Why do Recruiters Need Customised Cover Letters for a Specific Job?

Isn’t a resume enough to apply, many job seekers ask. Why do employers still need a cover letter along with resume? Despite the fact that you have a well-drafted resume that speaks about you, the importance of a cover letter can be lest ignored. And just like the resume has its role to play, a cover letter needs to be customised for a specific job role, too.

Thanks to the advancements in technology, the way people conduct job search and apply for a job has radically changed from that, decades ago. With mobile apps, now you can stay posted about latest job vacancies on the go.

Nonetheless, while the medium of communication might have changed to influence some informality in employer-employee communications even before the talent gets on board, the basic practice of job search still remains the same.

To attract hiring manager’s attention, you have to write a killer resume and cover letter that sells your competencies and skillsets. It is true that resume is an important element in your job search. However, it only covers half of the whole information about you - except narrating about your past experiences in different organisations and qualifications you possess.

Cover letter gives your profile an extra-winning edge by helping you bridge communication gaps with your future employer and sell skills, position yourself uniquely among the competition, while explaining your passion for the job role and why you are most suited one to be the perfect hire. It offers clarity for hiring managers to decide on the next most suitable hire for a job role.

So why do recruiters actually need customised cover letters? Here’s why:

1.       They want to get straight to the point

Remember: when you apply for a big-scale company, your job application is only a tiny dot among thousands other. Hiring managers want to know more about a candidate, within a short time frame and a customised cover helps you achieve just that.

Customised cover letters will help them get straight to the point , since they can find necessary additional information about the applicants beyond qualifications and experience in itself.

2.       They want to see your efforts

Hiring managers want to see candidate’s efforts before they ‘apply’ for a job. They want to make sure that the applicants are not job spammers, who randomly send out applications for every job opening.

Herein a customised cover letter helps you prove that you are genuinely interested in the job. Customising cover letter requires research to provide accurate and relatable information, and this effort will not be lost - if it could impress hiring managers, draw their attention and eventually get selected for an interview. Perhaps, you maybe their next suitable hire.

3.       They want to know your intention

When the company opens gates for applicants to send out resumes and cover letters, they want to know your intents in seeking a particular job roles with a company. To make this strenuous exercise easier for hiring managers, and be able to quickly sort out application, you should clearly state the job role you are applying for.

To make an effective cover letter, it is important to tailor it according to job demands, skills expected and industry needs. While, you might think that writing customised every cover letters for different job roles is such a waste of time.

Well, we do agree it does require additional work and time, but what if your efforts are well-rewarded with a great job offer? Maybe not trying or working hard, could make you lose out on your dream job. A reluctance to strive, is an impediment to accomplishing personal and professional progressive endeavours.

Next read: Why and How You Should Customise CV