are cover letters necessary in 2020

Career Change & Personal Branding Blog

by Joseph Liu | Mar 6, 2020 | Career Change , Career insights , Guest Posts | 0 comments

Are Cover Letters Still Needed in 2020? (Guest Post by ResumeLab)

If you stay abreast of the career industry, you’ve probably heard it before: all recruiters care about is the resume. Cover letters are nice to have, but you don’t really need to send one, and they are slowly but surely becoming the thing of the past. Or do they?

Here at ResumeLab , we’ve decided to get to the bottom of this predicament. We polled over 200 recruiters and HR pros to see if cover letters could tip the scales in candidates’ favor. Some responses were predictable, while others were quite unexpected.

Below are a few key highlights we’ve uncovered:

• A full 83 percent of HR. professionals think cover letters are essential when making hiring decisions.
• More than seven in 10 recruiters expect to receive a cover letter even if they mark them as “optional” in job ads.
• Less than 40 percent of applicants care to attach a cover letter even when it’s mandatory.
• Over a third ( 36 percent ) of hiring professionals start the evaluation process with the cover letter.

Source: ResumeLab

So—unless you want to short-circuit your next job hunt, writing a cover letter in 2020 is a must. They allow you to differentiate yourself from other job candidates as well as highlight what’s most relevant in your experience in a way that’s less obvious with a resume alone.

That’s why we’ve compiled some practical tips to help you craft a job-winning cover letter.

Cover Letter: The Basics

Think of cover letters as an e-handshake. Fail to make a good first impression, and there’s a good chance the recruiter will move on to another job candidate.

That’s why you need to get the basics right and know how to introduce yourself in a cover letter for maximum impact.

What to Include in a Cover Letter?

• Your personal details, contact information, and date.
• A professional and personal salutation.
• An opening paragraph that highlights your two-three skills and professional accomplishments.
• A second paragraph that explains why you’re the perfect fit for the company.
• A third paragraph that provides reasons why the company is a perfect fit for you.
• A strong finish with a solid closing paragraph.

How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?

The ideal cover letter length should be around 200–400 words depending on your professional experience, and it needs to be between half a page and one page long.

How to Format a Cover Letter?

• Set one-inch margins across the board.
• Choose left-align and skip justification because it’s against the rules of business letter formatting.
• Use one or 1.15 spacing.
• Opt for double spaces between paragraphs.
• Save your cover in the PDF format, because it ensures the layout stays intact.

Do I Need to Tailor a Cover Letter for a Specific Job?

Your cover letter must be customized for each and every job you apply for. In fact, the more targeted it is, the better. Don’t ever send out a generic, cookie-cutter cover letter to the employer.

When Not to Include a Cover Letter?

When the job ad explicitly says you aren’t allowed to submit a cover letter.

3 Cover Letter Tips to Propel Your Application Success Rate

Writing a cover letter is no easy feat. You’ll have to spend every ounce of your time, blood, and sweat to get it right.

But—if you use the below tips to put some finishing touches to your cover letter, it’ll be well worth the investment.

Write an Attention-Grabbing Opening Paragraph

Here’s the thing: When you apply for a ( corporate ) job, you’ll be up against 250+ job candidates on average. As a result, most recruiters skim resumes for just 7.4 seconds before moving on to another application.

And while there aren’t reputable eye-tracking studies on cover letters, it’s safe to assume they don’t get much eye-time either. That’s why the opening paragraph of your cover letter will either spark interest in the recruiter or prompt them to pick another application from their inbox.

Good news? When writing an opening paragraph, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Instead, you can use some proven formula:

• Say something about the company to (1) show you did your research and (2) that your cover letter is custom-tailored to this specific position.
• Sprinkle a few measurable achievements from your past experience that go hand-in-hand with what the employer is looking for in the job ad.
• Skim the job posting for the challenges the company is trying to address by filling this role and assure them you’ll be a perfect fit.

Importantly, be sure to include tangible numbers in the opening paragraph—they’ll 11x your chances of getting the callback by spotlighting your value proposition right from the get-go.

Make Sure Your Cover Letter Is Robot-Approved

As I mentioned above, recruiters are overwhelmed with job applications.

That’s why they have to use applicant tracking systems ( ATSs ) to weed out unsuitable candidates on autopilot. ATSs like Taleo ( a tool most recruiters use ) parse candidates’ resumes looking for keywords and compare them against the job description.

