> Yeah, I don't think anybody looks at cover letters
Oh, you should see the negative responses I got when I posted that the last time on HN. Some people are absolutely pro-cover letters.
One interesting theme in some of the responses, though was: "I always read cover letters if present, but it just occurred to me that I disqualify candidates based on the content of their cover letter, so in some cases those that didn't submit a cover letter are at an advantage." Essentially, the more you talk, the easier it is for people to rule you out.
So a cover letter could give you an advantage over those who don't supply one, but it also could disadvantage you. On the whole, I take it as a net neutral at best, and so why spend the time?
Oh, you should see the negative responses I got when I posted that the last time on HN. Some people are absolutely pro-cover letters.
One interesting theme in some of the responses, though was: "I always read cover letters if present, but it just occurred to me that I disqualify candidates based on the content of their cover letter, so in some cases those that didn't submit a cover letter are at an advantage." Essentially, the more you talk, the easier it is for people to rule you out.
So a cover letter could give you an advantage over those who don't supply one, but it also could disadvantage you. On the whole, I take it as a net neutral at best, and so why spend the time?