You\u2019ve found an opening for a role that you\u2019re confident is a perfect fit for you. Your resume is polished and ready to go, and now you\u2019re faced with a crucial decision: cover letter\u2014yes or no?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may be wondering if cover letters are necessary these days. After all, your resume explains most if not all of your work history. What else could an employer need?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, like many things, it depends! Sometimes cover letters are necessary, and sometimes they\u2019re not. Here\u2019s how to figure things out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In general, yes! While there are a few times you won\u2019t include a cover letter with your resume, more often than not, the hiring manager expects one\u2014even if they never read it. Because it\u2019s still expected, including a cover letter demonstrates that you\u2019re a true professional that\u2019s serious about the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tailoring your cover letter<\/a> to the job and role you\u2019re applying for takes time but is well worth the effort. Here\u2019s why cover letters still matter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your resume is a one to two-page summary of your skills and experience. And because your resume is a summary, you probably can\u2019t include everything you want to share with the employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think of the cover letter as a bonus resume page. It\u2019s an excellent opportunity to sell yourself by highlighting accomplishments that didn\u2019t fit on your resume. You can also include additional keywords<\/a> from the job posting that could help your resume rank higher in the applicant tracking system (ATS)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While your resume is a brief, concise, and clear summary of your professional history, sometimes you need to explain certain aspects of it. For example, if you have gaps in your employment history<\/a> or are changing careers<\/a>, your resume may not make sense to the hiring manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s where your cover letter comes in! It can give your application context when your resume alone can\u2019t\u2014like when your work history is in accounting, and now you\u2019re applying for a social worker role. Your resume can\u2019t explain what motivated your change and what you’ve done to prepare for it, but your cover letter can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hard skills<\/a> are often required for some jobs, but employers are always looking for applicants with soft skills<\/a>. And while you can include a bullet point on your resume about your communication skills, your cover letter is the perfect place to demonstrate your written communication skills!<\/p>\n\n\n\nExpands Your Resume<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gives Your Resume Context<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Showcases Soft Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n