Is a strong Cover Letter with the Resume an important step in getting that “Second Look” from Recruiters Online?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 10:31:50 -0400

With the Online Job Boards being overrun with hundreds of resumes hourly the minute a job is posted, has the Cover Letter outlived its usefulness?

I'd like to get some Civilian Recruiters, as well as HR Experts on RP to respond to this question and let us know what they look for in today's market as a professional recruiter for companies.

Is the Cover Letter more important than the Resume?

Response by CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR made Jul 10 at 2016 10:32 AM

CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 10:32:58 -0400

Not necessarily I do not even look at cover letters

Response by TSgt Alex Benningfield made Jul 10 at 2016 10:33 AM

TSgt Alex Benningfield — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 10:33:37 -0400

I will say it is important for the first look. If you write it well enough you will display your skills that meet the requirements the are looking for. Think of it as the appetizer to the meal which is the resume. It gives the recruiter enough interest to spend more than the average 6 seconds looking at your resume.

Response by CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR made Jul 10 at 2016 10:36 AM

CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 10:36:24 -0400

You have to know your audience, industry and company. Cover letters may work well for a smaller company. When I am looking through thousands of resumes for multiple roles I am looking for the meat and the potatoes so I can get candidates over to Hiring Manager for review

Response by TSgt Joe C. made Jul 10 at 2016 10:37 AM

TSgt Joe C. — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 10:37:04 -0400

I haven't written a resume since I started working. I was a cook for 9 years prior to coming in the Air Force. I haven't had much reason to write one, but I am going to get started while I am here in Korea COL Mikel J. Burroughs.

Response by CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR made Jul 10 at 2016 10:40 AM

CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 10:40:28 -0400

Again being in the recruiting business and high volume recruiting business don't have time to look at the coverlet terms. Focus on the resume and networking so that you get referred to a role. That is where 70% of people at least get a look and possibly an interview

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jul 10 at 2016 12:01 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 12:01:03 -0400

Interesting thing is USA Jobs won't allow for cover letters which are typically a bunch of hot air. Prior to USA Jobs, we had the HR side strip the package of cover letters as they were not part of the required submissions that are valid to review.
That said, on the outside, a decent cover letter can't harm, but isn't likely to do much good either. People still do them because they think is slightly better than 50/50. Bottom line, if you're anal about cover letters, your mind is in the wrong place.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jul 10 at 2016 12:12 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 12:12:24 -0400

Thanks for highlighting the idea of using a tailored cover letter when sending a resume COL Mikel J. Burroughs. In an age when so many use text messaging which mitigates against good spelling and grammar, it is useful to help people focus on the art of communication in the job search and application process.
Researching a company before a-plying is a great idea to be able to tailor your resume and assist you in the interview process.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Jul 10 at 2016 12:32 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 12:32:41 -0400

It's been a very long time since I was a recruiter but overall I'd say cover letter was pretty insignificant in our firm. We had screeners who reviewed all submissions before they sent a resume on to the recruiters. Part of their responsibility was to strip off any cover letters, review resume to see if it matched job requirements for positions being worked and pass those that did on to recruiter. At best the cover letter may have caught the attention of the screeners but ultimately it was the quality of the resume that got you looked at. Comments about text and online applications also make sense I have the feeling that cover letters maybe going the way of the dinosaurs except for some very specific situations.

Response by Jeremy Bonewitz,PRC CIR CDR CSMR CSSR ACIR ECRE made Jul 10 at 2016 1:22 PM

Jeremy Bonewitz,PRC CIR CDR CSMR CSSR ACIR ECRE — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 13:22:02 -0400

I think it all depends on the position. I rarely look at Cover Letters, but if I think the resume is on the fringe of me passing forward I will review ones Cover Letter to see if there is any more "meat" I can pass along to the hiring manager.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2016 3:49 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 15:49:04 -0400

It can be.

The simplest way get an interview is to have a direct referral. If someone in the company can send an email or information HR or the hiring official that you're a great candidate that goes a long way.

