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Requiring a Cover Letter: Pros and Cons

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When hiring for an open position, reviewing application materials is critical—but also a little tedious. Considering the application forms, the resumes, the reference lists, and the other supplemental materials, it can take several weeks to narrow the candidate pool.

Today, one such application component is up for debate—the cover letter. According to one 2022 survey, 58 percent of professionals believed requiring a cover letter was redundant. Some recruiters admitted that they don’t even read them. On the other hand, a strong contingent still feels the cover letter serves a valuable purpose, allowing potential employees to expand upon their interests and experience.

So, what do you think? Is requiring a cover letter a waste of time or a meaningful asset to the application process? Here are some cover letter pros and cons.

The Pros and Cons of Requiring a Cover Letter

Let’s begin the debate with the contrary view. Why shouldn’t you require a cover letter? Requiring a cover letter:

  • Is outdated: Surprisingly, the practice of submitting a cover letter started in the 1930s. That’s right. The trend is almost 100 years old. Maybe it’s time to reconsider its place in the modern-day hiring process.
  • Slows the search: The cover letter is just another component that hiring managers must read, slowing down the overall process.
  • Can be redundant: The cover letter simply expands on the information already captured in a well-written resume.
  • Can create bias: Cover letters can create unintentional bias against specific candidates, especially non-native English speakers or those with writing disabilities.

However, not everyone feels that the cover letter is obsolete. Why might you require one? A cover letter:

  • Adds personality to the application: Application materials can be repetitive. The cover letter adds some color and background to the candidate.
  • Weeds out the less enthusiastic candidates: Creating a cover letter is work, so less-interested applicants might not bother to apply. Even if you don’t comb through each cover letter, you’ll know that the candidate is willing to go the extra mile for an interview.
  • Highlights a candidate’s writing skills: For companies where written communication is vital to the job, a well-crafted cover letter showcases a candidate’s potential right from the start.

Tips on Creating a Cover Letter Prompt

Rather than simply listing a rote cover letter on your required application materials, some employers opt to provide a prompt instead. Giving candidates a question to answer or at least some guidance helps curate the cover letters you receive.

Create a prompt that speaks to your company’s mission or the specific goals of the position. Ask candidates to expand on specific expertise that your agency values. Or, if you’re more interested in learning who they are as a person, ask about their passions outside of work.

Ultimately, if you’re going to require some kind of essay component, ask for the information that interests you as a hiring manager. Otherwise, you’ll get the same mechanical responses.

What Roles Should Require a Cover Letter?

Whether to require a cover letter depends mainly on the industry and position. Roles that require significant written communication should still require a cover letter component. Editors, writers, professors, teachers, and marketing professionals should all submit a well-written cover letter that effectively answers your prompt.

High-level positions are exceptionally competitive. Finding the right leader for the organization is imperative. For these reasons, executives and other management positions should submit a cover letter demonstrating their leadership style and vision for the company.

Cover letters can also be helpful for entry-level positions. When individuals first enter the workforce, their resumes may not include much helpful information. Asking for a brief cover letter that gauges their personal experience and interest in the job could help you assess their potential as a candidate.

When is a Cover Letter Unnecessary?

If the position you’re hiring doesn’t require strong writing skills, don’t require a cover letter. If you know you won’t have the time actually to read an applicant’s cover letter, then maybe it’s an unnecessary requirement. Instead, consider if there is a different kind of assessment or component that is more valuable to the candidate search (such as a portfolio or skills test).

Work with Insight Global

Navigating the complexities of the hiring process is a challenging task. Deciding whether or not to require a cover letter is just one choice in a long line of hiring decisions.

Good news! You don’t have to figure it out on your own. Outsourcing candidate recruiting and screening to Insight Global can alleviate these stresses and ensure a more streamlined, efficient process. Our expert recruiters can adeptly discern when a cover letter is necessary and when it can be skipped.

Partnering with Insight Global can revolutionize your recruitment strategy and help you attract top-tier talent with less hassle. To learn more, reach out to us today.

We make hiring easy.