How often do employers read cover letters?

How important is a cover letter? A cover letter is important as about 26\% of recruiters read cover letters and consider them critical in their decision to hire. Another study on employer preference suggests that 56\% want applicants to attach a cover letter to the resume.

Do interviewers read cover letters?

Most HR professionals admit that cover letters don’t affect their decision to interview candidates. And while the small minority of recruiters who do read cover letters feel that they offer insight into the candidate’s ability to write, that flies in the face of reality.

How long do recruiters read cover letters?

Sara Brooke, a recruiter at Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) in Nashville, Tennessee, confirms what you suspect: Recruiters don’t read cover letters and hiring managers don’t have time to—they only spend six seconds reading your resume as it is.

Do hiring managers read cover letters first?

“According to the 2016 Recruiter Nation Report by recruitment software provider Jobvite, 74 percent of recruiters do not consider cover letters important in their decision to hire an applicant. The paradox is that even though they might not always read cover letters, most hiring managers always want them.

How much time do recruiters spend reading a resume?

six to seven seconds
On average, employers look at resumes for six to seven seconds. However, the amount of time that an employer spends looking at a resume varies from company to company. Some employers may thoroughly scan a resume, while others may scan it for only a few seconds.

What is the average review time for a cover letter by a potential employer?

The average length of time it takes to hear back is one to two weeks or around 10-14 days after you submit your application materials.

Is 400 words too long for a cover letter?

The ideal cover letter should typically be between 250 and 400 words. This way, you can keep the letter brief and informative at the same time. However, employers have different requirements, so it’s difficult to recommend a standard word count for cover letters.

How often do recruiters require cover letters?

For jobs with a direct application process (for instance through an email), a cover letter is required 64\% of the time. For vacancies advertised via automated online tools (e.g. job boards such as Indeed, or internal career sites), 61\% recruiters require cover letters.

Should you include a cover letter in an application?

Summary. Perhaps the most challenging part of the job application process is writing an effective cover letter. And yes, you should send one. Even if only one in two cover letters gets read, that’s still a 50\% chance that including one could help you. Before you start… No one likes job hunting.

How long should a cover letter be for an apprentice?

This document accompanies your cover letter and should be kept to a maximum of one page (200 to 400 words). While your resume has dedicated sections for your experience, education and skills, your cover letter allows you to discuss only the most relevant and convincing reasons why you’d make a great apprentice.

Are cover letters still mandatory in 2021?

72\% of recruiters still expect cover letters even if the job ad states they’re optional. In other words, that “optional” cover letter is pretty much mandatory in 2021. So… Why is a cover letter so important?