The cover letter is important and might make you stand out. I typically focus on companies core values and present a paragraph or two showing how my experience and skills align. Specifically, I might even start with Integrity or Leadership in bold. Then write a short paragraph showing past successful results relating to that corporate value.

Response by SGT Dana Williams made Jul 10 at 2016 6:41 PM

SGT Dana Williams — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 18:41:22 -0400

The best resume I ever used was submitted electronically, and was notable in what it didn't say. I called the manager and told him that I had read my resume, and that I wouldn't hire me! He disagreed. :)

Response by Ken Kraetzer made Jul 10 at 2016 9:35 PM

Ken Kraetzer — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 21:35:30 -0400

Absolutely, key is for the cover letter to personalize the situation to the opportunity.

Response by Kory Freshwater made Jul 11 at 2016 12:33 AM

Kory Freshwater — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 00:33:29 -0400

As an Account Rep for Bradley-Morris who works directly with Hiring Managers and Corporate HR Reps to place transitioning Military Personnel into the civilian work force. I have yet to supply a cover letter produced by the candidate when I email a resume over for submission. I do however take the time to write a brief introductory email of the candidate clearly and decisively stating why the candidate is a solid fit for the job and what directly transferable skills or experiences they bring to the table.

This email is essentially me telling the Hiring Manager why they should interview the Candidate. Specifically, I want to let the recipient know why this candidate is relevant to the position. I've found this greatly increases the probability that the candidate will get fair consideration for the job opening. It replaces the cover letter from the candidate. However, this email draws upon my relationship with the recipient and my knowledge of the position.

Jobs are normally secured by relationships. Who you know is almost equally as important as what you know. If you have the proper connection, such as a friend who works for the company or knows the hiring manager, make the introduction you will essentially be using their relationship and credibility to get you in front of the hiring manager. They will essentially be vouching for your credentials, which is the intent of a well written cover letter.

My recommendation for a candidate is this. If you have the relationship to get you in the door, a cover letter is most likely not needed. However, if you are applying to a job in which you have no direct connection, you should do anything that you can do to highlight your qualifications for the job and differentiate yourself from the hundreds of other resumes the processor in HR will see and make a 20 second snap judgement on. In this case you should absolutely write a cover letter. Be sure that it is directly relevant to the job you are applying for. It should not contain broad statements such as a I'm a good leader, or stay until the job is done type of stuff. It should contain real meat as to why you are relevant for this job.

Response by Barbara Coombs made Jul 11 at 2016 11:27 AM

Barbara Coombs — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 11:27:32 -0400

The cover letter should be a direct response to the job posting; time permitting, you may want to make adjustments to your resume in response to the job posting as well.

Response by Barbara Coombs made Jul 11 at 2016 11:59 AM

Barbara Coombs — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 11:59:54 -0400

http://milewalk.com/mwblog/write-thank-you-that-gets-you-hired/
In addition to a personalized, job-specific cover letter, I strongly encourage candidates to write a personal, hand-written thank you note for an interview. Anything that can differentiate you from another candidate will keep moving your name to the top of the list. Good manners never go out of style!

How To Write A Thank You That Gets You Hired

Overcome these challenges when thanking an employer: how, when, what to say, and whether to handwrite or email! And, get hired!

Response by Aqila Cox made Jul 12 at 2016 9:09 AM

Aqila Cox — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 09:09:18 -0400

I have to agree with CW# Dylan E. Raymond if it's a small company or a unique position then a cover letter draw additional attention to your resume. When I have 80 positions to fill with multiple candidates I head straight to the summary. Your resume is a sales pitch it should grab the recruiter in the first 30 seconds .

Response by LCpl Cody Collins made Jul 12 at 2016 10:20 AM

LCpl Cody Collins — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 10:20:25 -0400

Yes it is, it could make or break your in the job search process.

Response by SrA Sheri Wooldridge made Jul 12 at 2016 12:27 PM

SrA Sheri Wooldridge — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 12:27:08 -0400

The cover letter is everything

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Jul 14 at 2016 2:56 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 14:56:25 -0400

In writing it is called the Hook! which is why some books get read and other not. Same applies to dating it as all about the hook!

