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When applying for a job, two documents almost always go hand in hand: the resume and the cover letter. While often submitted together, each document serves a distinct purpose.
Understanding how resumes and cover letters differ and how they complement one another helps you present a stronger, more focused application that stands out to hiring managers.
In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between a cover letter and a resume and provide cover letter vs resume examples to demonstrate how to use both documents strategically.
What Is a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is a one-page business letter that introduces you to an employer, explains your interest in a specific role, and highlights how your qualifications align with the company’s needs. It complements your resume by adding context and a clear narrative about your career goals.
Unlike a resume, which lists qualifications in bullet points, a cover letter uses full paragraphs to tell a cohesive story about your experience. You can use this space to expand on information in your resume and address any concerns, like an employment gap or an industry change.
There is one standard cover letter format: the traditional business letter. A cover letter should be no longer than one page with three to four concise paragraphs. It should use professional formatting, clear spacing, and a tone tailored to the company and position.
What Does a Cover Letter Include?
A cover letter includes your contact information, the employer’s details, a professional salutation, and three to four focused paragraphs that explain your interest in the role and highlight your most relevant qualifications. Here’s a closer look at what a cover letter should include to stand out:
- Cover letter header: Your name, phone number, email address, and (optionally) LinkedIn profile—formatted to match your resume
- Date: The date you’re submitting the application
- Employer’s contact information: The hiring manager’s name, title, company name, and company address (when available)
- Formal salutation: A professional greeting, such as “Dear Ms. Smith,” addressed to the hiring manager whenever possible
- Opening paragraph: A clear statement of the position you’re applying for and why you’re interested in the company and role
- Body paragraph(s): A focused explanation of your most relevant skills, accomplishments, and qualifications, using specific examples to demonstrate value
- Closing paragraph: A confident conclusion that reinforces your interest and includes a call to action, inviting the employer to contact you
- Professional sign-off: A sign-off after your cover letter conclusion, such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards,” followed by your full name
Write a cover letter in minutes with our Cover Letter Generator. Use your resume as a starting point, or start fresh by answering a few questions about your career and target role.
Cover Letter Example
Here’s an example of what a cover letter looks like:
What Is a Resume?
A resume is a one-page professional document that summarizes your qualifications, experience, and skills for a potential employer. It presents your background in a structured format that allows hiring managers to quickly determine whether you meet the requirements for a specific role.
Unlike a cover letter, which uses paragraphs to explain your story, a resume relies on clearly defined sections and concise bullet points to highlight relevant achievements and skills.
What Does a Resume Include?
A resume includes your contact information, a brief professional summary or objective, work experience, skills, and education. It presents your qualifications in clearly labeled sections using concise bullet points that highlight measurable achievements and relevant expertise.
Your resume should be structured, easy to scan, and focused on your strongest qualifications. Here’s what to put on a resume to demonstrate your fit for the role:
- Resume header: Your full name, phone number, professional email address, and (optionally) LinkedIn profile or portfolio link
- Professional summary or objective: A brief two- to three-sentence statement highlighting your experience, key skills, and career focus
- Work experience: A reverse-chronological list of roles with bullet points that emphasize measurable achievements, results, and responsibilities
- Skills section: A targeted list of technical and transferable skills relevant to the role
- Education: Your degree(s), school name, and graduation date (or expected date)
- Additional sections (if applicable): Certifications, licenses, technical proficiencies, volunteer work, or awards
Resume Example
Here’s an example of what a resume should look like:
Resume vs Cover Letter: Key Differences
A resume provides a structured overview of your skills, experience, and education, while a cover letter explains your interest in the role and connects your qualifications directly to the employer’s needs. Explore the key differences between these two documents below.
Structure
A resume uses clearly defined sections and concise bullet points to highlight qualifications, while a cover letter relies on organized paragraphs and narrative to explain interest and fit. Here’s a closer look at how resumes and cover letters vary in structure:
- A cover letter uses structured paragraphs and narrative language to explain your interest in the role and connect your experience to the employer’s needs.
- A resume uses clearly defined sections and concise bullet points to highlight skills, responsibilities, and measurable achievements in a format designed for quick scanning.
