by Leah Jackson
"Do I really have to write a cover letter?"
If you haven't already, you will soon find out that the answer to this question depends upon the institution and hiring manager. Many employers rely on cover letters to help evaluate candidates, while others see them as redundant or unnecessary. With two camps of thought on the topic, it's not surprising that there isn't an industry standard regarding cover letters.
A recent survey of employers who post jobs to HigherEdJobs revealed that 54% require cover letters for all positions, 17% don't require cover letters, and the remaining 29% require cover letters only for some positions. As for which positions required them and which didn't, there was wide variation.
So, where does this leave candidates? How do you know where to allocate your time when applying? If you do go to the trouble of writing a cover letter, what are the best practices to follow?
Oftentimes, job postings list cover letters as one of the application requirements. If that's the case, the employer has, at the very least, made your life easier because there is no guessing game about whether you should write one or not.
Not submitting a cover letter when it is listed as a requirement could be a risky move.
"The school I was recently at, if you didn't have a cover letter, they just didn't even bother to look at you," said David Blake, a former CHRO and COO, on Episode 33 of the HigherEdJobs Podcast. He goes on to reason that schools that do this may be overlooking qualified candidates. While it may not be a great practice, it's still very common in the higher education industry. As a job seeker, you have to determine if you want to risk your candidacy by failing to follow instructions.
What, then, if a job posting doesn't specify whether a cover letter is required?
There are a couple of options:
Option #1: Err on the Side of Caution
You could err on the side of caution and submit a cover letter, but you shouldn't take it lightly. Make sure it is compelling and error-free because in the event the employer reads your cover letter, you'll want to impress. If they don't read it, the worst-case scenario is that you lose an hour or two of time.
If you choose to submit one, it should be thoughtful and customized for the position at hand. Before you hit 'apply,' ask yourself the following:
- Is your message clear and compelling? "I think, to some degree, [employers are] checking out your writing skill and ability," Blake said on the HigherEdJobs Podcast. "So don't take that cover letter lightly." A cover letter can tell an employer a lot about your ability to communicate clearly through writing. If you're applying for a writing position, the cover letter is likely a determining factor in who receives an interview invitation. However, almost all positions on a college campus require some degree of written communication skills. Your job may entail emailing students or parents, corresponding and coordinating with colleagues, taking meeting minutes, recording notes about students in various tracking systems, etc. A poorly written cover letter can cause concern about these aspects of a job. Don't be afraid to go through a few drafts and have a trusted colleague or mentor provide feedback.
- Did you proofread? There's a reason that proofreading makes almost all the lists of job application advice. Mistakes are easy to make and then overlook. While some employers will excuse a simple typo, others may not be so kind. Typos may send a message that you aren't thorough, which could work against you. Have someone proofread it and consider running it through a free tool like Grammarly to catch any problems.
Option #2: Can Your Resume Speak for Itself?
The other option when a cover letter isn't listed as a requirement is to evaluate your resume and whether it can stand on its own.
Rainer Neely, an executive talent partner who appeared on another episode of the HigherEdJobs Podcast, advises against cover letters and instead having an objective on your resume "that tells your full intent."
"So, if you're looking to move to that next step within your career, have that intent in there," he said. "I see no purpose truly for a cover letter at this time."
The Bottom Line
Cover letters may or may not be required. You should always submit one if it is listed as a requirement because you could be ruled out immediately for failing to follow instructions. If a cover letter is not listed as a requirement for a particular position, the choice is yours, although it does seem that higher education is still largely in favor of cover letters. In the aforementioned survey, 94% of respondents said cover letters are either moderately or extremely important when deciding to interview a candidate.
Take that for what you will and make the decision that feels best to you. Maybe you'll skip the cover letter if you know you're a stellar candidate whose resume speaks for itself, or maybe you're one to 'play it safe' and will spend the extra time writing one. If you do, just be sure to follow best practices. If you need more help with your cover letter, consider checking out:
Can You See This Mistake on Your Cover Letter?
The Case for Cover Letters and Making Yours Come Alive
This article is republished from HigherEdJobs® under a Creative Commons license.