Whether you’re writing a cover letter for a data scientist or marketing manager position, an internship or a senior-level role, a startup or a Fortune 500 company, you’re going to want to tailor it to the role, company, and culture. “In a cover letter you have an opportunity to craft a narrative that aligns you not only with the position you’re applying to but also the company you’re applying to.” “When you’re writing a resume you’re oftentimes confined by space, by resume speak, by keywords-you’re up against a lot of technical requirements,” says Melody Godfred, a career coach and the founder of Write in Color who’s read thousands of cover letters over the course of her career. But you’re truly doing yourself a disservice by not including a cover letter (or by writing one that’s super generic or formulaic).
I bet when you see a job listing that says “ cover letter optional,” you breathe a sigh of relief, gleefully submit your resume, and move on.
