By AI Resume Craft Team · Published 8 August 2026
The honest answer is: it depends on the application, not on a blanket rule. Here's a practical way to decide, rather than defaulting to always writing one or never bothering.
When the job ad explicitly asks for it. This is the clearest signal — if a cover letter is requested, skipping it can count against you, even if it feels like an extra step.
For competitive or senior roles. The more competition for a role, the more a well-written cover letter can help differentiate you from candidates with similar resumes.
When you're changing industries or have an employment gap to briefly explain. A cover letter is a natural, low-pressure place to provide brief context that doesn't fit naturally into a resume's format.
When you have a genuine, specific reason for wanting this particular role. If there's a real story behind your interest — a connection to the company's work, a specific reason this role fits your direction — a cover letter is where that context belongs.
When the application system doesn't include an option for one. Some online application portals genuinely don't have a field for a cover letter — in that case, there's no expectation of submitting one separately.
For high-volume, lower-competition roles where speed of application matters and the employer isn't likely to read cover letters closely, such as some casual or high-turnover retail and hospitality roles.
When it would be purely generic filler. A cover letter that just restates your resume without adding genuine context or connection to the role doesn't help, and in a marginal case might be better left out than submitted as low-effort padding.
If you're unsure and the application allows it, a short three-to-four sentence cover note — briefly stating the role, one relevant highlight, and genuine interest — is often a reasonable middle ground between a full cover letter and none at all. It shows effort without requiring the time investment of a full one-page letter.
As AI tools make it easier to generate cover letters quickly, some job seekers assume this makes cover letters less valuable overall — but the opposite is closer to true. A cover letter that's clearly generic or obviously unedited stands out negatively more than ever, while one that's genuinely specific to the role and the employer stands out positively, regardless of what tool helped draft it. The differentiator isn't whether AI was involved — it's whether the final letter is specific, accurate, and genuinely tailored.
When you do decide a cover letter is worth writing, our guide to writing an Australian cover letter covers the structure in detail, or use our AI cover letter generator to draft one quickly from the job ad, then review and personalise it before sending.
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