How important are cover letters to HR managers ?

Do you sometimes skip a cover letter, thinking they are a waste of time and HR managers are not concerned about reading them? If so, you are making a serious mistake in the job search process. A recent study done by CareerBuilder.com revealed that approximately two-thirds of hiring managers prefer a cover letter with a resume, even if the advertisement does not request one. Since there is no way to tell if an HR manager truly prefers a cover letter or not, it is best to always include a cover letter just to be safe. And of the two thirds who prefer a cover letter, another study shows that group split between reading the cover letter at the beginning of an application or after reading a resume, but they always read it. For best results, include a cover letter that is tailored to the job that is being applied for.