Does a Cover Letter Really Matter In 2024?
Are you still writing those one-page cover letters? You likely have wondered: What's the point of cover letters? Don't cover letters just summarize the resume but in letter format?
Cover letters started out as persuasive essays of sorts on the simple topic: Why should they hire you? While the purpose of the cover letter has evolved, the goal of how you write your cover letter really depends. But should you risk leaving that "optional" cover letter field and just type one out? Can you get a cover letter template down and use it on every job post? Can cover letters be written by AI? A ChatGPT cover letter? Decisions, decisions!
Many companies have ditched the whole cover letter. Finally! But there are still a few stragglers out there that demand a cover letter or make it optional, but it's still there. So, how important are cover letters in 2024?
Lucky us, the age of those novel-length cover letters, complete with "Dear sir or madam," has gracefully retired. A round of applause, please! Doesn't mean that employers don't want a persuasive story backed with evidence from your resume, just means that they got no time for a thesis. So how do you tackle it?
Cover letter Templates?
If you Google this, you'll get millions of results. Here's an example by Kickresume. How do you pick a cover letter template?
Rule of thumb: brevity is your best buddy. Toss those outdated cover letter templates into the nostalgia bin. We're talking 200 to 400 words, an elevator pitch.
What do you actually write in a cover letter? Why you're hyped about the gig, sprinkle in your career goals, and flaunt your victories with confidence. 63% of people in the Resume Lab survey say that sharing your why with the company is key. So, do that and highlight what you bring to the table for the company and how this job aligns with your career goals.
While you can absolutely use AI to write your cover letter, we strongly recommend that you only use the output as a guide and not a template. While AI is good, AI detectors are catching up really fast. You don't want them to toss your application because of something like this! Make sure you sound human and genuine.
Should you go that EXTRA mile?
If the job description's playing coy about needing a cover letter, should you still serve one up?
Word on the street is, that about 75% of recruiting managers are still expecting that extra dash of effort. Even if they skim your letter faster than you do reels, your dedication doesn't go unnoticed.
Plus: A killer cover letter can be your knight in shining armor if your resume is still in training wheels mode. According to Resume Lab, 83% of hiring recruiters think your slick cover letter can land you an interview pass even if your resume's a bit meh.
If you're suiting up for an in-person interview and the company expects a physical copy, bring along a few cover letter copies. When you're submitting a digital job application, remember, that separate PDF files for your resume and your cover letter are important. The same applies if you are applying online.
Should you repeat your resume deets in the letter?
Short answer: No. Your resume and cover letter are like peanut butter and jelly. They should complement each other, not be the same thing. Repeating yourself like a broken record can land your application in the "seen it, trashed it" pile. Instead, give your cover letter a spin with the spotlight on what you bring to the table and where you get it from - the skills and the experience you have that prove that you have those skills.
Last but not least, spell check like your future depends on it. Your cover letter is your verbal handshake, and trust me, typos are like spinach in your teeth during a job interview – not a good look!
And a friendly reminder: make sure the company name isn't playing hide-and-seek with your enthusiasm. Sending an app with the wrong name is like showing up to a party in your PJs. Not cool.
So, there you have it. The deets on the 2024 cover letter: shorter, snappier, and purposeful is the verdict.