What Is the Purpose of a Cover Letter? Are they Necessary?

What is the purpose of a cover letter if your resume already lists your skills and experience? It gives the employer context your resume cannot, from why you want the role to how your background fits. This guide covers what a cover letter should do, how it works with your resume, and when it can make a real difference.

What Is the Purpose of a Cover Letter?

The main purpose of a cover letter is to introduce you to the employer, explain your interest in the position, and highlight the experience most relevant to the job. It is a short document sent with your resume as part of a job application.

A cover letter helps you:

• Introduce yourself to the employer
• Connect your experience to the job
• Show your motivation for applying
• Explain an employment gap or career change
• Show how well you communicate in writing

If you're wondering whether employers still care about cover letters, the short answer is that many do. A 2023 Resume Genius survey of 625 U.S. hiring managers found that 83% frequently or always read cover letters, while nearly half said a strong cover letter could persuade them to interview a candidate whose resume was otherwise weak.

So why is a cover letter important when your resume already lists your experience? Put simply, a good cover letter gives you another chance to make a strong first impression. It gives your experience context, shows why it matters for that particular position, and explains what makes you a good fit. It also gives you space to show your motivation, personality, and communication style.

But that does not mean every application needs a long letter or that sending a generic one will improve your chances. The key idea here is connection. Your resume gives the recruiter facts about where you worked, what you did, and what you achieved, while your cover letter explains why those facts matter for this position.

For example, a resume might say that you managed a customer support team and reduced response times by 30%. Your cover letter can explain how that experience prepared you to solve the service problems mentioned in the job description. The achievement is the same, but the letter makes its relevance clear.

Cover Letter vs. Resume: What Does Each One Do?

A cover letter and resume support the same goal, but they do different jobs. Your resume provides a structured summary of your professional background, while your cover letter explains why that background fits the specific job and helps the employer picture you in the role.

Keep in mind that your cover letter should not repeat your resume in sentence form because a recruiter shouldn't have to read the same job history twice. Instead, pick two or three things from your resume that are most relevant to the job and explain why they make you a good fit.

Imagine you are applying for a project manager role. Your resume may list five years of project experience, the software you use, and several completed projects. Your cover letter can then focus on one relevant example showing how you coordinated three teams, brought a delayed launch back on schedule, and how that experience could help the company grow.

Are Cover Letters Necessary in 2026?

Cover letters are not always required, but they are worth sending in most cases. If you are wondering, "Do I need a cover letter?" the answer is usually yes, unless the employer specifically tells you not to include one.

According to Greenhouse's 2026 Hiring Benchmarks, the average number of applications per job more than doubled in just three years, rising from 116 in 2022 to 244 in 2025. With nearly 250 people now competing for an average position, standing out has become much harder.

In other words, you need to use every opportunity to make a strong first impression on a recruiter, and a good cover letter is one of them. Some employers will ask for one directly. In those cases, leaving it out means submitting an incomplete application and could remove you from consideration before anyone reviews your experience.

But what if a cover letter is optional or not mentioned at all? In most cases, it is still worth sending one if you can write a relevant, tailored letter. The Resume Genius survey also found that 73% of hiring managers at companies that did not require cover letters still read them frequently, while 45% read the cover letter before the resume.

Make sure you include a cover letter when:

• The job posting requests or recommends one
• You have a strong reason for wanting that specific role
• You are changing careers or industries
• Your resume needs context, such as an employment gap or relocation
• You were referred by someone at the company
• The role depends heavily on communication or writing
• You are applying to a smaller company where cultural fit may matter more

You can skip it if the application system provides no place to upload one, the employer says not to send one, or you would only submit a generic paragraph that adds nothing to your application.

When a Cover Letter Makes the Biggest Difference

A cover letter is most valuable when the employer needs context that a standard resume cannot provide. Here are a few scenarios where they definitely make a difference:

When you are changing careers

If your previous job titles do not obviously match the role, use a cover letter to explain the connection. A teacher moving into customer success, for example, can highlight communication, training, conflict resolution, and the ability to explain complicated information clearly. Without that explanation, a recruiter may not see that you applied as a deliberate career move, but only your unrelated background.

When you have an employment gap

A Resume Genius survey found that 49% of hiring managers would consider interviewing an otherwise weak candidate if they submitted a strong cover letter. A cover letter also gives you space to explain gaps in your work history or provide context for a career change. You might say that you took time away for caregiving, health, study, relocation, or another personal reason and are now ready to return. However, keep the explanation short and move quickly to what you offer without sharing private details.

