Am I wasting my time by writing a cover letter for job application?
With this in mind, Dr D., senior lecturer in management and leadership at RMIT University. I asked Andrew Dhaenens your question. He said he felt sorry for you, noting that modern job searches are extremely frustrating for applicants. But despite major technological changes, he said “the fundamental elements of good practice are the same as they have always been”.
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“Can you show quickly and concisely that you tick the boxes skills-wise, know the right people and demonstrate the right attitudes? After all, employers will almost always hire the best candidate they can afford.”
But Dhaenens underlined the importance of “connecting with the right people.” The unfortunate truth is that after the hiring team checked the skills boxes and found no obvious standout trait, they moved on to the next differentiator. And he says it often comes down to whether a candidate is recommended or known beyond their application.
As for whether your cover letter covers the right things, Dhaenens said a good letter focuses on “rapport and connection.”
“What values do you bring to your job? How do you know you’ll be successful in this role? Who do you know who will support you in this job? These are the qualities that secure interviews and get offers.”
I know you haven’t done this, but Dhaenens also strongly recommended against using AI to write your letter. While what he produces may seem tidy at first glance, he said, “it carries a certain tone that hiring managers will quickly recognize and get bored of reading.”
My guess is that the problem is not with your letter. You may want to change what you say based on the advice above, but I’m pretty sure you won’t be ignored just because your cover letter doesn’t achieve its purpose.
And there seems to be absolutely nothing wrong with your resume. I think what you’re facing is what many people looking for a new job face: a working world where the courtesy of putting time and thought into an application is rarely reciprocated.
Send your Work Therapy questions to jonathan@theinkbureau.com.au.
