The Cover Letter Conundrum

It's safe to say that at least 80% of cover letters never get read. The level of the position being applied to has a lot to do with it because of course, there is more at stake per hire for more senior level (higher paying) positions. Even then, the resume is the vehicle by which all of the information should be delivered and anything else is simply "other". My opinion is that if the resume doesn't deliver the message the candidate hopes then the resume needs to be rewritten. A wonderful cover letter will not make up for a lousy resume for anyone.

Consider that most applicant/candidate tracking systems do not have a place to store cover letters so they are rarely included with a database profile to external agencies or internal HR/recruiting groups. On the off chance that there is a place to save it, the odds of a recruiter opening a document in addition to the resume are slim to none. Most recruiters are reviewing 100+ resumes for each position they recruit for. That's not for each placement they make, that's for every single position they work on whether they fill it or not. The sheer volume of information makes a strong case against the notion of recruiters taking the time to read cover letters.

After all of that negativity, let me address three scenarios where a cover letter is appropriate. The first is when the job posting requests one specifically; there's not a lot of help for that one. Second is when a resume is being sent to an email address as opposed to being submitted through an online form. In this instance, the email message is the cover letter and should take a few moments to highlight qualifications, skills, availability and interest. And by all means, it should be written professionally with correct grammar and punctuation. The third is unfortunately when you are a senior level professional. These folks should have a boilerplate letter (at least) if for no other reason than to demonstrate their written communication skills.

Cover letters that are not in email should still be fairly short and direct so as not to detract from the resume itself. It's not possible to eliminate all redundant information, but keeping it to a minimum is a good idea. The letter should follow standard business letter format and include the following: An introduction that speaks about the resume objectively as a document for review and consideration, a paragraph that summarizes qualifications, a paragraph dedicated to availability and interest and a business sign-off such as "Sincerely" or "Kind regards". Beyond that information you run the risk of detracting the interest of the reader, as the good stuff should all be in your resume.

It's tough to know that something you will spend time creating will most likely not even get considered, but when it's appropriate to send one you don't want to be caught without one. Everything about resumes and cover letters is subjective with no one solution satisfying everyone, so it's best to have your bases covered in the event that someone might be reading.