Too little added value: recruiters also accept applications without a cover letter

Every second Swiss manager accepts applications without a cover letter. This is shown by a current labor market study for which the personnel service provider Robert Half surveyed 200 managers in Switzerland.

Cover letters provide too little added value

Of those respondents who can do without cover letters, just under half (48 %) criticize their lack of expressiveness. 40 % consider cover letters to be very subjective. One in three respondents misses supplementary details on the resume. Nearly one in five doesn't have time to read the cover letter. "HR decision-makers expect a cover letter to provide a more comprehensive picture of the candidate, as well as demonstrate personal strengths and motivation," explains Yeng Chow, senior manager at Robert Half in Zurich. "From our experience, the interview is better suited for this. That's why we ourselves don't ask for a cover letter and get a personal impression in individual get-to-know-you interviews. That may sound time-consuming. In the end, it speeds up the recruiting process and avoids unnecessary productivity losses."

What really matters in the cover letter

Despite declining relevance, 40 % of respondents still consider a cover letter relevant. More than half (53 %) of those in favor believe cover letters convey a more comprehensive picture of the applicant. 38 % see it as a demonstration of the candidate's creativity, and the same number appreciate in the cover letter that motivation and interest emerge from it.

Tips for the right cover letter for job applications

"As a general rule, applicants should carefully craft cover letters and include information that complements the resume. References from former employers are also very welcome," says Yeng Chow. The following tips help to showcase your skills in the best possible way:

1. Don't simply list your professional stations - you've already done that in your resume. Instead, you should go into the job's requirements profile and show why you are suitable. List specific competencies that you have acquired in your career to date and that will help you master upcoming tasks.
2. Have your achievements confirmed by former superiors or even former colleagues (who ideally are now managers themselves) instead of just using work references. These references underpin the credibility of your statements and thus also counteract the frequently voiced criticism that cover letters are too subjective.
3. Recruiters have little time. Therefore, do not write more than one page and use an individual introduction to arouse interest. The best thing to do is to call the responsible HR manager in advance and find out more about the job requirements. This shows commitment and can be used as a hook in the cover letter.

Source: Robert Half