I've seen a lot of confusion between cover letters and resumes. They're not the same thing—each has its own purpose in a job application.

In this guide, I'll show:

• The key differences
• When to use each
• Examples to make it feel real
• Quick tips to match both perfectly

Let's jump in.

What Is a Resume?

A Resume is a one-page (sometimes two) summary of your work history, skills, education, and some achievements. It's formatted with bullet points and short statements.

Use a Resume to:

• Show your qualifications at a glance
• Highlight job-fit skills
• Let ATS systems scan keywords

**Example (Resume section):**
**Work Experience**
XYZ Startup – Frontend Developer
Jan 2023 – Present
• Built a React dashboard that improved load speed by 30%
• Integrated REST APIs to pull live data, reducing bugs by 20%

Every bullet shows what you did and why it mattered.

What Is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a short, one-page personalized letter. It's written in paragraphs and speaks directly to the hiring manager.

It allows you to:

• Introduce yourself in your own words
• Explain why you want the job
• Share a specific example or story
• Tie your skills to the role

Basic Cover Letter structure:

Date  
Your name, email, phone

Dear [Hiring Manager],

Intro: say what role you're applying for and your key skill  
Body: link one or two past success stories  
Closing: firm interest + ask for next steps

Sincerely,  
Your name

Example: "When I saw [Company] was looking for a Frontend Developer, I got excited. At XYZ Startup, I built a React dashboard that cut data load time by 30%. I'd love to bring that performance to your product…"

This shows why you fit and why you care.

Key Differences at a Glance

Feature	Resume	Cover Letter
Format	Bullets, many sections, 1–2 pages	Letter format, paragraphs, 1 page max
Purpose	Show facts, skills, dates	Tell why you fit, how you connect personally
Tone	Formal, factual	Conversational, personal
Customization	Small tweaks per job	Fully tailored for each job
ATS Scannability	Bullet keywords	Human reader focus

Resumes get your foot in the door whereas cover letters help you speak to the hiring manager.

When to Use Each

Always use a Resume

Every job application needs one. It's the basic proof of skills and experience.

Use a Cover Letter When:

• The job posting asks for one
• You want to explain a career change or gap
• You can share a specific story that shows you're a perfect match
• It helps you stand out (ex: strong competition)

Skip Cover Letter If:

• The post says "no cover letter"
• You're mass-applying with no room for personalization
• It's a high-volume entry-level job (like retail)

Even if optional, a thoughtful cover letter can make you stand out—but only if it's well-written.

Real Examples Side by Side

Job: UX Designer

Resume snippet:

Work Experience  
ABC Design – UX Designer  
May 2022 – Present  
• Led UI redesign that improved user retention by 25%  
• Designed prototypes with Figma, reducing dev time 15%

Cover Letter snippet:

"At ABC Design, I led a UI redesign that improved user retention by 25%. I saw [Your Company] are tackling similar UX issues with your app's onboarding flow—I'd love to bring my hands-on experience to help reduce churn."

How They Should Work Together

• Resume gives the facts.
• Cover letter gives the story behind one or two facts.

For example, if your resume says:

"Increased email sign-up by 40% through A/B testing"

Your cover letter can explain:

"I noticed you recently launched new blog content. I'd love to use conversion tactics I developed at ABC to optimize your opt-in flow for new readers."

This builds a bridge between what you did and how you apply it here.

Quick Tips for Both

1. Match fonts and headers across files
2. Save as PDF (unless asked otherwise)
3. Personalize your cover letter for each company
4. Start strong: cover letter intro matters
5. Expand, don't repeat: say more, not the same
6. Use keywords in your resume (ATS)
7. Proofread both carefully

Want a deeper comparison? See my article CV vs Resume – And 5 Tools to Make a Great CV Online for tips on formats, when to use a CV vs Resume, and tools to build them.

Research & Sources

• A cover letter is a personal intro; resume is facts and bullets
• Resume is a snapshot; cover letter is a personalized narrative
• Cover letters should explain motivation, not repeat resume
• Skip cover letter only when job listing says so

Conclusion

A Resume shows what you've done. A Cover Letter shows why it matters.

Use a Resume to list your experience, skills, and education—clean and to the point. Use a Cover Letter to connect the dots between your work and the job you're applying for.

Both work best when used together. The Resume helps you get shortlisted. The Cover Letter helps you stand out.

Keep both short, relevant, and easy to read.