> it's slightly offensive to see that being demanded. Interesting - I don't see this as an offensive request at all. As I see it... the company is looking for

> it's slightly offensive to see that being demanded. Interesting - I don't see this as an offensive request at all. As I see it... the company is looking for a new employee who best matches their ideal description. A cover letter merely gives you another opportunity to demonstrate your suitability for the position, in a format that is more personal than a CV. When I made "writing targeted cover letters for each role" part of my application procedure my success rate increased dramatically. I know there are specific instances where I got asked for an interview based mostly on my cover letter, and not on my CV. I guess different parts of the industry have differing expectations in this regard.