do you need a cover letter with your resume

Should You Always Include a Cover Letter?

By Biron Clark

Published: November 10, 2023

Cover Letters

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

The little-known truth about cover letters is: You do NOT always need to include a cover letter when applying for jobs, and you may be wasting hours sending cover letters that employers won’t read.

So if you’re wondering whether you should always submit a cover letter with your job application and resume, then keep reading.

After working for years as a recruiter , I’m going to share the exact situations where you should provide a cover letter and the situations where it’s not needed.

Should You Always Submit a Cover Letter?

Many people on LinkedIn and other sites will tell you that you should include a cover letter every time because it “can’t hurt,” but that’s not true…

Here’s how it CAN hurt you…

Writing a great cover letter takes a LOT of time and mental energy. So if it’s not making a difference, or not even getting read, then it  is hurting you in terms of wasted time and energy (I’d argue that writing a cover letter is the toughest and most time-consuming part of the process for many job seekers).

Writing a resume is tough, sure. But once you get it, you’re done. You spend 5-15 minutes tailoring it for each specific job you apply for, but that’s it.

Cover letters take a lot of time EVERY time (at least when done right).

That’s why it’s important to look at how important a cover letter is, and which situations it’s necessary and truly beneficial in.

3 Situations Where You Need to Send a Cover Letter:

There are a couple of specific scenarios where cover letters are necessary, and you should send one. This article by Harvard Business Review says it best:

In those cases, according to Harvard Business Review, you can boost your chances of getting the interview by writing a short letter to point out similarities between your resume and the job requirements (e.g. why you’d do well in their job )… rather than leaving the analysis entirely up to the hiring manager.

But this is only worth doing if you meet one or more of the criteria above, or a few other situations I’ll explain below…

Two more cases where you may want to include a cover letter:

First, you should send a cover letter if an employer specifically says it’s required on their website or job application form (however, having an optional field to include it is not the same as asking for it or saying it’s required).

And second, you should send a letter if you have a large gap in employment or something unusual in your background that you feel the need to explain, and you don’t feel your resume explains it well enough on its own.

(Although I do like addressing gaps in employment directly on your resume employment history section when possible. For example, if you took a year off to raise a kid, you could say: “2018-2019: One-year break from work to raise first child.” So do try to explain this type of thing on your resume if you can!)

When You Don’t Need a Cover Letter:

If you don’t fall into any of the situations we looked at above, then a cover letter is not needed.

For example, if you’re just applying for jobs online via job boards , via LinkedIn, on company websites via their “careers” page, etc., then I’d skip it! Send your resume and let it speak for itself. (And if you don’t have a great resume yet, you can get help  here. )

In my opinion, the extra time and effort just isn’t worth it when you’re applying online with no prior relationship, no referral, and no special knowledge of the hiring manager or job requirements that you can use to make your case for why they should interview you.

This is one reason I love LinkedIn EasyApply as a part of an online job search – because a cover letter is not required or even expected.

Of course, the final judgment call is yours!

If you’re applying to your dream employer and you don’t mind spending an hour writing up a great cover letter, then go ahead! It can’t hurt in a one-off scenario like this.

But the main point I’m trying to make here is:

You should be selective about when to send a cover letter, rather than feeling obligated to send it by default.

Recap: How Important is a Cover Letter?

The answer to how important a cover letter is depends on the hiring process and situation. If you read the information above, you now know when a cover letter is necessary/recommended, and when you probably shouldn’t bother.

And you’ve seen that cover letters do matter in some cases, but that doesn’t mean that you always need to send a cover letter.

And as mentioned earlier, the main benefit of this approach is time savings…

When you look at how much time and effort goes into writing each of these letters, it can add up to hours or days of wasted time if you’re sending cover letters without analyzing whether it’s necessary for the situation.

Tips for Writing a Good Cover Letter:

Now that we’ve answered whether a cover letter is necessary, and when it’s important, here are some tips and resources to help you in situations where you decide a cover letter is needed:

First, I’d always recommend keeping it brief, easy to read (no huge paragraphs or blocks of text without spacing), and personal.

It should feel like you’re talking directly to them! That means start with “Dear Bethany”, (for example), not with, “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Recruiter”.

(Recruiters almost never care about a cover letter anyway. It should be for the hiring manager).

Also, make sure you’re saying the word “you” at least as often as you say the word “I”. Talk about their needs and their company, not just about yourself .

The purpose of your cover letter is to point out similarities between your background and the employer’s job requirements. You want to demonstrate why you’re likely to succeed in their specific role, to sell them on interviewing you! And you cannot do this without researching their job and understanding/discussing their job. So this letter isn’t just about you , it’s about them just as much.

