By Jason Fried · world.hey.com · @jasonfried on X · LinkedIn
Jason Fried defends the continued use of cover letters in hiring, responding to people who think they no longer matter. He argues that a cover letter is the first and most revealing signal of an applicant's effort, care, clarity of thinking, and communication ability. Because most communication at his company is written, strong writing matters more than on-camera charisma alone. He also says a cover letter shows whether a candidate genuinely wants this specific job or is sending a generic application. For product managers who screen or hire, the essay is a reminder that written communication is a core signal of capability.
01Key takeaways
- Treat the cover letter as an early signal of effort, care, and clarity, not a formality.
- Write a letter tailored to the specific role rather than a generic template.
- Communicate in writing well, since written communication is central to most knowledge work.
- Keep the letter concise and purposeful, neither padded nor cut to bare minimum.
- If submitting an alternative like a video, it still needs to demonstrate strong writing and thinking.
02Key sections
- Cover letters still matter
- Fried pushes back on claims that cover letters are obsolete and says his team still reads, requires, and heavily weights them. He frames them as the first filter, where a weak letter ends the review early.
- What the letter signals
- A good cover letter reveals effort, care, clear thinking, communication, and diligence in a way a résumé often cannot. It also tells a story about the person behind the application.
- Written communication as a core skill
- Because much of the company's communication is written, strong writing is not optional, and polished video alone does not compensate for poor writing. Video is accepted as an alternative, but writing is still tested.
- Specific versus generic applications
- Fried says it is obvious when an applicant has sent a mail-merged template instead of a personal letter about the role. He wants candidates who care about this particular position.
- Length and tone
- A strong letter is neither too long nor too short and uses words the reader is glad to encounter. This is the starting point for a broader evaluation.
03From the post
“Whenever I write about our focus on cover letters during the hiring process, I'll inevitably receive the "cover letters are still a thing?" or "people still read cover letters?" response from a cadre of characters. Here's one from yesterday: https://x.com/amfonte/status/1924996546896036278 Yes, cover letters are a thing, and we absolutely still read them. And require them. We put significant weight on…”
Summary and takeaways written by PM Atlas; quotes are short excerpts. © the original author.