R.Scott.Morris
10th October 2010, 06:52 PM
Q: Why do employers care about cover letters? What can I communicate with a cover letter that isn't on my resume?
A cover letter serves a number of specific purposes for an employer.
First, it is an indication of how interested the prospective employee is in a particular job. Anybody can attach a resume to an email, but a cover letter takes time. It can help provide insight into one of the most important questions an employer must answer: "Does she really want to work for me?"
I often will place a specific request in a job description, such as "please describe a team experience where you had to overcome a particular problem". I generally would really care to hear the response, but more importantly, I want to see which candidates put out the extra effort to craft an individual letter to address this issue. This has proven to be a great weeding out process!
Second, a cover letter can create an important narrative about one's qualifications and possible impact in a particular role. It better expresses character traits and passions than a resume. Lastly, it can provide insight into a candidate's communication skills and judgment.
For you, the writer, it gives you the opportunity to frame your skills and experiences in a way that is most favorable for you. Put in the extra effort. It is worth it.
A cover letter serves a number of specific purposes for an employer.
First, it is an indication of how interested the prospective employee is in a particular job. Anybody can attach a resume to an email, but a cover letter takes time. It can help provide insight into one of the most important questions an employer must answer: "Does she really want to work for me?"
I often will place a specific request in a job description, such as "please describe a team experience where you had to overcome a particular problem". I generally would really care to hear the response, but more importantly, I want to see which candidates put out the extra effort to craft an individual letter to address this issue. This has proven to be a great weeding out process!
Second, a cover letter can create an important narrative about one's qualifications and possible impact in a particular role. It better expresses character traits and passions than a resume. Lastly, it can provide insight into a candidate's communication skills and judgment.
For you, the writer, it gives you the opportunity to frame your skills and experiences in a way that is most favorable for you. Put in the extra effort. It is worth it.