Why is a cover letter needed with resumes?

[Tactical Dave]

Proof reading is a must.... For a while in my resume had a cuss word in it... Had a co worker a while back wondering why he was not even getting phone calls on jobs he was extremly qualified for and even some in company and some that paid a lot more.... One night at like 2am he went to look over it.... Let's just say that one night he made a joke resume but it and the real one were both called resume...

here re is a preview

abilities:

mastering the skill of appearing that I am working hard when in reality I am doing nothing...

strive to do as little as possible while being paid the most possible

goals

find better ways of keeping porn on company computers...


i have have never seen someone so beside themselves.... He pretty much went in a very very long smoke break.




I have refined my cover letter rather well but my apps go to in house jobs and goes to the hiring manager not HR and is seen by roughly the same people... And it's for the same department.... It's harder then it sounds because these people allready know you so you can't just say the usual cover letter stuff.

 

[KittySlayer]

You'd move him down a pile based on his grammar and ability to write an effective cover letter even though he's almost 30 ( read mature ) and a "skilled tradesman" , most likely with many years ( read journeyman ) of his trade work / experience under his belt ?

Seems like you'd be throwing away an asset to your company , never minding the fact that the position he'd probably apply for wouldn't require college level communications .

Remember my reply was offering advice to the OP asking why he was having trouble making the cut.

A cover letter is not college level communication. More like the ability to send a hand written Thank You note to your grandmother rather than shooting her a text message. We're talking two or three paragraphs here. A skilled tradesman ought to be able to knock out a couple paragraphs whether it be a cover letter or a service request, maintenance summary, injury report, status update to management... There are a ton of cover letter examples available and all he needs to do is briefly tweak each cover letter to the position he is applying for. Asking a friend or neighbor to proofread it helps eliminate errors.

 

[cosermann]

FWIW, I've been through a couple of hiring cycles recently as a hiring manager.

Applications w/o cover letters do get a -1. Whether that takes them out of the running or not, depends on the resume. But if the resume doesn't clearly show they're almost perfectly suited for the job, without a cover letter they're likely not getting an interview from me. If I had a larger number of apps to go through, the lack of a cover letter may seal it.

Interestingly enough, on the last/most recent hire, I had an absolutely beautiful cover letter, best I've ever seen (out of hundreds). Just a great, great cover letter. The kind you read and say, "wow." Not surprisingly, the person had "English major" somewhere in their background. Yup, got an interview. Communication (verbal or written) is a part of every job dealing with people.

He didn't get the job in the end, but he got an interview, and that's one step farther in the process.

 

[iChokePeople]

FWIW, cosermann is stodgy and old.

To be clear, even *I* agree that right now, in 2014, in the USA, you're hurting yourself by not including one. I'm sure there are MANY more hiring managers and HR dweebs who are like old, stodgy cosermann than like young, sensible me.

 

[rhino]

FWIW, cosermann is stodgy and old.

To be clear, even *I* agree that right now, in 2014, in the USA, you're hurting yourself by not including one. I'm sure there are MANY more hiring managers and HR dweebs who are like old, stodgy cosermann than like young, sensible me.

I like cosermann more than I like you.

My cover letters are freakin' works of art. Unfortunately, even they can't hide my complete lack of relevant experience exposed by my pitiful resume.

 

[iChokePeople]

I like cosermann more than I like you.

You're an ENGINEER.

 

[rhino]

You're an ENGINEER.

Yeah, but I'm a really, really bad​ engineer.

 

[Indy317]

I recently served on a screening committee for a higher level management position. The cover letter is an added way to screen prospective applicants. It also allows for those people on unemployment to immediately be rejected, yet still be able to tell the state they did their weekly requirement of applying for some sort of employment. Don't discount the cover letter. The position we were looking to fill was around an $80K/year job, yet plenty of educated (some highly educated, paper wise at least) would do things like mentioned they would love to work at ABC store, yet we were XYZ store. They would use an old cover letter with a different name than the one they were applying with. Grammar and spelling mistakes, while not many, were made which should really never happen.

 

[Limpy88]

Remember my reply was offering advice to the OP asking why he was having trouble making the cut.

I never said that. I gave some info on myself to have context for the question.

 

[Sybaris]

I read cover letters...... let's me know from the start if they can even formulate a simple sentence.

 

[Southbendfamily]

With most if not all applications being processed online, does the initial email count as the cover letter: contents being the typical cover letter content, or would a seperate attachment be advisable?

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Yeah, but I'm a really, really bad​ engineer.

Or are you just naughty?

 

[Limpy88]

With most if not all applications being processed online, does the initial email count as the cover letter: contents being the typical cover letter content, or would a seperate attachment be advisable?

Was wondering that my self.

 

[JettaKnight]

The resume is supposed to be pretty generic, a "fact sheet" on you for reference. The cover letter is your opportunity to introduce yourself, let them know you're interested enough to have researched the company and position a bit, and sell yourself. They'll be a lot more impressed if you can talk about the company than they will if you're just flinging resumes at anyone who will take one.

Not anymore. Now days, cover letters are tossed in the trash by HR and the resume is passed onto the one that does the deciding. You're resume should not be generic! Resumes are scanned, entered into a database, then searched looking for specific skills (either by a computer or human). Taylor each resume for the company you're applying for. Does the company do automotive? Talk up you skills in that sector!

Because tradition says that you send one, and the stodgy old **** sifting through resumes/CVs might expect one. Me, I don't even read them. I skip straight to the resume/CV.

Yep. Times have changed and the cover letter is now the more generic of the two. If it's going to HR, I wouldn't even bother. If it was going to a manager, then write about why you think you'd be a good fit for them - a paragraph or two at the most.


What is important is the follow up letter. I may interview ten people for a position. if you sending a follow up letter three days later, you're back in my head. Use that to reinforce all the positive things that came out of the interview.



PS - anyone going to the Industrial Roundtable at Purdue next week?

 

[JettaKnight]

With most if not all applications being processed online, does the initial email count as the cover letter: contents being the typical cover letter content, or would a separate attachment be advisable?

The email counts. Don't make me open two attachments.


PS - And for all you sending emails, reconsider you're closing. If you're one of those zombies that mindlessly puts "Thanks!!!!!" (note five exclamation marks) think about what you're thanking the recipient for with each email you send.

 

[KittySlayer]

First Impressions

The email counts...
...for all you sending emails...

Think about what e-mail address you are using. You may need to create an account just for submitting resumes, especially if your regular e-mail address is: ButterflyKisses@hotmail.com or TwerkingUnicorn@dancer.com

While we are on the communication side... think about the impression a potential employer gets when they call your phone to schedule an interview:
1) Do you have a stupid voice mail message? Clean it up, short and professional.
2) When you answer your phone do it politely by saying, Hello this is Billy Bob.
3) Have a pen and paper handy so you can write down instructions or make notes without making the caller wait for you.
4) If you are using a land line leave specific instructions how incoming calls are to be handled by others in the house, particularly if you have kids.

 

[cce1302]

I read cover letters...... let's me know from the start if they can even formulate a simple sentence.

I hope you don't throw them in the trash if they correctly spell "lets" without an apostrophe.

 

[cosermann]

FWIW, cosermann is stodgy and old. ...

Hey, I resemble that remark.

 

[rhino]

Or are you just naughty?

Well, I am probably not qualified to answer that question.

Hey, I resemble that remark.

I still got your back.

 

[bradmedic04]

I read cover letters...... let's me know from the start if they can even formulate a simple sentence.

Says the guy who has no clue how to use an apostrophe.