Do you still need a cover letter?

When a cover letter matters, when it does not, and how to write a short one fast.

Often optional, sometimes decisive

Many portals mark the cover letter as optional, and many recruiters skip it. It still matters for small teams, career changes, and roles where writing is part of the job.

The short version

Four sentences: why this company, why this role, the one experience that proves you can do it, and a thank you.

When a form has a free-text box (Lever's Additional information, custom questions), that box is your cover letter.