Should I include a cover letter with my resume?

The answer is, "Yes!"

While most career advisors agree that you should always send a cover letter with your resume, some don't agree that employers read it first. Instead, employers may read your resume first, then your cover letter if they're still interested. But, regardless of when they read it, most employers expect you to include one with your resume. It's been a standard practice and makes you appear to be a knowledgeable professional.

Your cover letter is a significant part of your resume, and a good one can make you stand out among competing candidates. No matter how hard you try, it's difficult to make your resume stand out among those that list similar qualifications.   That's where cover letters come into play. They allow you to better target specific employers and their job descriptions. Unlike in your resume, you may write in complete sentences and more easily personalize your cover letter.

Your resume is a summary of your qualifications, but your cover letters are your sales pitches to employers. If you've done your homework and written them well, your cover letters:

• Properly introduce you
  
• Highlight your most relevant qualifications
  
• Explain what your resume can't
  
• Show that you've researched the company in question
  
• Demonstrate your written communication skills
  
• Convince the employer to grant you an interview