When you are relocating

If your address is far from the job, an employer may assume you applied accidentally or will expect relocation support. A sentence explaining that you are moving to the area, already have plans in place, or are applying for a remote role can remove any doubts.

When you have a referral or company connection

If someone at the company referred you, mention them near the beginning of your cover letter, but make sure you have their permission first. This gives the employer some useful context and makes your application feel more personal. You can also mention a previous conversation, an event you attended, or your experience with the company's product to show that your interest is genuine.

When several candidates have similar qualifications

In a close hiring decision, a good cover letter can tip the balance in your favor. Resume Genius found that large companies mainly use cover letters to get more information and context, while medium-sized employers often use them to get a better sense of a candidate's personality. This makes a cover letter especially useful for entry-level roles, where resumes can look very similar. It gives you a chance to show your motivation, communication style, and what makes you a better fit.

What a Good Cover Letter Includes

Keep in mind that, just like a good teaser in journalism, the best cover letters quickly give the reader a reason to keep reading. So, instead of retelling your entire career story, focus on a few strong reasons why you are a good fit and worth inviting to an interview.

A good cover letter is usually one page long and contains:

• An introduction naming the role and giving the employer a reason to keep reading
• One or two body paragraphs connecting your skills and achievements to the job
• A short explanation of why you want to work for that company
• A closing that expresses interest in discussing the role further

It should use evidence rather than general claims, make a clear connection to the employer, and sound professional while still sounding like you. For a more detailed breakdown, see this guide on what to include in a cover letter.

Write a Tailored Cover Letter Faster With AIApply

For most people, the hardest part of writing a cover letter is finding the time to write a new one for every application. Tailoring really does matter, but simply changing the company name is just not enough.

A cover letter generator can save you time by creating a focused first draft based on your experience and the job description. Instead of staring at a blank page, you get a complete structure that already connects your background to the role.

It can help you:

1. Spot the most important skills and requirements in the job posting
2. Choose the most relevant examples from your work history
3. Write a clear opening and organize the letter
4. Adjust your cover letter for different jobs more quickly
5. Avoid sending the same generic letter with every application

Still, do not send the first version without reading it. Check every claim, remove anything that does not sound like you, and add a few details that show you know something about the company. Think of AI as a starting point that can make tailoring much faster, but you still decide what stays, what changes, and whether the final letter sounds like you.

Here's how the process works with AIApply's Cover Letter Generator:

1. Add your information. Add your personal details, work history, key skills, and any relevant achievements. Be as complete and accurate as possible, since the tool uses this to write your letter, and never include anything you couldn't explain in an interview.
2. Add the job details. Enter the company name, job title, and full job description. Use the full description, not just the title, because the same role can differ a lot between companies.
3. Generate the cover letter. Let the tool organize everything into a draft for that specific role. Check that your strongest, most relevant experience appears near the beginning and that nothing is exaggerated or untrue.
4. Edit and personalize the draft. Remove anything repetitive, simplify awkward phrases, and add personal details AI wouldn't know. The final version should sound like you on a good day: clear, confident, and professional.

In simple terms, a good cover letter should answer three questions: Why this role? Why this company? And why are you the right person for the job? If your letter answers them with real examples, without simply repeating your resume, it has done its job. And you do not need to start with a blank page every time. Use AIApply's Cover Letter Generator to create a tailored first draft, then review it, add your own details, and make sure it sounds like you before sending it.

FAQs

Do Employers Actually Read Cover Letters?

Yes, many do. According to the Resume Genius survey, 83% of hiring managers said they frequently or always read cover letters, while 45% said they read the letter before the resume. Not every recruiter will read yours, but you have no way of knowing that before you apply.

Can a Cover Letter Hurt Your Application?

Yes, a generic or poorly written cover letter can hurt your application if it repeats your resume, contains errors, or makes claims you cannot support. A strong cover letter should add relevant context and show why you are interested in that specific role.

How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?

Most cover letters should fit on one page, or around 250 to 400 words. That gives you enough room for three or four short paragraphs without repeating your resume or adding details that are not relevant to the job.

Can I Use AI to Write My Cover Letter?

Yes, but treat it as a starting point. AI can analyze the job description, organize your experience, and create a tailored first draft. Before sending it, check every detail, add something specific about the company, and make sure the final version sounds like you. For more guidance, read Can Employers Tell If You Use AI for a Cover Letter?