Why cover letters are important

Graphic by Suzanne Robinson

Mirriam asks if a cover letter is really so important when replying to job ads. The answer is a resounding "yes". A cover letter serves three important purposes.

First, it tells the employer or recruiter that you are interested in the particular job being advertised. Some people use the "scattergun" approach, sending loads of resumes out whether the jobs suit or interest them or not.

Second, the cover letter is your first opportunity to really sell yourself by detailing in just a few paragraphs how your skills and experience specifically match the requirements outlined in a job ad. A cover letter should not just be a regurgitation of your resume, nor should it just cover why you want the job; it should also tell the reader why they should want you.

Third, a cover letter is seen as courteous, particularly by line managers doing their own hiring. In fact the few managers I surveyed on the subject told me they toss applications away that do not include a cover letter without reading them because they view such an omission as rude.

Whether they are right or wrong is not the point. You don't want to miss out on an opportunity just because you didn't write a short cover letter. It's doubtful a recruitment consultant would toss resume away without scanning it just because it lacked a cover letter.

Their business is assessing and hiring people whereas for the manager of a certain department their core skills are accounting or IT or sales or whatever and hiring is just something that comes up now and again. You will find more advice on writing cover letters in the Job hunting advice section of the CareerOne website.

By Kate Southam, Editor of careerone.com.au.

For more useful tips read the other stories in the  Ask Kate Archives , Kate's Blog and Kate's Resource Library.