Is a Cover Letter Required? Do They Matter in 2025?

A resume gives the hiring manager an understanding of your past experience and skills. However, in the cover letter, you provide more details about how you use those skills and how you can apply them to the company if they hire you. A cover letter bridges the gap between the resume and the hiring manager, allowing them to truly understand why you are a great candidate. Additionally, you can also include a call to action, which is actually asking the hiring manager to conduct an interview. A good job application includes both.

Plus, even if the hiring manager never reads the cover letter, it can still show that you care about the job. Just seeing that you’ve attached a cover letter to your application makes the hiring manager realize that you care enough to spend a few extra minutes writing and sending a cover letter.