Job application cover letter

[pete6032]

I'm applying for a corporate job and it has two upload areas. One is for a resume, the other just says "Upload any additional attachments." This is an architecture firm but it is not an architecture related position. I'm assuming this additional attachments upload is for people to upload sample work portfolios, which does not apply to this job I'm applying for. It does not mention submitting a cover letter anywhere in the job description. Should I write a cover letter and submit one in the additional uploads or not?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I would, along with portfolio samples and letters of reference.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I wouldn't. Unless it asks for something specific, I won't give them anything specific. Same with references, I'll pull some together if you actually request some. In the 3 jobs I've had thus far no one has asked for anything outside of a job application and a resume.

Actually, I take that back... one employer I was applying for asked me for college transcripts once... Before I could even supply them (since I didn't have any) they had already turned me down though. That was also when I had < 2 years of work experience under my belt. I doubt that will happen now.

 

[NutBucket]

My employer doesn't ask for references anymore. We will verify prior employment at most.

Anyone can find a few schmucks to say they're awesome...

 

[lxskllr]

I'd upload some memes. Everyone likes memes.

 

[deadlyapp]

Cover letter maybe if you feel the need to justify your resume. I rarely will do a cover letter. Don't upload anything other than that.

 

[zinfamous]

I'd upload some memes. Everyone likes memes.

 

[Platypus]

I would always recommend including a cover letter for every job you apply to, personally.

It gives the reader a sense of why you want to work there and a small area to express a bit of your own personality.

<--- Someone who has read countless resumes and given countless interviews.

 

[NutBucket]

I think a cover letter is good since a resume just tells me facts. Case in point, an intern I have (but didn't hire as I've not been a manager very long) has a resume that says he lots of systems engineering experience. At face value, I don't have a lot of need for that. Now that he's here I find out he has lots of other skills and interests I do need. The previous work experience was because his dad hooked him up a bit.

Hopefully the cover letter tells me more about interests and other skills that aren't necessarily reflected as "work experience".

 

[Ns1]

Good Cover Letter > No Cover Letter > Bad Cover Letter

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I would always recommend including a cover letter for every job you apply to, personally.

It gives the reader a sense of why you want to work there and a small area to express a bit of your own personality.

<--- Someone who has read countless resumes and given countless interviews.

Isn't that what the interview is for though? Anyone can put text on a piece of paper that makes it sound like you're excited for a job. The truth comes out more in-person IMO and really shows you a person's character.

I refuse to write a cover letter - or do anything other than filling out the application and supplying my resume. Albeit, I'm not where I used to be out of college... what used to be "tell me why I should hire you?" has now been flipped to me basically saying "Tell me why I should go with you?" It's nice having skills that are in demand that never seem to get filled - mostly because no one wants to study my field.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It's actually for a sample TPS report. With cover letter of course. You will need to review the job posting and find the memo attached.

 

[Exterous]

I would always recommend including a cover letter for every job you apply to, personally.

It gives the reader a sense of why you want to work there and a small area to express a bit of your own personality.

<--- Someone who has read countless resumes and given countless interviews.

Yeah I always submit one. It also makes it easy to see who put even a little bit of effort into applying for the job

Isn't that what the interview is for though?

The cover letter is to help you get to the interview. (or maybe not if its terrible)

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Last two times I did job searching in the realm of IT went like this:
1) Sign up for four or five different job board systems, giving them permission over my personal/professional information.
2) Sift through hundreds of job postings for ones that are either specific enough that they applied to me, or general enough that they could have applied to me.
3a) (~50% of the time) sign up for every companies' internal job board system as well
3b) fill out an application system for the job, using about 90% of the information that exists within my resume. Attach resume.
4) (10% of the time) get a call back. Talk with recruiter/hr drone, feeding them the same information that was in the resume, AND the job application system.
5) get told offer of about 50% under targeted salary.
6) repeat steps 2-6 for a year until appropriate job opens up.

So yeah, screw cover letters. I'll start doing cover letters when the job application process isn't wasting hundreds of hours of my own time.

 

[purbeast0]

If places ask me for references on a job application, I immediately close the window and don't apply for a job there.

 

[Herr Kutz]

My employer doesn't ask for references anymore. We will verify prior employment at most.

Anyone can find a few schmucks to say they're awesome...

For the last job I applied and interviewed for, the company asked for 5 references. I supplied 5 reference around my level, but the company wanted me to get supervisor references. I'm still at my first (real) job so that would mean asking my current boss to be a reference. Hiring managers are often out of touch with reality.