To help you further, we’ve published two articles here on Career Sidekick with great cover letter info:

• 3 steps to writing a cover letter that stands out
• How to write a cover letter with no experience

If you follow the steps above, you’ll save time in your job search and maximize the number of interviews you get for the effort you put into your job applications!

About the Author

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Good stuff Biron! This is why Career Sidekick is my go-to career blog, I really admire how you take a contrarian approach to conventional job search/career wisdom!

Seems like almost every other career blog advises you to always submit a cover letter. Too bad these folks don’t consider the most important asset we all have: time!

Would being graduated out of college for 1.5 years and haven’t “launched” your career yet – getting a job in the field you got a degree in – count as something “unusual on your background” that you would need a cover letter for?

Thanks for the kind words. I don’t think you’d need a cover letter for this. Just make sure to “tailor” your resume to show the most relevant pieces of the work you have done, and to show your relevant educational background/degree. But if you’re not getting results with your resume, then it’s worth testing/trying a cover letter. My guess is that it’s not needed, and perfecting your resume will get more interviews.

Thanks for the advice Biron!

If I understand you correctly, is this an instance where you would recommend NOT using a chronological work history on a resume then?

And instead break up work experience history into a “relevant” and “other work experience” sections, since we’re trying to show specific relevant pieces of experience and educational background/degree?

I’d still keep it chronological. Just show the most relevant pieces of each past role, for the job you want now.

How about in my situation? I am looking for a job in marketing, but it has been five years and a few jobs since marketing has been the primary function of my job. My last few jobs have had a very little marketing focus and have been training, technical or sales in focus. Should I always write a cover letter to explain this when I am applying for marketing jobs?

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Do I Need a Cover Letter in 2024? Is It Necessary or Outdated?

By Henry Garrison in Cover Letters

Anyone who has ever searched for a job at least once has probably asked themselves “do I need a cover letter” during the job-seeking process.

While some recruiters believe cover letters are outdated due to modern recruiting techniques, others think that these should accompany resumes to complete the story of candidates’ professional backgrounds .

To resolve the dilemma once and for all, we’ve prepared a practical guide on when a cover letter is or isn’t necessary. Keep reading to find answers!

Key Takeaways

Cover letters used to be an integral part of a job application . Today, many recruiters deem them obsolete, but others still expect to receive them along with a candidate’s resume.

You shouldn’t submit a cover letter if you’re not instructed to do so, if you are short on time, or if there isn’t a specifically designated option for it. 

Likewise, if there are clear-cut instructions that a cover letter is mandatory or you want to elaborate on specific pieces of information, do include a cover letter in your application.

Do I Need a Cover Letter for a Resume?

Yes—you should submit a cover letter alongside your resume when applying for a job, and there are several reasons for that.

The key purpose of a cover letter is to help recruiters get to know you better. Here, you can elaborate on your professional background and the achievements you made in previous positions and mention accomplishments you haven’t listed in your resume. This can set you apart from other candidates with similar work experience and help you get the job .

Sending a cover letter indicates that you’re ready to take the initiative and put in extra effort . Researching and writing a tailored cover letter takes a while. So, by making time to craft a compelling one, you also demonstrate that you’re not only eager to get a role but that you’ll also be committed to it.

The truth is that recruiters and hiring managers don’t read all the cover letters they receive; in fact, 74% of hiring professionals never do that. Yet, failing to submit a cover letter when it’s clearly highlighted that you should do so will only show that you don’t follow the instructions properly . Ultimately, your application will be discarded.

3 Scenarios When You Don’t Need a Cover Letter

Here are some scenarios when you don’t need to send a cover letter:

#1. It Is Not a Requirement

There will be instances when you’re clearly instructed not to send a cover letter along with your resume. Failing to follow the instructions and doing so regardless of the directives will not earn you bonus points for dedication.

On the contrary, it will just indicate that you don’t pay attention to details and instructions or that you deliberately refuse to follow them . Needless to say, you will be considered an unsuitable candidate, and your application will end up being rejected.

#2. You’re Short on Time

If you don’t have much time to tailor your cover letter for the position you’re applying to, it’s much better not to submit it at all than to send a poor one . By poor, we imply a generic, one-size-fits-all cover letter template , or even worse, AI-generated cover letter examples you can find all over the internet.

Such documents are bad, and recruiters warn against them . They also imply that you didn’t want to bother to research the company or personalize your cover letter . This further shows that you are lazy and not interested enough in the position, which you definitely don’t want.

