The Cover Letter Is Dead. Top Candidates Are Doing This Instead.
Nobody reads cover letters anymore. Here’s what actually moves the needle in 2026 — and how top candidates are standing out without writing a single cover letter.
Posted by
ApplyRocket Team
Job Search Experts
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You spend 45 minutes crafting a thoughtful cover letter. You send it with your application. The recruiter opens your resume. The cover letter? Never opened.
This is the uncomfortable reality: most cover letters are never read. And yet candidates keep writing them, keep spending hours on them, keep treating them as a secret weapon that will get them the interview.
The Data on Cover Letters
A survey of over 1,000 hiring managers found that nearly half rarely or never read cover letters in the initial screen. They use the resume to qualify, and only pull up the cover letter for candidates already in the “maybe” pile.
That means your cover letter has almost no chance of getting you into the pile. It can only help or hurt you once you’re already in it.
What Top Candidates Do Instead
1. A Ruthlessly Tailored Resume
While most candidates are writing a generic cover letter, the best candidates are spending that time tailoring their resume for the specific posting. A resume that mirrors the job description’s language, highlights the most relevant experience, and leads with role-specific results converts at dramatically higher rates than a generic resume plus a cover letter.
2. A LinkedIn Connection + Note
Find the hiring manager or recruiter on LinkedIn. Send a connection request with a brief, personalized note: “Hi [Name] — I just applied for [Role] and wanted to connect. Really excited about what [Company] is building in [area].” This creates a touchpoint that most applicants never create.
3. A 60-Second Video Intro
Some candidates are attaching a 60-second Loom video in place of a cover letter. It shows communication skills, personality, and preparation in a way text never can. Not every company will watch it — but the ones who do will remember you.
4. A Value-First Portfolio
For creative, marketing, or technical roles, a curated portfolio link does more than any cover letter. Not your entire portfolio — a specific 2-3 examples most relevant to the company’s challenges. If you’re applying to a fintech startup, lead with your fintech work.
5. A Referral
An internal referral beats a great cover letter every time. A referred candidate is 5x more likely to be hired. If you can get someone inside the company to forward your name to the hiring manager, do that first — before spending any time on application copy.
When a Cover Letter Actually Helps
Cover letters still matter in a few specific contexts:
- Small companies (under 50 people) where the hiring manager is the founder and reads everything
- Career changers who need to explain an unusual background that a resume can’t contextualize
- Roles where writing is the job (editor, content, communications) and the letter is a writing sample
- When the posting explicitly requires one — obviously
In these cases, write a short, specific letter that opens with a hook (not “I am writing to express my interest”), covers the one most compelling reason you’re right for this role, and closes with a clear ask.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the application form requires a cover letter?
Submit one, but keep it short — three tight paragraphs max. Opening hook, one specific proof point, clear ask. Most required cover letters are checked for existence, not quality.
How do I find the hiring manager on LinkedIn?
Search the company on LinkedIn, filter by “People,” and look for titles like “Director of [Department],” “Head of [Function],” or “VP of [Area].” Cross-reference with the job posting for clues about the team structure.
What should go in a Loom video intro?
Keep it under 90 seconds. Briefly introduce yourself, name the specific role, mention one thing you admire about the company, and explain the one strongest reason you’re right for this job. End with a direct ask (“I’d love to chat”).
Stop spending 45 minutes on a document that won’t get read. Spend that time making your resume undeniable. Tailor it, lead with results, and use the extra channels that actually create a memorable impression.
ApplyRocket handles resume tailoring automatically so you can focus on the things that actually move the needle. Start your free trial →