But—what most job seekers don’t know is that Taleo treats a cover letter as searchable text just like a resume , and if it’s not ATS-optimized, human eyes will never see your application. That’s why it’s essential to get your cover letter robot-approved before you submit it to a recruiter. Here’s how:

• Skim the job ad and write out the bits related to duties, key skills, and required experience.
• Similar to your resume, pepper your cover letter with keywords you found in the job ad.
• To test your cover letter match rate, consider using Jobvite’s paid cover letter scan feature.

Importantly: just like with resumes, keyword-stuffing your cover letter is a bad idea. After all, even if your application passes an ATS hurdle, an actual human will read both your resume and cover letter, so don’t try to cheat the system.

Make an Offer in the Closing Paragraph

Once the body of a cover letter is taken care of, most people put a formal closing at the very end using a standard sign-off phrase like “Sincerely,” or “Kind regards,” and send the cover letter away.

But—there’s a quick trick you can use to tip the scales in your favor and get the recruiter to schedule an interview with you: adding a postscript.

Put simply, it’s a snappy one-liner you place at the very bottom of your cover letter that entices the recruiter to call you. Here’s how it looks:

P.S.—I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss how my SEO and link-building skills helped me improve organic traffic by 200% for my previous company’s 2 core brands.

Here’s how to write yours:

• Mention one of your major career accomplishments from past roles that’s ( partially ) related to what the employer wants based on the job ad.
• Say you’ll be happy to provide more details.

About guest author Max Woolf, Resume Lab

Max Woolf is a career expert at ResumeLab . He’s passionate about helping people land their dream jobs through the expert career industry coverage. In his spare time, Max enjoys biking and traveling to European countries. You can hit him up on LinkedIn .

About Joseph Liu

Joseph Liu helps aspiring professionals relaunch their careers to do work that matters. As a keynote speaker, career & personal branding consultant, and host of the Career Relaunch podcast , his passion is helping people gain the clarity, confidence, and courage to pursue truly meaningful careers. Having gone through three major career changes himself, he now shares insights from building & relaunching global consumer brands to empower professionals and business owners to build & relaunch their personal brands.

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Are Cover Letters Necessary in 2020?

Writing a cover letter takes time and effort, there’s no denying that.

But are cover letters really necessary in today’s job search? Wouldn’t it be great if you could skip writing one altogether?

There are many contrasting opinions on that matter—most, supported by outdated studies or reports.

To find the real, definitive answer, we surveyed US hiring decision-makers: external recruiters, in-house HR team members, and teams’ hiring managers.

Do you need a cover letter?

Let’s hear from those who would read it.

How important is a cover letter?

A cover letter is an important component of the decision-making process among 83% of hiring managers, recruiters, and HR staff.

In a separate question, 83% respondents claimed that a great cover letter can secure you an interview even if your resume isn’t good enough.

Bottom line—writing a cover letter can help you make up for flaws in your resume in more than 8 out of 10 cases.

Are cover letters always required?

Even if not required, cover letters are usually preferred:

• 74% of recruitment decision-makers prefer to receive job applications which include cover letters apart from resumes.
• For jobs with a direct application process (for instance through an email), a cover letter is required 64% of the time.
• For vacancies advertised via automated online tools (e.g. job boards such as Indeed, or internal career sites), 61% recruiters require cover letters.

Should you send a cover letter even if it’s optional?

Even if not formally required, a cover letter can still dramatically boost your chances of landing a job. Why? Because that’s what recruiters want:

Even if submitting a cover letter is optional, 77% of recruiters will give preference to candidates who did send a cover letter.

72% of recruiters still expect cover letters even if the job ad states they’re optional.

In other words, that “optional” cover letter is pretty much mandatory in 2020.

Why is a cover letter so important?

According to HR pros, cover letters are particularly important and useful for the following purposes:

• Explaining the motivation to join the company (63% of respondents)
• Describing career objectives (50% of respondents)
• Explaining the reasons for changing careers (50% of respondents)
• Explaining employment gaps (49% of respondents)
• Highlighting professional achievements (47% of respondents)

Interestingly, only 36% of recruitment professionals consider cover letters useful for displaying that mythical “cultural fit.”

The lesson?

Keep your cover letter professional and focused on your career. No need to force jokes, look for common ground with the hiring manager or get overly cute.

