What It Is
A formal letter submitted alongside a resume explaining why a candidate is qualified and interested in a specific position. Debates over cover letter necessity and effectiveness have raged throughout social media’s existence.
The Great Cover Letter Debate
Pro-Cover Letter Camp:
- Shows genuine interest in specific role
- Explains career gaps or transitions
- Demonstrates communication skills
- Personalizes application
- Required by many formal applications
Anti-Cover Letter Camp:
- Most recruiters don’t read them
- Time-consuming to customize
- Repeats resume information
- Increasingly obsolete in fast-moving industries
- Better to network directly
Cultural Shift
By 2020, many tech companies and startups explicitly stated “no cover letter needed.” The rise of one-click applications (LinkedIn Easy Apply, Indeed Quick Apply) made cover letters impractical. However, traditional industries (law, academia, government) still expected them.
Modern Alternatives
- Email introductions to hiring managers
- LinkedIn messages to recruiters
- Personal websites with portfolio/bio
- Video introductions
- Portfolio case studies