Do you still need a cover letter?

The candid answer is that many recruiters at large companies never read cover letters, and applicant systems often bury them, so their expected value is lower than it used to be. But they still matter in specific cases: smaller organizations where a human reads every application, roles where the posting explicitly requires one, career changes where your resume does not obviously fit, employment gaps or relocations that benefit from context, and any situation where you have a genuine connection to the company or a referral to name. In those cases the letter does work no resume can.

If you write one, make it short and specific: three paragraphs, under a page, addressed to a real person where possible. Say what you are applying for and why this organization in particular, connect two or three of your most relevant accomplishments directly to what the posting asks for, and close with a clear statement of interest. What kills a cover letter is generic enthusiasm, restating the resume in prose, or a template with the company name swapped in, all of which read instantly and hurt more than omitting the letter. The practical approach: keep a strong base, then spend ten focused minutes tailoring it per application, and skip it entirely when the application marks it optional and you have nothing specific to say.