Ask a Resume Writer: Should I Submit a Cover Letter if It’s Optional?

Does anyone really like writing cover letters? After spending hours on your resume and filling in countless fields in an online application, summoning the energy to write a cover letter can feel impossible – especially if you’ve heard that recruiters rarely even read them.

Furthermore, when searching for jobs, you may come across an ad that either doesn’t mention cover letters or says, “cover letter optional.” In that case, it’s fine to skip the cover letter altogether, right?

In our What Candidates Want: 2023 Job Seeker Report, a surprising 25% of candidates who answered our survey said they “always” include a cover letter, even if the job posting said it is optional. Should you follow suit and take the time to write a cover letter if it’s not required? We asked Jenna Sylvester, Certified Resume Writer at iHire, to weigh in with their thoughts.

Should I Send a Cover Letter if It’s Not Required?

“Yes! I realize it takes time to write a cover letter, but it’s worth it if you really want the job,” advised Sylvester. “If you have an opportunity outside of your resume to further promote yourself as the right fit, you should take it. Plus, you can showcase more of your personality in your cover letter.”

You can also include certain types of information in your cover letter that wouldn’t normally go on your resume, such as your willingness to relocate, if you were referred by someone who works at the company, or a memorable personal anecdote.

When you take the time to write a tailored cover letter, you also show that you’re genuinely interested in the job and not mass-applying to openings without much thought. In your cover letter, you can zero in on your specific skills and experience that align with the job and make that information the core focus.

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“When you see ‘cover letter optional’ in a job ad, consider it an opportunity to shine, not an excuse to skip it entirely,” added Sylvester. “If you send in a cover letter and no one else does, you’ll stand out. The employer may have made cover letters optional as a way to gauge how serious their applicants are about the open position, too.”

If the job ad doesn’t mention anything about cover letters, it’s safe to assume they are optional, and you should include one. If the job ad explicitly says not to include a cover letter, be sure to follow directions (otherwise, you may stand out for the wrong reasons).

Providing a Cover Letter When Optional

If a cover letter is optional, is there a certain way you should go about writing it?

“Follow best practices when submitting an optional cover letter, just as you would if it were required. Tailor it to the job you’re applying for, highlight your most relevant skills and experience, and most importantly, keep it brief!” Sylvester recommended. “Three short paragraphs should do the trick.”

Don’t simply copy and paste parts of your resume into your cover letter, either. Again, this is an additional opportunity to promote yourself and tell employers why they should hire you for the job.

Ready to write a cover letter that impresses hiring managers? Get even more expert advice in our Resource Center, or let our team of certified resume writers create one for you.