CV vs. Cover Letter: Differences, Benefits & Examples

CVs and cover letters are used to apply for jobs, posts and academic positions. However, they are entirely different documents. We’ll explain those differences and give tips to nail each!

As seen in:

What Is the Difference Between CVs and Cover Letters?

A cover letter is a brief, personalized letter to potential employers explaining why you want the job. In contrast, a CV is a more detailed document (typically two to eight pages) highlighting your professional experience and educational background. While the CV showcases your qualifications, the cover letter focuses on your motivation and fit for the role.

Check out this chart, which compares CVs and cover letters side-by-side and provides examples to help you better understand the differences.

Cover letter vs. CV

CV

Purpose: Applying for jobs and academic posts.
Content: Broken up into focused sections.
Format: Uses bullet points and lists.
Length: Usually, multiple pages. Can be as long as you see fit.
Approach: Uses your experience and skills as evidence of why you deserve a job.

Cover Letter

Purpose: Introducing you to your CV’s reader.
Content: Consists of addresses, three to four paragraphs and your signature.
Format: Primarily written in sentences, although bullet points can be used.
Length: Should be one page maximum, 250 to 400 words.
Approach: Discusses why you deserve a job, and also why you want the job.

Next, we’ll get into the fine details about what you need to include in each document to impress employers.

However, if you’re ready to launch into creating your documents, check out our best tool for the job, our CV Builder.

It can help you make resumes and CVs, plus it comes with access to our Cover Letter Builder. Since the builder is fully automated, it can help you complete your documents in 15 minutes!

Make My CV

What Is a CV vs. a Cover Letter? What to Include in Each

CVs and cover letters work in tandem to make a convincing case for why you deserve a job. Next, we’ll look into more detail about what each document consists of and what each should achieve to be successful, starting with the CV.

What is a CV?

A CV (short for curriculum vitae) is a detailed document that outlines your skills, educational background and work experience. It’s similar to a resume but longer and contains more sections and a greater focus on your academic history.

In many countries, a CV and resume mean the same thing. However, in the U.S., CVs are primarily used for academic, research and scientific positions and have more sections.

Like a resume, what you include in a CV consists of the five primary sections:

CVs often include additional sections:

Awards and Honors
Languages
Research Projects
Publications
Conferences
Grants
Teaching Experience.

You can see how other candidates customize their CVs by checking out some CV examples.

Similarly, if you need help finding a design you like, we have a collection of CV templates. Professional designers created these templates so you can skip formatting and jump straight to plugging in your information.

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a professional business letter that highlights your key qualifications and achievements, showing why you’re the ideal candidate for the role. Unlike a CV or resume, a well-written cover letter showcases your personality and tells a compelling story about your career accomplishments, motivations and what makes you an excellent fit for the position.

The general cover letter format follows this organization:

Header featuring your contact information
The recipient’s address
A salutation and greeting
An introduction paragraph
Two to three main body paragraphs
A closing paragraph
Professional sign-off phrase
Your name or signature

When you break down each part of these two job application documents, it’s clear that a cover letter and CV are very different. However, how they fit together can powerfully impact your job chances!

CV vs cover letter: similarities + how they complement each other

CVs and cover letters work together to showcase your qualifications and impress potential employers.

Think of the CV as a map outlining your professional journey, listing skills, experiences and achievements. The cover letter serves as a compass that guides the reader with a personalized narrative that explains your motivation and highlights key accomplishments.

To make an impactful impression on recruiters, ensure your cover letter complements your CV by expanding on one notable achievement you mentioned in your CV.

In addition to the content, having a consistent design across both documents demonstrates attention to detail and professionalism.

Example of a matching CV and cover letter:

Use This Template

Cover Letter

Our Resume Builder comes loaded with six pairs of matching CV and cover letter templates!

Key Takeaways

CVs and cover letters are documents used to apply for jobs and opportunities.
Understanding the distinction between a CV and a cover letter is vital for optimizing your application.
A CV outlines your skills and experiences comprehensively, while a cover letter shares your motivations and personality.
CVs typically include more sections than a resume or cover letter.
In contrast, cover letters follow a standard business letter format, highlighting key points from your history.
Just as a map and compass work together, a CV provides the roadmap, while a cover letter offers direction.
Ensure both documents complement each other and have matching designs to convey professionalism.

Build Your Cover Letter Now

About the Author

Eric Ciechanowski • Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Eric Ciechanowski is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), certified by the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARWCC). He graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans with a B.A. double major in Creative Writing and Philosophy. His career background includes fields as diverse as education, hospitality, journalism, copywriting, tech and trivia hosting.