The Difference Between a Cover Letter and a Resume 

Request a Consultation from an Award-Winning Recruiter and Resume Writer

(Board, C-Level, VP, Director & Mid-Career Professionals)

What Is A Resume

A resume is a chronological account of your professional experience, starting with your most recent job and working backward. It should include the names of the companies you have worked for, your job titles, and a brief description of your duties and responsibilities in each role.

A comprehensive overview of your qualifications, skills, and accomplishments. Your resume should include relevant education or training and any professional awards or recognition you have earned. It is also a good idea to include a list of skills related to the job you are applying for.

Because a resume is meant to be a concise overview of your professional experience, it should not exceed two pages. If you have a lot of experience, you may need to condense it to the most relevant and recent information.

What Is A Cover Letter

A great cover letter introduces you to a potential employer and highlights your most relevant qualifications for the job. Unlike a resume, which is primarily factual, a perfect cover letter allows you to tell a story about your professional journey and how it has prepared you for the role you are applying for.

A well-written cover letter will give a potential employer a glimpse of your communication style and ability to convey information succinctly. A cover letter sample is usually one page in length. Because a cover letter is meant to be a brief introduction, a successful cover letter should not exceed one page.

How Can I Use Each?

Now that we’ve gone over the key differences between a resume and a cover letter, let’s look at how job seekers can use them to their advantage when applying to a job ad.

When submitting a job application, you will usually be asked to provide a resume and a career change cover letter. In some cases, an employer may only ask for a resume. In this case, your cover letter would be unnecessary, and you should focus on your resume.

When submitting a job application, it is important to follow the instructions carefully. If an employer asks for a resume and a cover letter, be sure to submit both documents. If an employer only asks for a resume, only submit a resume.

Things To Avoid When Writing A Resume

When writing your resume,

  • Avoid using first-person pronouns like “I” or “me.” This document is meant to be a factual overview of your professional experience, so it should be written in the third person.
  • Avoid using jargon or abbreviations that a potential employer may not be familiar with. Use clear and concise language that can be easily understood.
  • Finally, avoid including personal information on your resumes, such as your age, marital status, or religion. This information is irrelevant to your professional experience and could discriminate against you.

Things To Avoid When Writing A Cover Letter

When writing your cover letter,

  • Avoid repeating the information from your resume. Your general cover letter should supplement your resume, not duplicate it.
  • Finally, avoid including personal information on your cover letters, such as your age, marital status, or religion. This information is irrelevant to your professional experience and could discriminate against you.

Best Practices

Now that we’ve covered what to include and avoid in your resume and cover letter, let’s look at some best practices for writing each document.

When writing your resume, be sure to:

  1. Include information on your professional experience, education, and skills
  2. Use clear and concise language
  3. Avoid using first-person pronouns
  4. Use reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent experience

When writing your cover letter, be sure to:

  1. Introduce yourself and explain why you are interested in the job title
  2. Highlight your most relevant qualifications for the job
  3. Use clear and concise language
  4. Avoid repeating information from your resume in your final paragraph

If you follow these tips, you will be well on your way to writing a strong resume and cover letter that will help you get the job you want.

Benefits of a well-written resume and cover letter

There are many benefits of having a well-written resume and cover letter.

  • A well-written resume will:
  • Highlight your most relevant qualifications and experience for the job
  • Help you to stand out from other candidates

A well-written cover letter will:

  • Introduce you to the employer and explain why you are interested in the position
  • Highlight your most relevant qualifications for the job
  • Convince the employer to read your resume

A well-written resume and cover letter will give you a better chance of getting your desired job. So, if you’re applying for jobs, take the time to write a strong resume and cover letter.

Conclusion

A well-written resume and cover letter are essential when applying for jobs. They can help you to stand out from other candidates and convince employers to read your resume. Following the tips in this article, you can write resumes and cover letters that impress potential employers.

Related Articles

Let us help you land your next position by crafting the best ATS optimized resume or by managing your entire job search. Here’s more information about our Resume Writing Services and Reverse Recruitment Service. Book a call today to speak directly with our CEO and Founder, Arno Markus!

