Being an academic in a design school, my experience with interviews is different. When reviewing applicants for a job, the cover letter is the only means I have to know if they have researched the particular requirements of the university I work for. We are a western university located in an non-western nation. I need to know that they have considered what this means, especially if they are Weston. It much harder that you might assume to move to a new continent.
The academy is different. We tend to grow into s job, but a field of study does require more digging into motive beyond „i need money“, where „i need money“ is the main reason most of us look for jobs.
After my toxic 3 years at a job to whom i did send a cover letter they liked (i liked the company before finding out one guy in the department im in had seniority and was doing dodgy stuff to maintain power)
... i quit and eventually I got my job via connecting with people, and i think thats the best way one could get hired.
