![[Featured Image] A person holds their cover letter in their hand and reads it while sitting in front of their laptop and contemplating if cover letters are necessary.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/jRSiNAMdLpWF4czqbAS5u/8405ad34f20632be3493a4af118dc6c8/GettyImages-1704584798.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
Are Cover Letters Necessary in 2026?
Cover letters can help you show your human side to potential employers. Explore the purpose of a cover letter, whether you should always include one, and if cover letters are necessary when applying for work.
October 7, 2022
Article

![[Featured image] A smiling person in an orange blazer discusses their salary expectations in a job interview.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/77yB1oczkS9jEvbajvng6B/fe67c6ba5b2245608163458f61906807/GettyImages-1303384621__1_.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A businessperson dressed professionally stands speaking to two people shown in profile.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/2lURtvPIbNvdwVN31rKXQZ/fdde0da19f95b91cba3e243a0f278b8b/iStock-614028206.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)



![[Featured image] Job seeker in the hallway in front of glass windows](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6leV9ZExNvfoggfwRZTjRv/3e818429f449635b8415c6f58b5e2ab6/GettyImages-133444950.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A person smiles at their colleague while listening to them speak. In the background, another person sits at the table listening and smiling at the story. All three colleagues are using their soft skills to communicate, listen, engage, and relate to one another.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/3VInHgTTgzf22xLgTSmW1a/ad4a38c7dc47c19e7ff6512146b6ee22/GettyImages-1210536568.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A person in a computer lab using tech to build new skills after a RIF.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1KQRIPlryt1AtaGpcLe2r7/766bf93a5b820ba4d224ab95160c135b/GettyImages-1444087228.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] Close-up image of someone's hands typing on an open laptop that sits on a wooden table.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/3zqSvphyuM0MX9oC0seanb/8ac869e18029a973377e054856eefb71/GettyImages-620929423.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Someone in red glasses looks out a window in thought.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/Jd4L4HVOTgAxkifiHbrGa/8d0e8429338bd7728ae07a4af69b2665/GettyImages-1317509112.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image]: A woman works on a laptop and smiles after learning how to write a cover letter when applying for jobs.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5zkkLfVXQWhYX3DlxfbCg0/0c8f72e25249d17b884a71de3db4d1e9/GettyImages-2156045581.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A professional affected by cyclical unemployment walks on a downtown sidewalk with their laptop in hand on their way to a job interview.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5o5IVdPKdEdvNjAXCi4T4N/d3b0297684795daf68a6affce84e2d4c/GettyImages-1666387982.webp?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A person stares concernedly at their laptop while another person with a baby sits in the background.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/60GUOzy3T09JLqrQTQrUVq/cb91bf2f1155c5beefb26713eb694513/GettyImages-1332112208.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image]: A person in an office smiles after successfully answering teacher interview questions.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/68y8EaYzS6wF3Y2zODTAKi/81f176f14a58378fa69429ed65d59ccb/GettyImages-1642394553.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
