The value of cover letters in the hiring process is declining as artificial intelligence makes it easier for job seekers to produce polished applications and increases the number of candidates competing for each position, The Washington Post reports.
According to LinkedIn Research, each open role in 2026 attracts twice as many applicants as comparable positions did in 2022. As a result, recruiters have less time to review applications, and some are using AI tools to screen cover letters that may themselves have been written with AI.
Judd Kessler, a professor of business economics and public policy at the University of Pennsylvania, says a strong cover letter is increasingly a prerequisite rather than a way to distinguish candidates. Johnny C. Taylor, president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, argues that the volume of applications has made cover letters largely obsolete.
However, career experts say a personalized cover letter that demonstrates a genuine human voice can still help an applicant stand out, depending on the employer and hiring manager. Jason Baker, vice president of talent acquisition at cybersecurity firm Arctic Wolf, recalls inviting an applicant back when the company was hiring for a similar position because the person’s cover letter had made a lasting impression, despite not securing the original job.
The Washington Post has the full story. A subscription may be required.
