Why Nearly Half of Applicants Missed a Key Step and What It Says About Burnout & Alignment

I helped a client apply for a role the other day, and after she submitted her application, she sent me a screenshot of how many people applied for the job (highlighting in yellow for me!).

But you know what stood out most?

Only 52% included a cover letter. That means nearly half of the applicants didn’t bother attaching one.

Now, I’ll be honest, if you had asked me in my 20s, I probably wouldn’t have either. Back then, I didn’t truly understand the power of a thoughtful, tailored cover letter.

I saw it as optional. Time-consuming. Maybe even pointless.

And to be fair, there’s a lot of conflicting advice out there. Some say recruiters don’t read them. Others say it’s a vital screening tool to see who actually took the time to care.

But here’s what I’ve learned after years in career services and coaching:

• Your resume tells people what you’ve done.

• Your cover letter tells them who you are and why you’re the right person for the job.

It’s your chance to speak directly to the hiring manager. To share your values, your why, and the unique magic you bring to the table.

So if you’re applying for jobs and not hearing back, and you haven’t been writing cover letters, it’s worth asking yourself:

Are you truly interested in the role?

Or are you applying from a place of fear or urgency, hoping something sticks?

Because when we apply for roles that aren’t aligned or we don’t put in the energy to show up fully, it’s no surprise we’re left feeling even more discouraged, depleted, and burnt out by the process.

Because when your energy isn’t aligned, it shows.

Feeling burnt out or overwhelmed?

If something in this article resonated, you don’t have to figure out the next step alone.

I offer a Free 5-Day Burnout Reset, a gentle, 1:1 supported reset designed to help you slow down, reduce overwhelm, and gain clarity around work and wellbeing.

Start the free 5-day burnout reset www.nurtureambition.com

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Merly Hartnett, Burout & Career Wellbeing Coach - Helping working mums recover from burnout and create sustainable careers