Cover Letter vs No Cover Letter: What Hiring Managers Really Think

The cover letter debate refuses to die. On one side, career advisors insist that a cover letter is essential for every application. On the other, job seekers see "optional" on the application form and interpret it as "do not bother." The truth, as usual, is more nuanced.

Here is what the data actually says, what hiring managers report in surveys, and a practical framework for deciding when a cover letter is worth your time and when it is not.

What the Numbers Say

The data on cover letter effectiveness paints an interesting picture:

A 2025 ResumeBuilder survey found that 65% of hiring managers consider cover letters important when evaluating candidates. That number has held relatively steady for the past three years.
However, only about 38% of hiring managers said they always read the cover letter. The rest read them selectively, usually when they are deciding between shortlisted candidates.
Applications that include a tailored cover letter receive 50% more interview callbacks compared to those without one, according to aggregated hiring platform data.
The critical word is "tailored." Generic cover letters that could apply to any company provide almost no advantage over submitting none at all.

So the answer is not simply "always write one" or "never bother." It depends on context.

When You Should Always Write a Cover Letter

1. When the job posting explicitly asks for one

This seems obvious, but a surprising number of applicants skip it anyway. If the employer requests a cover letter, not including one signals that you either did not read the posting carefully or you are unwilling to put in effort. Both are disqualifying impressions.

2. When you are changing careers or industries

A resume alone cannot explain why a marketing manager is applying for a product management role. A cover letter lets you connect the dots between your past experience and the new direction. This is where the cover letter has the most power: it provides narrative context that a resume cannot.

3. When you have a connection at the company

If someone referred you, the cover letter is where you mention it. "Sarah Chen on your engineering team suggested I apply" immediately elevates your application. Burying a referral name in a resume is awkward; the cover letter is the natural place for it.

4. When you are applying to a small or mid-size company

At companies with fewer than 500 employees, your application is more likely to be read by a hiring manager or founder rather than processed through layers of ATS filtering. These readers are more likely to value a well-written cover letter because they are making more personal hiring decisions.

5. When you need to address something unusual

Employment gaps, relocation plans, visa requirements, or overqualification are all better addressed proactively in a cover letter than left as question marks on your resume. A brief, honest explanation prevents the hiring manager from filling in the blanks with assumptions.

When You Can Probably Skip It

1. When the application system has no upload field for it

If the employer has not provided a way to submit a cover letter, they have made their preference clear. Forcing one into a resume PDF or pasting it into a general notes field often comes across as tone-deaf rather than enthusiastic.

2. When you are applying through a quick-apply system

LinkedIn Easy Apply, Indeed's one-click apply, and similar systems are designed for volume. Employers using these tools expect to evaluate candidates primarily on their resume and profile. A cover letter in this context is usually not read.

3. When the posting says "no cover letter needed"

Some companies explicitly state this. Respect it. Sending one anyway can suggest you do not follow instructions.

4. When you are in a high-volume technical field

Software engineering, data science, and similar technical roles at large companies often focus on resumes, portfolios, and assessments rather than cover letters. Many engineering hiring managers have publicly stated they do not read them. That said, a strong cover letter for a startup engineering role can still differentiate you.

What Makes a Cover Letter Actually Good

If you are going to write a cover letter, a mediocre one is barely better than none. Here is what separates effective cover letters from the ones that get skimmed and forgotten:

Lead with specificity, not platitudes

Compare these two opening lines:

"I am excited to apply for the Marketing Manager position at your esteemed company." -- This tells the reader nothing. Every applicant is "excited." Every company is "esteemed" in their own cover letters.
"Your Q3 product-led growth campaign caught my attention because I led a similar initiative at Acme Corp that increased trial-to-paid conversion by 34%." -- This immediately demonstrates that you have done research, you have relevant experience, and you can quantify your impact.

Answer the question "Why this company?"

Hiring managers report that the most compelling cover letters demonstrate genuine interest in the specific company, not just the role. Reference a recent product launch, company value, market position, or news item. This takes five minutes of research and puts you ahead of 90% of applicants.

Match your qualifications to their top three needs

Read the job description and identify the three most important requirements. Your cover letter should directly address how you meet each one, with brief evidence. Do not summarize your entire career. Focus on what they specifically asked for.

Keep it under 300 words

The ideal cover letter is three to four short paragraphs that fit on half a page. Hiring managers spend an average of 30 seconds on a cover letter. Respect their time. Every sentence should earn its place.

Close with a specific next step

"I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience scaling B2B SaaS marketing teams could support your growth targets" is better than "I look forward to hearing from you." Be specific about what you bring to the conversation.

The "Tailored" Requirement Is Non-Negotiable

The single biggest mistake job seekers make with cover letters is using a template and swapping out the company name. Hiring managers can spot this instantly, and it does more harm than good. A generic cover letter signals low effort, which is worse than signaling nothing at all.

Every cover letter you send should reference:

The specific company name and role
At least one detail about the company that shows genuine research
Two to three qualifications directly pulled from the job description
A concrete result or achievement relevant to their needs

This sounds time-consuming, and it is, which is exactly why it works. The applicants willing to invest 20 minutes in a tailored cover letter are self-selecting into a more competitive pool.

A Practical Decision Framework

Before each application, ask yourself these three questions:

Does the posting request or accept a cover letter? If yes, write one. If no, skip it.
Do you have something specific to say that your resume cannot convey? Career changes, referrals, and unique circumstances warrant a cover letter. If your resume tells the full story, a cover letter may be redundant.
Can you write something genuinely tailored in 20 minutes or less? If you know the company and the role well enough to write something specific quickly, do it. If you would be forcing generic content, your time is better spent on another application.

The Bottom Line

Cover letters are not dead, but generic ones might as well be. The data is clear: a tailored cover letter improves your chances. A generic one wastes everyone's time. The decision is not really "cover letter vs. no cover letter." It is "can I write something specific and compelling for this particular role?"

Resume Studio generates tailored cover letters from job descriptions in seconds, giving you a strong first draft that addresses the employer's specific requirements -- try it free and put the cover letter debate to rest for your next application.