Cover Letter vs. Video Introduction: Which Gets More Interviews?

The State of Cover Letters in 2026

Cover letters have been declining in relevance for years. In a 2024 survey of hiring managers:

• Only 26% said they always read cover letters
• 49% said they read them only when the resume is strong enough to get a second look
• 25% said they rarely or never read them

This doesn’t mean cover letters are useless — a strong, tailored cover letter that references specific company context still adds value. But the average cover letter (generic opener + resume summary + “I’d be a great fit”) is read by fewer than 1 in 4 hiring managers.

The Rise of Video

Video is now the primary communication medium for professional first impressions. Video interviews (HireVue, Spark Hire) have replaced phone screens at some Fortune 500 companies. Employment.Media video groups are the next logical step: proactively giving the hiring manager a video screening before they’ve even considered scheduling a call.

Employment.Media video group links are entirely different from cover letters for one simple reason: the hiring manager gets a first-impression screening view of you — how you communicate, how you present, whether you’re articulate and prepared — in 90 seconds, without any scheduling overhead.

When a Cover Letter Should Still Be Included

• Career transitions — where your resume doesn’t tell the story, a cover letter (or video) explains the why
• Specific context that needs text — if you’re addressing a very specific requirement or circumstance in writing
• Companies that explicitly require one — always submit if required
• Academic, legal, or government roles — where formal written communication is part of the job

When Video Wins

• Communication-heavy roles — sales, customer success, account management, teaching, support, healthcare
• Any role where presence matters — client-facing, leadership, public-facing positions
• Standing out in high-volume pools — where your resume is one of 200 and you need a first-impression differentiator
• Following up after applying — a video link in a follow-up email is far more compelling than a restated text summary

How to Use Both Together

The highest-converting approach combines elements of both:

1. Submit an ATS-optimized tailored resume as your primary document
2. Include a brief cover note (3–4 sentences, not a full page) that references something specific about the company and includes your Employment.Media video link
3. In a follow-up email 5–7 days after applying, lead with the video link again

This approach gives you ATS keyword optimization (resume), specific company research (cover note), first-impression presence (video), and active follow-up — covering all four differentiation dimensions simultaneously.

The key shift: Think of your cover letter as a short note with a video link attached — not a full-page formal letter. Hiring managers are more likely to watch a 90-second video than to read a 400-word letter.

Frequently asked questions

Should I include a cover letter with my job application?

In most cases, yes — but a targeted 3–4 sentence cover note is more effective than a full-page generic letter. The note should reference something specific about the company or role, include your Employment.Media Video Group link, and express interest without repeating your resume. Only 26% of hiring managers say they always read cover letters; a short, specific note plus a video link is read (and watched) at a higher rate than a full-page letter.

Are cover letters still necessary in 2026?

Required: yes, if the application asks for one. Necessary to get noticed: increasingly no — only 26% of hiring managers always read them. The highest-converting format in 2026 is a brief, specific cover note (3–4 sentences) combined with an Employment.Media Video Group link. Full-page generic cover letters are the least read form of job application material.

Practice on video: record your answers on Employment.Media, re-record as often as you like, and share one Video Group link with employers. Get started free.