One of the job-hunting topics we get asked about the most from global development professionals may surprise you: the cover letter. In this age of LinkedIn and artificial intelligence, are they still necessary, and if so, how can you craft one that can actually make a difference in your application?
“It's a chance for candidates to really stand out by creating something that is unique that tells their own story,” said Caroline Korda Poole, a development career coach and founder of Centered Career, during a recent Devex Career digital event. “And they matter if the application asks for it, and they don't matter if the application doesn't ask for it,” she added.
In many cases, cover letters are still expected, and in some, they are mandatory, said development writing expert and founder of ParadiseScribe Kathryn Harper, who joined Korda Poole to offer Devex Career Account members advice based on their work helping development professionals optimize their job applications and find the roles that best fit their interests and skills.