Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer

You can feel a little directionless during a job hunt. At times, the questions seem to outnumber the answers two-to-one.

Do I need to wear a suit? Do I need to send a thank-you note? What is my biggest weakness? How do I give a good handshake? The stress can be overwhelming. One question that still pesters job seekers, especially as job hunting increasingly takes place online, is whether or not a cover letter is still necessary. On the one hand, a cover letter is a traditional component of the searching process and omitting one feels weird. But time is valuable during a job hunt and wasting time on something nobody will read is aggravating.

From 'Cover Letter Magic' by Wendy S. Enelow and Louise M. Kursmark

By SUSAN GUARNERI

By Deborah Wile Dib

From 'Cover Letter Magic' by Wendy S. Enelow and Louise M. Kursmark