When cover letters actually matter
For career changers, competitive postings, and any role where your resume alone raises questions — the letter is where you answer them. Recruiters skim resumes for facts and read letters for motive: why this company, why this role, why now.
A generic letter is worse than none; it signals a mass application. A tailored one does what a resume structurally cannot: connect your story to their problem in three short paragraphs.