I've been wondering about this myself. Is there any point in adding a cover letter to Indeed/Linkedin applications if they aren't required? I'll happily do them if they help me stand out, but I'd rather not waste my time.

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There is a lot of debate about Cover Letters (and thank you emails) on Fishbowl. The general consensus is "anything that can move the needle in your favor - even a little - is worth doing." The idea being that if you do enough of those small things it makes a big difference. Of course, EVERYONE is doing that and so how much it makes you stand out is questionable. And, with systems like ATS and AI screening, it is questionable if anyone even reads cover letters any more.

In the end, I include Cover Pages with most applications because 'why not.' But, when I've been part of a hiring team I never saw a cover page (nor a thank you email) influence the hiring decision.

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I've been in TA for 15 years, and I never "dinged" anyone for now having a CL. Tradition says that you scan the resume, and read the CL...but I think that is an obsolete way of thinking. Just have a clear, concise and WELL-FORMATTED resume and you should be fine! Just remember the best practices for resume building. BEST OF LUCK!

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I've never relied on a cover letter to hire.
However maybe dependent on the role and the job ad.

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Including cover letters and sending thank yous can be important and has influenced my hiring decision, especially if writing, and even client relations, is an important component of the job.

With AI-generated content, including cover letters, it's harder to discern the skill level. Some people know how to use the tools now and some people still don't. There are certain words, phrases, and structures that the AI tools insist on using repeatedly, so once you see it a lot, you can spot those letters right away.

How badly do you want the job and how much time do you have are factors to consider.

Same here with me maybe it's wasting ⏲️ time.

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