Cover letter vs resume: Do you need both to get hired?

The job market has been tough over the last 4–5 years, especially after COVID. With more people looking for jobs and fewer openings available, competition has become even harder.

It’s no longer enough to just have experience—you need to present yourself in the best way possible. That’s why everyone is focused on improving their resume, hoping it will give them an edge. But is a resume alone enough?

In such a situation, you might be wondering if a cover letter is just an extra step or if it actually makes a difference. Do hiring managers even read them?

And most importantly, how can a cover letter work alongside your resume to increase your chances of landing a job?

Let me explain. A resume highlights your skills and experience, while a cover letter gives you the chance to explain why you're the right choice for the job. But understanding the difference between the two and using them together the right way isn't always easy.

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!

In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know about cover letters vs. resumes, including:

• The differences between a resume and a cover letter
• How to effectively use both in your job application
• Tips for writing both of them
• How to make sure your resume and cover letter complement each other

So let's start with the:

The differences between a resume and a cover letter

A resume and a cover letter both are important parts of your job application, because both serve different purposes. When we talk about a resume, it is a concise document which highlights your skills, work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications.

It sticks to the facts, usually in bullet points, so hiring managers can quickly see if you have what they’re looking for.

On the other hand, a cover letter is used to explain why you're interested in the job and why you're a good fit. It’s more personal than a resume. You can show the employer why you care about the job and how your values match the company's goals.

In short, a resume outlines the facts, while a cover letter provides context and insight into who you are as a person and why you want the job.

Let's look at these key differences to help you use both your resume and cover letter effectively in your job application:

1. Format

• Resume: The format of a resume is usually clean and straightforward, using bullet points to list your work experience, education, and skills. It’s typically divided into sections like “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.” So the employers can scan through and find the information they need.
• Cover letter: A cover letter is usually written in paragraphs. It follows a formal letter structure, starts with a greeting, then an introduction, body paragraphs explaining your interest in the role, and a conclusion.

2. Tone

• Resume: The tone of a resume is more neutral and factual. It focuses on presenting information in a direct way. There's no room for personal expression, just the facts about your experience and qualifications.
• Cover letter: The tone of a cover letter is warmer and more personal. You can express enthusiasm and passion for the role. While it’s still professional, it offers more space for you to explain why you’re excited about the position and how you fit with the company.

3. Purpose

• Resume: The main purpose of a resume is to showcase your skills, work history, education, and achievements. It gives employers an overview of what you’ve done and what qualifications you bring to the table. It’s meant to be a quick reference guide that highlights your capabilities.
• Cover letter: It helps the employer understand the personal reasons behind your application and gives you the chance to make a more compelling case for why you should be considered for the role.

4. Length

• Resume: A resume is generally shorter, usually one or two pages. The focus is on being concise. You can only provide essential details about your experience and skills.
• Cover letter: A cover letter is typically one page, but it's more detailed than a resume in terms of narrative. You’ll usually have around three to four paragraphs—one introducing yourself, one or two explaining why you’re right for the role, and one concluding with a call to action.

5. What employers see first

• Resume: Employers typically look at your resume first because it provides a clear snapshot of your background. It helps them assess whether you have the qualifications needed for the job.
• Cover letter: The cover letter often comes second, though some employers may read it first to get a sense of your personality and passion. It’s not always required but it plays an important role when employers are trying to decide between candidates.

How to effectively use both in your job application

Let's discuss this one by one. First, we'll talk about the resume:

How to write you resume

A resume is a structured summary of your professional background. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how you should write your resume:

1. Contact information

This section is always at the top of your resume and should include:

• Full name – Your first and last name. Avoid nicknames.
• Phone number – Make sure it’s a working number where employers can reach you.
• Email address – Use a professional email (e.g., [email protected]). Avoid unprofessional ones like “[email protected].” because your email structure matters.
• Location – You can mention just your city and state if you don’t want to include your full address.
• LinkedIn Profile (Optional) – If you have an updated LinkedIn profile that showcases your experience, you can add the link.

Some people also add links to professional websites, portfolios, or GitHub profiles, depending on their field.

If you want to create a new email address but are unsure about choosing a username, try using an email name generator to get unique and available options.

