The truth about cover letters

There is a lot of hype about cover letters and articles on how to write a proper cover letter. However, as a recruiter and someone who reads up to 100 resumes a day, I’m not sure how important they are. Actually, I bet most external recruiters don’t read them, I know no one in our office does.

If you are working with an outside recruiter, most of the time you don’t need to submit one. A good recruiter will pick up the phone and call you to get the necessary information that is not on your resume. The recruiter will then relay the relevant information to the hiring manager directly. The job of a recruiter is to make things easier for the hiring manager. The less paperwork we send in, the better. As a result, recruiters often send candidates’ resumes and evaluations.

Let’s address when a cover letter can be important. If you are applying for a position online, directly to the company, they often request a cover letter. In this method of applying for a position, you don’t have a third party to review you, highlight your attributes, and address the red flags on your resume. In this case, it is very important to come up with a winning cover letter. Companies often look for some key facts: why you are looking for a position, why you are interested in your company, salary, and any outstanding achievements that distinguish you.

The main reason companies request a cover letter is to obtain information that is not on your resume. They will use this information as their first screen. If you need to make $ 100,000 and the company only pays $ 80,000, then you are out of the question. So be very careful about the information you include. This is your opportunity to address any gaps in your resume and why you are seeking a position. For example, if you are moving or downsizing, you can address that and any other concerns here.

Bottom line is, if you are working directly with one or more external recruiters they will evaluate you and send notes to the hiring / company manager directly, your resume is the only thing you need to submit. If you send a resume directly to the company you are applying for, prepare your cover letter!

Keep in mind the importance of being short but sweet. Only include information that is not on your resume.