Time for a recap then—

When do you need a cover letter?

According to this survey, you need a cover letter in most cases, most particularly when a cover letter is required in the job ad.

When the cover letter is required for a given job posting and you fail to attach one, only 13% of decision-makers will process your application.

Do employers and recruiters read cover letters?

• 77% of hiring decision-makers said they would read the cover letter even if it wasn’t required.
• When a cover letter is required, 74% of recruiters claim they read it.

With such an overwhelming majority of hiring pros highlighting the importance of cover letters, it would seem an obvious career move for job-seekers to send a covering letter alongside their resumes. Is it that obvious, though?

Do candidates send cover letters?

According to recruiters, most of the candidates don’t.

• If it says cover letter optional in the job ad, only 35% of candidates attach a cover letter to their application.
• If it says cover letter required, only 38% of candidates submit a cover letter.

Surprisingly, no matter what the job ad says, 6 out of 10 candidates don’t write a cover letter.

If you were on the fence about writing a cover letter, you should already be convinced.

One final question to consider—

In what form should you send a cover letter?

There’s no dilemma if you’re applying via an automated system. Most likely, you’ll just have to follow the instructions and upload your cover letter or type it up in a proper field.

But what about applying through email? Should the email be the cover letter? Or do you need an attachment?

Sadly, we can’t give you a perfect answer.

When you submit a job application via email:

• 49% of recruiters prefer when the cover letter is written in the email body.
• 42% prefer to get a cover letter attached as a separate document.

Pay close attention to the job ad. Chances are, the preference regarding the cover letter will be specified.

No information about how to send a cover letter?

No need to obsess over it. Whether you write an email cover letter or attach your covering letter to your job application message won’t make or break your chances.

Cover letter or resume — what gets read first?

Back in the day, a cover letter served as an actual paper cover page for your resume. Its purpose was to formally introduce you to the hiring manager and encourage them to read the resume.

• Today, 36% of hiring decision-makers read a candidate’s cover letter before they review the resume.
• 37% will read the resume first.
• The remaining 27% will start with either document and won’t follow any particular order.

Methodology and limitations

This survey was run by OnePoll on behalf of ResumeLab. In it, 200 recruiters, HR specialists and hiring managers were surveyed.

The data rely on online self-reports after eligibility screening. Each participant responded without any researcher administration or interference. Potential issues with self-reported data include but are not limited to exaggeration, selective memory, and attribution errors. Some questions and responses have been rephrased for clarity and ease of understanding for readers. In some cases, the percentages presented may not add up to 100 percent: this is either due to rounding or due to responses of “neither/other/don’t know” not being presented.

Michael Tomaszewski is a resume expert and a career advice writer for ResumeLab .

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Do I Need a Cover Letter in 2024? Are Cover Letters Mandatory?

During the job-hunting process, you might find yourself asking “do I really need a cover letter?”

And honestly, that’s a very good question.

You might’ve heard a lot of recruiters say that cover letters aren’t nearly as important as the resume. Some recruiters even openly admit that they don’t read cover letters at all.

So, no wonder that you’re confused about whether or not you really need a cover letter.

In this article, we’re going to deep dive into the topic and teach you when you really need a cover letter (and when you don’t).

• Whether you need to include a cover letter in your application (and why)
• When to not include a cover letter with your resume 
• When to really put effort into your cover letter   

Do I Need a Cover Letter For My Resume

Short answer: yes , you should submit a cover letter alongside your resume.

Here’s why:

• Most job openings require you to submit a cover letter. Recruiters might not have the time to read ALL the cover letters they receive, but they will definitely read cover letters if they’re on the fence for a candidate. Besides, even if they never get to your cover letter, failing to submit one when it’s required will be a red flag.
• A cover letter shows that you’ve put in the extra effort. So, even if the recruiters don’t read them, they will know that you really want the job and that you are committed to taking all necessary steps to show you’re worth it.
• A cover letter can set you apart from other candidates. Imagine this scenario: a recruiter is looking at two candidates with the same exact professional background and resume. The difference? One submitted an A++ cover letter that showed exactly why they’re the perfect fit for the job, while the other just copied and pasted an internet template. Which one would you pick? Our point exactly!

The above being said, there do exist a few cases where a cover letter isn’t necessary and a few others where you shouldn't just submit a cover letter, but you should really put in the extra effort to make it memorable!

Ready to go through them?

