Business | Bartleby

The mystery of the cover letter

Why do recruiters still ask for them?

A man with a very large head and wearing a shirt and tie holds a letter in one hand and a pen in the other
Illustration: Paul Blow

Dear SIR/MADAM—You asked for a short cover letter to accompany my application to work in your sales department. I could spend time telling you that your company is the one place I have always wanted to work. My mother tells me that my very first words were Dassault Systèmes/Sequoia Capital/change as needed. I have a tattoo of your logo/founder’s face on my lower back. I have named all of my pets after your various product lines. I am grateful just to be given the opportunity to be rejected by you. But if you do hire me, you won’t just be getting an employee, you’ll be getting a brand evangelist.

Explore more

This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “The mystery of the cover letter”

From the September 7th 2024 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

More from Business

Protesters in favour of TikTok stand outside the United States Capitol.

TikTok’s time is up. Can Donald Trump save it?

The imperilled app hopes for help from an old foe

A tattooed man punches a large head, with motion lines and stars showing impact. He wears orange shorts.

The UFC, Dana White and the rise of bloodsport entertainment

There is more to the mixed-marital-arts impresario than his friendship with Donald Trump


A billboard welcoming the American electric car maker Tesla, in Monterrey, Mexico

Will Elon Musk scrap his plan to invest in a gigafactory in Mexico?

Donald Trump’s return to the White House may have changed Tesla’s plans


Germany is going nuts for Dubai chocolate

Will the hype last?

The year ahead: a message from the CEO

From the desk of Stew Pidd

One of the biggest energy IPOs in a decade could be around the corner

Venture Global, a large American gas exporter, is going public