Use your CV and cover letter wisely to present a polished application

When you apply for a job, you may be asked to send in a CV and a cover letter. They're similar, as they both need to show how you're a good match for the vacancy, but they're not the same. In this article, we'll investigate the difference between a CV and a cover letter, and show how they can complement each other to create a strong application. 

What is a CV?

For many employers, a CV is an absolutely essential piece of kit when applying for a job. It's a document that shows off your suitability for the role in a concise and impactful way. CVs offer a short-yet-targeted overview of your career highlights, that prove you're a great candidate for the job (or type of job) you're applying for. Details are usually presented in snappy bullet points, led by powerful verbs, and bolstered with concrete statistics.

What is a cover letter?

Unlike CVs, cover letters can be optional. That said, including a cover letter with your application can dramatically strengthen your chances of success in securing an interview. According to a recent LinkedIn survey, “49% of hiring managers admitted that a strong cover letter convinced them to interview a candidate.” And with “only 6% of hiring managers thinking that a cover letter is unnecessary for a job application,” it might be time to rethink your approach.

Cover letters are primarily used to expand on your CV, to add more context, and to further explain your value. It supplies the HR Manager with further evidence that proves you're an applicant who's worthy of an interview. It also serves as an introduction. If a hiring manager reads, and likes, your cover letter, they'll be more inclined to follow up by reading your CV. If your cover letter is sloppily written, doesn't offer much context, or isn't bringing anything to the table in order to encourage someone to find out more, then the likelihood is that they are probably not going to seek out your CV for further investigation. 

Cover letters should always be tailored to the specific role and company you're applying to,

so along with summarising your suitability it should also include a note on your motivation. 

Is a CV a cover letter? Is a cover letter a CV?

The short answer to this is “no.” You can't use your CV as a cover letter, or your cover letter as a CV. While they may seem similar, knowing the difference between a CV and a cover letter is crucial in order to get the best results while you're navigating your job search journey. That's what we'll explore in greater depth below.

What does a CV include?

Your CV should cover four main sections, including:

Name, professional title, and contact information 

It's essential that these details are accurate and well formatted, to ensure that the HR Manager can identify you easily and get in touch. Learn more here about how to add contact information to your CV.

Personal profile

Your personal profile, located just under the contact details and at the top of the first page of your CV, should detail who you are, what you can offer the company, and your career goals, all in one tidy paragraph of about four or five sentences. CVs are written in the third person, without pronouns. This might sound a bit odd at first, but it avoids the constant, “I did this,” and “I did that” way of writing.

For example, you could write, “A versatile and approachable Store Manager who flourishes with increased responsibility and engages well with customers.”

Professional experience

Your work experience should explain what you've done in your current role and your previous roles, going back to cover the last 10 to 12 years. Most importantly, it should then be expanded to feature your key accomplishments, demonstrating the value you could bring to your new role.

Education and qualifications

Your education and qualifications section simply adds finer details to prove that you're a qualified expert in certain areas, all adding up to an impressive professional skill set. You can also include any certifications or courses you have completed to further develop your knowledge.

What does a cover letter include?

A cover letter is different. Usually, it's a one-page document, running to three or four brief paragraphs, that complements your CV. It normally focuses on four key elements:

  • The position you're applying for

  • Your most impressive and relevant skills and experiences

  • How these skills will benefit the company

  • A request for an interview

It's formatted similarly to a traditional letter, with a salutation, paragraphs, and a closing sentence.

However, in this digital age that we live in, where many CVs are sent directly to employers via email, the rules for cover letters are changing. If you're emailing your CV, treat the message in your email as your cover letter, rather than attaching it separately.

The similarities between a cover letter and a CV

We've taken a look at what CVs and cover letters are, so let's summarise the similarities:

  • They both detail your achievements and experience, drawing attention to your brilliance

  • They both show off what you can contribute to a business, to persuade a hiring manager to invite you to an interview

  • They both need to be written and presented in a professional manner

  • Overall, they create a holistic view of the type of worker you are and how you might fit into the business that you're keen to get into

Expert tip: When applying for a role, make sure your CV and cover letter are sent as two separate documents. 

