I'm not sure what high school business classes or university career centers are teaching kids these days, but I see some lazy, boring, and sometimes downright awful approaches to pursuing job openings. I'm assuming these entities are still teaching solid, professional ways to apply for a job- it's perhaps just the people on the other end aren't absorbing that info or simply not listening. It's probably not fair to pick on the younger generation (geez I'm only 30, I can't believe I just said that), because I see bad practices across the board.
In case you're wondering, YES, a brief cover letter (in my mind) is necessary when applying for a job. A person's resume is typically a generic document that isn't specifically tailored to various positions for which he or she may be applying. Based on my job description, tell me why your background is a fit for what I need. Give me examples of your past experience that highlight why you're a top-tier candidate. Granted, it's not always the applicant's fault in this employer-candidate dance. I've seen employers who have a difficult time articulating what they need in the form of a job description. Some also don't make the job or company sound very attractive. It's difficult to compose a cover letter at times if the job advertisement stinks. Another reason for custom writing a cover letter... make yourself stand out from the other applicants. Some people think employers don't read cover letters. Sure, that may be the case in some instances. But for me, as a recruiter employed by companies to source and attract the best talent available, I'm getting paid to read your cover letter. I probably receive over 70% applicants without cover letters, not even a single word in the body of the email... just an attached resume. C'mon. Should you attach a cover letter as a file or embed it in the body of the email? Personally, I don't care. When I attach your docs to your file in my applicant tracking system, I need a word or txt file.
Now onto resumes... First of all, don't put an objective at the top of your resume. "Objective: I'm seeking a high-paying job in sales at a wonderful company who values their employees and offers advancement potential." No kidding? BTW, that's an actual section from a resume I just pulled. I would rather see a Summary section about you, than an Objective section. Secondly, make your resume results-oriented. Some people simply list their past employers, job title, and functions. That's extremely boring. I can pretty much guess what your responsibilities were based on the job title and company. Tell me what you did to make your company better. Show numbers, percentages, RESULTS!
If you need assistance with this aspect of selling yourself, I know a couple good resume writing services who can help. They're worth the cost (or rather investment!)
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