Cover Letter vs Resume Whats the Difference

Cover Letter vs Resume Whats the Difference The difference between a resume and cover letter lies in the form and detail. A resume is a detailed outline of your professional experience, skills, and education, whereas a cover letter is a short overview of who you are, your qualifications, and motivation.A resume and a cover letter go together like nachos and cheese.But do you always need BOTH?This guide will show you:The difference between a resume and cover letter and their definitions.What the purposes of a resume and cover letter are.How a resume and cover letter complement each other.Why neither of the two should be confused with a CV.First look at both documents created in our builder. On the lefta resume. On the righta cover letter.Sample Cover Letter for a ResumeSee more cover letter templates and create your cover letter here.The difference is clear, right? Heres an explanation:1What Is a Resume?A resume is a formal summary of your work experience, education, and skills, divided into sections. It shows your career histo ry in a structured way and provides the recruiter with crucial information about your professional background. Its usually one or two pages long, and should be targeted to a specific job opening.What should a resume include?Look at the list below:Contact informationCareer summary or career objectiveWork experience sectionEducation sectionSkillsExtra resume sections (courses, publications, certificates, conferences, languages, etc.)The goal of a resume is to present you as a job candidate in an itemized, short, and informative way. All resume sections have to be labelled with clear and professional headings.As a whole, the document should follow the rules of a chosen resume format (usually the reverse-chronological one) and stick to the resume length standards.Read this guide to learn how to write a resume that sellsbetter than Amazon: How to Make a Resume for a JobOr, cut to the chase and find a resume for your profession here: 99+ Resume Examples for Every ProfessionWant to save ti me and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample resume made with our builderSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowNow, what is a cover letter for a resume?Lets check.2What is a Cover Letter?A cover letter is a business letter that you send to a prospective employer to introduce yourself as a candidate. It provides additional professional information about you explains to the recruiter why youre applying for the position. Resume cover pages should not repeat the contents of resumes. Their goal is to supplement them.What should a cover letter include?Professional cover letter headingProper cover letter address sectionProper salutationCompelling cover letter introductionReasons you chose to apply to this companyYour offer and a strong closing statementOptionally, a postscript to hook their attention once moreJust like resumes, cover letters follow specific formatting rules and have their own length limitations.Heres how to tell your story in a cover letter: How to Write a Job-Winning Cover LetterAlso, look up examples for your profession in our collection of Professional Cover Letter ExamplesWant to write your cover letter fast?Use our cover letter builder. Choose from20+ professional cover letter templatesthat match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.Sample Cover Letter for a ResumeSee more cover letter templates and create your cover letter here.3Cover Letter vs. Resume vs. CVThe DifferencesThere are three types of differences between cover letters and resumes:Cover Letters and Resumes Have a Different PurposeTo get the difference between a cover letter and a resume, you need to understand t he functions they have:Resume summarizes your work history and qualifications. It gives the hiring manager an overview of your professional self.Cover letter sells your qualifications. Its supposed to provide the recruiter with the answers to why and how questions (Why do you want to work for this company and no other? How can you contribute?)Cover Letters and Resumes Have a Different FormatResumes and cover letters have different formats and formatting rules:A resume is a document divided into specific sections. It shows information in the form of bullet points.A cover letter consists of 3 or 4 paragraphs of text, divided into an opening, body, and closing. You can also add a PS line below your signature at the bottom.Cover Letters and Resumes Have a Different ToneResumes are more formal in tone than cover letters. Thats why we always recommend writing resumes in the third person. Instead of writing I managed a group of 20 people, we suggest you opt for managed a group of 20 people .A cover letter is your own professional story written in the first person. Hence, using I in a cover letter is recommended and expected.Why is that so?Before your resume is read by the recruiter, its scanned by the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Cover letters are explicitly meant for human (not machine) readers.Also:Resumes are objective; cover letterssubjective.Resumes use a professional tone; cover letters are more conversational. Telling the recruiter who you are, what passions you have, and how you can help the company give your entire application a more personal touch.Now you know the difference between a resume and a cover letter.But wait a minuteThere are also CVs. And theres a lot of confusion about them.CV vs. Resume vs. Cover LetterA CV (or Curriculum Vitae, from Latin) is the equivalent of a resume in Europeand globally, in Academia. However, in each of these contexts, CVs follow different formats. Read more about CV formats in Europe here and compare them with academ ic CVs here.Whats the problem?People tend to confuse cover letters with CVs. The truth is Europeans often use the terms resume and CV interchangeably, so if you're applying for a job in Europe and are asked for a CV, it means you should submit a resume not a cover letter.Jerome ImhoffCareer coach and professional resume writerFor more in-depth CV and resume comparison, check out our dedicated guide: CV vs. Resume: Difference and Definitions4How Resumes and Cover Letters Complement Each OtherNow that you know the difference between a cover letter and a resume (and a CV), lets see how they work side by side.Simply putYour resume is an outline for your cover letter story.In your resume, you list the critical aspects of your professional experience. In a cover letter, you describe them.Cover letters complement resumes.They give candidates a chance to elaborate on the basics that the resume covers and explain things only mentioned there.So, treat your cover letter as a chance to tell the recruiter something more about yourself and reiterate your value as a candidate.Prepare your resume first. Then, to write a great cover letter, ask yourself:Why did you apply to this company?What is your motivation to work with them?How can your work experience and professional skills contribute to the companys needs?Do you share similar values?Theres another reason you need both documents.As a Career Expert at Zety.com, Bart Turczynski says:A cover letter is a brief and to-the-point pitch. It is supposed to make the recruiter or hiring manager read your resume. In real life, however, the resume often determines whether the cover letter is read.Bart TurczynskiCareer Expert at Zety.comA cover letter is a brief and to-the-point pitch. It is supposed to make the recruiter or hiring manager read your resume. In real life, however, the resume often determines whether the cover letter is read.Pro Tip: When writing your resume and cover letter always double-check your grammar and spelling . Regardless of the document type, errors look unprofessional and can cost you an interview.Some say cover letters are a waste of time. Is it really the case? Check out: Are Cover Letters Necessary in 2019?Key TakeawayHeres a quick recap of all you need to know about the differences between a cover letter and a resume:A resume is an account of your career history in the form of bullet points, divided into sections.A cover letter gives the recruiter a more in-depth insight into your work history in the form of a letter.Resumes list qualificationscover letters describe them.A resume is a formalized document; a cover letter has a more personal touch.Cover letters complement resumes and are still expected by most hiring managers.Do you have any other questions about resume and cover letter differences? How would you define a resume and a cover letter? If you still have doubts, let us know in the comments.