Do I Really Need A Cover Letter?

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Do I Really Need A Cover Letter? I get this question more than any other from my clients – Do I really need a cover letter? The answer is YES you really need one! Think about a cover letter as the introduction to a story or the beginning of a movie. If you started the movie off at the midway point you might be lost, you wouldn’t know the background or what was going on. Sure, once you started watching it you might pick up on it and figure out where it was going but it would take you some time to do so and you might lose interest before you get there. It is the same way with a cover letter. A cover letter is your introduction. It is your chance to introduce yourself to the employer, tell them the specific position you’re interested in applying to, and explain very briefly why they should read your resume. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. As a Hiring Manager for a major Fortune 500 company, I cannot tell you how many unsolicited resumes I received on a daily basis. I probably saw 1000 resumes a month maybe more! The candidates with a cover letter attached received my attention and I will tell you why. 1. It shows professionalism, the extra effort, and your detail-oriented nature. As a hiring manager I want a candidate who takes the time to go the extra mile. It conveys a needed trait to me and an asset in an individual I want on my team. 2. It tells me where to put you. If I'm recruiting for 10 different positions it tells me right off the bat which category/position to put you in. All those other unsolicited resumes that aren't applying to a specific position because they have no cover letter attached only receive about 2 seconds of my attention before going in the 'resumes' file. You know that growing file folder in my filing cabinet that I NEVER look through again. 3. It introduces yourself. It tells me who you are, what you want, and why I should give you the time of day. Consider it your 10 second sales pitch. It convinces me why I should spend more then the normal 5 seconds on your resume. When I read a cover letter filled with accomplishments (that FYI should be related to the position you are applying to) I will search your resume to find them, related experience, and to find out if you're the candidate I need. Believe me when I tell you having a cover letter is a great competitive advantage. Look at it this way, if you have a cover letter you are already ahead of all those other average joes without one. You’ve already knocked off a couple hundred people in the job search for that position. Now you just have to compete with the other guys who also had a cover letter with their resume. This is when a powerful, targeted, and customized resume comes into play.

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  • Eddi
    Eddi •
    Thanks that's a great answer!
  • Randhil
    Randhil •
    You've covered all the bases with this answer!
  • Forbes Dodge
    Forbes Dodge •
    Jessica,You are an expert in this field! I am so impressed with your advice I would like an email address to reach you at and contract you to do a new resume for me.  Thanks, looking forward to hearing from you
  • Laura Paris
    Laura Paris •
    Wow– I’ve needed some no-nonsense advice for getting a job and I think the improvements I've made to my CV after reading your article are really going to make all the difference. Great advice!
  • Steve B
    Steve B •
    Great advice! Your analogy was appropriate.  When I (during my most recent and long job search) had targeted a company I wanted to work for, I first went to their web site and learned as much as I could about them. The next step was for me to figure out a way that I could actually benefit the company. The cover letter gave me a great chance to show my communication skills (proper grammer, syntax and spelling are extremely important-always have someone else edit your letter!), introduce myself and my goal and to explain briefly how I can bring value to the position I desired.  Did I get every job I applied for? No, of course not. But I feel confident that time was spent on my resume rather than it being just placed aside. The evidence was in the amount of telephone and written responses I received aknowleging my resume submission.
  • Jessica
    Jessica •
    Hi T. Lanier, The best thing to do is first explain your transferable skills. That expertise you have in another field that you can use in your new field. I know it is hard when you don't have experience what I recommend to my clients is to find a small company. Smaller companies and small business owners are more likely to take a chance on someone that doesn't necessarily have the years of experience other larger companies are wanting. I would try this approaching and see if that can help you. Also, networking is a great tool. Sites like linkedin.com and word of mouth can get you very far. Sometimes who you know will do more for you than what you know.Feel free to email me at Jessica@greatresumesfast.com with any further questions.Best of luck!
  • T. Lanier
    T. Lanier •
    Hello,I wanted to ask, if you have finished a class about a year ago and want a job in property management how do you approach a potential employer?  I have no experience in Property management but in SC you have to take a class and then you pretty much on your own. Most companies want a year in the field I don't have that yet.  What can I do? How can I find an employer that will give me an opportunity.  I have most of my experience in customer service and administrative assistant areas.  Thank You, T. Lanier
  • Jessica
    Jessica •
    Hi Scott, try http://www.greatresumesfast.com to view samples.
  • Scott Doherty
    Scott Doherty •
    Can you give an example or a link to a good cover letter.

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