Recently I came across a very well written and formatted resume. And the cover letter was extremely detailed. But when I looked at the job description the person was applying for, I knew that, from a recruiter’s perspective, the person would never be considered.
Where was the problem?
The problem was that the resume was “generic” and the cover letter was tailored. It was the cover letter that had all the important details pertaining to the job description. Unfortunately, since most likely the cover letter was never read, the person was never invited to the interview.
There is a lot of advice about tailoring your cover letter, as supposedly it explains your resume.
This made sense in the time of snail mail.
Think about it.
When you first open an envelope, from anyone…naturally, you always read the letter first.
Today, you don’t send letters to apply for a job; you submit your application on line.
Technology has sped up all the processes. If, say 20 years ago, a recruiter posted a job, it would take him or her, by regular mail, a few days, if not weeks, to receive applications from many candidates.
Today, recruiters can receive hundreds of resumes in a matter of days. I know I did.
Recruiters have only short time to screen all applicants. That’s why they go directly to the source of candidates’ skills and experience. Which is your resume.
And the logic goes like this…
If the person does not have the required skills, why bother reading their cover letter.
If they do have the skills…I don’t need to read the cover letter.
These days, the cover letter has simply turned into a polite gesture. It certainly should be well written, in case someone reads it. But don’t focus on it too much. Double check that it is properly dated and addressed and that it mentions the right position and company. But the actual content can be relatively formal and generic. In 3 paragraphs explain why you are suitable for the position and highlight some key strengths. But it will not make it or break it your chances for getting an interview in the corporate world.
On the other hand, if your RESUME does not list what the recruiter is looking for, THAT will break your chances of getting invited to an interview. Even if you have a beautifully detailed cover letter.
So what should you do now?
When you apply on line, if you are in a rush, don’t worry about the cover letter. If you want to include a personal note, it’s better to write a quick email accompanying your resume attachment. If you are applying on-line, you can paste the same note into the cover letter window. Keep it short and sweet.
The most important thing in your job application is your resume, not the cover letter. It’s the same thing as a “must have” and “nice to have”. Make sure that your “must have” (your resume) stands out.
(Of course, I am speaking mostly of the corporate world. If you’re applying to a job in academia, or the medical or legal field, or anywhere where the hiring is done by committee, the cover letter plays a much larger role.)
Marina Gapeenkova, CHRP, HR and Recruitment Specialist
Author of Invincible Interview, What Every Candidate Needs To Know To Succeed At An Interview
www.careercascade.com
You know, this is refreshing news, that contradicts received (and, purchased) wisdom. The cover letter causes fully half of the anxiety around applying for jobs.
I wonder, though, what percentage of HR staff hold this attitude… I have an idea that older staff, or HR folk in more traditional industries might prickle at a too-brief or informal cover letter.
Any idea what HR demographics are like? Would be neat to see some kind of survey summarizing the most prevalent attitudes and preferences, according to industry if possible. Would be brilliant, actually.
I would have to agree with this article. A few years ago when I was the Chief Engineer with a property management company I used to receive at least four or five un-solicited emails on a daily basis. At first it was amusing, then it became down right annoying and a time waster.
I used to read them, but as time wore on as soon as I opened an email and came across the word ‘resume’ it was deleted.
When I was actually looking for personnel, I really didn’t have the time for cover letters and long and winding emails. I just wanted to know the applicants work history, their qualifications and their availability.
I agree with Nell. What do the statistics say re the value/importance of a cover letter? I have heard and read contradictory advice which makes it difficult to determine whether this article’s theme is fact, based on data or survey results, or simply perception and opinion. Anecdotal comments not supported by numbers carry little weight.
My experience with online applications is that there is an opportunity to submit both a cover letter and resume. Whether the majority of recruiters, HR personnel and hiring managers read cover letters is still open to debate.
I do not give any weightage to what Recruitment Specialists what say. Their job is to say something without any proof or accepted wisdom.
