I am shocked by how many people don't send a covering letter with their CV

Errata

hcb42 wrote: »

I would expect a tailored covering letter too/or email obviously.

I expect it is a case of firing off too many CVs from a website. Too easy.

I don't know why it has been suggested they should use an application form, very few companies do, only large ones and the public sector in my experience.

As to candidates putting information on a CV which they dont need to i.e. DOB. Well justy because it is there doesnt have anything to do with whether the company is acting lawfully or not. very often age is obvious from qualifications and work experience - and all decent employers/HR managers would not use it for discriminatory reasons.

Application forms create a template and make shortllisting straightforward. CV's these days are so disparate and all over the shop it's well nigh impossible to discover essential skills and preferred skills. And I do not want to read turgid prose about hobbies, singing dogs, or any other rubbish which people seem to believe makes them an eye catching candidate.

grudz

I always thought a covering letter was a formal way of introducing yourself and to briefly summarise the content on the CV without going in to too much detail. How many people read the back of a book before buying or borrowing it?

SuzieSue

hcb42 wrote: »

LOL, no thankfully, as it is a test as to whether people can follow simple instructions in a lot of cases. It is amazing how many people do not follow the instructions in a job ad.

I have to admit that I didn't ask for a covering letter in the job ad as I thought it was a given that if you are applying for a job directly via the employer, that you should send a covering letter. This was the point of starting this thread as I was so surprised at receiving applications without a covering letter.

diable

I deal with agencies and never companies I never send a covering letter as most of them CV collect I mainly respond to the recruiters who contact me after they find my CV on sites that I have uploaded to.

SuzieSue

grudz wrote: »

I always thought a covering letter was a formal way of introducing yourself and to briefly summarise the content on the CV without going in to too much detail. How many people read the back of a book before buying or borrowing it?

Agree completely.

grudz

Having said that, 100's of applications in over a year and I'm still having no luck

SuzieSue

grudz wrote: »

Having said that, 100's of applications in over a year and I'm still having no luck

What sort of position are you looking for?

emmaanddave

If you wanted everyone to send in a covering letter then it should have been clearly stated in the job advert. 200 plus potential employees will not presume that a letter is needed if not asked for one. Maybe next time before slating all those that didn't send in a cover letter to actually request one in the first place. Cover letters can be an important part of the application and more effore is put in by myself if it is directly asked for etc.

diable

What sort of jobs are you advertising for, director level or minimum wage jobs?

emmaanddave

It's a clerical position...