Both documents rely on strong action verbs and quantifiable results to emphasize impact, demonstrate value, and present you as a confident, results-driven candidate.
Personal Voice
A resume does not use personal pronouns or narration, whereas a cover letter does. Here’s how a resume and cover letter differ in this area:
- A resume avoids personal pronouns and narration, presenting skills, experience, and accomplishments as concise, objective statements.
- A cover letter uses narrative and professional voice to explain interest, highlight achievements, and demonstrate fit.
Each document conveys personality differently—a resume through formatting, layout, and design choices, and a cover letter through tone, word choice, and storytelling.
Purpose
A resume presents your qualifications, skills, and experience to give employers a clear snapshot of your career, while a cover letter explains why you’re interested in the role and company.
Here’s how both documents work together to showcase your value, generate interest, and position you as a compelling candidate for an interview:
- A resume presents your qualifications, skills, and experience to give employers a concise snapshot of your career and generate interest in an interview.
- A cover letter explains why you’re interested in the role and employer, highlights your motivation and fit, and demonstrates how your background adds value.
Your resume and cover letter work together to showcase your strengths, convey professionalism, and provide a complete picture of your candidacy.
Appearance & Format
A cover letter uses paragraphs and natural writing, whereas a resume uses bullet points and short, punchy sentences without pronouns to highlight your accomplishments. Here’s a closer look at how the appearance and format vary between resumes and cover letters:
- A resume relies on clean, structured formatting with clearly labeled sections, consistent fonts, and bullet points to make information easy to scan.
- A cover letter follows a business letter format with a header, salutation, paragraphs, and a professional sign-off to maintain a polished, readable layout.
Your resume and cover letter should both be visually professional, cohesive, and tailored to the employer, with formatting that reinforces clarity, organization, and attention to detail.
Content
Both documents highlight your qualifications, but in complementary ways. A resume demonstrates what you’ve done, while a cover letter explains why it matters to the employer.
Here’s how the content varies between resumes and cover letters:
- A resume presents contact information, a professional summary, and work experience with quantifiable accomplishments, skills, education, and optional sections.
- A cover letter includes your contact information and the employer’s details, a formal salutation, an opening paragraph introducing your interest, body paragraphs highlighting relevant qualifications and experiences, and a closing paragraph with a call to action.
Both documents should be tailored to the specific job, emphasize accomplishments and results, and clearly demonstrate how your background and skills align with the role.
When to Use a Cover Letter
Use a cover letter whenever you want to introduce yourself to an employer, explain your interest in a specific role, and highlight how your qualifications align with the company’s needs.
While the necessity of cover letters depends on the role you’re applying for, they’re essential when the job posting requests one. Here’s when a cover letter is most valuable:
- Requested in the job posting: Always include a cover letter when submitting your resume if it’s a requirement of the job application.
- Career changes: Use a cover letter to explain transferable skills and how your background prepares you for a new industry or role.
- Addressing gaps or special circumstances: Include a cover letter to explain employment gaps, career transitions, or unique qualifications.
- Networking or referrals: Send a cover letter when you’ve been referred or want to introduce yourself to a hiring manager proactively.
- Demonstrating company fit: Use a cover letter to show knowledge of the company, align with its mission, and highlight why you’re uniquely interested in the role.
- Standing out: Even when a cover letter is optional, including one with your application can help you stand out from the pool of applicants.
Avoid using a cover letter in the following situations:
- Employer instructions advising against one:When the job posting specifically states that a cover letter is not required or accepted, don’t include one.
- Online applications with predetermined limits:When application portals offer only text fields or the option to upload just one document, only submit your resume.
- Mass job submissions:When sending bulk applications, a generic cover letter wouldn’t add value or personalize your application.
- Internal promotions with HR guidelines:When internal application processes indicate that a cover letter is unnecessary, you can omit sending one.
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When to Use a Resume
A resume should be used whenever you’re applying for a job, internship, or professional opportunity. Here’s when a resume is most valuable:
- Job applications: Always include a resume when applying for a paid or volunteer position unless the listing explicitly states otherwise.