The differences between a CV and a cover letter

We've said that CVs and cover letters are not the same, even though they have many commonalities. So where do they differ? 

  • A CV is generally presented in a punchy, bullet-point format, whereas a cover letter is written in paragraphs

  • A CV presents a career and education chronology, whereas a cover letter will focus on a few recent pieces of key information 

  • A cover letter is presented as a standard business letter, while a CV has a unique layout and its own set of expectations

  • A CV is based on facts, but a cover letter (while obviously still sticking to the truth!) can include more personality

  • A CV presents a lot of information very concisely, but a cover letter can go into greater depth on important details

  • A CV includes several sections, each with their own heading, but a cover letter only has one main header at the top

  • A cover letter is rarely longer than one page, whereas a CV can run to two – or even more!

  • A cover letter can include information that isn't generally suitable for a CV, such as why you've taken a career break, when you're available to start, or personal information that you want to share (such as if you have a disability)

  • Your cover letter offers the chance for recruiters to get to know you as a person, with subjective details such as your writing style, tone of voice, interest in the position, values and motivations contributing in a way the CV can't

Cover letters aren't always listed as an essential requirement on a job application. However, with a CV that proves your talent and ability, plus a cover letter that supports and sells your story, you'll greatly increase your chances of impressing a prospective employer. 

CV writing tips

It's impossible to cover every scenario you might face when writing a CV here, but there's a mine of useful information on our blog. The most important points to remember are: 

  • Keep it recent: The emphasis should be on the work you've done, the qualifications you've achieved, and the skills you've acquired recently.  The further back in time your CV goes, the less detail is needed.

  • Keep it relevant: Focus on information that's relevant to the role you're applying for – less relevant details can be minimised or omitted. 

  • Keep it impactful: Aim to convey the impact you've had in previous roles and how you've contributed, so that the hiring manager can see how you'd be a valuable addition to their team. 

Tailoring your CV to the job

You may have heard that you should tailor your CV to the job, but what exactly does that mean? Put simply, it just means that you should make a few tweaks to your master CV to show that you meet the exact requirements of the role you're applying for. 

The easiest way to do this is to read the advert closely to identify exactly what is needed, and then to cross-reference the points you identify with your CV to ensure you cover as much as possible. In reality, it will probably only mean changing or adding a few keywords in your Profile or Skills sections, but you should check through your Experience section too, to make sure it's aligned. 

Cover letter writing tips

We know that a cover letter is different to a CV now, but what is best practice for writing one? 

  • Copy the main header, with your name and contact details, from your CV

  • Don't forget to add the date

  • Address the letter as you would any other piece of business correspondence, beginning “Dear…” Try to find out the name of the person recruiting, for added brownie points!

  • Use the intro paragraph to state what role you're applying for and where you saw it advertised, and to emphasise your interest in the position

  • Add a couple more paragraphs explaining why your previous experience is relevant and has set you up to succeed in the role 

  • Close with a summary of your suitability, a note on why the role and company appeal, and a call to action

  • Sign off with “Yours…” plus your full name

Expert tip: If you're sending an email rather than a document, try to cover the points above much more concisely, as email letters are generally short and to-the-point.

CV vs cover letter: use them appropriately to progress your career

Just like strawberries and cream or fish and chips, a CV and cover letter go well together. Now you know the main differences between a CV and a cover letter, you can write both in such a way that your reader is blown away by your suitability and professionalism. You're well on your way to winning that interview and landing your next role!

The writers at TopCV certainly know their way around both CVs and cover letters. Learn more about working with an expert writer to find more success with your job-search documents or send your CV for a free CV review to see how it stacks up.

This article was originally written by Laura Slingo and has been updated by Elizabeth Openshaw and Jen David.

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