Candidates are increasingly taking less care with their cover letter and its relevance in the recruiting process has been called into question. Result: there is no denying that the cover letter has lost its glow. But is it really obsolete? Canadian recruiters weigh in.
Not without my cover letter!
According to Nadia Ciani, Vice President of Human Resources and Communications for Manpower Canada, the cover letter has and will continue to have a role in the recruiting process. “The cover letter is just as important as the CV; it lets you see if the candidate is suitable for the job and to gauge his or her level of interest. To do that, you determine the care taken with the cover letter. It’s an excellent clue for recruiters,” she explains.
Michael McGrath, head of Drake International in Toronto, concurs: “Cover letters are always very useful for an overview of a candidate’s skills, especially if the position requires writing a lot of e-mails.”
Moreover, “The cover letter is a necessary support for some recruiting decisions,” say Lori Pitre, Corporate Affairs and HR Manager, Recruitment at Kraft.
Different strokes for different folks
The cover letter is often used to choose between two identical CVs or to clear up certain points. Its use also changes from one recruiter to another, however. For Drake International’s Michael McGrath, the cover letter that accompanies the CV is central to recruiting. “We ask candidates to include a cover letter with the CV at the very beginning of the process,” he explains.
Kraft specifically asks for cover letters from new graduates. “Young people have CVs that reveal little. Cover letters let them stand out from the crowd and communicate their ambitions,” explain Lori Pitre. “Cover letters are optional in the recruitment of experienced candidates. In these cases, it’s the CV and experience that matter,” adding, “The career path and job responsibilities outlined on a CV tell us a lot about a candidate’s will. Even though the candidate has a relevant experience then we might review the cover letter. Every case is different”
No more cover letters?
Well, not quite. Some recruiters like to find a balance between cover letters and determining the right fit within the organization. This applies to the corporate recruiting team at Best Buy Canada Ltd. According to Cylena Stern, Talent Branding Analyst for Best Buy Canada Ltd: “cover letters are not mandatory for the initial stage of the application process“, she explains. Instead, a simple and focused paragraph of introduction on your resume suffices. “If the introductory paragraph and resume catch our eye and their suitability comes through as a result, we give the applicant a call”, she adds. According to this employment professional, nothing does the job as well as a quick call: “If a resume matches an opening and we want to understand the candidate’s motivations, a phone conversation goes a long way. We always make decisions after interviewing the candidates and confirming their skills.”, she says. Bottom line: The Best Buy Canada Ltd. team find it advantageous to focus on the candidate’s ability to succinctly communicate their abilities and potential through a resume and then over the phone. “Cover letters may be reviewed by the hiring manager later in the process, but it’s how you use brevity to portray yourself in today’s fast-paced environment, that really sets you apart from the crowd”, adds Cylena Stern.