- Career changes: Use a resume to highlight transferable skills, relevant experience, and accomplishments that support your new direction.
- Networking or referrals: Provide a resume when meeting a potential employer or connection to summarize your qualifications efficiently.
- Promotions or internal opportunities: Submit a resume when applying for higher-level roles or different positions within your organization.
- Graduate programs or internships: Include a resume to present education, projects, and relevant experiences to demonstrate readiness and fit.
How Cover Letters & 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 resume 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. For example:
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 a Strong Cover Letter & Resume
- Follow the application instructions. This is the first step to a good first impression. Include all the documents requested in the required file format.
- 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.
- Create a resume outline. Quickly adapt it to tailor your applications. Use the outline when brainstorming which achievements to include in your cover letter as well.
- 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.
- Use the same header for your resume and cover letter. This saves time, establishes personal branding, and gives your application a cohesive look.
- 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 matching documents. MyPerfectResume’s Resume Builder and Cover Letter Generator help you create matching documents that complement each other.
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 most relevant qualifications and your personality to potential employers.
- There are differences between each document, including the structure, format, and voice. A cover letter shows your personality, while a resume shows your results.
- 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 you can tailor it to the specific role.
- A cover letter should expand upon the information in your resume to provide additional content and examples that showcase why you’re the best fit for the position.
FAQ
Is a cover letter better than a resume?
A cover letter is not better than a resume; each serves a unique purpose in a job application. A resume provides a concise summary of your skills, experience, and accomplishments, making it easy for employers to assess your qualifications quickly.
A cover letter, on the other hand, allows you to explain your interest in the role, highlight relevant achievements, and demonstrate why your background makes you a strong fit. Both documents work together to present a complete picture of your candidacy.
Should your cover letter match your resume?
Yes, your cover letter should complement and align with your resume template and content, but it should not duplicate it. While your resume provides a structured summary of your skills, experience, and achievements, your cover letter adds context, storytelling, and personality.
Matching formatting elements such as headers, fonts, and style helps create a cohesive application, while the content of your cover letter highlights key qualifications and explains why you’re a strong fit for the specific role.
Can you have a cover letter without a resume?
No, you should not submit a cover letter without a resume. While a cover letter introduces your interest in the role and highlights key skills, it does not provide a full summary of your experience, achievements, and qualifications.
Employers expect both documents because a resume gives a structured overview of your background, and a cover letter adds context about your alignment with the role.
Do employers care about cover letters anymore?
Yes, many employers still care about cover letters, though their importance can vary by industry and company.
A cover letter allows you to explain your interest in the role, highlight relevant experience, and demonstrate personality and communication skills that a resume alone cannot.
While some employers may not require one, submitting a tailored cover letter can help you stand out and make a stronger impression in a competitive hiring process.
How can I differentiate my cover letter from my resume?
You can differentiate your cover letter from your resume by using it to tell a story, explain your interest in the role, and highlight how your experience aligns with the employer’s needs.
While your resume lists skills, accomplishments, and work history in bullet points, your cover letter uses narrative paragraphs to provide context, showcase personality, and demonstrate motivation, making it a complementary document rather than a repetition of your resume.
Can I use the same cover letter for every job?
No, you should not use the same cover letter for every job. Customizing your cover letter demonstrates genuine interest, shows that you understand the company’s needs, and increases your chances of standing out to hiring managers in a competitive application process.
While you might use the same cover letter template for each letter, ensure that you tailor the content to the specific role and employer, highlighting relevant skills, experience, and accomplishments that match the job description.
How is a cover letter different from a CV?
A cover letter differs from a CV in purpose, format, and content.
While a CV provides a detailed, comprehensive record of your education, work experience, skills, and accomplishments, a cover letter is a concise, one-page narrative document that explains why you’re interested in a specific role.
Your cover letter should expand on your CV by highlighting your most relevant qualifications and demonstrating how your experience aligns with the employer’s needs.
How We Reviewed This Article
Since 2012, we have helped more than 11 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.
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Cover Letter vs Resume
Natalia is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches. She is committed to helping job seekers navigate the job market and succeed in their careers.
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Our customers have been hired at:*Foot Note
