Should I Send a Cover Letter With My Resume?

"Should I still send a cover letter when I am applying for jobs or is that old-fashioned?" --Claire W.

Yes, you should always send a cover letter whenever you send your resume. While it's true that a lot of recruiters and hiring managers don't read them, there are still those that do. And when they are read, the cover letter can carry a substantial amount of weight. A poorly written cover letter can negate the strengths of your resume, while a well-written cover letter can lead to an interview when your resume alone might not have.

So what makes a well-written cover letter? It should be customized to the job you're applying for and it should include information that is not on your resume. You should mention why you are interested in both the position and the company and describe why you would be an asset to them. Above all, always keep it short and sweet; your cover letter should never be longer than one page.

If you are applying for a position online, there is usually an area that allows you to upload multiple documents. One of these should be your resume, the other your cover letter. If the online application only let's you upload one document, then combine your cover letter and resume into a single PDF file and upload that. If you are emailing your resume to a person, then you can either put your cover letter into the body of the email or you can have it as a separate attachment. I prefer to receive them as a separate attachment because it makes it easier to save and distribute both documents to hiring managers. I rarely pass on the original email to a hiring manager, so if the cover letter is only in the email, then I'm usually the only person to see it.

The only time I would recommend not including a cover letter is if you don't have the time or the inclination to write a custom one. A good cover letter can be an essential part of your application package, but a bad one can hurt you more than help you. If you aren't going to put in the effort to create a well-written cover letter, then don't bother submitting one at all. Hiring managers can spot a stock, out-of-the-box cover letter from a mile away. But, if you take the time to make a customized one that highlights your strengths, expands on your resume, and tells why you would be an asset to their company, it will be well worth the effort.

Have a human resources question you'd like answered? Email me at heather@formandfunctionhr.com and I'll choose one to answer on the blog each Monday.?

Source: http://www.weddingjobblog.com/2012/08/should-i-send-cover-letter-with-my.html

westminster dog show valentines day cards hallmark grammy winners obama budget woolly mammoth belize resorts