Are Cover Letters Necessary?
To many, a cover letter may seem like a relic from the past when people used to mail or fax their resumes to a prospective employer. In this digital age, you may find yourself asking- are cover letters necessary? The short answer is yes, but to understand why requires a larger explanation.
A Cover Letter Shows You Mean Business
While using a cover letter may seem like it’s outdated, and some hiring managers won’t bother looking at your cover letter, it still shows you’re serious about the job you are applying for, just as many hiring managers will read it as don’t. To those who read your cover letter, it will speak volumes that you took the time to write a cover letter. The fact you wrote a cover letter will set you apart from candidates who couldn’t be bothered. It shows initiative and professionalism that says you will be an asset to the company that hires you. Going the extra mile will never hurt your chances of being hired.
Even if a hiring manager does not read your cover letter right away when they are trying to decide who to hire from all the resumes they revived, they will read your cover letter to help them make that decision. Having a cover letter when few or none of the other candidates do will be a plus in your column.
Applicant Tracking Systems Scan Cover Letters
Most people are unaware that their resumes are scanned by applicant tracking systems (ATS), a type of artificial intelligence that works like a search engine searching for keywords in documents. Even those who are aware of ATS don’t realize that cover letters are scannable also. Using a cover letter gives you a chance to fit in a few more keywords so that an ATS notices you. Companies no longer search primarily for education or experience; they use ATS to search for skills.
By increasing your list of skills through a cover letter, you increase the chance that your resume gets chosen to be sent to a hiring manager.
A Cover Letter Relays Who You Are and Why an Employer Should Want You
Not only does a cover letter show professionalism and help get your resume chosen by an ATS, but it also relays who you are as well. When hiring, one crucial question is if people will want to work with you. A cover letter is your chance to briefly explain why you are the best fit for the company in positive language. While this point will be expanded upon during your interview, a cover letter will help establish a tone that a resume alone can’t. A cover letter gives you the chance to brand yourself and help push a hiring manager to feel that you are a person with which others will want to work.
A Cover Letter Previews Your Writing Ability
If the position you are applying for requires a lot of emailing and composition, then it behoves you to include a cover letter with your resume. It will be the only chance you will have before being hired or passed over to showcase your writing ability and could be the difference between being hired or passed over. Be sure your grammar and punctuation are perfect before submitting your cover letter. Your writing ability will get a chance to shine in a cover letter, but keep it brief; a hiring manager doesn’t have the time or the desire to read a novella.
To Sum Up
A Cover letter is an excellent chance to set yourself apart from other applicants, explain why you are the best candidate for the job, and help get you past an ATS. Are cover letters a thing of the past? As of today, no, they are the thing that will put your application over the top.