Find solution
Can you put salary requirements and salary history on a cover letter?

You really don't want a cover letter? Really?

  • Has this job advertisement just been worded strangely, or do they really NOT want a cover letter for a specialized job opening? I'm about to apply to a specialized library position in a well-known museum's research center. It's a position that has a number of specific requirements, etc. However! And this is the first time I've run into this in my field - they do NOT ask for a cover letter in the body of the advertisement for the job. The first sentence of the advertisement says "If interested, please follow the instructions found in the body of the posting." And then the end of the description notes, "To apply, send resume along with salary history and requirements to: [..address of institution..]" In your experience, is a cover letter assumed to be required, as if it was part of the salary history and requirements? Or am I over-thinking this, and should send what they specifically ask for, and hope for the best? Thanks in advance!

  • Answer:

    In your experience, is a cover letter assumed to be required...? Yes. Otherwise you're just sending them an envelope of documents with no coherence.

anonymous at Ask.Metafilter.Com Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

You are definitely over thinking it. Include a cover letter.

Xoebe

Yes, you're overthinking, and yes, you should include a cover letter. A cover letter is a totally standard part of a resume, and they expect it to be included whether they specifically mention it or not.

ook

They want a cover letter. They also want to see who can both follow instructions and understand expectations that aren't spelled out in niggling detail. I have been part of search teams where we have explicitly said, "Let's not say 'Include a cover letter' in the advertisement/posting because we don't want someone for whom things that should be obvious as part of basic professionalism need to be spelled out." (Okay, maybe not in those exact words--there were probably more inside jokes and more requests to pass the mini-muffins--but that was what we meant.)

Sidhedevil

I've encountered this situation before, and actually had the exact opposite process that Sidhedevil described- what if the employer wants someone who has attention to detail and can follow basic instructions? I have no idea if that's a legitimate possibility or not; just something that's crossed my mind in the past when encountering similar job postings. I do still think you should include the cover letter.

Shiva88

* "thought process"...argh

Shiva88

How else would you include your salary history and requirements, if not in the body of a cover letter?

SuperSquirrel

When you're emailing your materials, write your cover letter in the body of your email and send the requested materials as attachments. The only time I would assume they don't want a cover letter would be if they asked you to fill out an application instead of sending your own materials and they didn't leave space for any introduction or letter.

decathecting

I've encountered this situation before, and actually had the exact opposite process that Sidhedevil described- what if the employer wants someone who has attention to detail and can follow basic instructions? As SuperSquirrel says, the place to detail your salary history and requirements is in a cover letter.

Sidhedevil

Yeah, I had the same thought as SuperSquirrel. (Incidentally, I know at least one hiring manager who automatically tosses all resumes that *don't* include a cover letter.)

restless_nomad

Load more

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.