As a job seeker, there was nothing I hated more than writing a cover letter. Who was even taking the time to read it anyways?
I avoided applying for jobs that required them like the plague. They took so much time and effort for so little reward.
Fun fact: both jobs I’ve gotten post-graduation didn’t even require one. I’ve often wondered why that was, too. Was I a terrible cover letter writer, or was it just truly unnecessary when determining the best person for the job?
Either way, I simply do not believe in them. I actually started writing a blog post on how to write a cover letter and just flat out deleted it. Even as a recruiter, I have no clue how to effectively draft one up.
Every single person I have helped get hired in the past two years as a recruiter has gotten the job without ever writing a cover letter. Just think about that for a second.
Sure, they’ve had to revise their resumes to better represent their experience, take technical assessments to boast their skills, and have even had to provide brief write ups to explain their specific experience in more detail. Never once, though, have they had to write a cover letter.
Within hiring, we often make candidates jump through so many hoops before they ever get an interview. What’s the point?
If someone’s resume concisely lists their experience and includes all of the necessary skills the job needs, what is the point of a cover letter? Why do hiring managers require another piece of paper that just says the same thing but with more words?
What’s even more problematic is this notion that candidates who don’t submit an “optional” cover letter are lazy. If there’s anything I’ve learned in Corporate America, it’s that optional always means required.
Oftentimes, the job search is a numbers game. The more jobs you apply to, the better your chances are. If candidates sit and take the time to write a unique cover letter for each job they apply for and never even get a rejection email, they’ve wasted so much time for nothing.
If hiring managers truly feel that this is necessary and a game changer when making an offer, ask candidates to write it later in the process. The skills on their resume get them in the door and the interviews help better qualify the candidate. If this results in a dead tie, a cover letter should serve as a last resort.
I’m the first to admit that I am only one recruiter in a large sample size of hiring professionals. With that being said, there has to be a more effective way of hiring.
If you’re a hiring professional, I’d love to hear from you. Do you require candidates to submit cover letters and if so, do you read them?
This article is my own and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of TEKsystems.
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