As the job application process increasingly moves online, some job seekers might be tempted to think a formal cover letter is no longer necessary - not so, a new survey suggests. According to the study, conducted by an independent research firm and developed by OfficeTeam, a staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals, 86% of executives claim cover letters are valuable when evaluating job candidates. Moreover, eight out of 10 managers say it is common to receive electronic resumes accompanied by cover letters. Of the executives surveyed, when asked about the worth of a cover letter accompanying a prospective job candidate's resume, 63% claim somewhat valuable, 23% state very valuable, and 14% indicate not valuable at all. It is interesting to note that when a resume is sent electronically, 43% claim it is somewhat common for it to be accompanied by a letter of introduction or cover letter, 37% say it is very common, 18% suggest it is not common at all, and 2% don't know. "Submitting a resume without a cover letter is like not shaking hands when meeting someone for the first time," says Dave Willmer, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Those who aren't including cover letters with their resumes are missing an opportunity to make a good first impression and set themselves apart from other job applicants." Willmer further adds that, "A cover letter should demonstrate the applicant's knowledge of the company, highlight applicable skills and work experience, and explain any resume anomalies, such as extended employment gaps."

As the job application process increasingly moves online, some job seekers might be tempted to think a formal cover letter is no longer necessary - not so, a new survey suggests. According to the study, conducted by an independent research firm and developed by OfficeTeam, a staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals, 86% of executives claim cover letters are valuable when evaluating job candidates. Moreover, eight out of 10 managers say it is common to receive electronic resumes accompanied by cover letters. Of the executives surveyed, when asked about the worth of a cover letter accompanying a prospective job candidate's resume, 63% claim somewhat valuable, 23% state very valuable, and 14% indicate not valuable at all. It is interesting to note that when a resume is sent electronically, 43% claim it is somewhat common for it to be accompanied by a letter of introduction or cover letter, 37% say it is very common, 18% suggest it is not common at all, and 2% don't know. "Submitting a resume without a cover letter is like not shaking hands when meeting someone for the first time," says Dave Willmer, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Those who aren't including cover letters with their resumes are missing an opportunity to make a good first impression and set themselves apart from other job applicants." Willmer further adds that, "A cover letter should demonstrate the applicant's knowledge of the company, highlight applicable skills and work experience, and explain any resume anomalies, such as extended employment gaps."

Article courtesy of Kennedy Information Recruiting Trends providing leading edge insights and strategies for the recruiting professional