Do you think Cover Letters are a waste of time?

[LimeSlice]

The CV gets you on the desk, the cover letter gets you in the room, and your interview gets you the job.
Your CV really should be as brief as possible, while the cover letter allows you to address some specifics more directly. It's purpose is to make the employer want to even read your CV, rather than skim it.

My sister was a recruiter for many years - if you didn't have a cover letter, you didn't make her cut, let alone the employer's.

Getting a job takes effort, time, takes selling yourself long before you get to meet anyone. It is about making your piece of paper stand out above all the other pieces of paper. Taking the time to do that is valuable, but if you are looking for a pat on the back from every employer you apply to for taking the time to write a cover letter, you will be sadly disappointed every time.
Keep going and don't take everything so personally. There are probably 50 other people applying for each position you are, and they all can't get personal attention. Doesn't mean you won't get there in the end or that the person on the receiving end doesn't appreciate you took the time to wrote a *proper* application.

[Phteven]

I always ask for a cover letter. It's my first filter. Any resumes that don't have one go straight into the delete folder because I'm the boss and if I ask for a cover letter and you don't bother, it shows me that either you have no attention for detail or you think you don't need to do what I ask or that you don't complete tasks.
Since resumes are often written by third parties a cover letter is also a chance for me to assess someone's ability to comprehend and communicate.

[lady_neon]

I always ask for a cover letter. It's my first filter. Any resumes that don't have one go straight into the delete folder because I'm the boss and if I ask for a cover letter and you don't bother, it shows me that either you have no attention for detail or you think you don't need to do what I ask or that you don't complete tasks.
Since resumes are often written by third parties a cover letter is also a chance for me to assess someone's ability to comprehend and communicate.

This. Even if a cover letter isn't requested in the ad, its still good practice to include anyway.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Fair enough I guess I'm thinking about it the wrong way, I'll start writing some kick-butt CL's and see where that gets me!

ETA - Lenny, a handwritten one actually makes sense to me, especially in an admin role; of course they need to make sure you're handwriting is legible!