Before we get into the cover letter writing part of our series, we thought it would be a good idea to talk about whether or not you should include a cover letter with your resume when submitting a job application.
Unless the job application specifically states to NOT include a cover letter, you should always include one. We once had a client that complained that he wasn't getting any attention from the job applications he was submitting. We reviewed his resume and everything seemed good. So we asked to see his cover letter. His reply - I don't have one. Ugh!
We prepared a cover letter for him and guess what? The first application he submitted with it gained him an interview. You must include this with your resume. It is the perfect way for a recruiter to have a brief overview of your skills and qualifications without them having to read your resume word for word.
Remember, recruiters receive about 100 resumes per job opening so they need a way to "weed" you out from all the others. It also shows them that you took the time to prepare a cover letter and that you're serious about the job you are applying for.
Has submitting a cover letter with your job applications made a difference for you? Have you been asked for an interview without submitting one? Let us know in the comments below.
The rest of this week we will be going over the key elements of a cover letter. If you would like us to discuss another topic in the future, please post it in the comments section.
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