Job searches: Cover letters?

Kodos · 11-08-2009, 10:37 PM

For all you HR types -- how important are cover letters when you're sending in your resume? Are they a real plus, or an annoyance?

Lathum · 11-08-2009, 10:38 PM

Very unprofessional to not send one.

RPI-Fan · 11-08-2009, 10:40 PM

Have to send one - general practice is to attach it to the e-mail (rather than type it into the body of the e-mail).

Kodos · 11-08-2009, 10:52 PM

That's what I figured. Just wanted to be sure it hadn't become frowned upon for some reason.

MikeVic · 11-08-2009, 11:05 PM

I don't know, last time I was searching for a job (about 2-3 years ago), I didn't include any cover letters since I was tired of writing them... and I ended up getting a good number of interviews. They never asked me about a missing cover letter either.

aran · 11-08-2009, 11:36 PM

I think it depends on the industry and kidn of job you're looking for.

I'm in the market for a software engineering job and it seems to be expected for me to craft a cover letter for each business I send a resume to. It's generally expected, from what I've read and seen, for the cover letter to be the body of the email you send with the resume attached.

Edward64 · 11-09-2009, 09:38 AM

I would do cover letter but you should personalize it. Have the middle paragraph sell you and tell them why you are a good fit and should have an interview.

DaddyTorgo · 11-09-2009, 09:43 AM

Yeah - you definately have to take the time to personalize it. You should have a standard middle paragraph that is the "meat" and then much shorter first and last paragraph where you say "here's why i want position x at company xyz. here's how i fit what you're looking for, oh and here's a bonus quality/certification/whatever (if applicable)." Then your closing paragraph is just a couple sentences essentially saying "look forward to hearing from you. feel that i have many things that i could bring to the table to benefit xyz company and looking forward to discussing the opportunities there with you."

not necessarily exactly in those words, but those are the ideas

Lathum · 11-09-2009, 10:27 AM

and it certainly can't hurt you to send one.

gi · 11-09-2009, 10:28 AM

I wouldn't even look at a resume without a cover letter. I also looked for personalization as well as good grammar and spelling. My goal when reviewing a cover letter was that the person can write well. Then during the interview, I try to see if you actually wrote it by the manner in which you speak.

Daimyo · 11-09-2009, 10:58 AM

I'd say its very important, but less important the more qualified you are for the job. When I do resume reviews I guess a good cover letter improves your chances of getting an interview an average of at least 10%.

They are absolutely critical if you are changing careers or barely qualified for the job as that is the only opportunity you'll have to explain why your past experience in a different field is applicable to the job and/or why I should take a chance on talking to someone less qualified than everyone else.

fantom1979 · 11-09-2009, 12:41 PM

When I would review resumes, I would really only look at the cover letter if the person was borderline qualified for the job. If you were qualified, you got an interview, if you were grossly unqualified, your resume got canned, if you were borderline, your cover letter would make all the difference.

11-08-2009, 10:40 PM	#3
RPI-Fan Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Troy, NY	Have to send one - general practice is to attach it to the e-mail (rather than type it into the body of the e-mail). __________________ Quis custodiets ipsos custodes?

11-08-2009, 10:52 PM	#4
Kodos Resident Alien Join Date: Jun 2001	That's what I figured. Just wanted to be sure it hadn't become frowned upon for some reason. __________________ Author of The Bill Gates Challenge, as well as other groundbreaking dynasties.

11-09-2009, 09:43 AM	#8
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	Yeah - you definately have to take the time to personalize it. You should have a standard middle paragraph that is the "meat" and then much shorter first and last paragraph where you say "here's why i want position x at company xyz. here's how i fit what you're looking for, oh and here's a bonus quality/certification/whatever (if applicable)." Then your closing paragraph is just a couple sentences essentially saying "look forward to hearing from you. feel that i have many things that i could bring to the table to benefit xyz company and looking forward to discussing the opportunities there with you." not necessarily exactly in those words, but those are the ideas __________________ Get bent whoever hacked my pw and changed my signature.

11-09-2009, 10:58 AM	#11
Daimyo College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Berkeley	I'd say its very important, but less important the more qualified you are for the job. When I do resume reviews I guess a good cover letter improves your chances of getting an interview an average of at least 10%. They are absolutely critical if you are changing careers or barely qualified for the job as that is the only opportunity you'll have to explain why your past experience in a different field is applicable to the job and/or why I should take a chance on talking to someone less qualified than everyone else. Last edited by Daimyo : 11-09-2009 at 11:00 AM.

11-08-2009, 10:38 PM	#2
Lathum Favored Bitch #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: homeless in NJ	Very unprofessional to not send one.

11-08-2009, 11:05 PM	#5
MikeVic Head Coach Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hometown of Canada	I don't know, last time I was searching for a job (about 2-3 years ago), I didn't include any cover letters since I was tired of writing them... and I ended up getting a good number of interviews. They never asked me about a missing cover letter either.

11-08-2009, 11:36 PM	#6
aran High School Varsity Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Jersey, USA	I think it depends on the industry and kidn of job you're looking for. I'm in the market for a software engineering job and it seems to be expected for me to craft a cover letter for each business I send a resume to. It's generally expected, from what I've read and seen, for the cover letter to be the body of the email you send with the resume attached.

11-09-2009, 09:38 AM	#7
Edward64 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2005	I would do cover letter but you should personalize it. Have the middle paragraph sell you and tell them why you are a good fit and should have an interview.

11-09-2009, 10:27 AM	#9
Lathum Favored Bitch #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: homeless in NJ	and it certainly can't hurt you to send one.

11-09-2009, 10:28 AM	#10
gi College Prospect Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Berkley, MI	I wouldn't even look at a resume without a cover letter. I also looked for personalization as well as good grammar and spelling. My goal when reviewing a cover letter was that the person can write well. Then during the interview, I try to see if you actually wrote it by the manner in which you speak.

11-09-2009, 12:41 PM	#12
fantom1979 College Benchwarmer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sterling Heights, Mi	When I would review resumes, I would really only look at the cover letter if the person was borderline qualified for the job. If you were qualified, you got an interview, if you were grossly unqualified, your resume got canned, if you were borderline, your cover letter would make all the difference.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)