The quick answer to whether or not you should add a cover letter is yes. Even if it is not necessary, you should nearly always submit a cover letter, although there are a few exceptions. First, consider why cover letters are important. A cover letter is your first chance to make a good impression on the reader of your resume. They can tell you more about you than what's in your resume, which makes them very valuable. Also, cover letters are often the only way to get information about jobs that do not post their details online. Finally, even if you do not need to include a cover letter for every job you apply with, it is advisable to do so. If you fail to follow this practice, you may end up applying for jobs that are not a good fit for you.
Now that we've covered the main reason why you should include a cover letter, let's look at some other reasons why they are useful. A cover letter allows you to explain yourself better than simply through using keywords in your resume. This can be especially important if you are applying for jobs that require a personal interview.
Finally, a cover letter is a great way to keep track of applications you send out. This is particularly important if you are applying with several different companies and you want to make sure that you do not miss any opportunities.
A cover letter is frequently required when submitting an article to a publication. The cover letter should describe why your work is appropriate for their publication and why the journal's readers would be interested in it. It may also include information about you as a person (such as any awards you have received). Your cover letter should not be longer than one page. If they want more, then they can ask you for another manuscript.
The cover letter is the first thing editors will see when reviewing your article. Therefore, it is important that you write a clear and concise cover letter that accurately describes your article. Cover letters are usually included with the submission packet so simply insert your own cover letter into the body of the email.
It is advisable to follow some general rules while writing your cover letter:
Ensure that your name and address are printed on the top left hand corner of the page. This allows the editor to contact you if necessary.
Include the address of the journal in your letter. Some journals have separate addresses for correspondence while others do not. However, it is always best to check with the journal before sending your letter through the postal system. They may have changed their policy since last time you sent something in!
Include the word "Cover" in the subject line of your email.
A cover letter should be included with your resume and should provide a brief synopsis of the position you're looking for as well as your qualifications. It should help you advance your accomplishments, skills, and practicalities. This document is an opportunity for you to explain why you are a good fit for the job.
Include your contact information on the cover letter so that the employer can get in touch with you if they have any questions about you or the position. You should also include different opportunities within the company for which you're applying.
Finally, be sure to follow up after sending out applications. If you don't hear back from the company then it's okay to call or send another application.
A cover letter that goes with a submission to a journal or magazine might be brief and straightforward. Indicate that you're submitting the work for consideration, but don't say anything about it. In these cases, you should submit the story, essay, or poetry, as well as a cover letter. If there's a particular topic you'd like the editor to consider, include that in your cover letter too.
For example, let's say you're writing to submit an article on saving water while living in a desert city. Your cover letter could simply state: "I'm enclosing an article on saving water while living in a desert city," and leave it at that. There was no need for you to explain each aspect of your article or why this topic would be interesting to this particular publisher.
However, if your cover letter were to be used as part of a packet to submit to a publisher or organization, then you would want to include more information than just your article's title. For example, you could mention in your cover letter that the city where you live is facing serious water shortages and that your idea is to reduce consumption by only allowing residents to use up to 50 gallons of water per day. The editor would know what kind of article they wanted to see submitted and would make their decision based on that information.