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0 pointscarussell9y ago0 comments

Confirmation bias? How do you know those companies were actually responding to your cover letters, and not your other strengths? Do you have evidence that if you'd sent out no cover letters (or a single sentence copy and paste job), that you wouldn't have gotten the same response rate?

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2 comments · 2 top-level

TheMog9y ago

I'm not sure it's confirmation bias, but if it is multiple people have had the same experience.

For the last two jobs I got by actually actively seeking out an opening rather than being contacted by a recruiter, I only send out 2-3 applications each, but with a cover email that was custom to each company.

On one occasion I had a 100% interview rate, on the second one a 66% one (1 out of the three companies had an automated screening system and I'm pretty sure I was too expensive for them).

user59944619y ago

You need both.

Whatever experience you have, it won't get you through the door if you give less than a single sentence as a cover letter.

Whatever cover letter you have, it won't get you through the door if you have no experience in your resume.

Have some experiences + have a few sentences cover letter. That's the magic recipe. If you have any less than that, you're going with a disadvantage.

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