I have heard employers do not bother reading cover letters so is it necessary to prepare one

With so much information out there about how to apply for a job, and what to include and what to exclude; applicants can easily get confused as to what is the right way to go about the process. For example, the topic of cover letters: many applicants are unsure as to whether they should be included in a formal application for a job position. While there is some speculation on the use of cover letters, the majority of career experts and hiring managers will tell you not to apply without one. What is correct? To include one…always.

It may be that you have heard that some hiring managers do not even bother to read cover letters, or perhaps, that that is all they read in the first selection process. The truth is, a hiring manager or anyone-for that matter-would much rather reference an abridged version of an applicant’s candidacy-your cover letter-than an extended one-your resume. Though the resume is very important, and will be referenced later on if a hiring manager has enough interest in what he/she finds in the cover letter; the cover letter is typically all a hiring manager will read for their first impression of an applicant.

Why is this? Simply, because of what function the cover letter serves. The cover letter is in place, not just to introduce the applicant and submit their interest in a job position; but also, to give the applicant a selling pitch of their most valuable assets as a candidate. This value is comprised of the experience, qualifications, achievements, extenuating circumstances, and goals of the career minded applicant combined with the bottom line: why this applicant is more attractive for this job position than any other.

This said, whoever is spreading the nasty rumor about hiring managers not reading cover letters is misleading applicants -as the cover letter is quite arguably, just as important as the resume itself; as it typically determines-upon first glance-whether your application package will get further consideration or trash pile.