The dreaded cover letter. Just hearing those words is enough to make most job seekers groan.
You’ve already spent hours writing your CV, tweaking the details, faffing with the formatting to get it to fit to the golden two pages and tailoring it the job description. And now, they want a cover letter too?
The question we often get asked is should I bother to submit one or can I just skip this step in the process? Here's our view.
The Case for Skipping It
Let's be pragmatic some recruiters may not even read a cover letter, particularly if they haven't specifically asked for one. They're already busy, one recruiter I spoke to recently had 250 applicants for just one of the many roles they were recruiting for.
In this instance if they haven't asked for the cover letter, why might they 'waste' valuable time reading something they didn't want, when they could be using their valuable time to scan another 2 or 3 CVs?
It's likely that if they haven't asked for a cover letter the recruiting process will be weighted towards your CV and LinkedIn profile, so you'd be better spending the time brushing up your profile instead.
Lets also acknowledge that job hunting in itself can be a full time job, so if you're fitting it in around a paid job and even if you're not, your time restrictions might mean writing a cover letter is a step too far.
Our best piece of advice if it's optional is to assess how much time do you have to spend on your application and how desperately do you want this particular job, because lets face it if you're doing a cover letter properly it's not just the cover letter, you'll also want to research the company and hiring manager too.
The Case for Writing It
On the flip side if your cover letter is done well and is optional providing one may give you the edge over candidates who couldn't be bothered and have just hit the automatic apply.
One of the key benefits I talk to my clients about with a cover letter is that it is your opportunity to let a bit of your personality and approach to your job shine. Your want to keep your CV simple and easy for the recruiter to scan and pick out the important information, so you don't really want to use too many descriptive words.
In your cover letter you can use more descriptive words to get across your enthusiasm for this particular role and your chosen career specialism. You can also include a bit more information that just wouldn't have fitted in your CV about your career aspirations and why you think their role and organisation is the place for you to fulfil them. We aren't suggesting you go crazy though - stick to one page.
A cover letter can be particularly useful if:
You're changing careers and want to explain the change of direction.
Your job title doesn't really reflect what you do or the level you're operating at.
You have a gap in your CV and want to address what might be a potential red flag for a recruiter.
You really want the job and want to show extra effort.
It's also a great opportunity to show you've taken some time to do some research for example:
You can reference what they say about their culture and ways of working and how it aligns with you and your values.
What challenges they are currently facing and how you would be the ideal candidate to help them.
If there are particular projects they are working on or services they are launching where your expertise would be a perfect fit.
Finally if the hiring manager is on the fence about your application a well crafted cover letter may just tip their decision into inviting you for an initial chat.
In Summary
If the job adverts requires a cover letter, write one because otherwise you've just automatically ruled yourself out for not following the process and delivering the requirements.
If it's optional ask yourself:
Do I really want this job or am I applying on the off chance?
Will a cover letter address a potential objection from the recruiter like a CV gap or seeming lack of experience?
Can I add something by using a cover letter that my CV doesn't show?
Will it help me stand out by proving to the recruiter I want their job not just any job?
If you've answered yes to any of these, it's probably worth putting in the effort. If not you might be better spending your time tailoring your CV to the job advert and tidying up your LinkedIn profile.
There are some short cuts, you could get AI (Artificial Intelligence) like AI to help you write it, but there are some potential pitfalls to be aware of. See our blog about using AI for more information. Or if you want our help in writing one we can do that too just contact us to find out more.
Content Disclaimer: The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this blog are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this blog. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this blog. Snow Limits Coaching disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this blog.
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