Let's settle the internet's favourite argument: do cover letters even matter anymore?
Answer: sometimes — and when they matter, they matter a lot. The skill is knowing which situation you're in, and having a ten-minute method for when you need one.
When to skip it, when to write it
| Situation | Cover letter? |
|---|
| One-click apply on a big job board | Skip — it will likely never be read |
| Large company, ATS pipeline, "optional" box | A short one; some recruiters do check |
| Small company or startup | Yes — often read before the resume |
| Applying through a person or referral | Yes — your message is the cover letter |
| Career change, study gap, moving cities | Yes — the resume cannot explain, the letter can |
| The advert explicitly asks for one | Obviously yes, and skipping it is a fail |
The pattern: the more a human is involved early, the more the letter counts. At a twelve-person firm, the owner reads everything. That letter might be the whole game.