About iCareerSolutions

iCareerSolutions, America’s #1 Executive and Professional Resume Writing Services, Reverse Recruitment, and LinkedIn Profile Development Company. 28X award-winning resume writers deliver professional resumes that get interviews. We have successfully landed our executive clients senior-level leadership positions at companies like Apple, Amazon, EA, Oracle, GM, Google, Facebook, DoJ, Gap, and 2U just to name a few. iCareerSolutions has 200+ 5-star reviews and offers a 60-day interview guarantee. Every resume template created is Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) compatible and highly customized to meet your unique needs.

Active Members of The National Resume Writers’ Association (NRWA) │ The Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches (PARW&CC) │ Career Directors International (CDI) │ Career Professionals (CPC) │ Forbes Coaches Council

One of the Top Multi-Award-Winning Resume Writing Services in the country.

Book a complimentary consultation for your Professionally Managed Job Search now!

Forbes Coaches Council
60 Day Interview Guarantee

Here are some of our Top Resume Testimonials

Rachel OBrien
My sincere gratitude Arno for all your time, patience and refined skills in word smithing my resume, and guidance during these past few months. You and your firm’s expertise has been a game-changer. The results have transformed and elevated my brand that is uniquely me and the value I will bring to the right organization of my choice. I have only just begun my job search and the responses have b…
Rachel O'BrienDirector Governance
Laura Cocuzzi
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Arno over these last few years. Arno’s perspectives and expertise, coupled with a direct and honest approach brings forward great insights and quality in the work he delivers. Whether his clients are in junior to senior level roles, his adaptability and experience shines through in the resume package, so long as the client is open to receive feedback and d…
Laura CocuzziSupply Chain & Technology Change Leader
Greg Adkins
Arno is a mentor, motivator, and proffessional guru. Not only does he have a great understaning of the current market place to help drive undetstanding and interest; He takes the time to understand your needs, direction, and goals. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work with Arno and find the next organization I can make and impact. Anyone that works with Arno will be lucky to enjoy hi…
Greg AdkinsSenior Sales Manager
Raymond R. Mann
My first interaction with Mr. Markus goes back to 2016. I sent him my resume, which to me, was pretty darn good. We talked about my career goals, I filled out a detailed matrix, and a week later, he sent me a draft of my latest resume. I was so awestruck I became emotional. I felt I had been shortchanging myself for years. The matrix helps realize strengths and skills – missing words to make us …
Raymond R. MannChief Engineer
Maureen Traynor
Hi Arno, Wow, this is so different!  Thank you for sending.  I’ll review this week and get back to you with any adjustments.
Maureen Traynor
AUSTIN
Arno Markus is a dedicated and talented professional who brings a deep and impressive track record to every person whom he is associated with. It was a privilege to have Arno share his expertise in evaluating my personal brand and LinkedIn content. He is focused, effective, and enthusiastically provides guidance to those who seek his counsel. In today’s labor market chock full of well-qualified …
Guy AustinOperations Executive
Vanessa Dos Santos Oliveira
Arno and his team helped me write a concise, engaging, and on-target resume. I also had the opportunity to gain long-lasting experience by employing proven strategies to secure a job through his 1:1 Coaching session. Arno and his team helped me write a concise, engaging, and on-target resume. I also had the opportunity to gain long-lasting experience by employing proven strategies to secure a job …
Vanessa Dos Santos OliveiraAccountant
Daniel Hyman
Arno has been a crucial voice for me in crafting my professional story. His process for getting me to identify my professional successes and turn them into stories have helped me understand my impact but also feel confident in speaking about my experience and professional contributions. His methodology also laid a superior foundation for fielding and answering interview questions….
Daniel Hyman
Francois Zofel
After reading dozens of articles on how to write the best resume adequately representing my complex career spanning nearly 20 years at the time, in a foreign language, I decided to seek professional help. Having guidance on format, a good conversation on my evolution, somebody to take a outside look upon my career and help on the proper keyword to use for the roles I was seeking proved highly val…
François ZöfelSecurity Officer (CSSI)
blank profile picture 1
Documents received!  First pass looks great, will go through in detail and send back redlines (is it OK to use change tracking in Word?) Hope you are feeling better!
William Klancko

Top Resume Writing Awards

Employers who have Onboarded Our Clients

Scroll to Top
Scroll to Top