Job search 101 – What is the purpose of a cover letter?

It’s hard enough to get your resume is tip-top shape for submission, but more and more, employers are expecting cover letters to be submitted for application as well. If all of the highlights of your career are listed neatly on your resume, what’s the purpose of having a cover letter?

From an employer’s perspective, a cover letter can help them gain insight into a candidate that a resume cannot. While a resume is usually just a list of accomplishments, a cover letter is drafted in paragraph format, better showcasing a candidate’s personality. It also allows an employer to see nuances in grammar and punctuation that a resume may not display. The more information an employer has for a candidate, the easier it becomes for them to decide if they’d like to move forward with the interview process.

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