Do hiring managers/recruiters really read cover letters? I feel like I spend so much time writing this for nothing :(
To be honest, mostly don’t. TAs might read them. I often read them as a sign of respect of the time the person put into that. But I wish I didn’t need to, as most of the times I can get the same info by glancing their portfolios.
Yes, there is already a lot of participant information in their portfolio, LinkedIn, and resumes. But maybe a cover letter is useful for candidates who don't have any experience (like me)? Idk
In that case, I read the letter to find more about the person and their ways of thinking. But I would recommend having some sort of portfolio even if you don’t have experience. It’s fairly easy to publish something, for free, using Framer, for example. Post your playground stuff
Oh, yeah, a portfolio is crucial, and I actually have one already. I'm searching for a job for more than a year, and I always put a lot of time into writing cover letters. I will probably stop with it completely from now on and focus on finding some freelance projects anywhere