Good candidates are especially hard to find if they're not willing to identify themselves. I consider the cover letter important when I'm a hiring manager. It

Good candidates are especially hard to find if they're not willing to identify themselves. I consider the cover letter important when I'm a hiring manager. It shows that you're interested enough in the job to try for it, to make a bit of effort. I've never been in a position where there were few enough applicants that I could have a conversation with every one of them - the cover letter is a brief of their half of that first 'why should you work here' discussion. My opinion goes the opposite way when I am being aggressively recruited. So, I think it's on the person asking for something (to be offered a job, or to leave a current job) that should be showing their willingness to make the sale.