Applying for a new job, is a cover letter necessary?

[emilymad]

I am currently looking for a new job since I am getting laid off. A job posting that I am interested in requests that I email my cover letter and resume. I don't have a generic cover letter since I usually only write one if requested. The job posting doesn't list an address or contact person. Is a cover letter really needed or can I briefly write one in the body of my email? What is the correct etiquette these days? Thanks!

 

[Patch'sD]

Would not hurt.

 

[Bob Slydell]

If you're e-mailing a resume, write a cover letter as your e-mail message. You don't necessarily have to attach a Word document cover letter. But don't just write one or two lines in the e-mail, put in the e-mail the reasons why you want the job and are qualified for it, plus contact info. You know, the usual cover letter stuff.

 

[bananiem]

A job posting that I am interested in requests that I email my cover letter and resume.

I think you should send one.

 

[POB14]

Many experts will tell you that the cover letter is more important than the resume. Most resumes are generic; the cover letter is tailored to the job and can highlight experience that matches the requirements. (So good for you for not having a "generic" cover letter; you shouldn't!)

In addition, if I placed this ad, and a resume came in without a cover letter, I'd throw it in the trash. Why? Because the applicant didn't follow instructions. I would think, if this person can't even follow the instructions in my ad, how is he or she going to be able to follow instructions on the job?

Just my thoughts. Good luck!

 

[jbdreamer]

Absolutely! Like someone else said, your cover letter is almost more important then the resume. It's a chance to show off and explain how perfect you are for the job. I would send a cover letter to EVERY job you apply for.

 

[sue1013]

I'm a technical recruiter and could not disagree more with POB14! I'm curious why POB14 thinks resumes are generic? If the posting you are replying to asks for a cover letter then you should send it but I would make your email the cover letter.

 

[azgal81]

The job requests a cover letter why are you even debating not sending one??

Cover letters aren't supposed to be generic they are supposed to be used to broadcast your skills for the job. Normally they will read the cover letter and if that's not good or too generic they will not even bother with the resume.

If your cover letter isn't interesting why would they even bother with the resume. Just think alot of people apply for jobs here at the university just in my department alone we have at least 100 people applying for each position we have posted. You need something to make you stand out among all those people.

 

[dani0622]

When we hire we don't even bother looking at resumes without cover letters. And if they are requesting one, then most definitely send one. Job postings can get hundreds of applicants, why wouldn't you want to make sure you stood out?

 

[emilymad]

Maybe I didn't make my question clear. I was more asking should the cover letter be an official letter written in Word or put into the body of the email? I never send a resume without writing something. Any tips for writing a cover letter? I need all of the help I can get!!!

 

[Maleficent13]

I understood what you were asking, and since the ad specifically mentions sending a cover letter, I would write one in Word and attach it to the email, not make the email your cover letter. For starters, the person you are emailing may not be the person who will be reading the cover letter (often, the contact person is a secretary) and it will translate into print much better as an attachment than in the body of the email.

JMHO!

 

[ducklite]

I review all resumes that come into my company and forward the ones that are remotely qualified on to the hiring managers.

Here's my suggestion. Put your cover letter into your e-mail body, but also include it as a seperate attachment--indicate in the e-mail body that a .doc cover letter is attached as well. It allows me to scan the cover letter quickly so I know who to forward the e-mail to. I get annoyed when I have to download a whole bunch of stuff just to find out which job they are trying to apply for.

No one will ever find fault with you for doing this, and it covers you regardless.

Anne

 

[emilymad]

Here's my suggestion. Put your cover letter into your e-mail body, but also include it as a seperate attachment--indicate in the e-mail body that a .doc cover letter is attached as well. It allows me to scan the cover letter quickly so I know who to forward the e-mail to. I get annoyed when I have to download a whole bunch of stuff just to find out which job they are trying to apply for.

No one will ever find fault with you for doing this, and it covers you regardless.

Anne

That is great idea! I was struggling with what to write in the email other then see attached if I did the Word document.

 

[POB14]

I'm a technical recruiter and could not disagree more with POB14! I'm curious why POB14 thinks resumes are generic? If the posting you are replying to asks for a cover letter then you should send it but I would make your email the cover letter.

Well, since emilymad cleared up what her question was, this is kind of off topic now, but since you asked . . .

When I'm in the job market, I apply for lots of jobs. LOTS of jobs. I probably sent out three or four hundred resumes for my first job out of law school. I would go nuts trying to tailor my resume to each job I applied for. I have one resume for lawyer jobs and one for academic jobs, and that's all the tailoring I do.

But I can write a short cover letter to go with each one, saying, "I want to teach at good old P.U. because . . . here's what you want . . . here's what I've done . . . call me." And good old Fred's Community College and Grill down the street gets a different cover letter, fitted to their needs. But they get the same resume.

That's what I meant by "generic".

And I would make the email the cover letter too.