and offers job seekers a comprehensive program to jump start their job searches. She provides an insider’s perspective to what companies are seeking from candidates in the interview process.
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