When Not to Include a Cover Letter

The 3 cases where you don’t need to include a cover letter with your application are:

#1. The job opening doesn’t require one. 

Yeap, in some cases, the job description will specifically instruct you not to submit a cover letter when you’re applying for the position. Needless to say, submitting one regardless of the instructions will not make you a poster child for dedication; it will just show you can’t follow instructions. 

#2. You don’t have the time to customize your cover letters. 

If there’s one thing that’s worse than not submitting a cover letter, is submitting a bad cover letter. What do we mean by bad? An uncustomized cover letter, or a cover letter based on a one-fits-all kind of template that you plan on mass-sending to all the jobs you’re applying for.  

So, if you’re applying to many jobs and you just don’t have the time (or creativity) to write a separate cover letter tailored to each job, then just don’t write one instead of making that cover letter mistake. 

#3. There is no place to upload one on the application platform.

When you’re filling out an online job application, you might notice there is no place to upload a cover letter.

Consider that a clear sign that a cover letter is not required for that particular role.  

When Should You Put Extra Effort to Submit a Cover Letter

Now, as we said, the best practice is to submit a cover letter with your resume for any job, internship, or even internal position that you apply for (unless they explicitly ask you not to). 

That being said, there are a few cases in which you should REALLY submit a cover letter—and put in extra effort to make it significant: 

• You have important information to add. It might be a career gap, the need for a relocation, or a career change - anything, basically, that you can’t go into detail about in your resume. Your cover letter is your chance to explain it (especially if it adds significant value to your application).
• There’s a personal connection/referral. If someone has personally referred you to the company, make sure to acknowledge that in your cover letter. A personal referral means bonus points for your application, so don’t miss out on a chance to mention it.
• You have a link to the company. Did you complete an internship at the company? Or maybe you know the hiring manager or someone higher up the ranks outside of work. No matter the case, be upfront about any link you may have to the company in your cover letter. It will probably do your application good or at least show those reading it that you’re transparent.
• It’s your dream job. Without making it a love letter to the company, use your cover letter to express what this job means to you professionally and how it’ll help you thrive. Passion goes a long way!

6 Tips For a Perfect Cover Letter 

The bottom line? 

Overwhelmingly, a cover letter is an essential part of your job application and you should include one with your resume.

So, as you can imagine, your cover letter should be on par with your resume. Before you start writing your cover letter, here are a few tips to make the process easier for you:

• Keep it short. One page is more than enough when it comes to cover letters. Actually, the optimal length for a cover letter is between 250-400 words long.
• Follow submission instructions. In the job description, look out for specifics on the cover letter format (Word or PDF), fonts and margins, and content (such as which sections or information to include).
• Proofread your cover letter. Once you’re done writing, make sure your cover letter doesn’t have any grammar or spelling mistakes. Use spell check software such as Grammarly to be on the safe side.
• Avoid cliches. Saying you’re a “great team player” or “effective communicator” will get you nowhere. Instead, aim to show it by backing it up with your experience. Think, “I’m a great communicator” versus “I’m a great communicator, having closed 50+ sales per month at my last job.”
• Enhance your personal brand. Opt to use the same fonts, margins, colors, and style in both your resume and cover letter. In this way, you can highlight your personal brand and make more of an impression on the hiring manager.
• Use action verbs . To make your achievements stand out, use action verbs. So, instead of repeating “I was responsible for” or “I was in charge of,” you can use action verbs such as “managed” or “coordinated.”

Do you still have some unanswered questions? Here are the most frequently asked questions on whether cover letters are mandatory.

Do I need a cover letter for a part-time job?

You should follow the same practice with your part-time job application as you would with a full-time one. That means you should definitely submit a strong cover letter with your resume (unless otherwise indicated in the job description).

Do I need a cover letter for an internal position? 

When you apply for an internal position within the company, you should create a cover letter to highlight your experience and professional interest in the position. 

Do I need a cover letter for an internship?

Yes, you should include a cover letter with your resume when you’re applying for an internship. The cover letter should focus on your skills and strengths, your education, and your dedication to the internship program. 

Not sure how to write a cover letter for an internship from scratch? This article will tell you all you need to know!

Do I need a cover letter for an entry-level job?

Yes, an entry-level cover letter is a must.