I disagree that the cover letter is not required. I also cannot imagine anyone sending a generic resume ever! After 20 yrs in mid-large corporations, manager, customer service at exec level, I have had great compliments on both my cover & resume from HR mainly because 1)my e-mail note was short, light hearted and had a good ‘hook’ 2) my cover letter was direct as to the key experiences requ’d, & other specifics met, and comments like ‘I have numerous positive client references key to my attributes to your co.’ ..another ‘hook’ 3) then an invite to take the time to review my resume, well worth your time etc. Then the resume is specifically focused on all the aspects of the position & how I can do the job so well that I am called in for an interview.
I just works. It is hard mental work but well worth it.
When jobs (what a dignified word!) are scarce, they get picky with documents that otherwise/in other times would have been praised.
If hiring managers feel pressured by time, perhaps they should honestly admit it and quit.
This is true, but I think the key point is that, today, the resume has to be tailored. And in most cases that means starting with a Summary of Qualifications which, in effect, does the job that an old-school cover letter did. That is to say, it spotlights your most impressive, most relevant qualifications and accomplishments for that specific employer. And it puts that all-important information front and center, where it will be the first thing they see.
Cover letters are still critical, because plenty of employers use “lack of cover letter” as an easy way to cull a too-large pile of submissions. The cover letter can be simply a differently worded and formatted Summary of Qualifications.
Some hiring managers are resume people, and some are cover letter people. Be sure you’ve accommodated both types.
I think most HR professionals will read cover letters and resumes. It tends to be a more of a Gen “Y” which does not read resumes. They tend to rely on resume scanners to find the perfect match. More experienced HR professionals know what skills to look for.
What information you use depends on who reads your resume.
I agree with Neil, however, for me it’s causes much more than “half of the anxiety” when applying for a job. It is the most frustrating of all chores. I find myself becoming quite *angry* over trying to write a cover letter to outline everything which is already detailed in my resume. It is impossible to try to communicate why I am a perfect fit without it sounding like ’sucking up’ to the job contact. *sigh*
If an employer is not expecting to read a cover letter through their online application tool, it would be wonderful for them to indicate ‘add a quick note about yourself along with your resume’ instead of an area *for* a cover letter. Then we would know if we should or shouldn’t.
Is there something you’re not telling us about how recruiters scan applications? I can’t believe that you read through a 4-page resume looking for skills, when a glance through a short cover letter would be enough to decide whether to read further. Are on-line applications first processed by software that recognizes specified keywords?
In any event, I also tailor the first paragraphs of my resume to emphasize those parts of my work history that relate to the job needs. A resume is, after all, a more or less complete work history, even though a recruiter may not care about many of the details.
As an Employment Advisor I do encourage cover letters especially for certain jobs such as Administrative as this demonstrates the ability to create a business document. Employers don’t read an entire resume and therefore are not going to try to figure out if you have the skills they require – you need to address those immediately in an easy to read format such as a cover letter. Also, there may be an unusual requirement for a particular job that is not a something you would have on your resume. For example, a posting for a dental office that speicalizes in children. They specifically state “must enjoy working with children” This is not a statement you would put on your resume, so how do you address this? They need to know you like children and are away of this as major part of the job Before they interview you.
I do agree not all jobs require a cover letter; but to state that they are not necessary is not conducive to an strong job search.
The comments were definately more thought out than the article. Covering all bases definately allows your chance to be seen increase, but I have to admit skipping the cover letter is often better than not applying or stressing over the application to the degree you overlook another opportunity
Cam – you failed to see the point of this article by generalizing Recruitment Specialists as people whose job is to say something without proof or “accepted” wisdom (accepted by whom? and what was accepted yesterday is no longer accepted today). The point is that a cover letter isn’t going to make or break a job seeker’s job search, but a resume will. More emphasis should be put on creating a relevant resume than writing out irrelevant accomplishments in a cover letter.