2. Professional summary or objective

This is a short paragraph which is called a resume summary or an objective. It is at the beginning of your resume that highlights your key skills and career goals.

• Professional summary – If you have work experience, this should briefly describe your skills, achievements, and experience in a way that shows how you fit the job.
• Objective statement – If you’re a recent graduate or changing careers, this focuses on your goals and what you hope to achieve in the role.

💡 Example of a professional resume summary:
Marketing professional with five years of experience in digital advertising, content strategy, and SEO. Proven track record of increasing brand engagement by 40% through targeted campaigns.

Tip: You can use an online resume summary generator to create a professional summary that highlights your skills, experience, and key achievements.

💡 Example of an objective statement:
Recent computer science graduates with strong coding skills in Python and Java. Seeking an entry-level software development role to apply problem-solving and programming expertise.

3. Work experience

This section lists your previous jobs in reverse chronological order (most recent job first). For each job, include:

• Job title – Clearly state the role you held.
• Company name and location – Mention the name of the employer and where the company is based.
• Dates of employment – Include the start and end date (month and year). If you’re still working there, write “Present.”
• Key responsibilities and achievements – Instead of listing every task, focus on what you accomplished. Use bullet points for easy reading.

💡 Example:

Marketing specialist
ABC Company, New York, NY | June 2020 – Present

• Developed and managed social media campaigns, increasing engagement by 50%.
• Conducted market research to improve product positioning, leading to a 20% increase in sales.
• Created email marketing campaigns that boosted customer retention by 30%.

If you don’t have much work experience, you can also include internships, freelance work, or volunteer experience in this section.

4. Education

This section shows your academic background. Include:

• Degree earned – Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Associate’s degree.
• Major/Field of study – What you studied in college or university.
• School name and location – Where you earned your degree.
• Graduation year – Mention the year you graduated. If you haven’t graduated yet, write “Expected [Year].”

💡 Example:

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), CA | Graduated 2022

If you’re a recent graduate, you can also list relevant coursework, academic projects, or achievements.

5. Skills

This section highlights your most important abilities. Keep them relevant to the job you’re applying for. You can divide them into:

• Technical skills – Software, programming languages, data analysis, graphic design, etc.
• Soft skills – Communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, etc.

💡 Example:

Technical skills: Microsoft Excel, Google Analytics, SEO, Photoshop
Soft skills: Team collaboration, time management, public speaking

6. Certifications and additional sections (If Needed)

If you have extra qualifications that make you stand out, you can include:

• Certifications – Any official courses or training you’ve completed (e.g., Google Analytics Certification, PMP Certification).
• Awards – Recognitions you’ve received in school or at work.
• Volunteer Work – If you’ve worked with charities or nonprofits, this can show leadership and initiative.
• Languages – If you’re bilingual, list the languages and your level of proficiency.

💡 Example:

Certifications: Google Ads Certification (2023), HubSpot Content Marketing Certification (2022)
Languages: Fluent in English and Spanish

How to write your cover letter

A cover letter is more than just a formality. It explains why those qualifications matter for the job you’re applying for. Here’s what a strong cover letter should include:

1. Contact information

At the top of your cover letter, include your name, phone number, email address, and the date. Below that, add the employer’s name, job title, company name, and company address. By doing this you make it clear who the letter is for and keeps things professional.

2. A proper greeting

Address the letter to the hiring manager by name if possible. Instead of a generic “To Whom It May Concern,” use “Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name].” If you don’t know the name, you can write “Dear Hiring Manager.”

3. An opening paragraph that grabs attention

Start by mentioning the position you’re applying for and where you found the job listing. Then, write introduction paragraph to introduce yourself and express your enthusiasm for the role. A strong opening sets the tone for the rest of the letter.

4. Why you’re a good fit

In the next paragraph, highlight your most relevant skills and experiences. Instead of repeating your resume, explain how your background makes you the right choice for this job. Give an example of a past achievement that shows your abilities.

5. Why you want to work for this company

Employers want to know that you’re not just looking for any job but that you’re interested in this job. Show that you’ve done some research by mentioning something specific about the company, such as its values, recent projects, or work culture.

