As the American workforce shifted from agricultural jobs at the end of the century to industrial and office jobs at the end of World War II, the use of cover letters and resumes increased. Job candidates suddenly had to explain their education, skills and experience. In an age when job seekers actually mailed their resumes in response to job postings often in newspapers, a cover letter was a polite way of saying, This is me, and this is the job I'm applying for. Since then, a whole bunch of books have been written explaining how to write a compelling cover letter, but they've gradually become less important.
With the rise of Internet job listing platforms like , , and , job whatsapp mobile number list applications are no longer manually sorted in the mailroom; they are automatically grouped based on job postings. In most companies, HR is no longer the first screener for resumes; that task belongs to the algorithms. The Pros and Cons of Cover Letters The recruiters in our thread about cover letters have strong opinions on the topic, from I would go out of my way to talk to someone who takes the time to write a cover letter to I personally hate them. Most respondents said they don't. Like them, asking for them is outdated. Recruiters are more likely to read cover letters for senior positions than for entry-level positions.
For more senior positions, jobs in academia, or job openings that require strong writing skills, a cover letter can help you stand out from the competition. Even if it doesn't get read, the process of drafting a cover letter can help you organize your thinking about your opening statement during the interview process. Check out this discussion on If you need to explain nuances that can't be conveyed in your resume, you may also want to include a cover letter. This might include: Outlining transferable skills when switching industries Detailed time intervals on your resume Explaining why you moved Clarifying red flags Tips for writing a meaningful cover letter A good cover letter should be short and no longer than one page Be detailed.