Did you know, apparently, da Vinci was the mastermind behind the first CV.
He wrote one to the Duke of Milan to bag a job.
Five centuries later, we’re all still cranking them out like it’s the only way to land a job.
Why? Because they’re practical. Simple as that.
🎥 Prefer to watch me break this down? Here’s the video version—press play below.
The Cover Letter’s Reputation
The cover letter however, oh boy. That’s like an on-again, off-again friendship—one minute you love it, the next you’re questioning its very existence.
Back in the 1930s, cover letters were the thing.
Hiring managers actually read them, and they gave your application a bit of personality. Then came the 2000s, and only about 33% of cover letters even got a glance.
Then things got weird.
Employers started saying things like, “Sure, we don’t read cover letters, but they’re still important.” Wait, what now?
Do Cover Letters Still Matter?
Well, by 2016, only 29% of managers were reading them. 🙄
But 2022?
Oh, it’s a whole new game.
Cue the drumroll…
A whopping 77% of hiring managers are reading cover letters now.
Yep, you read that right.
And it gets juicier—a ResumeLab study from December 2021 revealed that 83% of managers said cover letters swayed their hiring decisions.
Even when they weren’t required, those who sent them were given the upper hand.
Now, here’s the kicker: most candidates still don’t bother.
Six out of ten don’t even write one.
That’s your in. Want to boost your chances of landing an interview?
Easy. Write the cover letter.
Boom. Done. 🎤
~Lisa