Cover letter
 

I'm going to retire soon (hopefully this year, fingers crossed) from a state job at 60.
Despite what my wife thinks I'm not going to put a lawn chair in the front yard and drink beer all day.
So been poking my toe in the online job search websites.
I filled out the website form and attached a resume (much of which seems redundant). and they ask if I want to add a cover letter (which seems even more redundant).

To get the state job I had to fill out a several forms but no cover letter.

May I presume a cover letter is something you have to do to show them you really want the job?


Sideline: I put in "technician" as a keyword.

Draft beer technician came up... I kid you not, I may have found my calling!

Also sent a resume to SpaceX

What are you looking for?

Online job applications are generally a waste of time. You will want to find something through your network, or in person, going to job fairs, places of employment etc.

If you are looking for something at the tech level, a cover letter is overkill, especially when submitting to the black hole of a job site.

G

I haven't had to apply for a job in around 30 years so I don't have a lot of experience.

However, my thought on a cover letter:
This would be to add something about yourself and what you are looking for
vs. a Resume mostly lists your experience and credentials.

For example,
I'm a self starter, have managed numerous staff. I'm looking for a position that xxxx, etc..

This would enable you to keep the resume short generally just list experience and qualifications.

Couldn't disagree more. Everything is online these day. When you register with an on-line site, the site sends the jobs back to you.

Yes, you go online to find openings. But you don't use an online site to apply. You may as well send the application to your trash folder. You look to see if you know someone at the company and have them send your application straight to the hiring manager and HR. That's what will get you an interview. If sending into the black hole, chances are very high that nobody will ever read your application.

I have job hunted extensively in recent years and had exactly zero traction unless I went through a real life contact. I also have hired extensively and have seen the flood of resumes you get that a recruiter has to hand select, even after auto-filters. 100 resumes to 1 decent candidate that you will want to call for a phone screen. It is very tough to use the system and of course if one of our employees brings me a resume, I'll jump on it compared to having to sift through resumes / applications online ...

Edit: and again to the original question: A cover letter on an online application through a job board or company server is not necessary. A cover letter for a job you send in through a contact, absolutely a good idea.

G

I've never submitted to a "here's my info, hire me!" site (and wouldn't), but I have filled out several job applications via browser and it was hosted by the place I was applying to. Having filled out the same application on paper when I was first hired, I can say the online is MUCH better :)

BUT... I think the cover letter is your first intro, a "do I even bother opening this app and reading the resume" type thing. Express your interest in working in your field with THAT employer, and why (they are the best, next step in career, location change, etc).

And, having served on 15 or so hiring committees (for AVPs, VPs, CISO, full time and adjunct instructors, various administrative/professional types, sysadmins, etc) I can say that HR handed us every part of every application that was submitted. I can also say that if there were more than "a few" our first cull became applications that weren't 100% complete (cover, resume, 3 letters, college transcripts - applying to a college can be intrusive!). If we couldn't get enough folks to interview after going through complete applications, we started wtih the incompletes that were only missing their transcripts, and only bothered with them if someone appeared to be REALLY good from their resume and letters. And even then we had to have transcripts before going on past a phone interview...

The cover letter is your chance to sell yourself and differentiate yourself in the pool of applicants. It should be brief, but us it to tell what you bring to the table and why they should hire you over someone with the same skill set.


Yes large tech companies are a black hole, but at the end of the day a recruiter reviews all of those applications and a good cover letter can be the difference between a phone interview and the round file....

I am waiting on an offer letter for a government job. I did not use a cover letter. My resume is tailored to fit one page only. When I applied for the job I have currently, I did not use a cover letter either.