When Is a Cover Letter Necessary

When Is a deckblatt Letter Necessary Ask Amanda Do I Really Need a Cover Letter?Have titelbild letters become a thing of the past?Q Should I write a cover letter for every job application I submit?I havent searched for a job in a while. Is a cover letter leise necessary or have things changed? Hal B.If youre wondering whether you still need a cover letter for your job search, youre not alone. Many of you have reached out to me over the years asking this specific cover-letter question. And it makes sense if youve asked colleagues or peers whether you should write a cover letter, Ill bet good money youve received some conflicting advice.Thats because the data on this topic sends some pretty mixed messages. For instance, according to the 2016 Recruiter Nation Report by recruitment software provider Jobvite, 74 percent of recruiters do not consider cover letters important in their decision to hire an applicant. However, a poll from recruitment firm Robert Half found that 90 percent of executives consider cover letters to be invaluable when assessing candidates.So what does that mean for you? Well heres my take You still need to write a cover letterWhile its true that not every hiring manager or recruiter will read your cover letter in fact, the last time I informally polled employers on the topic, many of the respondents admitted to regularly skipping over this document and jumping straight to the resume there is still a portion of employers who consider the cover letter to be important. When youre applying for a job, theres no way of knowing for aya which side of the fence that employer falls on. Better safe than sorry, right? This is why many of our resume-writing services include a cover letter as part of the package.A cover letter is also a great way to give employers a glimpse of your personality or to add some additional context to your application when youre changing careers or searching for work after a substantial employment gap.Of course, not all cove r letters are created equal. A poorly written cover letter can hurt rather than help your candidacy. Check out the following resources for tips on how to craft a winning cover letter for every job applicationHow to Address a Cover LetterHow to Break Down Your Cover Letter Into 3 Simple SectionsHow to Tailor Your Cover Letter for Each Job ApplicationExceptions to the cover-letter ruleThere are some exceptions to this rule. If the job listing specifically states that a cover letter isnt necessary or required, you shouldnt feel compelled to write one. In fact, blatantly ignoring the instructions found within the job listing is a surefire way to get your application discarded.Final thoughtsThe next time you find yourself asking, Do I need a cover letter?, assume the answer is yes and start thinking about what information you can incorporate into your cover letter to set your application apart.Amanda Augustine is a certified professional career coach (CPCC) and resume writer (CPRW) and the resident career expert for Talent Inc.s suite of brands TopResume, TopCV, and TopInterview. On a regular basis, she answers nutzer questions like the one above. Have a question? Take a look at her career advice or ask a question on her Quora page.Recommended Reading10 of the Worst Cover Letter Mistakes to AvoidAsk Amanda How Do I Mention Relocation in My Cover Letter?9 Cliches to Cut From Your Cover Letter Right NowRelated Articles