Do recruiters actually read cover letters?

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

I'm working on my resume and have it almost complete so I've started on my cover letter. But as I start to write I can't help but wonder if anyone cares? With so many candidates and so few jobs, why waste time on a cover letter? Okay, I admit I'm putting off writing one.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nurse.

imo a cover letter is very important. it helps to determine where you will fit best; especially if you indicate your areas of interests. test the process....send your resume with and without a cover letter and see which one gets the most responses. let us know what happens.

good luck with your job search! :up:

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:yawn: I had to laugh at that answer...Okay, okay a cover letter is definitely a requirement, but let's not kid ourselves here...if someone were to conduct an experiment like that, there is the very high possibility that neither would get a response.
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Specializes in Psychiatric Nurse.
:yawn: I had to laugh at that answer. In today's economy, there is nothing to "kid ourselves" about when it comes to job hunting. It is a tough job market for all New Grads as well as experienced nurses. All "experiments" reveal results. You are correct. Dependent upon the applicant, neither option could possibly receive a response. But, with time, that individual will realize that he/she is receiving more responses with one type of submission (with-or-without) or the other. The bottom line, if an individual cares not to utilize a cover letter (as the originator of this thread is contemplating), he/she will never know what a recruiter's preference really is. Why??? Because, there will be nothing to compare. I did not ask the question so...sending a resume without a cover letter is a chance the originator of this thread would be taking. Not me. :yawn:
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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

IMO? The Cover Letter is extremely important. I always read them. Sure, some will never read them. Others will just glance at them.

And, equally important, you need to assume everyone will read them so you need to be sure and include this introductory letter.

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

I'm kind of frightened of cover letters because I'm afraid what I say may lose me the position.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

No need to be afraid of a cover letter. It merely introduces you to the person reading it. Just include:

  1. The job you seek and why you are interested
  2. How you can address the needs of the employer or why they should hire you
  3. Invitation to contact you and/or how you will contact them

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Of course a cover letter is a must, its just that I simply don't think such a trial of see what happens with one or the other would be much of an indicator. In fact, thats the whole reason why the OP doesn't feel like it will help, is because it often seems not to matter, since you still don't get called.

The reality is that there's a million things that play into whether you will or won't get a call back.

As a new grad I've sent out of hundreds of apps so far, and probably about 65% had a cover letter. And maybe 10% were the "go out of my way to mail hard copy" kind, I really can't afford more. I go out of my way to mail hard copy if I really want the job or think I have a good shot. Of course if the online application has a place for cover letter, I will always include.

The breakdown for the 6 calls I've received:

1st former employer - no cover letter didn't get the job.

2nd - New grad program, letter required, didn't get the job

3rd - online application, no way to send a cover letter - got an offer I declined

4th/5th - online application+cover letter - didn't get jobs

6th - email to HR rep, literally 3 sentences (hello my name is, I'm interested in RN openings, please find resume attached). Received an offer.

As you can see 50% of the interviews didn't have real cover letters, the only 2 offers I received also did not. And while the majority of my applications did have a letter, very very few resulted in an interview.

As you and sirI both point out, why take the chance, its better to assume that it will be read, but I sympathize(empathize? I always get the two confused) with the OP. It really feels like a futile effort, with the result being you feel even more like an idiot to put so much effort into something that only gets summarily dismissed/blatantly ignored.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nurse.

i think the originator of the thread asked, "...why waste time on a cover letter?..."

the following responses/posts make the "attempt" to indicate that a cover letter is important. but if she doesn't feel compelled to use one--that is her preference.

siri is giving excellent advice. we can only offer suggestions and advise her to change her way of thinking. but again, if she is not compelled to create a cover letter, advice will go unnoticed.

lovena...i am sure you have a well prepared resume. for you, for everyone seeking a job, it is pretty much a "luck of the draw" as far as cover letters go. don't let that get you down. be proud of yourself lovena!!! :up: you should never allow yourself to feel like an idiot. you are getting more responses that others i know.:yeah: many of my friends have received no responses at all. ...but i still suggest a cover letter to anyone applying for a job because under normal circumstances/economy, every little bit helps to put you ahead of the pack. these are hard times. as the economy improves, you will find a change in responses received. the job hunting process can become overwhelming at times. when it does...take a break...and attack the job market another day. stay positive.

*****

most recruiters are overwhelmed with the quantity of resumes/cover letters they are receiving (note: i know a few recruiters and they have indicated that the process of interviewing/hiring new grads is taking longer because they need more time to read the 100s of applications that keep coming in each week for a handful of job openings.) also, many hr departments are understaffed so this places more of a burden on the few recruiters that are available to review applications. unless an applicant speaks directly with a recruiter, one will never really know the pros/cons about a cover letter/resume. the recruiter is the best person to speak to in order to find out their opinion of where you might want to improve your applicant status as far as your resume/cover letter is concerned. it doesn't hurt to ask a recruiter for advise.

with the holidays just around the corner, the availability of positions for new grads will be even slimmer. as we get closer to thanksgiving, most organizations wait until after the holidays (after the new year) to start posting new job openings.

there is a job out there for everyone. everyone just has to be patient. to all, good luck with your job hunting.

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I heard from my step mom who talked to someone while cleaning her teeth (she is a hygenist), that a cover letter is extremely important and that she suggested making sure it was appropriate and individualized for each job you apply for. This being said, I don't know who is was that she talked to, or what kind of status she has, I just got the tip relayed to me after she heard it, so take it as you will.

Bottom line: you never know who will or won't read it, and if by chance they read it, I want them to know as soon as they are finished that I am the right candidate and they have to meet me. I am waiting for a NICU internship position that I applied for with a very individualized cover letter, probably the best one I have ever written, and sent a personal note to the recruiter in a first class large envelop, I will let you know if it makes any difference.

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As far as having the nurse recruiter read it.....this may be a dumb question.....BUT is it better to e-mail them or hand it to them?!?!?! I'm actually planning on hitting up SEVERAL hospitals and giving my "portfolio" to a nurse recruiter, and was wondering what i should say....

Also for the cover letter, am i supposed to put the recruiters name, hospital name, address, and phone # at the top to make it look professional???? What if i don't know the recruiter's name??? Can i just put" nurse recruiter" and then "To Whom it May Concern?" ANY ADVICE?!?!?!?!? :imbar THANKS!!!

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nurse.

xnurse415...

no one can really say whether email is better than an inpromptu visit. some facilities only allow for email applications (to make sure you are in their "system")while others have no set stipulation. but, sometimes it is good to call ahead to find out the name of the nurse recuriter that handles new grads. recruiters are very busy and you may find that you are arriving at a time when they are conducting interviews, attending meetings, etc. keep in mind, that many facilities have more than one recruiter (new grads, critical care, etc.). if you can determine the name of the recruiter for your specific area, it would be good to place his/her name on the cover letter. otherwise, i would say to create/type a letter to the medical facility with an attention line: nurse recuriter - new graduate rns (something like that). the letter should be the same as other letters you prepare (identify yourself, highlight yourself/background using appropriate descriptives, identify your areas (units) of interest, etc.) while leaving a contact phone number/email address for yourself. if you are able to speak directly to a recruiter (sometimes hr reps are available also), in person, be prepared to really "sell yourself" in order to stand out ahead of others. get a business card from the recruiter and remember to keep in touch (weekly, bi-weekly, etc.) regarding possible job openings.

you're on the right track because you are taking extra steps--going the extra mile to show how eager you are to work.

good luck!! :up:

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