Cover Letter & CV
Difference between Cover letter and CV you should know
Do you know, what is the difference between CV and Cover Letter? This is as simple as distinguishing between a notepad and a Journal. While searching the job, candidates should be accustomed with writing cover letters and CVs.
A CV gives a good overview of your skills, professional associations, educational background, work experience, and some other important information. It should contain your name, contact information, address along with all position titles, employment dates and degree obtained.
A Cover letter is the first contact of you with potential recruiters and complements your CV by introducing you, replying a job advertisement and a request for an interview. A cover letter builds a bond with the reader and accentuates what you deliver to the job.
Since most of the applications require CVs, a Cover letter might not be needed, so candidates do not know always the difference between a cover letter and a CV. Some of the candidates avert writing a cover letter to save time, but this mistake probably cost you a job.
Submitting both cover letter and CV provides you double chances to present yourself before the potential recruiter. Both the documents are vital in searching of job and can make your either assertive or provide a negative impression. It totally depends on the business etiquette, formatting, writing style, and information communicated.
Here are some differences between a CV and a cover letter;
Subjective Vs objective information
CV contains facts but cover letter comprises all the subjective information. While writing a CV, candidates find tough to communicate accomplished and job duties in bullet points. It is difficult to comprehend your skill and job duties when your limit is a one or two page CV.
In the cover letter, you can go in deep detail and give more examples of how you created a difference at your last job positions.
CV format vs. Cover letter format
The most common difference between a CV and a cover letter is the format. A CV should be simple to scan when a potential recruiter sees it. To grab the attention of the employer, your CV’s header should comprise your contact information and name. If the CV is of two pages, mention header on both the pages, as most companies scan CVs on electronic machines before sending to employers.
In your resume, you can highlight your work experiences and educational qualification with the use of headings. Bulleted listings are also the easiest way to specify your job duties and skills as per the requirement of a job.
While cover letters contain three to five paragraphs in the format of a business letter, including the candidate’s and recruiter’s contact information, introduction, salutation, and body paragraphs.
Cover letters are focused on how you are the perfect match for the needs of the employer, with less stress on being a scannable, attractive and great emphasis on good content.
To sum up
Both Cover letters and CVs have different information, purposes, and formats but both are equally vital. Always remember checking grammatical and spelling errors and represent yourself assertively. Be genuine about your accomplishments, education, work history, and skills. In the competitive market of jobs, your initial impression is made from Cover letter and CV.