#3. There is No Space on the Application Form

If you are applying for a position via an application form and there isn’t room to attach a cover letter, let alone write it, it’s obvious that it’s not needed for that role .

Surely, you can figure out how and to whom to send it by researching the company or the job ad. However, if you’re not instructed to do so and no place was provided for this purpose, you should probably skip it altogether.

When You Should Definitely Submit a Cover Letter

Here’s when you should definitely submit a cover letter:

#1. There is Something Important to Mention

Besides introducing you as a candidate to hiring professionals, a cover letter allows you to add information you haven’t had a chance to mention in your resume due to its limited length .

Therefore, it gives you a perfect opportunity to explain the following situations in detail:

You’re ready to relocate

You want to change careers

You have a gap in your employment

You have no experience

You want to highlight specific skills and achievements

Remember, this document is not just a carbon copy of your resume . Hence, you should not just repeat the professional history or skills you listed in your resume .

#2. To Mention Personal Referrals

A cover letter is a perfect place to acknowledge your referrals , i.e., individuals who personally referred you to the company. Having a referral may give bonus points to your job application since you have someone at the company who can vouch for you and help you get noticed.

Mention the referral in the initial paragraph of the cover letter. This way, you will let a recruiter or hiring manager know who has referred you to the job and potentially spike their interest from the get-go .

#3. You Have a Connection to the Company

Similarly to referrals, any connections or links to the company should be included in a cover letter. Therefore, if you have completed an internship in it or you’re acquainted with hiring or any other managers, don’t hesitate to list it.

Mention upfront how you’re linked to that person . It will not only show a recruiter or hiring professional reading the cover letter that you’re transparent, but it may also do good for your application.

6 Expert Strategies for Writing an Ideal Cover Letter

Now that you know what a cover letter is and when it should be submitted, it’s time to craft one. Here are some tips and strategies for generating a compelling cover letter :

Cover Letter Writing Tips

Be concise . A cover letter should be focused on your achievements, hard and soft skills, and, most importantly, how these can help the hiring company grow. For those who wonder how long a cover letter should be, the answer is 250–400 words.

Go for action words . To make your accomplishments noticeable, stick to action verbs . Avoid phrases such as “I was in charge of” or “I was responsible for.” Replace them with action verbs like “coordinated,” “managed,” “organized,” etc.

Proofread your letter . Before you send your cover letter, check if there are any spelling or grammar mistakes . It needs to be completely error-free; otherwise, you may be rejected, as is the case with 58% of cover letters that have typos.

Avoid cliches . Using expressions such as “exquisite team leader,” “effective team player ,” or “excellent communicator” may sound nice but won’t add value to your cover letter. Support them with specific achievements from your experience, however, and the final result will be completely different.

Follow instructions . If an employer has listed specific requirements or instructions on how to create and send a cover letter, follow them. Failing to act as instructed may imply that you don’t pay attention to details and are not a good fit for the company.

Tailor your cover letter to the specific position you’re applying for . Research the company and job advertisement, pay attention to the required skills and qualifications, and list them in your resume. Again, focus on how they can help the company prosper.

Final Thoughts

Only a few decades ago, cover letters used to be mandatory for job applications. Today, it is not the case, and many candidates keep wondering “do I need a cover letter” whenever they are about to apply for a job.

The answer to this question depends on several factors . Sometimes, you will have to submit a cover letter, particularly if you’re instructed to do so. Other times, you won't, and doing so may have not-so-positive consequences. The good news is—now that you’re aware of both scenarios, you won’t be confused about whether the cover letter is necessary or not.

Do I Need a Cover Letter FAQ

#1. do i need a cover letter for an entry-level position.

Yes, cover letters can be a handy tool for recent graduates or professionals who are changing careers and don’t have any relevant experience. They can use a cover letter to pitch themselves by highlighting their qualifications and enthusiasm for the role.  

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

Yes, you need a cover letter regardless of whether you’re applying for a full-time or part-time position . By submitting a well-crafted cover letter, you’re letting an employer know that you’re really interested in the position and will take it seriously.

#3. Do I need a cover letter when applying online?

Yes, you’ll probably need a cover letter when you’re applying for a job online, given that most applications today are online. When applying for a job, you’ll see a button or a room specifically designated for attaching or writing the cover letter, so don’t ignore it. 

#4. Do I need a cover letter for an internal job posting?

Yes, a cover letter is significant and necessary when you’re applying for an internal position . No matter if you’re hoping for a promotion or seeking a completely different role, a cover letter serves to remind stakeholders of your accomplishments and contributions to the company.

Create your cover letter once, use it everywhere