Response by SSG Mark Franzen made Jul 14 at 2016 7:49 PM

SSG Mark Franzen — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 19:49:19 -0400

Yes Sir I would You Would Have a Better shot at Getting that Job.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2016 4:08 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 16:08:38 -0400

Yes

Response by Cpl Adam Avitabile made Dec 1 at 2016 2:31 PM

Cpl Adam Avitabile — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 14:31:52 -0500

I am not a fan of cover letters. I prefer candidates put a summary on the top portion of their resume. A summary these days should replace the traditional objective statement that was previously used back in the day. This gives me a quick snapshot on the candidate and what their passion is.

Response by LCpl Donald Faucett made Dec 1 at 2016 2:39 PM

LCpl Donald Faucett — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 14:39:04 -0500

I think the cover letter is first and foremost is the cover letter is often your first opportunity to make your first impression. May generate the curiosity to even look at your resume'

Response by LCpl Donald Faucett made Dec 1 at 2016 2:47 PM

LCpl Donald Faucett — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 14:47:31 -0500

Absolutely, it traditionally a customary to send a than you letter so the recipient gets it on the third day. Just in case they never read your letter or resume', they just may take another look or consideration you as a great applicant?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2016 2:49 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 14:49:09 -0500

Great question Sir. As an Executive assistant I had to do a lot of hiring and firing myself. When I was actively applying for professional jobs in different states, I quickly learned that the resume can make or break the deal. For example, in California most companies want more noticeable skills and less description of job duties. But for Virginia, Georgia and other "southern" traditional states, they only except traditional resume for most companies.
So yes the cover letter is important if your applying for uniformed professional positions. But not so much jobs like retail positions non management. Online application require them, but unless it's a supervisor or higher position they never really look at them.

Response by LCpl Donald Faucett made Dec 1 at 2016 6:47 PM

LCpl Donald Faucett — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 18:47:50 -0500

Yes we do live in a fast pace, perhaps cover letters may be a little nostalgic when an email would work fine.

Response by MSgt David Sperber made Dec 1 at 2016 7:29 PM

MSgt David Sperber — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 19:29:48 -0500

I have applied with, and without, a cover letter and have recieved responses from only the applications without cover letters. I think if your resume paints the picture well enough you don't need one.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Dec 1 at 2016 7:41 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 19:41:25 -0500

I stopped using both the Cover Letter and the Resume Objective statement before the Century turned. HR and Hiring Managers no longer have time to look at either. Though the Cover Letter sometimes will help with HR with a introduction that is more friendly. What really catches peoples eyes are 1. Resume format, clean and balanced on the page. 2. Specific keywords in the resume that match to what skills they are looking for. 3. Depth of experience in each area you bring up.

Urban myths nobody cares about anymore: # 1. Repeated layoffs (I have three gaps on my resume due to job layoffs), most HR folks that review a resume have had 3 or more themselves due to layoff and most hiring Managers have had 2 or more, they care more about how long you were laid off more so than you were laid off, so gaps that are over 6 months they would ask about. # 2. Job hopping, depends on field here. In IT I am on my seventh employer now spread over 26 years of work, nobody cares in IT field and they only look at length at each employer not that you have had several employers. So less than a year or about a year at several employers consecutively is a warning sign. #3. Resume length. Some employers it matters others don't care as long as the resume is written clearly and succinctly. Good rule of thumb is 1 page - less than 10 years experience. 2 pages - 10-20 years experience. 2 pages is high as I will go and I truncate the first 6 years of work or just drop it off the resume. #4. Physical age of the hire, only matters if your being looked at by a company where most of the workforce is young and even then it is a crap shoot these days. Older folks are valued more at established companies such as 3M, GE, GM, IBM, IBM Business Partners, Consulting, etc because of their maturity and experience and lack of supervision needs.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Dec 2 at 2016 8:17 AM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 08:17:56 -0500

