Resumes And Cover Letters A Match Made In Heaven

The line that a resume can make or break our careers has been ingrained into our minds. Well, the statement holds considerable veracity as a resume or a professional CV is the first thing a recruiter notices in your job application, and they glance at it for a mere 6 seconds on average.

However, one document that seldom slips from recruiters’ radar is a cover letter. Why? To make the selection process faster, recruiters like cover letters because they help them qualify applicants and sell them to clients. In this article, we will analyze why resumes and cover letters are a match made in heaven and why the resume-cover letter duo is so pertinent today.

Cover Letter Statistics

Cover letters are undoubtedly one of the most dreaded elements in the job application process. Several reasons, such as a perceived lack of writing talent,’ real challenges in ‘skills,’ a formulaic feel, etc., compel many people to believe that investing the time to write an appropriate cover letter is futile. However, in today’s day and age of cutthroat competition within the job market, leaving no stone unturned to land your dream job is necessary.

• 55% of medium-sized companies and 65 percent of startups ask for cover letters
• 38% of recruiters say that a cover letter compels them to pay more attention to the application
• 10% of recruiters reject an application if a cover letter is not included
• 26% of hiring managers always read cover letters and believe they are essential
• 23% of recruiters opine that cover letters show applicants’ personalities

The figures mentioned above are pretty jarring and robust enough to convince even the grittiest soul to consider writing a cover letter the next time they apply for a job. However, we are not done yet, as mentioned below are reasons that make the cover letter-resume duo worthwhile.

Five Benefits of Cover Letters

An industry expert opines that a cover letter explains humanely why an employer should hire you. It provides a candidate the much-needed edge to stay ahead of the curve in today’s grueling job market. Here are five reasons to include a cover letter with your resume.

1. Narrates a Story

While a resume provides scope to exhibit your qualifications, skills, and experience for a job vacancy, a cover letter lets you elaborate on your competencies and explain what makes you a good fit. Simply put, a cover letter allows you to define your personal brand and demonstrate the core values you can bring to the company.

2. Cover Letters Grab Attention

A simple CV cannot stand out in today’s inundated job market. On the contrary, a cover letter steals the recruiter’s attention so that he will go through the resume. Thus, a resume and a cover letter share a dialectical relationship. For instance, a study reveals that a well-written cover letter increases the chance of getting an interview by 90 percent.

3. Cover Letters Show Personality

Another reason your resume needs a cover letter is that the latter provides a valuable outlet, which can affect how an employer thinks about you. It is a feat that a plain-jane resume cannot achieve. Unsurprisingly, building relationships is crucial to getting a job that aligns with your career goals, and a cover letter facilitates the same by displaying your personality to the recruiter.

4. Cover Letters Include Qualitative Information

A resume is crisp, concise, and brief. The average length of a summary is around 400 to 500 words. Thus, job seekers are compelled to skip a lot of qualitative information to keep up with the conciseness of a summary. However, such a glitch can be remedied with the help of a cover letter. To begin with, a cover letter adds context to your resume. Moreover, you can explain employment gaps or clarify your willingness to relocate, your availability for an interview, and much more with a cover letter.

5. Omitting A Cover Letter Can Cost You a Fortune

Multiple studies have repeatedly shown that not incorporating a cover letter can be a significant turn-off for recruiters. Yet, even now, 47 percent of job seekers do not include a cover letter with their resume. So, ensure that you are not a part of that ’47 percent, and do not forget to include a cover letter with your resume the next time.

Final Thoughts

Always send a cover letter with your resume. Make your cover letter relevant to the job you’re applying for, and keep it brief.

If you’re suffering from job dissatisfaction or are just keen to try something different, ensure your cover letter shows enthusiasm and presents your soft skills and recent achievements relevant to the business you’re eager to join.

Final tip: while sending a job application, it is preferred that you should type the cover letter in the email’s body and send the resume as an attachment.