Are Cover Letters Still Important? Why You Shouldn’t Skip Them

In a world where many job applications are done online, sometimes through ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems), you might wonder: Do cover letters still matter? The short answer is yes—in many contexts they do. Below is why cover letters are still relevant, how recruiters use them, why customization matters, and how our platform can make it easy.

Why Cover Letters Still Matter

• Many jobs actually make a cover letter mandatory in their application instructions. If the job listing says “Cover Letter Required,” failing to submit one can lead to automatic rejection.
• Even where cover letters are optional, they are often influential. Recent surveys show that 83% of hiring managers read most cover letters—even in companies where they are not required.
• A separate key statistic: 94% of hiring managers say cover letters influence interview decisions.
• Another example: 60% of companies require cover letters as part of their hiring process.
• Cover letters allow you to *explain motivation, address employment gaps or transitions, share why you care about that specific company or role***—things a CV alone often doesn’t provide.

Why Customizing Your Cover Letter Is Important

Having a generic “one-size-fits-all” cover letter is risky for several reasons:

• It gives the impression you didn’t read the job description, or don’t care about the specific role. Recruiters often notice generic letters and may see them as a lack of effort.
• The relevant experiences or skills might not be emphasized, so the parts of your background most suited to the job get buried.
• Keywords or values that the employer highlights (in the job ad) may be missing. Because many recruiters scan for those as signals of fit.

Customizing lets you:

• Align your motivations and experiences with what the employer is explicitly looking for.
• Highlight achievements, skills, or projects most relevant to that job.
• Show that you did research: mention company culture, mission, or particular job responsibilities that appeal to you.
• Avoid offending or losing the recruiter’s interest early—first impressions count, and a tailored cover letter signals that you care.

What Recruiters Actually Look For

Based on recent survey data:

• Strong cover letters can secure an interview even if the rest of the application (such as the resume) isn’t perfect.
• Conversely, weak cover letters can sink an otherwise strong candidate.
• Many hiring managers read the cover letter before the resume.
• Recruiters expect to see personalization. In the Resume Genius study, 72% of hiring managers said customization of the cover letter is important.

How Our Platform Makes It Easy

You don’t need to spend hours rewriting or tweaking cover letters for each job. With our platform:

1. You share the job URL of the position you're applying for.
2. Our system reads and understands the job description—key responsibilities, required skills, culture, etc.
3. Using your candidate profile (your experience, your skills, your achievements), the platform generates a customized cover letter in seconds. It highlights your most relevant background, matches employer expectations, shows your motivation, without making up anything.

Conclusion

Cover letters remain an important tool in modern recruitment—especially for competitive roles or industries. They help you stand out, tell your story, and show fit beyond what a CV alone can do. Generic letters won’t do you favors. But customized ones—even when optional—can tip the balance in your favor.

And with tools like ours, you can get a tailored cover letter quickly and efficiently. Just share the job link, and let us do the heavy lifting—so you can focus on applying confidently.