Are cover letters really effective?

Published

Don't get me wrong, I understand it's better safe than sorry.... but it's pretty exhausting and heart-stabbing to keep tailoring cover letters for each position and never get responses. I also have a general cover letter but I don't feel that it is very interesting and I don't know if people will read it anyway.

Basically,

I'm broken from applying to so many places. Please halp me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

Go into your kitchen grab a box of cereal or whatever.

Look at the pictures, the advertising, and the ingredients/nutrition labels.

Your resume is like the ingredients and nutrition labels: the facts.

Your cover letter is the colorful picture and the creative verbiage.

Dont be like that generic box of oatmeal in a white package with black text. Use the cover letter to create excitement & to sell yourself.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's a neat way to put it. I just hope they actually read it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I always include an individualized cover letter with an application, and I've gotten many positive comments from people interviewing me about that. It's one of those things that can't hurt you if you do it, but not doing it may hurt, so ...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

Never forgo a cover letter, especially if your experience level is not as extensive as other nurses. If someone has 20 years experience they might be better able to pull off forgoing it than a nurse with 0 to 5 years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I might read a cover letter but I don't know that I have ever given someone an interview or hired them based on their cover letter. I would suggest it if you aren't experienced in the area you are applying for.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion