AI Era Dims Cover Letters as Employers Seek Visible Skills

AI is accelerating the decline of traditional cover letters in hiring. Major firms have stopped requiring them, and recruiters increasingly rely on signals like recommendations, classroom performance, referrals, side projects, and verifiable skills demonstrated through live assessments or portfolios rather than polished AI-generated letters. The trend is toward a ‘show your work’ approach, with candidates highlighting concrete abilities and outcomes through resumes, LinkedIn profiles, GitHub projects, and real-world demonstrations rather than relying on standard cover letters—though writing remains valuable in some fields.