Overview

Here are some notes I took while watching Mayuko’s video on whether cover letters are worth it for software engineering jobs.

Probably Not Worth It

  • Cover letters are not that valued in the tech industry.
  • Recruiters are not going to take the time to thoroughly read it.
    • They want to higher the best people as quickly as possible
  • Operate of the assumption that recruiters and hiring teams will not look at a cover letter
  • The resume should tell recruiters everything they need to know
  • Caveat:
    • Resumes don’t always give the full picture
      • Example: Gaps in employment
  • It depends on the specific company whether it is important to communicate the things that would normally go in a cover letter.
    • Example: It can be very important to startups whether the mission resonates with you
  • It is less important for larger companies where their brand and values are established and well known
  • Do your research on companies of interest to get a better idea of what they are looking for
  • Hiring platforms
    • provide an opportunity to showcase who you are
    • Put effort into the about me sections
      • include different hobbies that you are interested in
      • bring in recommendations
  • Make sure grammar is on point
    • Grammar is used to weed out candidates early on
  • Make sure the writing flows and is consistent with the resume
  • The strongest way to get your foot in the door is through an inside referral.
    • Research and reach out

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