Cover Letter vs Resume: What’s the Difference?

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a letter you write to explain your background and why you’re applying for a job, as well as to invite the hiring manager to schedule an interview with you.

What is a resume?

A resume, on the other hand, is a document that lists your work experience, skills, and education in a standard format.

Cover letters and resumes differ in three main ways:

1. Purpose of a cover letter vs a resume

The purpose of a cover letter is to tell the hiring manager who you are and why you’re applying for the job.

In a cover letter, you can explain yourself according to your unique situation:

• If you’re a recent graduate, you can explain why your education and interests make you suited to the job you’re applying for.
• If you have work experience, you can explain what you enjoy about your career and what you’ve accomplished over time.
• If you’re changing careers, you can link your experience to the job you’re applying for and make connections that might not be obvious on your resume.
• If you have an employment gap, you can explain how it happened and what you did during that time.

The purpose of a resume is to list your qualifications for the job, including your work history, key skills, education, as well as anything else that is relevant to that specific role, including publications, projects, etc.

Your resume should include all of your relevant work experience from up to the last 10 years that fits on 1 page, including bullet points that explain what you accomplished.

2. How to format a cover letter vs a resume

Cover letters and resumes follow completely different formats.

Cover letters

The standard cover letter format is a business letter addressed to the hiring manager.

It usually has the following sections:

1. Header

List your contact details (name, phone number, email address).

2. Salutation

The best cover letter opening is Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms.] [Hiring Manager’s Name].

3. Introduction paragraph

Your introduction paragraph is where you introduce yourself as a candidate to the hiring manager. Use this space to highlight:

• How much relevant experience you have
• Where you found the job opening
• Why you want to apply for this specific job

4. Body paragraphs

Your second and third paragraphs should show how your skills, experiences, and accomplishments match the responsibilities listed in the job description.

You can also use bullet points here to highlight major accomplishments.

5. Concluding paragraph

Your closing paragraph is where you ask the hiring manager to set up an interview. Start by expressing your enthusiasm for the opportunity, and suggest setting up a time to meet for an interview. Then, thank the hiring manager for their time.

6. Sign-off

No need to get creative here. Just write “Sincerely” followed by your name.

Resumes

The standard resume format contains the following separate sections:

1. Contact details

The following contact details go in your resume header:

• First and last name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Location (City, State)
• LinkedIn or other online profile (optional)

2. Objective/summary

Your resume introduction summarizes your key qualifications and skills. It should be several sentences long and entice the hiring manager to continue reading your resume.

3. Work experience section

Your work experience section is the core of your resume. It’s where you list your previous job titles or any roles you’ve held that are relevant to the job you want to fill.

Your work history should be arranged with your most recent job at the top, and include the following information for each position:

• Job title
• Company name
• Location (city and state)
• Dates of employment (month and year)

Each job entry generally includes three to five bullet points that highlight your key accomplishments and responsibilities in that role.

4. Education section

In your resume’s education section, list your educational history. This includes your school names, highest degree earned, and majors and minors.

If you lack work experience, you can also list relevant coursework, your GPA (if it’s greater than 3.5), and any academic honors or awards that you feel make you more qualified for the job.

5. Skills section

List your key technical skills in your resume’s skills section. Be sure to include any skills from the job ad that you have, because these are the skills that employers are looking for in a candidate.

6. Additional sections (optional)

You can add additional sections on your resume to highlight other experiences or achievements that are relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Consider noting any of the following items:

• Languages
• Awards
• Scholarships
• Volunteer work
• Internships
• Projects
• Professional Affiliations

3. The tone of a cover letter vs a resume

You should write your cover letter with a more personal tone than your resume.

In a cover letter, you speak directly to the hiring manager, introducing yourself and your background, and expressing your professional goals for the future.

In a resume, you list your accomplishments in a way that makes you stand out as a strong candidate to employers. However, you don’t directly address them.

Frequently asked questions about cover letters vs resumes

Here are answers to some additional questions about cover letters vs resumes.

1. Is a CV a cover letter?

No, a CV is not a cover letter.

CV stands for curriculum vitae. Generally, “CV” is another term for “resume”.

In the US, CV refers to a specific document, sometimes called an academic CV, which is the application document used by academics, college professors, and scientists.

Outside the US, in the UK, Europe, New Zealand, and South Africa, “CV” is just another name for a resume and follows the same layout.

A cover letter differs from both, as it’s a one-page letter written to accompany either a resume or a CV.

2. Should my cover letter match my resume?

Yes, your cover letter and resume should both have the same contact details, such as your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile.

We also recommend using the same font, color scheme, and design across both your cover letter and resume to make your application look more professional.

3. Do you need a cover letter for a resume?

Whether you need a cover letter depends on what the job opening asks for. Every job application requires a resume, but they don’t always require a cover letter.

We recommend always writing a cover letter as it adds a personal touch to your job application and can help you stand out as a candidate. The only time you shouldn’t include a cover letter is when the job listing tells you not to.