Cover Letter vs. Resume: What’s the Difference?

By Natalia Merced, CPRW, Career Advice Expert •Last Updated: December 02, 2024

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A cover letter and a resume are often seen as similar documents; they both present yourself to an employer. Maybe you’re wondering, “Well, what’s the difference between the two?” Should I use one? Both? And when?” Keep on reading. We can help you figure it out!

Let’s discuss the answers to these questions on how to make these professional documents work for you.

What Is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a business letter used to connect with an employer. It lets them know why you’re interested in the role and the organization. It can expand, not repeat, the information on your resume and address any concerns, like an employment gap or an industry change. It’s your chance to take control of your career narrative and show you’re a candidate to consider.

There is only one cover letter format, the business letter format, which is no longer than one page or even half a page. Each cover letter paragraph has a purpose:

The first paragraph explains why you’re interested in the company and role.
The second paragraph expands on your qualifications using narration.
The third paragraph is a call to action or where the reader asks to contact you by email or phone.

When writing a cover letter, remember to include a header, the same as your resume, and a salutation.

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What Is a Resume?

A resume is a snapshot of your career that presents your qualifications to a potential employer. It uses a specially formatted template to include your contact information, career statement, work experience, skills, and education.

There are three major resume formats: combination, skills-based, and chronological. Each format highlights your strongest qualification, whether it’s experience, skills or a balanced combination of both.

Key Differences Between a Cover Letter and a Resume

Knowing the differences between these documents can help you create an even better application.

Structure

A cover letter uses paragraphs and narration to showcase your personality.
A resume uses concise bullet points to present your skills and experience.
Both documents use action verbs, which empower your quantifiable accomplishments and present you as a powerful candidate.

Personal voice

A resume has no personal voice. There is no use of pronouns and no narration. Everything is presented as succinctly as possible. The resume template shows the personality through icons, colors, and other design elements.
A cover letter uses narration to showcase personality. A job seeker can write professionally with a casual tone to introduce themselves confidently or use industry jargon to highlight their expertise in a more serious manner.

Purpose

The purpose of a resume is to present your qualifications and give the employer a snapshot of your career. It should create enough interest to get you an interview.
The purpose of a cover letter is to show your personality and human interest. Why do you choose this employer over others? Why are you interested in this role over other available positions? What have you learned or experienced that can be an asset to this role, and how?

Appearance/Format

The most obvious difference between both these documents is that a cover letter uses paragraphs and natural writing.
A resume uses bullet points and short, punchy sentences without pronouns to highlight your accomplishments or list your skills and other information.

Content

A resume has five basic elements: contact information, career statement, skills, education, and work experience. It may also include optional sections like certifications, licenses, languages, volunteer opportunities, awards and so on.
A cover letter uses three to four paragraphs with each serving a different purpose.

When to Use a Cover Letter

A cover letter is a useful tool, but it has a place and time to use it. So, when is a cover letter necessary?

If the application, whether for a job or for academic purposes, requests it.
If you’re in networking events and are short on time to connect with an employer.
When seeking a career change to take control of the narrative and highlight what you can bring to a new table.

Avoid using a cover letter when:

The application specifically states, “No cover letter.”
If you’re using a hiring platform and there is no designated cover letter field.

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When to Use a Resume

A resume is most commonly used for job applications, but it has other uses too.

Applying for employment or to advance in your career.
Applying for a postgraduate degree.
Attending a networking event.
Seeking a volunteer role.
When consulting or doing freelance work.

How Cover Letters and Resumes Work Together

A cover letter and a resume complement each other to narrate the story of your career and who you are as a candidate.

While a resume presents your qualifications in a clear-cut manner, a cover letter shows your human side. Let’s say you’re a marketing manager, and this is one of your accomplishments:

Launched a product campaign that exceeded initial sales projections by 35% within the first quarter.

Your cover letter could explain how you got there, what you did, and what tools were used. Through the story, you could present your soft skills. In this case, we can see teamwork, leadership, communication and research skills.

As Marketing Coordinator at ABC Solutions, I drove a product launch campaign that exceeded sales projections by 35% in the first quarter. I conducted market research to identify customer needs, which shaped our messaging and positioning.

Working closely with the product development team, I highlighted key benefits in our marketing materials. My team and I implemented an integrated strategy that included digital advertising, social media, and email marketing, generating excitement through referral programs.

I monitored campaign performance using analytics tools, which allowed us to make real-time adjustments that maximized outreach and engagement. This led to a successful launch and strong customer relationships.

Tips for Writing a Strong Cover Letter and Resume

Follow the application instructions. This is the first step to a good first impression. Include all the documents requested in their required file format. An employer could specifically ask for no cover letter, while another might request a cover letter answering specific questions.
Research the employer. Use their website, social media and reviews to learn more about how the employer functions. It’ll help you write a tailored resume and cover letter.
Match the design elements. Use the same professional resume font on both documents and match your resume template to your cover letter template to create a cohesive look. A good-looking application is in the details
Use the same resume header for your cover letter. This saves time and creates personal branding.
Write a one-page resume and a one-page cover letter. These documents need to get you the interview, not tell your entire professional history. Use a two-page resume if you have a long career or are applying to an executive or managerial role.
Create a resume outline. Quickly adapt it to tailor your applications. Use the outline when brainstorming which achievements to include in your cover letter.
Be cautious when using a ChatGPT cover letter. Use it as inspiration or as a starting point. Remember, a cover letter and resume should show your career journey, not a generic story.
Create matching documents. A resume builder and cover letter generator can help you create matching documents that complement each other quickly and easily. Ours provides guidance, writing tips and editable content suggestions.

Use professional examples for your industry and career stage. Check out our resume examples and cover letter examples to find the right one for you.

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Key Takeaways

A cover letter and a resume work in unison to present your qualifications and personality to a potential employer.
A cover letter shows your personality, while a resume shows your competencies.
There are major differences between both documents, most importantly their structure, format and voice.
A resume must always be a part of your application, while a cover letter should only be included if the employer requests it or if there’s an available field to include it in the application platform.
A cover letter should expand, and never repeat what’s on a resume. For example, explaining the process of a major sale, showcasing soft skills used for accomplishments or how an incident sparked passion for a career change.

How We Reviewed This Article

Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.