The verdict from the Pundits on the importance of a cover letter vs a resume is unclear.
What's certain is that a resume needs to be well written and re-organized based upon the importance of skill requirements for each job you are applying for.
From a Recruiters or Hiring Manager's point of view, each resume they receive usually gets a quick once-over to spot key skills based upon the job requirements. But it is the cover letter and the introduction they read first and in more detail.
If they are satisfied with it, then they go back to view the resume in greater detail to find areas that relate closer to the job description.
It is at this point that the determination is made to move forward or to accept or reject your resume.
Therefore it is inherent upon the applicant to make sure that the first minute devoted by the viewer grabs their attention. Just as the eye spots those that stand out in a crowd, your resume needs to stand out far and above the rest!
Recruiters and hiring Managers are invited to post their comments or if you need more information, please contact Jo at: jp@1800jobquest.com
Jo Prabhu has been in the placement industry for 16 years and provides resume re-writing and image packaging to each candidate based upon the corporate culture of their clients.
What's more important: A Cover Letter or a Resume? follow this blog post
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7 comments
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Short & meaningful cover letters are welcome - the rest are just a waste of time.
Cover letters should only address issues which are not in the resume - like - the type of job(s) the candidate is searching for - cities s/he is open to relocate etc
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Sorry, I think cover letters are puffery. Don't have the time or interest to read them. Experience, accomplishments and career trajectory in reverse chronological order ... stated in a clear, factual manner ... are what I want. Please let me draw my own conclusions. Yes, I am a recruiter.
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Sounds like the word is out:
Hiring Managers read cover letters and Recruiters look through the resumes.
Interesting finding.
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I usually don't read the cover letters. If I do I read them after the resume. I don't give the cover letter to the manager either. and yeah, Scott-they tend to be repitious.
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I'm exactly the opposite of whats mentioned above. I go to resume first, then cover letter. If the resume isn't what I'm looking for, then why waste time on the cover? Further, cover letters have developed into a repititious (spelling?) cycle of the same old thing... everyones professional, with yrs of experience, with a great personality, and 'proven ability to (fill in the blank)'.
I wish it was 'acceptable' for someone to put into a cover letter: "I love watching SEC football, I've been married for a few yrs with a child on the way, and I have a true passion for my chosen profession with the skills to back it up..." or something similar. Cover letters have seemingly been copy and pasted over and over again on every cover I read when I really just want to know more about the person behind the paper.
Just my 2 cents...
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For me, a cover letter comes second to a resume every time. If you send me an email as your cover letter with a resume attached, the first thing I do is open the resume and review the qualifications. If the candidate fits (or falls anywhere close to) what I am looking for I will then go back and read the cover letter. I think in this day and age (and economy) where people are emailing their resumes/cover letters to every job they come across, it is a waste of a recruiters time to read every cover letter that comes across their desk. Going straight to the resume seems the optimal way to weed out those that don't fit.
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As a researcher I do not read cover letters BUT I know hiring managers do. I think they want some evidence that the applicant can write coherently and also to get clues to their personality. I feel both are important and need to be tied to one another as far as key words and message of where you are wanting to go.
