Do You Still Need a Cover Letter? A Recruiter's Honest Answer

The short version: only write a cover letter if it's required, or if you're confident you can write something genuinely personal and specific to the role. Everything else is optional, and a weak one does more harm than good.

I say that as someone who reads them. A generic cover letter hurts more than it helps. I've seen too many that were clearly copy-pasted, sometimes with the wrong company name still in there. If your cover letter could apply to any company, it isn't doing you any favors.

What a good one actually does

A strong cover letter does two things: it explains why you're interested in this specific company and this specific role, and it shows why you're a great fit in a way your resume can't fully capture. If you can't do both of those compellingly, you're better off skipping it.

So this isn't about effort for its own sake. A cover letter that just restates your resume in paragraph form is wasted space. The ones worth writing add something new.

If you do write one

• Keep it to one page, three to four paragraphs at most.
• Open with why you're interested in this specific company, not a generic intro.
• Highlight a few experiences that connect directly to the role.
• Don't repeat your resume. Add context your resume can't.
• Close with a clear, confident next step, not a passive "I hope to hear from you."

A couple of closings that land better than the usual:

"I'd love to discuss how my experience at [Company] could help your team with [specific challenge]. I'm available for a conversation anytime this week."

"I'm excited about this opportunity and would welcome the chance to walk you through my approach. Please don't hesitate to reach out."

When to skip it

If a posting says "cover letter optional," most recruiters won't penalize you for leaving it out. Your time is often better spent tailoring your resume and reaching out to the recruiter directly.

That said, when a role is competitive, a genuinely good cover letter can move you from the maybe pile to the yes pile. If you have something specific and real to say, say it. If you don't, don't force it.

Let's get you Hired for Keeps.