Do I Still Need A Cover Letter?
March 20, 2014
Am I hindering my job search if i don’t write a cover letter?
By Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, Expert Resume Writer
Q: Can it hinder my job search if I don’t write a cover letter?
A: In short, yes. It absolutely can reduce the response rate you’ll receive from your resume and application by not submitting or including a cover letter when you apply. Why is that? A cover letter opens the door to communicating information that isn’t appropriate to include on your resume.
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1. A cover letter makes a personal introduction. Think, “Hello, Mr. Smith, my name is Jane Doe, and I’m the best project manager for ABC company because...” This shows you did your research, you know who to contact, and you’ve made the effort.
2. It gives you the ability to plainly state why you’re the best candidate for the job. You can share three reasons why you’re the best person—and you offer more value to the company than candidates X, Y, and Z.
3. You can make a PERSONAL connection. Do you know someone within the company that referred you? Name drop! Why are you specifically interested in this role? Is there a connection there of personal interest that may be valuable to the employer? What do you know, what information or wisdom do you have that they need?
4. You can ask for the interview. Asking for the interview increases your chance of getting a call for an interview by somewhere around 50 percent (I’ve read several different stats about the actual percentage being between 50 percent-75 percent, so I’ll go on the conservative side and say it will increase your chances by 50 percent). I’m not a mathematician, but if there’s a 50 percent chance they’ll call—and a 50 percent chance they won’t call you—and then asking for the interview increases your chances of being called even more, doesn’t that mean that now there’s a 75 percent chance they’ll call and only a 25 percent chance they won’t? I don’t know about you, but I’d want to up my response rate and results by asking for the interview. Want to know more about how to ask for the interview and exactly what to say? Check out this article for more information.
5. You can leave them drooling for more. My writers always find this great little tidbit of information to include in the cover letter at the very end that guarantees the employer will read it and want to know more. We utilize a PS in our cover letters to ensure maximum impact. It’s not just about including one—it’s also about what you say in that P.S. And I can guarantee you, we write some incredibly captivating ones—the kind that will have the employer picking up the phone the same day to call you.
With all of these great benefits—each of which increases your possibilities for a response and call for an interview—why wouldn’t you want to utilize a cover letter? It really is a wise decision to utilize one—and it’s in your best interest! So if you were on the fence about whether you should or shouldn’t use a cover letter, I hope I’ve convinced you that it’s one tool you definitely want in your job search arsenal.
About the Author
Jessica Hernandez, is a resume authority for the Job Talk America radio program and multi-published expert author for resume, career, and job search publications. She boasts more than ten years in human resources management and hiring for Fortune 500 companies and utilizes her extensive experience to support job seekers in their quest to move onward and upward in their careers. Find out more at Great Resumes Fast.
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