Do cover letters matter?

Cover letters are a traditional part of the application process. However, they may be unnecessary if your application process involves detailed questions or job portfolios.

They can be an essential application document if you’re hiring for a job that involves written communication, and they can serve as a writing sample to evaluate the applicant’s creativity and grammar. Cover letters can also allow applicants to expand on their qualifications.

Reasons to require cover letters

Cover letters can give you some extra insight into your job applicants. Consider these reasons for requesting cover letters from job applicants.

1. Find applicants that can add to your company culture

A resume typically provides a list of accomplishments, jobs, education and awards, helping you assess a candidate’s background. A cover letter should be tailored to the specific job and company, allowing the candidate to elaborate on personalized details for your open position and express what they offer your organization.

Candidates can also match the tone of your company culture through a cover letter. For example, if your company culture is casual, a friendly and conversational tone can make a cover letter stand out.

2. Check their ability to follow instructions

Hiring managers can evaluate cover letters for attention to detail and ability to follow instructions. For example, you can provide instructions for candidates to include specific details in their cover letter, such as “mention your salary expectations” or “answer a particular question,” and review whether the candidate included the required details.

3. Look for creativity

Cover letters let applicants express their creativity. If you’re hiring for a creative position, such as a copywriter, designer or marketing assistant, you can request that applicants submit their work with visually appealing formatting, such as a custom header, color accents or an infographic-style layout.

4. Learn personal details

Sometimes, candidates use cover letters to share brief stories or anecdotes that connect their personal background, skills or experiences to your open role or company. Requiring cover letters from applicants can allow you to get a sense of their working style and skills.

5. Receive explanations for resume details

Resumes can provide facts about an applicant but sometimes lack context and detailed explanations. For example, a cover letter lets the applicant explain situations such as employment gaps. An out-of-state applicant can clarify their relocation plans. Having those additional details may increase your confidence in the candidate.

Reasons not to require cover letters

For many companies, a cover letter is a time-consuming addition to the hiring process that doesn’t provide much additional information. Here are some reasons cover letters may not be necessary.

1. Applicants may recycle the job posting

Because a personalized cover letter can be a timely process, job seekers may use strategies to pass through automated resume screening, including rephrasing statements from the job posting or mentioning details about the company from the website.

2. Information is available elsewhere

Applicants often use cover letters to highlight their experiences, skills and education. However, those details are typically included on the applicant’s resume. Relying on resumes, job portfolios, work samples and supplement questions may save time when reviewing candidates.

3. Cover letters are often based on templates

It’s common for job seekers to use cover letter templates with modifications for each job application. In these cases, the cover letters may not provide further insight into their qualifications. Applicants may also use AI-generated cover letters, potentially making them less personal.

4. You might overlook a candidate who matches your company’s needs

It’s possible to overlook applicant who fits your needs based on their cover letter due to minor grammar errors that detract from their message. Applicant tracking software (ATS) can also overlook candidates if certain keywords are missing from their resumes.

Alternatives to cover letters

Alternatives to cover letters can provide insights into an applicant’s qualifications. Consider these options:

• Structured application questions: Adding a list of supplemental application questions related to the position can help you evaluate all candidates equally, reducing the risk of bias based on writing style, background or personal details included in cover letters.
• Situational questions: Including situational interview questions related to behavioral qualities may be a more effective way to assess soft skills and demonstrate how candidates handle job-specific situations.
• Pre-employment tests: Having applicants complete a pre-employment test can help you evaluate strategically by narrowing your applicant pool to those who meet specific qualifications, such as typing speed or math skills.
• Job portfolios: Requiring applicants to submit a job portfolio or samples of previous work might give you an idea of whether a candidate has the necessary skills to succeed in your open role.

FAQs about cover letters

How do I ensure applicants include a cover letter?

If your organization decides cover letters are necessary, you can request that document in your job posting. A bulleted list of each required document may make it easier for applicants to find.

If you use an online application platform, you can typically make the cover letter a required field to submit.

What should I look for in cover letters?

Establishing your expectations can help you determine how to review cover letters effectively. For instance, you might look for creativity, personalization and relevance to the position.

You might adjust your evaluation methods based on the open position, such as creativity for a graphic designer or exceptional grammar for a writer.