Do You Still Need a Cover Letter? What Recruiters Want You to Know

Candidates have been asking the same question for years.

Do employers still read cover letters?

The answer isn’t as simple as yes or no.

Some hiring managers still consider a thoughtful cover letter an important part of the application process. Others never read them. In many organizations, a resume reaches a recruiter or hiring manager long before anyone looks for an attached letter, and some online applications don’t even provide an opportunity to include one.

That uncertainty has led many candidates to wonder whether writing a cover letter is worth the effort.

The data suggests they haven’t become obsolete. According to a Resume Genius survey of 625 U.S. hiring managers, 83% said they read most cover letters they receive, and nearly half said a strong cover letter can help a candidate secure an interview.

The answer still depends on the opportunity.

A cover letter isn’t something you should automatically write for every application, but there are situations where it can strengthen your candidacy by providing context your resume can’t.

Before deciding whether to write one, it’s worth understanding why employers ask for them in the first place. Just as importantly, make sure your resume is doing its job first. Our How to Build a Resume That Gets Interviews guide walks through the foundation every application should start with.

Why Some Employers Still Ask for a Cover Letter

A resume explains what you’ve done.

A cover letter explains why it matters.

Hiring managers sometimes request a cover letter because they’re looking for information that doesn’t naturally fit on a resume. They may want to understand why you’re interested in the organization, why you’re changing industries, or what motivated you to apply for a particular role.

For positions that involve significant communication, writing, client interaction, or leadership responsibilities, a cover letter can also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and communicate professionally.

A well-written cover letter adds context that a resume alone can’t provide. Generic, overly long, or poorly written letters rarely strengthen an application.

When a Cover Letter Can Strengthen Your Application

Not every opportunity requires a cover letter, but there are situations where it can make a meaningful difference.

Consider writing one when:

The employer specifically requests a cover letter.
You’re changing industries or career paths.
You need to explain a unique circumstance that isn’t obvious from your resume.
You were referred to the company and want to mention that connection.
You’re applying for a smaller organization where applications are reviewed individually.
The position places a strong emphasis on communication or writing.

In these situations, a cover letter gives you an opportunity to connect your experience to the role in a way that a resume alone cannot.

When It Probably Won’t Make a Difference

Many companies receive hundreds of applications for a single opening.

In those situations, recruiters often begin by reviewing resumes that match the qualifications they’re seeking. Some applicant tracking systems don’t prioritize cover letters during the initial screening process, and hiring managers may not read them until later in the hiring process, if at all.

If a cover letter is optional, it’s worth asking whether the time you’re investing could be spent more effectively elsewhere.

Updating your resume, researching the company, networking with someone inside the organization, or preparing for an interview may provide a greater return than spending hours perfecting a letter that may never be read.

If you’re updating your resume before applying, review Resume Mistakes That Keep Qualified Candidates From Getting Interviews to make sure you’re not overlooking issues that could prevent your application from moving forward.

What Recruiters Are Looking For

A cover letter rarely overcomes a weak resume.

However, a strong cover letter can provide valuable context that helps explain your experience, your interest in the opportunity, and why you’re a good fit for the role.

Don’t Let AI Write Your Story

Artificial intelligence has made writing a cover letter easier than ever.

That doesn’t mean you should copy and paste the first draft it generates.

Recruiters are seeing more cover letters that sound polished but generic. Many use the same phrases, follow the same structure, and fail to say anything meaningful about the candidate or the opportunity.

AI can be a useful starting point for organizing your thoughts or improving grammar.

It shouldn’t replace your own voice.

The same principle applies to your resume. Before submitting either document, read How to Optimize Your Resume Without Sounding Like AI to make sure your application still reflects your own experience and communication style.

Keep It Focused

One of the biggest misconceptions about cover letters is that longer is better.

It isn’t.

A hiring manager doesn’t need your entire career story before reading your resume.

An effective cover letter is concise and focused on three things:

Why you’re interested in the opportunity.
Why your experience is relevant.
Why you’re interested in this organization.

If you can’t communicate those ideas clearly in a few short paragraphs, adding more words usually doesn’t improve the message.

A hiring manager doesn’t need your entire career story before reading your resume.

Before writing a cover letter, make sure your resume already highlights the accomplishments recruiters expect to see. Our guide to Resume Sections Every Hiring Manager Looks For explains the information employers typically review first.

Consider the Return on Your Time

One of the questions candidates rarely ask is whether writing a cover letter is the best use of their time.

Imagine spending an hour tailoring a cover letter for every application.

Now imagine using some of that time to build relationships, connect with recruiters, research companies, improve your resume, or prepare for interviews.

Those activities often have a greater impact on your job search.

That doesn’t mean cover letters have lost their value.

It means they should be used strategically instead of automatically.

Should You Write One?

If an employer specifically requests a cover letter, it’s worth taking the time to write one. The same is true when your experience requires additional explanation or you can genuinely personalize the letter to explain why you’re interested in the role. Otherwise, your time may be better spent strengthening the parts of your application that every employer is certain to review.

Like many parts of the hiring process, there isn’t a universal answer.

The strongest candidates understand when a cover letter adds value and when it simply adds time.