6. A strong closing paragraph

End your letter by summarizing your interest in the role and expressing your eagerness for an interview. An AI-powered conclusion paragraph writer helps you thank the employer for their time and mention that you look forward to discussing your qualifications further.

7. A professional sign-off

Close with “Sincerely” or “Best regards,” followed by your full name. If sending a printed letter, leave space for your signature above your typed name.

A cover letter doesn’t have to be long—keep it to one page and make sure it’s easy to read. Writing a clear and well-structured cover letter can make a big difference in getting noticed by employers.

Tips for writing your resume and cover letter

When you're applying for a job, it's important to use both your resume and cover letter in the best way possible. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Use the resume to highlight your experience

You should list your skills, work experience, education, and achievements in an organized format. Employers want to know if you meet the basic job qualifications.

For example, under each job, you can mention key responsibilities and notable accomplishments, like “7 years of experience in a multinational company, increased sales by 20%” or “managed a team of 10.”

This helps hiring managers quickly see your professional background and skills at a glance. To create a professional and error-free cover letter that points out your achievements, use an online cover letter maker.

2. Use the cover letter to tell your story

Unlike the resume, the cover letter gives you room to express your passion about the job and the role. It allows you to explain how and why you developed those skills.

For example, you could share how a past experience sparked your interest in this field or how your personal values align with the company’s mission.

It’s also a chance to explain why you’re applying for the specific role and what excites you about the company, which you can’t write in your resume.

3. Make sure they complement each other

Your resume and cover letter shouldn’t overlap too much. These are two parts of a whole. If you talk about a particular skill or achievement in your resume, write a cover letter to explain it further.

If your resume says you managed a project, the cover letter can expand on how you handled challenges during that project and how it made you a better candidate for the job you’re applying for. But make sure you don't repeat the points.

4. Be specific

Vague phrases like “team player” or “motivated” don’t have much impact unless you back them up with specifics. Employers want to know what you’ve actually done in your past jobs that makes you a good fit for this one.

If you mention you’re a good communicator, show them by describing a situation where you successfully presented an idea to a team or worked with clients.

Or, if you say you can handle pressure, give an example of how you handled a tight deadline or challenging situation in the past. These examples give employers an understanding of your skills and how they apply to the job.

5. Keep both professional and error-free

Attention to detail is crucial. Any mistakes in your resume or cover letter can leave a negative impression on hiring managers. Go through both documents carefully to check for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors.

Reading them aloud or using AI tools to proofread your text can help spot mistakes you might miss. Also, make sure the tone of your cover letter matches the company’s culture.

For example, for a startup you may need to write in a more casual tone, and for a corporate job you might require something more formal.

How to make sure your resume and cover letter complement each other

Your resume and cover letter should work together to create a strong job application.

Your resume and cover letter should align in terms of dates, job titles, and key details. If your resume says you worked at a company from 2020 to 2023, your cover letter should not mention a different time frame.

Any differences might confuse the employer and make them question the accuracy of your application.

A resume lists facts—your work history, skills, and achievements. A cover letter, on the other hand, lets you explain these details in a more personal way.

If an employer only looks at your resume, they should get the basic idea of your qualifications. If they read your cover letter, they should gain insight into your personality, motivation, and how your experience applies to the job.

A common mistake is copying and pasting resume content into the cover letter.

While your resume and cover letter don’t have to look identical, they should have a consistent format. Use the same font style and size to maintain a professional look.

If your resume has clear section headings, keep your cover letter structured with paragraphs that are easy to read.

By following these steps, you can make sure your resume and cover letter complement each other. It helps employers understand your qualifications and increases your chances of getting hired.

Final words

In conclusion, both your resume and cover letter are important tools in your job search. Before you go and perfect your application based on what you just read, here’s a rundown of the main points we covered in this article:

Key takeaways:

• A resume highlights your qualifications in a clear, concise format.
• On your resume, make sure to include your contact information, resume summary, work experience, education, skills, and other optional sections.
• A cover letter provides a personal touch, showing your motivation and enthusiasm for the role.
• Using both together gives you a stronger chance of catching the hiring manager's attention.

By understanding the differences and using them effectively, you'll improve your chances of landing the job you want. So, don’t underestimate the power of a well-written cover letter and resume—use them both to present yourself in the best possible way.