You might not have many professional or relevant experiences to list on your resume (e.g. you’re a recent college graduate or you’re changing career paths), so the cover letter is where you can convey your enthusiasm and commitment. Plus, you can also (in words) explain how your skills from your university or past career translate into the job you’re applying for. 

Do employers read the cover letter or resume first?

Generally, employers will first read your resume to see if you have the relevant experience or skills for the position. From there, they decide whether your cover letter is worth reading or not.  If you send your cover letter in the body of the email where you have attached your resume, though, the recruiter will probably skim through it before opening your resume.

Keep in mind that in such a case your cover letter should be perfect, especially in terms of spelling and business etiquette. If the recruiter spots a “u r” instead of “you are,” or a smiley face, they might not even get to your resume.    

Want your cover letter to match your resume? We are confident that the hiring manager will appreciate the effort. Do it effortlessly by using Novorésumé's matching cover letter and resume templates !  

Key Takeaways

Well, that was all on whether cover letters are mandatory in 2023. We hope that we answered all your questions on the topic. 

Here’s a quick review of the main things we covered:

• In 98% of cases, you should include a cover letter in your job application. Although recruiters might not always read it, they expect candidates to submit one. A cover letter will considerably boost your chances and set you apart from other candidates with similar backgrounds and resumes.
• Don’t include a cover letter if the job opening specifies it’s not necessary, if you don’t have time to customize it to the position, or if there is no place to upload one in the application platform.
• Put extra effort in your cover letter if you have extra information to add to your resume if you have been personally referred for the job, if you have a link to the company, or if you’re applying to your dream job.

Related Readings: 

• How to Start a Cover Letter
• How to End a Cover Letter
• How to Address a Cover Letter

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Are cover letters necessary in 2020?

Are cover letters necessary to land a job in 2020? A survey of hiring decision-makers asked this question, and here’s what they found.

Everyone hates writing cover letters. Thank goodness they’re no longer required to land a job these days. Well…not exactly. Sorry.

Yes, you should always write a cover letter

ResumeLab surveyed 200 hiring decision-makers, including in-house hiring managers, HR professionals, and external recruiters, to determine if cover letters are necessary to land a job in 2020. And they found that cover letters are, indeed, still a significant part of your job application package .

Eighty-three percent of respondents said that a cover letter is important in decision-making. Another 83% said that a great cover letter could land candidates an interview even if their resume isn’t good enough.

In other words, “writing a cover letter can help you make up for flaws in your resume in more than 8 out of 10 cases.”

Even when a cover letter is not required, 74% of recruitment decision-makers prefer to receive them, and 77% of recruiters will prefer candidates who include one. Also, 77% of hiring respondents said they would read the cover letter even if it weren’t required. (Interestingly, a slightly smaller number, when a cover letter is needed, only 74% of respondents said they would read it.)

Even when the job says the cover letter is optional, they still expect one

On a slightly irritating note: 72% of recruiters still hope for cover letters even if the job ad states they’re optional, which is not surprising but is a bit disingenuous – why not just make it a requirement?

When a cover letter is required for a job posting, and you fail to attach one, only 13% of respondents said they would process your application.

A majority of job candidates aren’t bothering with the cover letter

Now, here is the exciting part (to me, anyway): most candidates aren’t sending cover letters. When a cover letter is optional, only 35% of candidates include one, and when it is required, only 38% of candidates include one ! No matter what the job ad says, 6 out of 10 candidates don’t write a cover letter. That seems crazy to me.

Why is a cover letter necessary? Respondents said they are useful for the following purposes:

Explaining the motivation to join the company (63%)

Describing career objectives (50%)

Explaining the reasons for changing careers (50%)

Explaining employment gaps (49%)

Highlighting professional achievements (47%)

So, write the cover letter!

The takeaway here is kind of what we’ve always said: Even though there’s a pretty good chance nobody is going to read it, you still should write a cover letter because someone might read it.

The reality is that most big companies now use software to scan resumes for top applicants, and only a few flagged as a good fit for the position will be seen by human eyes. Only then will someone look at your cover letter. But when that happens, a good cover letter can vault you over the other candidates and get you the interview.

If a job is essential to you, you should do everything possible to get it, or the hiring manager will see that you don’t care that much and move on to the next candidate. Yes, you’ll always find someone who got a job without a cover letter, but that doesn’t mean you will. I wouldn’t take a chance.

For tips on writing your cover letter, check this out.

• Resume & Cover Letters
• For Jobseekers

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