As a recruiter, I get asked at least once a week whether or not a candidate should send a cover letter. It’s a question that keeps on popping up: Are cover letters still relevant? 🤔
There was a time when a cover letter was considered essential. It added a personal touch, showed your enthusiasm, and provided context to your CV. However, with the rise of online applications and AI-driven screening tools, many candidates and employers are questioning their importance. These days it’s more about keywords and algorithms, and the human touch seems to be fading.
Granted, a cover letter can offer a glimpse into your personality and allows you to explain how your unique experiences align with the job. However, it’s equally true that many recruiters don’t have time to read them. We spoke to a Recruiter last week who was personally handling over 150 vacancies – I’m fairly sure they’re not reading cover letters!
I remember a client at Asda perhaps as many as 15 years ago, asking me NOT send cover letters as they tended to get separated from the CVs and were quite simply another thing to read. As for me personally, I’m not a fan either!
So, what’s your take? Are cover letters a must-have for you, or just an optional extra?
#coverletters #jobapplications #recruitment
