The main goal of all college and university (sometimes even school) graduates is to immediately find a job. This process is complex and very delicate. Some are lucky to get it quickly and the others spend several months or even years. At any rate, all the job applicants should write a story of their qualifications and education. These crucial facts can be represented either in a resume or a cover letter. Most people claim that these two documents are identical and differ only after their names.
Professional writers from a resume writing service AdvancedWriters know that the difference exists. It may be slight because both documents have the same purposes. Nonetheless, those purposes are delivered in various ways. Thus, one of the proficient experts has written this informative article. The article clarifies how a resume and cover letter differ, as well as informs some crucial insights.
Resume: Goals and Parts
A resume tells your employment history. It’s a rather objective enumeration of all your work experiences. You should introduce yourself, provide the contact information, and afterward, mention where you used to work, during what period, and what office you embraced. Let’s check the details.
| Main Parts | Description |
| Contact details | You are expected to mention your first and last name, the current job title, and how to contact you (emailing, calling by the phone, and/or faxing). It’s vital to create a LinkedIn profile and make it up to date. It adds the relevance and importance of your resume. |
| Introduction | This part enumerates your major qualifications and skills. It’s supposed to contain an attention grabber to make the hiring manager continue reading. The format you choose is essential and predisposes the manner you provide data. It can be a summary, professional profile, etc. |
| Educational background | During this writing section, you should highlight the major educational achievements. Of course, you should mention your diploma. If you currently learn to receive the second diploma, mention that and tell the approximate time when you’ll finish your learning. |
| Work history | This is the most important part of your resume. It tells what jobs and responsibilities you used to have. When you reveal that data, make sure you specify the job title, company’s name, location, the length of your job experience, some specific facts. |
| Relevant skills | When you write this section, you should highlight the skills that are related to your future anticipated job. For example, if you’re a blog writer, tell about your writing, reading, time management, collaborative, problem-solving, and other kinds of skills that are relevant to this job. |
| Awards | The last section enumerates all your achievements. These are educational and professional. You are free to mention grants and scholarships, honors, medals, professional affiliations, volunteering awards, etc. |
Cover Letter: Goals and Parts
A cover letter is more detailed and personal. It tells more than a resume does. While a resume is commonly written in the third person, a cover letter is written in the first person and so, is more personal. It doesn’t give a simple enumeration of professional and educational achievements. It also explains your intentions concerning the possible job opportunity and how you can contribute to the average development of the firm.
| Main Parts | Description |
| Heading | It provides your full name. You should specify your address and how you can be contacted. Don’t forget about the date. |
| Greeting | You should decide how to turn to the employer. It may be Mr., Ms., Dr., and so on. Make sure you know his/her title. |
| Introduction | The introductory section begins to tell your story. You’re supposed to mention your work experience, where you found the job opening, and provide your reasoning to embrace the post. |
| Relevant skills | This section highlights your educational achievements and professional skills. Explain how they can help you to become a useful worker. |
| Your Goals | Clarify your intentions in the last section. Warp up and express the hope that you’ll be accepted because you may help to achieve the success of the firm. |
Four Main Differences to Remember
To fully comprehend the difference in resume vs. cover letter, you should remember the main differences. There are four of them and they provide a clear division. Memorizing those differences, you’ll quickly realize what kind of paper you write to avoid mistakes.
- Purpose;
- Tone;
- Structure;
- Importance.
A resume is commonly divided into bullet lists to quickly highlight your professional qualifications. Its tone is neutral. A cover letter is more personal and is written in a business format. It consists of 3-4 logically connected paragraphs that tell your story and why you want to embrace a concrete post.