Are Cover Letters Necessary in 2024? Do You Need One?

Are cover letters necessary? Do I need a cover letter? You send out dozens of applications to land a job interview. You spend hours tweaking your resume and looking for opportunities.

If a cover letter is a waste of time, why bother. It’s 2024. Does anyone even read cover letters anymore, right? Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that. No worries, though.

This article will answer your questions about cover letters:

• Are cover letters always required and do they even matter?
• Do companies and employers read such letters?
• Do you have to write a cover letter?
• A tried and tested way to write cover letters in case you need one.

Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from 20+ professional cover letter templates that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.

Create your cover letter now

Use this cover letter template

Sample cover letter for a resume—See more cover letter samples and create your cover letter here.

Sold on the idea of writing a cover letter? Get it right with help from:

• How to Write a Cover Letter for a Job
• Entry Level Cover Letter
• Internship Cover Letter
• Cover Letter With Salary Requirements
• Cover Letter for Promotion
• Google Docs Cover Letter Template
• Free Cover Letter Template Word
• Modern Cover Letter Template

Looking for specific examples? See:

• IT Cover Letter
• Social Media Manager Cover Letter
• Retail Cover Letter
• Acting Cover Letter
• Data Analyst Cover Letter
• Digital Marketing Cover Letter
• Cover Letter for Manager Position
• Nursing Cover Letter
• Cover Letter Examples for All Professions

1. Cover Letter or Not?

Is a cover letter necessary?

Do you need a cover letter? A cover letter is important and required if the job offer requires a cover letter, the employer, hiring manager, or recruiter requests one, you’re applying directly to a person and know their name, or someone has referred you for the position.

So if you're wondering whether you should include a cover letter, the answer is yes in most cases. You should include a cover letter even if it isn't required. There are only a few exceptions.

For example, you might not need a cover letter if you’re applying online. Some applicant tracking systems don’t allow candidates to submit them. If that’s the case, you don’t have worry about. In all other cases? You better!

How important is a cover letter?

A cover letter is important as about 26% of recruiters read cover letters and consider them critical in their decision to hire. Another study on employer preference suggests that 56% want applicants to attach a cover letter to the resume. A CareerBuilder study found that 49% of HR managers consider a covering letter the second best thing to give your resume a boost (number one being customizing your resume.)

What does that mean for you?

Let’s say that most recruiters don’t read cover letters. But at the same time, half do expect to get one.

Strange, right?

Think about it this way: Even if recruiters don’t read cover letters, they might want to pass them to the hiring manager or employer. If the company is small, employers read cover letters to vet their candidates. The fewer the applications, the easier it is to focus on each candidate.

Plus, companies receive hundreds of resumes for most openings. To get the job done, they might reject resumes that are too long or are missing a cover letter.

When not to include a cover letter?

Short answer: when the job posting explicitly states you cannot submit a cover letter.

Plus, no cover letter is better than a bad cover letter. (But we will show you how to write a short but perfect letter in a moment.)

So—

Do I need a cover letter for a resume?

You might need a cover letter: writing one is an extra hoop you choose to jump through, sure, but that’s the point. See, an optional cover letter is not optional if you’re serious about the job. Full-time, part-time or an internship—53% of employers think a resume is not enough. Only 47% of job seekers write cover letters. Don’t join this crowd.

So, yes, you have to write a cover letter for your resume. Especially, if you need to explain employment gaps or if you’re changing careers.

Read on to find out how to make your cover letter a game-changer.

Here’s what a cover letter should look like—

Why is a cover letter necessary?

• It Introduces Jane to the hiring manager via Penny.
• It illustrates how Jane will add value to the company.
• It suggests that Jane has solutions for the company.
• It contains Jane’s contact information and availability.

Jane’s cover letter includes everything a recruiter will want:

Pro Tip: What if there is no official opening? You will want to send a smart letter of interest that includes different content. You will need to provide a reason for applying to a company with no openings. So, personalization and knowledge of the company are more important in this situation.

2. Here’s How to Take Your Cover Letter to the Next Level

So, should you write a cover letter? Yes. What can you do to take yours to the next level?

It’s all written in the job offer. (Unless someone referred you or you know the hiring manager—then you have an insider’s perspective—so go with that.)

It’s pretty simple. You’ll start by referring to your most recent, relevant experience in your first line.

Where + Title + How Long

Next, highlight a few skills, achievements, or projects. Choose things that will illustrate how you will be a valuable hire. Tailor your answers to the company, individual, and job offer.

Finally, include a third paragraph that ties up everything. Use it to explain how your experience and skills will translate to success in the new role.

Pro Tip: The worst thing that you can do with your cover letter is to repeat your resume. Cover letters say something more than what can be found on the resume.

3. Here’s How to Layout a Professional Cover Letter

The cover letter format is the same as it is for most business letters.

Here’s an example of a professional cover letter layout from our cover letter builder:

Sample cover letter created using Zety. Pick a template and write your cover letter here.

To start, align your text to the left and add:

• Your Contact Information
• The Date
• The Employer’s Contact Information

Next, add a cover letter greeting.

Address the cover letter to a specific person in the organization. This will add a personal touch and make your cover letter look less generic. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name on the job offer, call the company to find out. This is all the more important when sending your cover letter via email.

If all else fails, write: Dear Hiring Manager.

Follow the greeting with:

• The Introduction
• The Hook (2–3 paragraphs)
• The Conclusion

Your introduction should include a personable introduction to yourself. Also, mention the position for which you’re applying.

Remember to make the introduction personable and interesting. Start with something that will spark the interest of the hiring manager. Make sure you don't tell your whole life story: a cover letter should be no longer than 500 words.

Got stuck as soon as you typed Dear John? This guide will help you: How to Start a Cover Letter: Sample & Complete Guide [20+ Examples]

As for the conclusion, consider including:

• A Call to Action—Interview me!
• Availability
• Contact Information
• Reference to Resume
• Gratitude

Finish your cover letter with a closing salutation and your name.

Sincerely,

Jane Smith

Pro Tip: For business and cover letters, there are several appropriate closing salutations. You can use “Sincerely,” “Regards,” “Yours Truly,” and “Yours Sincerely.” It’s up to you.

By the way, there is a secret weapon that works wonders when ending a cover letter. Most employers will stop and think, Ah, interesting!—even if they don’t read the whole thing. Learn how to seal the deal from this guide: How to End a Cover Letter: Sample & Complete Guide [+20 Examples]

Now, about your important cover letter—

You’re almost done. However, there’s one thing even candidates with eye-candy resumes get wrong. It’s their cover letter template. How so? They usually just write their cover letter in MS Word and call it a day.

But, just look at this matching cover letter and resume set. Notice how professional and balanced it looks.

Now that’s a polished application—

Matching cover letter and resume set. Pick a template and write your cover letter here.

Ready for that new dream job?

Key Takeaway

Yes, many recruiters don’t read cover letters. But it’s always important to include a cover letter with your application and use it to explain things your resume might miss. Even if you choose to write a short, simple one, a well-written cover letter can be the thing that lands you the job.

Don’t miss out. Give the hiring manager what they need. Send that necessary cover letter!

Have you ever impressed the employer with your letter so much they simply had to meet you? Tell us your story in the comments. We would love to learn what you think!

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• https://www.jobvite.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017_Job_Seeker_Nation_Survey.pdf
• http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1080569909334015