CV and cover letter — what are the differences?

CV and cover letter are two basic application documents that candidates submit in the recruitment process. Each of them has its own role and is not the same. CV and cover letter — what are the differences? How to create a good cover letter? What should be included in the motivation letter? Errors in the cover letter — how to avoid them? How to match your CV to the job offer and distinguish it?

Table of contents:

• CV — what is this document??
• What is a cover letter?
• CV and cover letter — what are the differences?
• How to write a CV that will attract attention?
• Errors in the cover letter — how to avoid them?
• How to write a cover letter without work experience?
• Errors in the cover letter — how to avoid them?

CV — what is this document?

CV (Curriculum Vitae) is an application document in which we present your professional curriculum vitae. It contains contact details, skills, work experience, education and interests. Thanks to it, the employer can check whether we are suitable for a given job position. The CV should be tailored to the job offer for which we apply, emphasizing the skills and achievements related to a given position. This document is often required for recruitment.

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is an application document in which you present your good qualities that distinguish you from other candidates. It allows the candidate to present their motivation to work in a given position in more detail. Its purpose is to convince the employer that it is worth inviting us for an interview. In the cover letter, the candidate explains why they want to work in a given company and how their skills, experience and professional achievements meet the requirements of the position. It is important to avoid repeating content from your CV, as this is not what a cover letter is for.

CV and cover letter — what are the differences?

CV (Curriculum Vitae) and cover letter are two basic application documents that have different purposes and forms. Curriculum vitae is a document that briefly and structurally presents the course of a career, education, skills and other relevant information about the candidate. In turn, the cover letter allows for a more detailed — approach gives the opportunity to develop the information contained in the CV and present the motivation and arguments why a given person should be employed.

What are the differences between a CV and a cover letter?

• A CV is a presentation of facts about professional experience, skills, etc., and a cover letter is a presentation of arguments as to why a candidate is suitable for a position.
• CV is a concise document in which we present information briefly, the cover letter allows you to build longer sentences.
• The cover letter develops the information in the CV, does not duplicate it. It focuses on personal qualities, motivations, goals, etc.
• The CV focuses on the professional past, and the cover letter on the future and what the candidate will bring to the company.
• CV is the basis of the application, it is required in almost every recruitment. A cover letter is not mandatory, it is usually added if the employer requires a cover letter.

How to write a CV that will attract attention?

Recruiters often pay attention to what the CV of candidates looks like. Therefore, it is very important to take care not only of visual aspects, but also of substantive ones. The CV should be created in a clear and orderly manner with clearly divided sections. This will make it easier to read the most important information. The CV should include:

• personal data (name, surname, telephone number, e-mail, city of residence),
• professional summary (short description of the curriculum vitae, which contains the most important information at a glance),
• education,
• professional experience, professional experience,
• skill,
• achievements,
• interests,
• gdodo clause.

The content of the CV should be adapted to the specific job offer. It is worth focusing on achievements and skills that are important for a given position, and avoiding generalities. Instead of writing that „we are hardworking”, it is better to give an example, eg „I have completed a project that increased sales by 20%”.

You should also avoid mistakes and typos, because they can make a bad impression. It is worth using keywords related to a given industry, which will increase the chances of the recruiter’s interest. At the end you can add a few words about your interests or activities that will show us as an interesting person. It is good that the entire CV fits on one, maximum two pages.

It is also worth paying attention to the visual aspect. How a CV is made proves a lot about the candidate himself. If we write that we are accurate and pay attention to details, and there are errors or typos in our CV, unfortunately we will not be reliable.

If you do not know how to create a CV that will attract attention, then use our CV wizard, where you will find many professional templates, CV designs that will make your job search easier!

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How to create a good cover letter?

To create a good cover letter, you should start by welcoming and addressing your employer directly if you know his name or title. In the first paragraph, you should briefly present what position we are applying for and how we learned about the job offer.

In the next part, it is worth writing why we want to work in this particular company and in this position. We can mention what interests us in the company, such as its values or projects that are close to us.

Then it is worth showing what experience we have and skills that match the requirements of the position. We can give examples of your achievements that will be helpful to the employer.

Finally, it is worth writing that we will be happy to meet you at the interview to discuss the details. It should be added that we are available at a convenient time and provide contact details. The whole letter should be short, clear and without errors to make a good impression.

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How to write a cover letter without work experience?

A cover letter for a person who does not have work experience can be a challenge at first, but it provides an excellent opportunity to show their potential. In this case, it is worth focusing on skills and qualities that can be used at work, even if they were not acquired in a professional context. You can point to the experience gained from education, internships, volunteering or projects that have allowed you to develop skills such as work organization, team cooperation, problem solving or communication.

It is also worth emphasizing the desire to learn and develop, as well as the motivation to work in a given company. Showing enthusiasm and commitment to learning new things can convince the employer that despite the lack of work experience, the candidate is ready for challenges and will quickly acquire the necessary skills. A well-written cover letter can help you stand out from other candidates who have more experience but less passion and a willingness to learn.

Errors in the cover letter — how to avoid them?

To create a professional cover letter, you must follow a few rules:

• Avoid writing general letters that can be sent to any employer. Match the letter to a specific company and position. Address directly to the person who will read it if you know her name, as well as refer to the specific position and reasons why you want to work in this particular company.
• Spelling and grammar errors – Language errors can spoil the effect of a professional cover letter. Always check your text before sending. You can ask someone else to read the letter to make sure it doesn’t contain any errors.
• Overly generalised content – Instead of writing „I am the responsible person”, you better provide specific examples that will prove it. For example: „During my volunteer work, I managed a project that required timely delivery of the results”. This will make your letter more convincing.
• Failure to take into account the requirements of the announcement – Carefully read the job advertisement and customize your cover letter to the requirements included in the offer. Employers expect the candidate to pay attention to their needs, not just their skills. Include the skills and experience that are most important to them.
• Too long content – The cover letter should be short and specific — best to fit on one page. Avoid writing about yourself. Focus on the most important information that will convince your employer that you are the right person for the job.

Both CV templates and the way we write an effective cover letter are of great importance in the recruitment process. The appearance of the cover letter, its form and content should be carefully tailored to the expectations of the potential employer as in the case of the CV itself. Remember that your CV and cover letter are two different documents, but both need to work together to convince the recruiter of your qualifications and motivation to work. By taking care of the details and professionalism of both documents, you increase your chances of success in the application process.

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