What does "optional cover" mean?

The 70/30 rule in hiring means hiring a candidate who meets about 70% of the job requirements and leaving the remaining 30% for training and growth on the job.

How the Rule Works

• The 70% Core: The candidate must already have the main skills, core competencies, and basic experience needed to do the work right away. Required licenses or safety certifications usually stay non-negotiable.
• The 30% Potential: This part covers new software, specific company processes, or advanced skills that the worker can learn through mentoring and onboarding.

Why Companies Use It

• Faster Hiring: Waiting for a 100% "unicorn" match takes too long and leaves jobs open for months. This rule speeds up the hiring process.
• Larger Talent Pool: It opens the door for great workers who might otherwise disqualify themselves over a missing keyword or minor skill.
• Better Retention: Employees who learn and grow in their roles often feel more satisfied and stay longer.

Cover letters are not completely outdated in 2026, but they are no longer universally required and their role has shifted toward selective differentiation.

Current State of Cover Letters

• Mixed Recruiter Habits: Surveys show a split view; roughly 26% to 50% of hiring managers actively prioritize or read them, while automated applicant tracking systems (ATS) often route them to secondary fields.
• The AI Factor: Because AI tools easily flood inboxes with generic, templated text, a brief, genuinely human cover letter helps authentic candidates stand out.
• The Data: Field experiments indicate that a tailored cover letter can significantly lift callback rates compared to sending nothing or sending a generic copy-paste.

When to Write One

• Explicitly Required: Government agencies, nonprofits, universities, and specific senior leadership roles still look for them.
• Competitive Edge: When you are changing careers or your resume does not fully explain an employment gap.
• Small Companies: Smaller teams and startups are much more likely to read a short note personally.

When You Can Skip Them

• High-Volume Quick Applies: Large tech or corporate postings that use automated batch filters and explicitly mark the field as optional.
• Strict Instructions: If a job listing explicitly states "no cover letters," submitting one works against you by showing you cannot follow instructions.

Five common cover letter mistakes include sending a generic letter, repeating your resume, focusing on yourself instead of the employer, ignoring instructions, and failing to proofread.

1. Sending a Generic Letter

• The mistake: Using a one-size-fits-all template without mentioning the specific company or role.
• How to fix it: Research the company, address the hiring manager by name if possible, and explain why you want to work for that specific organization.

2. Repeating Your Resume

• The mistake: Copying and pasting or just listing the same job duties and past titles that are already on your resume.
• How to fix it: Use the cover letter to tell a brief story, add context, and highlight specific, measurable achievements.

3. Focusing on What the Job Does for You

• The mistake: Writing about how the position will help your career growth or build your skills.
• How to fix it: Shift the focus to what you can do for the employer. Highlight how your skills can solve their problems or help them reach their goals.

4. Ignoring Instructions

• The mistake: Missing specific requests in the job posting, such as a requested file format (like a PDF) or an answer to a specific prompt.
• How to fix it: Read the application directions carefully before you start and double-check that you followed every submission rule.

5. Failing to Proofread

• The mistake: Leaving spelling errors, typos, or grammatical mistakes in your final draft.
• How to fix it: Read your letter out loud, use a grammar tool, and ask a trusted friend to look it over before you submit.

Applying without a cover letter is generally fine if the job posting says it is optional or does not mention one at all, but it can cause automatic rejection if a cover letter is explicitly required.

When You Can Skip It

• Not requested: If the listing does not ask for one, many recruiters skip or ignore them anyway.
• High-volume applying: When applying to dozens of roles, skipping optional letters lets you focus energy on tailoring your resume.
• Writing-light roles: Technical fields like engineering often care strictly about the resume and portfolio.

When You Must Include It

• Explicitly required: If the application asks for one, skipping it often lands you in the rejection pile immediately for failing to follow instructions.
• Writing-heavy roles: Communications, marketing, and fundraising jobs use cover letters as a direct writing sample.
• Explaining gaps or changes: If you are changing careers or have a unique background, a short note helps connect the dots.

Employer views on cover letters are mixed, with many hiring managers skipping them while others still use them as a deciding factor.

When Employers Do Care

• Required applications: If a job posting explicitly asks for a cover letter, skipping it often leads to automatic rejection.
• Tie-breakers: For equally qualified candidates, a strong, authentic letter can set you apart.
• Explaining gaps or transitions: They provide helpful context for career changes or gaps that a resume cannot show.
• Writing-heavy roles: Positions in communications, marketing, or management often use them to test real writing skills.

When Employers Do Not Care

• High-volume hiring: Many large companies use automated systems (ATS) and quick scans that focus entirely on resumes.
• The AI effect: The rise of auto-generated AI text has made many recruiters view standard cover letters as generic and unhelpful.
• Optional submissions: Many tech and corporate employers no longer require them at all, preferring portfolios or direct skill assessments.