Do you add cover letter if not asked?

[Lemonbaytree]

When applying for a job and the website says upload CV. Do you add just the CV and not the cover letter?

Years ago I had a interview and out of 250 applicants only 5 of us sent in a cover letter so that's why we got an interview!

I'm worried if I don't add a cover letter, they won't give me an interview but at the same time it's not asking for it?

What would you do?

That’s tricky. In this day and age with AI screening I say no, but in that case I would make sure CV has a bespoke para at the beginning effectively saying why I’m - good choice for the job

Add a brief one, just a simple minimalist overview

I did this just last week and it was listed as optional. I felt it was important to include one as it combined two previous roles I had worked in and felt it important to talk about it being the right mix of expertise in those areas
the next day I received an email being shortlisted for interview :)