Cracking the Tech Career: Insider Advice on Landing a Job at Google, Microsoft, Apple, or any Top Tech Company

6Cover Letters

Back in the days of typewriters and snail mail, cover letters were nearly as widespread as resumes. Candidates dutifully banged out a custom note, affixed their resume, and sent them off in a stamped and sealed envelope.

With virtually all resumes submitted electronically nowadays, cover letters are often optional. In fact, many job seekers say that they haven't ever had to write one.

That's probably not entirely true, though. Your first e-mail reaching out to a recruiter or potential referrer is essentially a cover letter. Your cover letter is a key marketing document; a strong cover letter will make someone open up your resume to learn more.

Why a Cover Letter?

Many job seekers don't understand why companies value cover letters. After all, your resume already describes your background. Why require another document that just repeats this information?

A good cover letter, though, can serve a number of purposes. First, it builds a case for yourself about why you are a good match for the position, rather than making the recruiter evaluate your background with respect to the job position. Second, it offers context and color to the drab, factual list of accomplishments on your resume—explaining the why not just the what. Third, it lets you explain why you want the job—something that a resume just can't do. Fourth, it provides a writing sample, and writing is valuable for almost all professions.

Understanding these goals can help you perfect your cover letter.