Why Many HR Managers Read Cover Letters
Although cover letters have changed form over the years, cover letters or cover emails are still relevant today. Some candidates ask, “Why is the letter so important when much of the same information is in the résumé?” “Do HR Managers even read the cover letter?” Many HR Managers do read cover letters. Here are a few reasons why they read them and why you can’t afford to skip the cover letter.
Your cover letter is a sample of your writing.
This demonstrates your ability to craft logical sentences and organized paragraphs. It also gives the hiring manager an indication of how you communicate. Can you express a thought in a concise, professional, and straightforward manner? Recruiters and hiring managers may be sifting through hundreds of candidates. Your documents will be quickly discarded if the cover letter is poorly written, long-winded, or if it contains typographical errors.
The cover letter shows that you are conscientious.
The lack of a cover letter may be regarded as an oversight or as lack of knowledge. Cover letters are
standard. The delivery mechanism has evolved to email messages or letters copied and pasted into online text boxes. If you miss the cover letter, many may assume you took the easy way out or that you simply do not know better.
The cover letter encapsulates your value.
Busy people are looking for the headline. Writing a crisp cover letter that expresses how you fill the
specific needs of the employer. Take time to understand the requirements of the job by reading the job posting. HR Managers like to see your ability to apply your skills and knowledge to the company’s needs.
If you are thinking about skipping the cover letter, think again. If you skip the cover letter, you are passing up a platform to demonstrate your writing skills, your business know-how, and the unique value that you offer!
Would you like to read more about cover letters, check out these articles: “Does Your Viral Letter Need an Antidote?” and “The Perfect Ending.”