In my previous roles I've read the cover letters sent to jobs I'm trying to fill. They're a useful insight into the personality of the applicant. I definitely

In my previous roles I've read the cover letters sent to jobs I'm trying to fill. They're a useful insight into the personality of the applicant. I definitely know people have read my cover letters too, but that might be due to the size of the companies I apply to for jobs. More importantly though when I take a lot of time on a cover letter it helps uncover why I'm applying for a job in the first place, and sometimes shows me why I actually _shouldn't_. It might seem like a useless exercise but putting thought into a cover letter helps you decide if it's the right job for you and also sets a theme that you can follow through the rest of the interview process if you want. If you're able to say something like, "As I mentioned in my cover letter ..." in your interview then people get a sense of continuity in their interactions with you, and it also underscores your seriousness with the role. If you're one of those who sends out dozens of resumes at a time then of course this doesn't apply.