"Do Employers Even Read Cover Letters Anymore?"

As you know, looking for work is a full time job.  Between networking online and in-person, getting certifications, and customizing each and every resume to the respective job leads, time is tight.  Betwixt the madness, you might hear a persistent rumor that employers and recruiters don’t read cover letters anymore.  If you’ve been overworked by unemployment, saving some time by skipping the cover letter might seem like a very enticing option.  After all, if you’re doing your cover letter correctly (and you are, right?), you’ll spend an extra hour or two on every application in order to get your wording absolutely perfect.  If most employers don’t even look at the cover letter, what’s the point of wasting those precious hours?

Well, it’s true; many employers aren’t reading cover letters anymore.  Allow me to explain before you angrily throw your binder of cover letters into the toilet.  You see, there are still a significant amount of employers who put a very high emphasis on the cover letter.  While this amount might be less than the number of employers ignoring your cover letters, it’s still a significant enough number that not submitting the document could be highly damaging to your application.  In other words:

Keep writing cover letters!

Sometimes, not having a cover letter is detrimental to your chances even if the employer doesn’t read it.  This might sound a bit strange, but think of it this way:  An interviewer might not notice your pants, but if you walked into a job interview with no pants on, you’re probably not going to get the job.  Employers and recruiters expect you to put some effort into your application, and not doing so could very easily disqualify you.  Whether it’s fair or not, they want you to jump through a few hoops (*cough* Applicant Tracking Systems *cough*) before they consider you.  In other words:

Keep writing cover letters!

It’s true that the face of cover letters has changed.  Many clever job seekers are finding hiring managers on LinkedIn, and submitting a version of their cover letter directly to them via InMail.  Some job seekers are making “cover videos” in order to infuse more of their personality into their cover letters.  These differentiation tactics work beautifully when done well, but can be laughable when handled clumsily.  So yes, the landscape is changing, but the basic concept behind the cover letter is the same.  It’s an introduction that complements your resume, shows a bit of your personality, and addresses issues that might otherwise be inexplicable on your resume alone.  In other words:

Keep writing cover letters!