I think the resume and cover letter work hand and hand because I think the cover letter is the "CLOSING STAEMENT about the person applying for the position. For years I've been working on my resume and I knew nothing about a cover letter and I didn't know about US Jobs, I was sending my resume out to companies and wondering why I was not getting anything back, I gave my resume to a job hunter at Walter Read and he found me some open doors and thanks to other veterans in the systems he floated my resume around. I was lucky, Now I'm on social media and I have been working with some good people in my agency and other veterans as well. So I start posting my resume on line without a cover letter and I still was not getting any hits, and people were telling me I had a really good resume. So I went back and looked at everything I needed to submit on line and I saw I was missing a cover letter and my good friend Jon Hall gave me a pretty cool example of one, I had to change it around a bit but it is what we call a "SHELL" After that I think I put in for about 30 jobs and made the CERT for about 20 of them, these are hard jobs and there are a lot of people applying for them. Then it just comes down to the wording of both documents. If I were you, I would try to sell yourself to the hiring manager in the cover letter and not put anything that is on your resume on your cover letter unless it is like clearance level you are trying to show them you have that is important for the job, type and when it will expires. This letter sometimes is used to decided between the two parties applying for the same position. Make sure a lot of people read this cover letter it is the key to your success. It has been for me. I know there are a lot of qualified people out the with degrees but I have several schools and have been working in my field for about 8 years now plus the sometime in the last few years of the ARMY and when I started converting my resume over to civilian langue I changed all the Military stuff over to what the hiring managers would understand in our world same with the cover letter, I'm no hiring manger and job seeker but I been doing this since I retired and that has been since 2008 and it is hard to sit down and write a good resume, I'm still shocked from the resume I got hired here to the resume I have today in the work force. I like to thank my counter parts who I have asked to join RP to help other veterans who need the same help as I did, because we are not getting our fair share of job opportunities as others because we can't and don't know what they want in the civilian job sector. SO I think both documents work together and without one you can't be successful in today world.

Response by LTC Joe Likar made Dec 3 at 2016 5:02 PM

LTC Joe Likar — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 17:02:09 -0500

That's what they say. The "they" are the professionals. You have to read the advertisement for the position. Pick out the "key" words for the position and use them in a strong cover letter. Remember it is not the place to be funny, this is serious business if you want the job!

Response by PV2 Anthony Bembenek made Dec 3 at 2016 10:29 PM

PV2 Anthony Bembenek — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 22:29:42 -0500

Has not worked for me. Usually if I get the interview it is the stage working a shift or two showing skills and ability or if they say you got an hour make us a meal. My Curry Risotto seals the deal.

Response by SGT James Colwell made Dec 12 at 2016 2:19 PM

SGT James Colwell — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 14:19:21 -0500

Very timely question, as I am in the market for a new position.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2016 7:58 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 07:58:51 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs, I think a well written cover letter is more important than the resume', but what is most important is understanding why a cover letter is such a good idea.

On average, 150 resume's are received for every position advertised. Most of these are scanned by computer which searches for key words.

What this means is that if you want a job, you will go through the advertisement and make sure EVERY keyword used in the ad is in your resume'. You are gaming the scanning algorithm, trying to make sure your resume' is one of those selected to be reviewed by a human being. If you tailor your resume' to each job you apply for, then the cover letter isn't as important. But if you don't tailor, then the cover letter is your only realistic chance of getting a look for a highly competitive position.

Response by Michelle Jeffers made Jan 5 at 2017 1:22 PM

Michelle Jeffers — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 13:22:49 -0500

I am a recruiter and a good cover letter is a good way to get the recruiter's attention. A well-written resume without mistakes is key. Avoid overuse of buzzwords, but be sure to include keywords- specific marketable skills and certifications. A good cover letter would list why you feel you are a good fit for the specific role. I've passed over candidates due to bland resumes, but when they followed-up with a quick email as to why I should reconsider, they got places. Some skills are not easy to equate from military to civilian jobs so it helps if you can aid in that translation.