Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Usually, yes—if the application allows it and you can write a brief, tailored letter that adds useful information. Use it to explain why you want this role, connect relevant experience to the employer’s needs, or clarify context your resume does not show. If it would be generic or simply repeat your resume, submit the required materials instead. Always follow the employer’s instructions.
What “optional” means for your application
An optional cover letter is not forbidden; it means the employer has not made it a stated requirement. The posting or application portal still controls what you may submit. If it says not to attach extra documents, or gives specific file or submission rules, follow those directions rather than treating “optional” as permission to ignore them. The U.S. Department of Labor’s February 2026 Resume Essentials guide emphasizes following employer instructions exactly.
When the application permits a letter, decide based on whether you have something relevant to add—not on a promise that the extra document will secure an interview. The available evidence does not establish a universal hiring advantage from submitting an optional letter.
When an optional letter is worth submitting
Write one if it can give the reader a clearer, more specific case for considering you. Useful material includes:
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Why this particular role and employer interest you, based on what you understand about the organization.
- One or two examples that show how your experience matches the role’s needs.
- Relevant context that is difficult to convey in a resume, such as a career transition or the connection between seemingly different experience and the position.
The University of Alberta Career Centre recommends connecting what draws you to a role with what you understand about the organization’s values. Its January 22, 2026 summary of its 2025 employer survey says 69% of respondents felt a well-written cover letter could considerably affect an employer’s decision to offer an interview. That is employer-reported opinion from a survey with over 200 responses, not a measured increase in interview rates or a guarantee for an individual applicant.
When it is better to leave it out
Skip the letter if the employer’s instructions prohibit it, if you cannot tailor it accurately, or if all it would do is restate your resume. A generic or error-filled letter can undermine an otherwise careful application. In the University of Alberta survey summary, 54% of respondents listed a general or untargeted letter as a reason they might reject an application; respondents could select multiple reasons, and wrong position or organization and spelling or grammar errors were each listed by 74%.
Time matters, too. If writing a meaningful letter would come at the expense of improving your resume or completing required application questions carefully, prioritize the materials the employer specifically requests. iHire’s December 2020 survey, published in 2021, found that 65.3% of its 603 U.S. hiring-manager and recruiter respondents preferred prescreening questions over cover letters as a way to learn more about candidates. The result reflects that survey’s respondents, not every employer.
What employer surveys can—and cannot—tell you
Survey results suggest that some hiring professionals value letters, but they measure different groups’ reported views and expectations, not a universal probability that a letter will get read or improve your outcome.
| Finding | What it measures |
|---|---|
| 69% | University of Alberta Career Centre’s 2025 employer survey, summarized January 22, 2026: respondents saying a well-written letter could considerably affect an interview decision. Over 200 responses; opinion, not measured interview-rate lift. |
| 54% | The same survey: respondents listing a general or untargeted letter as a reason they might reject an application. Multiple answers were allowed. |
| 30.3% | iHire’s December 2020 survey, published in 2021: respondents saying they expect a letter even when a posting calls it optional. The survey received 603 responses from U.S. hiring managers and recruiters across 56 industries. |
| 77.3% | iHire’s December 2020 survey, published in 2021: employers saying candidates should customize letters for the specific position. |
| 76.5% | iHire’s December 2020 survey, published in 2021: hiring professionals saying they always read a letter when a candidate includes one. |
| 83% | LinkedIn figure cited secondhand in the U.S. Department of Labor’s February 2026 guide: hiring managers who read cover letters and consider them in hiring decisions. This is not a Department of Labor survey. |
These findings are reasons to make a submitted letter relevant and accurate, not evidence that every employer expects one. The iHire results date to 2020 and reflect respondents to a recruitment-platform survey; the University of Alberta summary does not establish a representative sample of all employers.
How to write a concise letter that adds value
Northwestern University’s 2025 career guide recommends a one-page business letter of three to five paragraphs, tailored to the employer and position. It advises highlighting two or three relevant experiences rather than repeating the full resume.
- Address the right opportunity. Name the role and employer accurately, and follow any format or upload instructions in the application.
- Explain your interest. Give a specific reason the role or organization appeals to you; avoid language that could be sent unchanged to any employer.
- Show relevant evidence. Choose one or two concise examples that connect your experience to the job’s needs. Keep claims accurate and consistent with your application.
- Add context, not a second resume. Use the space to explain motivation, fit, or relevant background the resume does not make clear.
- Proofread before submitting. Check the organization and position names, spelling, grammar, and any employer-specific requirements.
Does an optional cover letter help with ATS screening?
Do not assume that a cover letter boosts an applicant-tracking system ranking. The Department of Labor guide describes ATS tools as systems that can collect and organize applications and search resumes for keywords matching job requirements. It does not establish that an optional letter improves or harms ATS performance. Follow the employer’s process and make sure your resume clearly reflects relevant qualifications.
Can you use AI to draft the letter?
AI can help organize ideas or produce a first draft, but check every detail and revise the language so it reflects your real experience and voice. Northwestern and the University of Alberta Career Centre both emphasize tailoring rather than generic letters.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesA 2025 working paper by Cui, Dias, and Ye examined an AI-powered cover-letter tool on Freelancer.com. In that specific platform setting, the authors reported that the correlation between tailoring and callbacks fell by about 51% after the tool launched. The finding concerns freelance proposals and a particular research context; it does not establish how traditional cover letters affect corporate hiring or whether AI-written letters help a given applicant.
Quick Recap
A practical decision before you submit
- Submit a letter if the employer allows it and you can add specific, accurate information about your fit.
- Omit it if the posting or portal says not to include one, or if you would only repeat your resume.
- Use your time strategically: strengthen required materials and answers before spending time on a letter that would remain generic.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
