Yes, especially in competitive hiring markets. Many recruiters still use cover letters to evaluate communication skills, technical alignment, professionalism, and genuine interest in the company. A strong cover letter can significantly improve interview chances when candidates have similar resumes.

Focus on portfolio projects, GitHub repositories, bootcamp work, freelance projects, technical coursework, and problem-solving examples. Recruiters want evidence of initiative and practical coding ability more than formal experience at the entry level.

Most effective web developer cover letters are between 250 and 450 words. Recruiters prefer concise, targeted applications that quickly demonstrate technical fit and measurable impact.

Yes. Generic cover letters perform poorly. Tailoring your letter to the company’s tech stack, product, website, or business goals significantly increases response rates because it shows relevance and genuine interest.

Absolutely. Developers are often evaluated based on proof of execution. Including polished GitHub projects, live websites, or portfolio case studies helps validate your technical skills and development quality.

The most common mistake is listing technologies without explaining outcomes. Hiring managers care more about what you built, improved, optimized, or solved than simply seeing a list of programming languages or frameworks.