Ask an HR Supervisor with Donnella - Do You Need a Cover Letter When Applying for Jobs?

Dear Donnella, I am applying for jobs after many years of being out of the workforce. Is a cover letter relevant anymore?  thanks, Taylor A - Somerset County.

Donnella's response

Yes and No - A cover letter is a nice way to introduce yourself and your skills to a potential employer, especially if they are manually reviewing candidates' submissions. In order to determine if you can write well, determine your personality, and measure your creativity in sharing your skills beyond listing your experience on your resume, many companies may request this if you are applying online. My clients always ask me to write cover letters for them; however, for some of them, a cover letter is not necessary - especially if they already have a contact.