Both new graduates and experienced members of the workforce can agree that a resume is crucial to landing your ideal job and receiving higher job offers. A living document, your resume holds the power of persuasion that encourages potential employers to grant you an interview and extend an offer for employment. What if I told you, however, that your resume isn’t the only element of your application package that can help you stand apart from the competition? There’s another important component of your portfolio that helps you relate to potential employers, showcase your personality, and highlight your skills. What is this amazing document? A professionally-written, well-worded cover letter.

With the rise in electronic job application processes, some job seekers wonder if a cover letter is as important as it was back when we conducted most of our business and application proceedings in person. I’m here to tell you yes, cover letters are absolutely vital to your career journey; just because you submit your resume via email or other electronic means, it doesn’t mean you’re exempt from understanding how to make a great first impression with a carefully-constructed cover letter. 

Cover Letter, CV, Resume, and Enote – What Are the Differences?

In the wide world of job seeking, applicants often get confused by interchangeable terms for various elements of their personal career portfolio. From cover letters to CVs, Enotes to resumes, it’s no wonder why today’s job seekers get hung up on the best way to represent themselves professionally. Understanding some of the common components of a job application helps you choose the proper approach once you decide to apply. 

• Cover Letter – An introduction to who you are professionally, why you’re qualified for the position you’re applying for, and what specific, proven skills you bring to the workplace
  • One page
  • Separate document and attachment 
  • Tailored to fit each job role you apply for
  • Specific contact details needed in both the header and footer
  • Closes with a call-to-action

• Enote – An email message that functions as and replaces a cover letter attachment when applying to jobs via email
  • Shorter than a cover letter, using paragraphs and bullet points
  • Can be less formal than a cover letter, but should still be businesslike
  • Needs to come from a professional email address 
  • Tailored to fit each job role you apply for
  • Specific contact details, including live links to online portfolios or LinkedIn profiles, needed in the signature

• Resume – A professional, living document summarizing your workplace experience, education, skills, and achievements
  • 1-2 pages maximum
  • Concise representation of skills with supportive data and experiences
  • Emphasizes work experience
  • Standard requirement for most US and Canadian-based job applications

• CV – Curriculum Vitae, Latin for “course of life,” – a full academic record of educational credentials 
  • Length dependent on academic history
  • Includes variety of academic and professional publications or presentations
  • Emphasizes educational achievements
  • Typically required for grants, postdoctoral, research, or teaching positions 

Cover Letters – The Best Tactic for Standing Out

Cover letters are just as important as resumes and are gaining importance as today’s hiring climate becomes more competitive. Your resume does a great job of capturing your skills and experience (especially if you had your resume written by a professional resume writer!), but it doesn’t leave a lot of room for showcasing your personality. A cover letter allows you to add a few lines about why you think you’d be great for the role, introduces readers to your writing style, and allows space for professional relatability. 

A cover letter is your first chance to make a great impression while showing off your qualifications in a concise, yet engaging way. It allows you to call your potential employers to action to continue the conversation that will hopefully lead to an interview or offer. Capitalize on the opportunities presented by cover letters by ensuring your cover letter is charismatic, accomplished, and strategically efficient.     

Cover Letter Tips

A cover letter is not the appropriate place to get deep into your ethical business history or childhood entrepreneur experiences. Cover letters require you to get right to the point. Most hiring managers don’t have the time or patience to read through paragraphs of prose, so follow these quick cover letter tips to make the most of their time.

1. Address potential employers’ challenges right away
2. Lead swiftly into the reasons why you, as a candidate, are the perfect solution for their challenges
3. Discuss the various ways your background and expertise align with their needs
4. Prove your position with specific professional career examples
5. Close your cover letter with a distinct, professional call to action
6. Don’t forget to include your phone number and email information

Writing the perfect cover letter doesn’t need to take up hours of your time. Once you’ve successfully written a collection of customized cover letters, step back and pull out patterns to create a cover letter template that will save time in the future.  Are you looking for an experienced writing partner to help craft your ideal, customizable cover letter? Connect with Zoetic Resume and Writing Services here to experience the powerful difference of professional resume and cover letter writing assistance.