What is considered worse than submitting nothing at all when a cover letter is optional but the candidate lacks time to customize it?

Answer

Submitting a generic, one-size-fits-all template

A generic, uncustomized document carries a definite potential for negative impact due to its poor quality, making it inferior to submitting nothing.

What is considered worse than submitting nothing at all when a cover letter is optional but the candidate lacks time to customize it?
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