{"id":70346,"date":"2021-10-12T08:45:11","date_gmt":"2021-10-12T08:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/?p=70346"},"modified":"2026-01-13T04:56:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T04:56:19","slug":"key-differences-cover-letter-resume","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/key-differences-cover-letter-resume\/","title":{"rendered":"Key Differences Between A Cover Letter And A Resume"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 6<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

Are you applying for a job in Australia? Your success will depend, to a large extent, on the quality of your cover letter and resume. Both are critically important documents that have some similarities – and some significant differences.<\/p>\n

Let’s examine these in detail to ensure that you land a great job quickly.<\/p>\n

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Is A Cover Letter The Same As A Resume?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The short answer is an emphatic \u201cno\u201d.<\/p>\n

Both documents are essential marketing tools designed to deliver a memorable first impression and convey your suitability for a specific position.<\/p>\n

Both sell you to a potential employer, but they do so in very different ways.<\/p>\n

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What Is A Resume?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A resume is a career document that provides employers and recruiters with a comprehensive snapshot of your commercial value<\/a> as an employee.<\/p>\n

It must contain relevant academic details, work experience (listed in reverse chronological order), skills, hobbies, personal interests and a personal profile.<\/p>\n

A good resume is short, yet information-dense<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It should not be filled with empty jargon and superlatives; rather, it must clearly demonstrate your ability to solve a very specific commercial pain point.<\/p>\n

By the way, in Australia, Europe, and some Commonwealth nations, the word \u201cresume\u201d is often used interchangeably with a \u201cCV\u201d or \u201ccurriculum vitae.\u201d In the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand, “CV” is the preferred term.<\/p>\n

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What Is A Cover Letter?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A cover letter is a formal message addressed to the hiring manager\/recruiter of the company you hope to join. It is written in proper letter format, with date, contact information, and a personalised greeting.<\/p>\n

The purpose of a cover letter is to provide a basic introduction and provide any additional details that fall outside the normal confines of a resume.<\/p>\n

For instance, it can be used to provide details regarding your motivation to join the company, or to explain the reasons for any gaps in your professional career, etc.<\/p>\n

You can send a cover letter either in the body of the email or as an attachment along with your resume.<\/p>\n

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Resumes Showcase Your Value.<\/b><\/h2>\n

Use a resume to highlight details and aspects of yourself that are relevant from an employment perspective.<\/p>\n

(Related: Should You Include Your Date Of Birth On Your Resume<\/a>?)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The purpose of a resume is to convince the employer that you are uniquely different – in a commercially meaningful way – to other candidates.<\/p>\n

It helps the recruiter\/HR person decide if the company should call you in for further interviews<\/a> and tests<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Cover Letters Act As A \u201cSales Pitch\u201d.<\/b><\/h2>\n

A cover letter is more like a marketing pitch that draws the recruiter\u2019s attention to your resume. It gives you a chance to play up your skills.<\/p>\n

Use it to highlight the most important points<\/a>, then unpack them in much more detail throoughout your resume. Whenever possible, include small anecdotes or experiences to highlight your suitability for the job.<\/p>\n

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Resumes Are Formal In Their Tone.<\/b><\/h2>\n

You can write your resume in either the first or third person. Crucially, it tends to be quite factual and – dare I say – dry in its tone.<\/p>\n

(By the way, do you want a professional resume writer to absolutely nail the tone of your resume? Consider hiring one of our pro resume writers<\/a>).<\/p>\n

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Cover Letters Are Less Formal.<\/b><\/h2>\n

A cover letter is a personal letter from you to the employer\/recruiter.<\/p>\n

You must always use the first-person narrative here \u2013 e.g., “I have this” or “I would love to work on this”.<\/p>\n

While it’s certainly not the right place to become very casual or colloquial, some informality is allowed. Tailor the level of formality to the employer’s culture.<\/p>\n

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Basic Format Of A Resume.<\/b><\/h2>\n

The most widely used format for professional resumes is reverse chronological.<\/p>\n

In this format, your most recent roles appear on top<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Below I\u2019m listing the sections\u00a0you need to include<\/a> in a resume to ensure that it blows the socks off employers:<\/p>\n