Should you include a cover letter?

Job seekers often wonder if they should include cover letters with their applications even if an employer doesn’t request one. While there’s no single answer to this question, your circumstance can point to what’s best for you and your job search.

I need to start this newsletter by telling you that I’m very biased when it comes to cover letters. I love them. A cover letter is often the part of an application that I look at first when I’m part of a hiring process. Cover letters can reveal the voice of a person, how they communicate, how they think and so much more.

My love of cover letters is not shared by everyone. I know people, including recruiters, who admit that they do not look at cover letters. Resumes are the main attraction for many people involved in the hiring process. I want to use this newsletter to look at when you should include a cover letter.

I reached out to the LinkedIn community to learn their best practices when it comes to cover letters. While I can’t include all of their advice, you can check it all out by clicking here.

Do you need to include a cover letter?

Whether you actually NEED to include a cover letter comes down to what the employer says on the job description. Do they specifically say you need to include a cover letter as part of the application? If not, then you don’t need to include one. The only documents you need to provide during the application process are those listed in the job description.

“As a recruiter, I don't care about cover letters,” wrote Tejal Wagadia, who is an expert in recruiting and hiring. “Most of the time they don't provide any valuable information that isn't already on the resume. If someone submits one, I'll read it but it absolutely shouldn't be required for most jobs.”

Application systems may not even provide an option for you to upload a cover letter. In those cases, you really don’t need to include one.

Should you include a cover letter?

Whether you should include a cover letter as part of your application is a more complex question to answer.

Generally, job search experts recommend you include a cover letter if you’re concerned that your experience won’t stack up against that of others in the applicant pool. For example, a cover letter could be another way to explain to an employer why you’re making a career change.

Or, you may want to include one if you want to get ahead of some biases or concerns that may be baked into the hiring process, such as ageism.

“What I appreciate about cover letters is they give you a chance to explain any potential ‘elephants in the room,’” wrote Virginia Franco, who is a resume writer.

You can also opt to send a cover letter whenever a system allows you to upload one as part of the application. In most cases, including a cover letter will not hurt your chances of landing a job.

Regardless of your reasons for including a cover letter, you must remember that you still need a great resume. A resume will be the primary document an employer’s hiring team looks at during the review process.

“When I was hiring people, long ponderous cliche-ridden cover notes made me less interested in candidates,” wrote Jay Colan, who is a career coach. “I would not have a generic cover note. It will show even if you tweak it. Only write them for jobs you are interested in, which you should only be applying to anyway.”

What should you include in a cover letter?

Cover letters have evolved over the years. Applicants rarely have an opportunity to hand or physically mail a resume with an actual cover letter. Instead, the letters are usually uploaded as part of an application. Or, it is the body of an email containing your resume.

“Remember that in the digital age, your cover letter functions as an e-note, which is why I recommend two strategies: (1) create a master cover letter that you can tweak accordingly for different positions; and (2) keep the cover letter to under 250 words,” wrote Wendi Weiner, who is The Writing Guru.

A few elements to include in your cover letter are why you’re excited about the employer, what you’ll add to or how you’ll complement their culture, and how you’ll solve their unique problems, wrote Gillian Kelly, who is a talent brand builder.

“I’ve seen letters motivate hirers to bring in candidates to interview even after the shortlisting process has finished but you have to dig deep and make it worth their while,” Kelly added.

The last point is critical: You should only include substantive cover letters. I always tell people to remember how problematic it can be to download attachments. Imagine you’re a recruiter who goes through the trouble of downloading a cover letter only to find a few generic sentences. It would be frustrating and disappointing.

At the end of the day, the choice to include a cover letter with your job application is generally up to you. If you include one, make sure to keep it short, to-the-point and substantive. A cover letter can’t make up for a substantial lack of experience or too many missing requirements, but there is a chance a really good note can get you in the door for an interview.

What’s your advice for job seekers who are thinking about including a cover letter with their application? Join the conversation.

*Some quotes may have been edited for clarity and readability.

This week on Get Hired with Andrew Seaman, I'm joined by Kamara Toffolo, who is a job search strategist and an executive resume writer. We talked about everything you need to know to craft a winning resume. We even discussed the dreaded applicant tracking systems (ATSs). Be sure to subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts so you don't miss an episode. Also, rate and review the show to help other people find the episodes. Listen to the whole episode below or by clicking here. You can also read the transcript by clicking here.

If you like the podcast, don't forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts by clicking here!

I’ll be joined by Christopher Taylor, who is known as The Occupational Optimist, on Friday, April 1 at noon ET to discuss how you can identify and highlight your skills to get hired. You can RSVP to that chat by clicking here.

ICYMI: I chatted last week with Sweta Regmi, who is the founder and CEO of Teachndo, about enduring a long job search. You can watch the episode by clicking here or the image below.

By Gianna Prudente, associate news editor for job searches and careers:

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