{"id":1149,"date":"2026-06-13T23:16:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T23:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T06:25:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T06:25:13","slug":"when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip\/","title":{"rendered":"When to Use a Cover Letter and When to Skip It"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When To Use A Cover Letter And When is a key focus of this guide. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The conventional wisdom says always include a cover letter unless the application specifically says not to. The practical reality is more nuanced. Some roles genuinely value a well-written cover letter. Others go directly to the resume. Understanding which situation you are in helps you invest your writing effort where it will have the most impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/writing-cover-letter.jpg\" alt=\"Person writing a cover letter by hand at a desk\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip\/#Roles_where_cover_letters_genuinely_matter\" >Roles where cover letters genuinely matter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip\/#Roles_where_cover_letters_rarely_get_read\" >Roles where cover letters rarely get read<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip\/#How_to_write_a_cover_letter_that_actually_gets_read\" >How to write a cover letter that actually gets read<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip\/#The_difference_between_a_generic_and_a_specific_cover_letter\" >The difference between a generic and a specific cover letter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip\/#Cover_letter_length_what_actually_works\" >Cover letter length: what actually works<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip\/#Read_next\" >Read next<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip\/#Should_I_always_include_a_cover_letter\" >Should I always include a cover letter?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip\/#How_long_should_a_cover_letter_be\" >How long should a cover letter be?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip\/#What_should_the_first_sentence_of_a_cover_letter_say\" >What should the first sentence of a cover letter say?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip\/#What_should_I_leave_out_of_a_cover_letter\" >What should I leave out of a cover letter?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/when-to-use-cover-letter-when-to-skip\/#Get_your_free_resume_review_from_a_real_recruiter\" >Get your free resume review from a real recruiter<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Roles_where_cover_letters_genuinely_matter\"><\/span>Roles where cover letters genuinely matter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cover letters matter most in roles where writing is itself a core competency, communications, marketing, public relations, consulting, policy, and similar fields. In these roles, a cover letter is a work sample. Recruiters read it to assess how well you write, how clearly you think, and whether your voice fits the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cover letters also matter more at smaller companies where hiring is less process-driven. At a startup with a ten-person team, the hiring manager is likely reading every application personally and a compelling letter that shows genuine interest in the company and role can make a real difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For roles that are highly competitive and where your application needs differentiation, a strong cover letter can provide the context your resume cannot. If your career path is non-linear, if you are changing industries, or if there is something about your background that needs explaining, a cover letter is the right place to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Roles_where_cover_letters_rarely_get_read\"><\/span>Roles where cover letters rarely get read<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At large companies with high application volumes, especially in technical roles, cover letters often go unread in the initial screening phase. Recruiters reviewing 200 applications for a software engineering role are focused on the resume. The cover letter is opened, if at all, only after the resume has already passed the initial screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For roles where speed of screening is paramount, writing a cover letter is often a poor investment of your time relative to spending that same time optimizing your resume or researching the company for an interview. Know your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Easy Apply applications on LinkedIn often do not include a cover letter option at all. When the application method does not support one, you obviously do not need one. When it does support one but does not require it, use the context to judge whether this is a role where it will be read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_write_a_cover_letter_that_actually_gets_read\"><\/span>How to write a cover letter that actually gets read<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cover letters that get read are short, specific, and direct. Three to four short paragraphs. The first sentence tells the recruiter exactly why you are excited about this specific role at this specific company. Not a generic opener, a specific one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The middle section connects your most relevant experience directly to what the role needs. Not a summary of your resume, but a focused argument for why your background is specifically relevant to their situation. One or two concrete examples that are not already obvious from your resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The closing is confident and direct. Something like: &#8220;I would welcome the chance to discuss how my experience building customer success teams in high-growth SaaS companies could support your team&#8217;s goals.&#8221; Then stop. Long closings with multiple hedged phrases like &#8220;I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience&#8221; add nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_difference_between_a_generic_and_a_specific_cover_letter\"><\/span>The difference between a generic and a specific cover letter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A generic cover letter says: &#8220;I am excited to apply for the Marketing Manager position at [Company]. I am a results-driven professional with experience in marketing and communications, and I believe my skills would be a strong fit for your team.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A specific cover letter says: &#8220;I saw that your team is expanding into the mid-market segment, and I spent the last three years building the marketing infrastructure that helped my company&#8217;s expansion from SMB to mid-market grow ARR from $8M to $45M. I would like to talk about how those same approaches might support what you are building.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The specific version requires more effort. It requires you to actually research the company, understand their current situation, and connect your experience to it. That effort is exactly what makes it worth reading. Generic cover letters are not worth the time they take to write or to read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cover_letter_length_what_actually_works\"><\/span>Cover letter length: what actually works<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One page maximum. Most effective cover letters are three to four paragraphs, totaling two hundred to three hundred words. If you find yourself writing more than that, you are probably repeating your resume or explaining things that do not need explaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each paragraph should have a clear purpose: introduction and hook, relevant experience connected to the role, evidence of company-specific research or fit, and a direct close. If a paragraph does not serve one of those purposes, cut it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not pad a cover letter with pleasantries, background that is already in your resume, or phrases that could be copied and pasted into any application. Every sentence should either tell the recruiter something specific about why you are a strong fit for this role or give them a concrete reason to read your resume with more attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Read_next\"><\/span>Read next<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list atr-read-next\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/cover-letter-vs-no-cover-letter\/\">Cover Letter vs. No Cover Letter: When You Actually Need One<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/internship-cover-letter\/\">How to Write an Internship Cover Letter That Stands Out<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/career-change-cover-letter\/\">How to Write a Career Change Cover Letter That Works<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_always_include_a_cover_letter\"><\/span>Should I always include a cover letter?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Include one when requested, when writing ability is core to the role, or when you need to explain context your resume cannot. For high-volume technical roles, it is often not read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_should_a_cover_letter_be\"><\/span>How long should a cover letter be?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three to four short paragraphs, 200-300 words maximum. If you are writing more, you are probably repeating your resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_should_the_first_sentence_of_a_cover_letter_say\"><\/span>What should the first sentence of a cover letter say?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start with something specific. &#8220;I have spent four years doing exactly what this role requires&#8221; beats &#8220;I am excited to apply for this position.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_should_I_leave_out_of_a_cover_letter\"><\/span>What should I leave out of a cover letter?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not restate your resume, explain why you need the job, apologize for gaps, or use clich\u00e9s. Every sentence should add information not already in the resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Get_your_free_resume_review_from_a_real_recruiter\"><\/span>Get your free resume review from a real recruiter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At AskTheRecruiter.com, every review is done by a human recruiter with real hiring experience. You get honest, specific feedback on what to fix, not a generic score from an algorithm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No automated tools, no templates. Just a recruiter reading your resume and telling you exactly what needs to change. Most candidates hear back within 24 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-vivid-red-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"\/get-your-resume-reviewed\/\">Get My Free Resume Review<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"atr-schema-jsonld\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Should I always include a cover letter?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Include one when requested, when writing ability is core to the role, or when you need to explain context your resume cannot. 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Here is how to tell which situation you are in and what to do about it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-letters"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1149"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1149\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5111,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1149\/revisions\/5111"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}