Alternatives to the Cover Letter – Modern Ways to Assess Motivation

If cover letters are fading, what can take their place? Modern companies are finding smarter, fairer ways to assess motivation, alignment, and communication skills.

Here are the top alternatives:

1. Short-Form Questions: Ask candidates to respond to 1-3 targeted prompts (e.g., “Why are you interested in this role?” or “What’s your proudest achievement?”).

2. Video Introductions: A 1-minute video lets candidates speak to their strengths and cultural fit—more engaging and inclusive.

3. Portfolio Submissions: For creative and technical roles, examples of work tell a more powerful story than a letter ever could.

4. Gamified Assessments: Interactive scenarios or tasks provide deeper insights into problem-solving, decision-making, and motivation.

5. Job-Specific Tests: Asking applicants to solve a relevant challenge or share how they’d approach a real-world task can replace long-winded letters.

These tools can be integrated seamlessly into applicant tracking systems, creating a more streamlined and equitable process.

Tomorrow, we’ll conclude by helping you decide whether your company should keep, ditch, or reimagine the cover letter.