THINK COVER LETTERS ARE USELESS? THINK AGAIN

At a recent workshop, someone said what many are thinking:

“I find cover letters useless.”

And honestly?

I get it. Most people are writing cover letters that don’t say anything new, interesting, or relevant. So of course they feel useless. But that doesn’t mean cover letters are useless.

It means most cover letters are bad. And in today’s newsletter, I want to change that for you.

Let’s talk about:

• When cover letters matter
• What makes them work
• And how to write one that gets you interviews

The Harsh Truth About Cover Letters

Roughly 8–10% of recruiters and hiring managers actually read cover letters. But here’s the thing: when they do, it can make or break your application.

I recently had a client with 8 years of experience in the fragrance industry. She was pivoting into healthcare. We included a compelling cover letter that tied in a story about her attempt to launch a skincare startup during COVID—her genuine passion for health and wellness came through.

She applied for the role over the weekend. On Monday, she got the interview.

That’s the kind of specific, personalized touch a good cover letter can provide—something a resume simply can’t do.

So, Should You Include a Cover Letter?

Let me be honest:

If you’re just applying online and sending a generic, “Dear Sir/Madam”-style letter, skip it. It’s not helping.

But if you’re serious about a role? Absolutely include one.

Better yet, email it directly to the hiring manager as the body of your message. No PDFs, no attachments—just a powerful, compelling case for why they should talk to you.

What a Good Cover Letter Actually Looks Like

Here’s a quick 3-paragraph structure that works:

Paragraph 1: Why This Company? (Uniquely)

Start strong. Tell them why this specific company matters to you. Not because it’s “a global leader in XYZ”—they know that already. Instead, use a personal story, a unique connection, or something insightful from your research.

• Did they launch a project that aligns with your values? 
• Have you used their product or admired their work for years?
• Did someone in your network influence your interest?

Make it personal, not generic.

Paragraph 2: Why You?

Don't dump your resume here. Write one strong line about your core experience, and follow it with three bullet points highilighting the most relevant skills with examples. 

Instead of saying "I have great stakeholder management," say:

"Led cross-functional teams across 5 countries to deliver a $1.2 M product launch 3 weeks head of schedule.

Specifics and numbers matter.

Paragraph 3: Why This Role, Right Now?

Wrap it up by sharing your motivation for the role—and a clear call to action. Make it easy for them to contact you and tell them you'd be happy to discuss further.

Should You Use AI to Write It?

 Here's where I stand:

 Use AI tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity for research, not writing. They can help you:

• Understand the company's recent projects
• Break down the job description
• Highlight overlap with your experience 

But don't rely on AI to write the letter. Recruiters can smell generic AI-generated letter from a mile away—and it won't make the impact you want.

I always say: GPT stands for Generate, Personalize, Tweak. The middle part? That's all you.

Final Thoughts

If you're applying to a role you care about, and you want to stand out—write the cover letter. When done right, it can tell your story in a way your resume never will. It shows thought, effort, and genuine interest. And in the sea of sameness, that's what gets noticed.

Until next week!

Shub

Your Career Growth Partner