Do I need a cover letter for a McJob?

Nick asks: I was going to write a cover letter for a part-time job at a coffee shop. But then I realized that they probably don't care. Thoughts?

In answer:
Personally, I would drop the CV/Resume and just send a well written Cover Letter.

Imagine you are the coffee shop manager, and from your morning post you open two applications: one includes just a well written two page CV/Resume, which you have to pick the skills out of; the other is a well written one page Cover Letter which addresses the skills requirements, and looks forward for hearing form you to answer any further questions. Which one makes it easier to find the skills, and then pick up the phone to call them?

The purpose of any job application is to get the organisation to pick up the phone and contact you. Your only question - without lying in the process - is which method for a particular application is more likely to make that phone call happen?

Good Luck!