Cover letters are dead, Fastcompany.com recently reported in an article of the same name. Although it may look like a surprising piece of information at first glance, everybody has to agree after considering it for a moment. Most people copy cover letters from templates that are available online for free and most recruiters don't read cover letters at all. So why should job seekers be required to write cover letters?
Most companies recruit new employees using the Internet. On the one hand, the volume and speed of sending CVs increases. On the other hand, companies want to recruit new employees as quickly as possible. There is simply no time to read cover letters. They have become an obsolete and outdated part of the recruitment process.
The purpose of cover letters was to personalize job applicants with regard to the position and emphasize other important information related to the job that could not have been included in the CV. Recruiters considered whether applicants fit into their corporate culture based on this information. However, if nobody cares about cover letters any longer, how can job applicants communicate this personal information to recruiters? Fastcompany.com recommends the following ways.
Add a short "Summary" section to your CV
This section should be placed at the very beginning of your CV. It should contain two to three sentences which describe what sets you apart from other candidates for the position. You can read more about how to write a summary here: Summary - key but often forgotten part of a CV.
Be more personal
You may have heard the recommendation to exclude information about your hobbies or other personal traits and activities from your CV. However, this is true only to a certain extent. If the information is related to the job you are applying for or the company culture, include it. Mention, for example, your volunteer activities or memberships in various organizations.
Describe your achievements
Add a few points to each of your previous jobs that you mention in your CV to emphasize your greatest accomplishments in that role. Be as specific as possible, include numbers, percentages, etc.
Uncover your face on social networks
Keep in mind that recruiters will screen you on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. They will assess whether you can fit into their corporate culture based on your behavior on social networks. Make their job easier and include links to your social media profiles directly in your CV. You can even briefly mention the topics you usually comment on in each social network.
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