I want to talk a little about cover letters.

I have to admit that I have a bias against them.  It has been my experience that most employers do not read them.

I can assure you that of all the employment application packages I received during my career, I almost never read an accompanying cover letter.  Why not?  I did not read them because I simply did not have the time.  Think about this; within two days of placing an ad in the Sunday Los Angeles Times newspaper, I would receive over fifteen hundred (1,500) résumés to review.  Do you really think anyone is going to read 1,500 cover letters?  In my opinion, absolutely not.

It has been said, and I concur, that most employers in large urban areas will give a résumé no more than two minutes of their time.  Frankly, I think it is much less.  There were times when I would give a résumé less than 30 seconds to impress me.  The ones that did, received a callback and the ones that did not, would be tossed aside without a second glance.

I am not trying to discourage you.  I am simply trying to paint a realistic picture for you to see.  I want you to understand what you’re facing out there.  It is important to me that you know the unyielding and sometimes brutal truth.  If you are going to play to win (and for me there is no other way to play), then you must know the rules of the game.  In order to succeed you must accept the unwritten laws of competition as well as the written.

Of course, if an employer requests a cover letter, then by all means provide one; otherwise, do not waste your time.

Personally, I only submit cover letters when (1) the company requests it, (2) the company is small, and (3) I feel the need to provide specific employment information that is not appropriate for my résumé.

The road is long but you and I will walk down it, together.

Mark