Should a resume include cover letter?
John Hall
Updated on March 29, 2026
The truth is that some recruiters and hiring managers read cover letters, but some flip right to your resume. You likely don’t know which approach the people hiring for the position you want will take. As a result, you should take the time to write a cover letter whenever possible.
Are cover letters really needed if so what do employers look in your cover letter?
Yes, cover letters are still important. A cover letter also shows the employer that you take the job opportunity seriously and are prepared to take more initiative to be considered for the job. It’s also possible the hiring manager will actually look at your cover letter when selecting applicants to interview.
How to make a cover letter look good?
Here’s all you need to remember about what a cover letter looks like: 1 Address it to the right person. 2 Make it one-page long. 3 Follow a classic letter template. 4 Set the right margins. 5 Choose professional fonts. 6 Format it just like your resume. 7 Write killer content, relevant to the job. 8 Make sure it’s free from typos and mistakes.
Do you look at a resume or cover letter first?
Do employers look at a resume or cover letter first? Employers look at a resume first. They typically look at the resume first to make sure you have the desired skills and experience before taking the time to read your cover letter. This is especially true in fields that require specific hard skills, such as IT and engineering.
How does an employer look at a resume?
Employers look at a resume first. They typically look at the resume first to make sure you have the desired skills and experience before taking the time to read your cover letter. This is especially true in fields that require specific hard skills, such as IT and engineering.
What happens if your cover letter looks bad?
Long story short: if your cover letter looks bad, it will generate zero interest. And there’s more to making it look great than setting the right margins and picking good fonts. Copied successfully Something went wrong, try again. About 50% of the candidates send cover letters. And only 26% of the recruiters consider them important.