Plenty of clients have asked me this question. The thought of writing cover letters can be quite daunting, and doubly so when you realize you need to write a specific cover letter for each job you apply to. Although you may want to avoid this task, you absolutely must write a cover letter for each job you apply to.

Some employers never read cover letters.
It’s true, some employers won’t bother to read your cover letter. They go straight to your resume and determine your suitability for an interview from that information. But…

Some employers love cover letters.
Some employers go straight to the cover letter when assessing an application for employment. They will review your cover letter and use that as a way to assess whether they will spend time reviewing your resume.

Your cover letter is a particularly important document when you are apply for a job that will require good written communication skills. The employer may use your cover letter as a way to assess your abilities in this area.

In fact, some employers won’t even consider you for the job if you fail to include a cover letter with your resume.
Most employers feel that a cover letter is a standard job search document. Some believe that anyone who couldn’t be bothered to write a cover letter isn’t that interested in the job, so they simply refuse to even look at a resume that is not accompanied by a cover letter. Your resume could indicate that your skills are a great match for the employer’s needs, but the resume may not even get a first glance if you do not include a cover letter with it.

When you’re applying for jobs, you have no idea what preferences each employer has when it comes to cover letters.
Is the employer a cover letter person or not? You will have no idea. If the employer is someone who feels cover letters are an intrinsic part of the job application package that provides valuable information, and you fail to send a cover letter you will not likely be invited to a job interview. You could miss out on a fantastic job opportunity simply because you didn’t send a cover letter along with your resume.

Write a targeted cover letter to send with your resume every time you apply for a job. It is an important part of your job search package, and it’s well worth the time it takes to write a great cover letter.