[brudgers]

Quickly getting to "no" regarding candidates for whom writing a cover letter is a language, ideological, or logistical hurdle is useful for HR in the age of online applications.

Would you hire a candidate who can't write a cover letter?

Would you hire a candidate who won't write one?

Would you choose a candidate whose cover letter has no relationship to the company and the position?

Sure you might in the abstract.

But maybe not if your job was looking at hundreds of resumes a week...or day.

Good luck.