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This question is about how to write a cover letter.
CV vs. cover letter
The difference between a CV and a cover letter is that a CV is a resume-like document that details a candidate's educational background, professional experience, and skills, while a cover letter refers to a separate document used by job candidates to detail their interest in a prospective company and the qualifications they have for a particular role.
CVs are essentially resumes. They list out a job candidate's relevant education history, professional experiences, skills, expertise, achievements, awards, and anything that shows their qualifications for a particular field of work or a specific role. Though they can be used for traditional jobs, CVs are mostly used in the contexts of academic and research-related roles.
A cover letter is a document that can be included with a CV or resume, and it is meant to introduce the job candidate to a prospective company in an effective way. A cover letter contains brief statements about a candidate's background and skills, but also focuses on why they are interested in working for the prospective company.
Key Takeaways:
| CV | Cover letter |
|---|---|
| A CV is a resume-like document that details a candidate's educational background, professional experience, skills, expertise, achievements, awards, and anything that shows their qualifications for a particular field of work or a specific role. | A cover letter refers to a separate document used by job candidates to detail their interest in a prospective company and the qualifications they have for a particular role. |
| CVs are mostly used in the contexts of academic and research-related roles, but can be used for more traditional jobs too. | A cover letter is a document that can be included with a CV or resume, and it is meant to introduce the job candidate to a prospective company in an effective way. |
| A CV gives a more detailed and robust description of a candidate's background, experience, and skills. | A cover letter contains brief statements about a candidate's background and skills. |
| A CV can often be two to three pages long because it is a more in-depth document than a cover letter. | A cover letter is typically one page long and is a more concise and pointed document than a CV |
| A CV is a fact and data-based document that normally does not contain any personal anecdotes from a job candidate. | Cover letters often contain personal anecdotes about a candidate's education or professional work experiences. |
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