Do recruiters read cover letters?

 Yes, most of recruiters probably do, but the amount of time spent reading a cover letter will vary on several factors. Many job seekers may assume that the recruiter will read the cover letter before reading the resume, but that isn't always the case. Sometimes the cover letter can provide additional context that is difficult for job seekers to convey in a resume, given what we traditionally consider appropriate material for resumes.

Recruiters are trying to get to a "yes" or "no" answer as quickly as possible. A good cover letter can make it unnecessary to read the resume, while a good resume can make the cover letter somewhat obsolete. Unfortunately a horrible cover letter or resume can also make reading the other unnecessary.