When it comes to finding a job, everyone understands the importance of a resume. It’s the document you use to inform recruiters about who you are, what you can do, and to convince them to hire you above everyone else. The resume is such crucial piece of text, many people turn to pros, like LinkedIn profile and resume writing services in Colorado, to help write it.
But resumes aren’t the only documents you may need to write to secure your dream job. Many job applications call for cover letters, too – around 60%, to be exact. But a lot of people are confused about the role and purpose of cover letters in the job-hunting process. This guide will clear up any confusion and explain the importance of writing a cover letter.
What Are Cover Letters For?
First, the basics. A cover letter is typically a document made up of a single page (though there are cases when it can be longer), which is submitted along with a resume as part of a job application. It’s supposed to complement the resume, providing supplementary info and explanations, while also persuading the recruiter why you’re the right choice for the role in question.
Next, let’s dig a little deeper into what cover letters are used for and the benefits of writing them.
Providing Additional Information to Sell Yourself
A lot of resumes focus purely on facts and figures, with bullet point skills lists and brief details about the employees previous working experience. Your cover letter is your chance to elaborate on those lists and bullet points to explain why you feel you’re a good fit for the job.
In other words, your cover letter is where you can go into the kind of detail that there simply isn’t space for on your resume. Instead of just listing aspects of your professional life, you can talk about why your skills and experiences make you an ideal candidate. You can tell your own personal story, differentiating yourself from all the other candidates who are in the running for the role.
Explaining Gaps or Peculiarities of Your Resume
Close to 70% of U.S. workers have gaps on their resumes. So, it’s perfectly normal if you have one, too. But you might worry about how that gap is perceived by any recruiter skimming through your resume.
Well, that’s another reason to submit a cover letter – it gives you the opportunity to explain any gaps or other unusual aspects of your resume.
Let’s say you took a couple of years off work to travel or look after a relative, for example. Or you transitioned from one line of work into something totally different. On your cover letter, you can detail your motivations and explanations, and even turn them into bonus selling points for yourself. You could write, for example, that taking time out of work allowed you to develop a varied skill base and refocus on what you want from your professional life.
Showing Off Your Character and Personality
Resumes sometimes feel a little impersonal. As stated earlier, they’re often focused purely on data. They list the qualifications you’ve got, how many years you’ve worked in the industry, and which skills you possess. But they rarely touch on who you are as a person, beyond basic phrases, like being a “Team leader” or “Great communicator.”
Cover letters let you show more of your personality and human side. They let the recruiter “hear” your voice through your words and understand your story, character, and motivations. Once again, that can help you differentiate yourself from the other people going for the same job. These days, with over 100 applicants per job, standing out has never been more important.
Demonstrating Your Motivation for the Role
As they scan through resume after resume, recruiters typically have a few key aspects in mind that they’re looking for. Naturally, they want to see candidates who have the right set of skills and qualifications for the job. That goes without saying. But they’re also looking for something more, like motivation, passion, and determination.
Cover letters are crucial for demonstrating these key aspects. They give you the chance to talk about why you’re applying, to explain your motivations for submitting an application, and demonstrate your knowledge of the company. In other words, they let you prove to the recruiter that you’re interested and eager to get the role, rather than merely going through the motions or applying just for the sake of it.
Even the very act of writing a cover letter – when so many people now believe they’re irrelevant – can make you instantly seem more motivated than lots of other applicants.
Bypassing Software Scans
Last, but most certainly not least, we also must discuss the importance of cover letters in bypassing modern-day ATS (Applicant Tracking System) scans. For the uninitiated, ATS is a form of software used by an ever-increasing number of companies. It lets them scan resumes and cover letters automatically to spot important keywords and weed out weak applicants.
Because of ATS, an astonishing number of cover letters aren’t even read by a real person these days. But that doesn’t mean they’re not valuable or useful. If you include the right keywords in your cover letter and write it correctly – or with the help of cover letter writing services – you can pass those ATS scans and have a better chance at landing an interview.
Cover Letters: A Key Part of the Job Seeker’s Arsenal
To sum up, cover letters clearly aren’t as important as resumes. If they were, you’d have to submit one for every single job you apply for. However, these documents still have value. They’re often excellent additions to your resume, providing detail and context recruiters need to figure out if you’re a good fit.
A good cover letter can be the difference-maker that helps you get a call back or even an interview. Don’t neglect them. Consider writing one for most, if not all the jobs you apply for.
Related Article: How Important Are Cover Letters?
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