Yes, they started saying not to include the cover letter because most people write them with ChatGPT as a summary of their CV. 

Which means they represent no value added. 

For the offices that still accept cover letters, writing a great one can help a lot. 

Typically, interviewers receive your CV and CL and these are the data points on which they form a first opinion. Being able to tell a compelling story in the cover letter can make a huge difference. 

Sharing here a couple more tips: 

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian

Not very important. Based on my experience, it is ignored 80% of the time, and not making a difference +99% of the time.

However, it may be used when one is on the fence. And can be great if there are things that you need to explain on your CV or you are able to tell a great story through your CL in order to increase your chances.

Hi there,

It's simple: 

For McKinsey, write one if you

• already have one and can adjust it quickly
• have sufficient time
• need to explain blank spaces on the CV or an unusual profile

Cheers,

Florian