Many international students are not able to fully understand the importance of a cover letter in securing a job. All the times have changed, some things have remained equally important in the recruitment industry. One of these things is a cover letter. Around 78% of the recruiters will prefer employees who have a cover letter over the ones who do not. By not including a cover letter, you are reducing your chances of getting selected. It allows you to convey your X factor to the recruiter. The recruiter is easily able to distinguish and will give priority to your resume.
Make sure that you customise all of your cover letters separately for each and every position that you apply for. Do not copy down from any source as your employer will definitely figure it out.
