The Great Cover Letter Debate

Those of you who have been reading Water Cooler Wisdom for a while know how I feel about official cover letters.  Basically, I think they’re a waste, because if you aren’t submitting your resume to someone you know well enough to include a more informal e-mail instead, you’re probably just going to end up in the black hole that is the general HR inbox.  However, my new friend Charlotte Weeks, who runs Weeks Resume Service, has some alternative thoughts on the matter.  Says Charlotte:

“Although not the most effective way, some jobs are still found by responding to ads. Without a cover letter, an applicant can appear lazy, like she’s just submitting her resume everywhere there's an opening. If you take the time to write a cover letter and personalize it, it indicates that you are truly interested.  I've known recruiters and hiring managers who say they've never read a cover letter, but I've known others who say they find it more important than the resume. You just never know who will end up doing the hiring.

 A surprisingly effective way of job hunting is sending a resume cold to companies that haven't posted ads.  In this case, a letter of introduction (aka the cover letter), is vital. And even if you have a connection, a cover letter may still be necessary.  Why?  Often, the person who refers you isn't the decision maker.  Writing the letter and mentioning the contact is an added way of getting noticed.

 In all situations, the cover letter provides an opportunity to sell yourself.  It should compliment, but not replace the resume. The cover letter can be a good place to put information that doesn't necessarily fit on a resume (relocation issues, willingness to travel, immigration status, etc.).  It's also less business-like than a resume, and some people feel it's a way to know the candidate on a personal level."  HR pros, what do you think?

 

Comments

[Tiffany Monhollon]

I'm a fan of the cover letter. I think especially in this job market, it's better to hedge your bets. Unless it's really poorly written, a cover letter won't hurt your chances.

Worst case scenario is, a busy recruiter overlooks it and focuses on your resume instead.

Best case scenario, someone reads the cover letter, sees your personality and professionalism put into action, and your resume goes into the green folder instead of the red one :)

[Matt C.]

I think it depends on what kind of company and job you're applying for. If your resume is just going to be read by a computer, it's probably not that big of a deal. But as someone who does a fair amount of hiring (15 or so positions in the last few years)I agree with Charlotte that not sending a cover letter leaves me with a pretty bad impression.

I'll add that if you write a cover letter, have someone else edit it, because a flawed letter is just as bad as no letter at all.

[Rachel M. Esterline .:. A Step Ahead]

I think it depends on your industry. Every public relations professional has told me you must have a cover letter. There is no way you will even get looked at in PR without one. But, it might be because we are a very writing-focused industry.

[Sarah]

I think that whether cover letters are effective depends very much on the industry you are working in. I work in libraries and as they tend to be funded by the government they have strict rules about hiring. I think it would be difficult to get past HR without one and the decision maker will not see them regardless of how well they know you.

I would add that in more conservative fields (like libraries) they are more necessary.

[Kenneth Hunter]

Cover letters are essential for positions in the public sector (government and nonprofit). From my experience pursuing jobs, they usually make the biggest impact on HR managers and position supervisors, at least when selecting the finalists within the pool of "cleared" applicants. The procedural nature, often mandated, for these career fields discourages the more informal resume distribution often associated with corporate culture. Often, it is the only chance an applicant has to sell themselves, especially if the employer mandates itself into evaluating skills and background through a standardized application (a common trait in government).

[Scot Herrick]

I share your bias on cover letters, though I can see them working in particular industries.

My issue with them is that companies make it difficult to identify the contact for the address. If all you are doing is sending a "To whom it may concern" letter, you are doing nothing more than casting a letter in a bottle and throwing it in the ocean hoping for a response. Just like resumes on job boards...

If companies want to identify real people to address the cover letter, great. If you know the contact name and (e-mail) address of the contact, great.

Otherwise, it is a waste of time.

[Dan Erwin]

I've always seen cover letters with resumes--but these are all from senior execs and major companies. Does position level make a difference as to whether or not a cover letter goes along w. resume? I'm certain industry impacts whether or not a cover letter goes along.

www.danerwin.com

[Your resume services guide]

Most people think that cover letters are not too important, whereas the truth is exactly the opposite. Your cover letter is the one that draws the recruiter's attention to your resume. If your cover letter is not strong, the recruiter may just glance over your resume and miss important points. Found an interesting article about the importance of cover letters at:

http://info.shine.com/Career-Advice-Articles/Resume-Preparation/Importance-of-cover-letters/331/cid25.aspx

Have a look, you may find it useful.

[Dan Klamm]

I think cover letters are critical to connecting the information on your resume to why you would be a good fit for the job. The resume has your qualifications listed on the page; the cover letter answers the question of why you are interested in the job, and why specifically the hiring manager should be interested in you. What skills and experience do you possess, and how can this benefit the organization?

Using a generic cover letter, or not sending a cover letter at all, is missing out on a huge opportunity to sell yourself as a candidate.

[Alexandra Levit]

@Tiffany, Matt, Rachel, Sarah, Kenneth, Scot, Dan, RSG, and Dan: Thanks, guys! These comments are fantastic, and as I hoped, there were some really interesting points of view.

Don't get me wrong, I think that if you're sending your resume to a recruiter or HR person, you absolutely must have a cover letter (and a good one at that). I just don't believe that this approach is going to get you a job in most cases. In this market, you simply cannot rely on a cover letter/resume package (no matter how great it is) to get you in the door. You must develop a relationship with a person who works at the company and slide in that way.

Have any of you honestly gotten a job by applying cold? If so, please share. I am willing to reconsider!