Are cover letters dead?

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my interest in the following question: Are cover letters dead?

In a recent piece for Business Insider titled “RIP Cover Letters,” careers and leadership reporter Ana Altchek explored how cover letters — once a staple of modern job-hunting — have lost influence in the age of artificial intelligence.

In a conversation with “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal, Altchek explained that as AI makes hyper-personalized cover letters easier to generate, employers are looking for alternative ways to distinguish among candidates. “Nowadays, they’re doing more behavioral assessments and personality tests,” she said.

I’ve attached a copy of the audio interview between Ryssdal and Atlchek. Click the audio player above to hear the full conversation.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]