CV vs Cover Letter | Similarities & Differences
A curriculum vitae (CV) and a cover letter are both important parts of the job application process. Knowing the difference between a CV and a cover letter—and how to craft each document well—can help you stand out against other candidates.
A CV is a summary of your work history, skills, and education. However, the word “CV” means different things depending on location:
- In some regions, like Europe, a CV is what Americans call a resume—a condensed summary of your qualifications customized for a specific job application.
- In other countries, like the United States, a CV is a much longer summary of your qualifications that gets updated over time, often for use in academic, research, and medical fields.
A cover letter is a business letter that complements your CV or resume, showing why you’re the best candidate for the job.
CV vs cover letter
When comparing a CV and cover letter, it’s important to assess both their similarities and differences.
This table compares a cover letter with both an American CV (also called an “academic CV”) and a European CV (what Americans call a “resume”).
| American CV (academic CV) | European CV (resume) | Cover Letter | |
| Goal | Give a comprehensive and detailed overview of your qualifications | Give a concise summary of your qualifications tailored to a specific application | Introduce yourself to the recruiter, explain why you’re the best candidate, and show your enthusiasm for the role |
| Focus | Entire professional and education background | Experience and skills relevant to the job | Experience and skills relevant to the job |
| When to use | For academic, research, medical, or some professional applications | For general applications | Recommended for all job applications (unless specifically stated otherwise) |
| Length | No page limit | 1–2 pages | 1 page |
| Content | Contact Information Education Research Work Experience Teaching Experience Publications Presentations Skills Optional sections |
Contact Information Work Experience Skills Education Optional sections |
Contact Information Date Salutation Introduction Body Conclusion Complimentary close |
| Format | Structured format | Flexible format depending on what you want to highlight | Business letter |
| Customization | Not heavily customized (instead, updated over time) | Highly customized for application | Highly customized for application |
| Tone | Direct and factual | Direct and factual | Professional, confident, and enthusiastic |
All three of these documents must be free of spelling and grammar errors, which can confuse your reader and make a bad impression. Show that you pay good attention to detail by using QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to catch any mistakes before sending your CV or cover letter.
- Think about the country of the job applications and how they refer to these documents. If you’re not sure, you can always search for this online or ask generative AI to help orient you.
- Consider the field you’re applying to, and if your full education and work history—plus publications, conferences, professional memberships, etc.—is relevant to the application.
- Review the job posting to see if it specifies which type of CV they’re looking for.
- Reach out to the recruiter and ask.
A few examples of industries that generally require an American or “academic” CV are: academia, research, science, medicine and healthcare, law, government and public policy, and the arts and humanities.
What is a CV?
Regardless of where you are in the world, a CV summarizes your qualifications for a job. It’s the first document a recruiter will look at when deciding whether to interview you or not.
The biggest differences between an American CV and a European CV are:
- Length: An American CV has no page limit. A European CV follows the guidelines on resume length; it should be 1–2 pages depending on years of experience.
- Format: An American CV has a fairly fixed format. On the other hand, like with resume format, a European CV can be chronological or functional.
- Content: An American CV has additional sections that a European CV doesn’t usually have (e.g., Publications, Presentations, and Professional Memberships). A European CV follows the best practices about how to make a resume.
There are some sections that overlap in these documents, and others that would only go on an American CV.
Contact Information
Include your full name, email, and phone number. You can also include your city and state, LinkedIn profile, or a relevant website or portfolio link.
On a resume/European CV, it’s not usually necessary to include your full address. On an American CV, this may be required, particularly if applying for jobs in government.
Summary
For a resume/European CV, this is called a “Professional Summary.” In 2–4 sentences, outline your most relevant experience, skills, and goals.
On an American CV, this is often called a “Personal Profile” or “Research Objective” and serves the same purpose, but adding in any relevant research goals or interests.
Work Experience
Include the following details about past jobs:
- Your title
- The company
- The dates of employment
- 3–7 bullet points about your achievements and impact
For both types of CVs, only include relevant work experience. For example, if you were applying for either a role in marketing (and thus using a resume/European CV) or academia (and therefore using an American CV), your summer job as a waiter five years ago probably isn’t relevant.
Education
Include your degree, the institution, and the date graduated. You can also include any relevant honors or coursework. This last part is especially important for American CVs, where you may want to include your dissertation title or pertinent projects you worked on.
Skills
The skills you include on either type of CV should be a mix of hard skills acquired through experience (e.g., “Excel” or “email marketing”) and soft skills that are part of your personality (e.g., “negotiation” or “organization”).
If you speak various languages and this is relevant to your target job or industry, consider breaking them out into a separate “Languages” section.
Where you place your skills section depends on what type of CV you’re drafting. On a European CV/resume, skills go farther towards the top. On an American CV, they come farther down.
If you have relevant work experience in the field you’re applying to, you can follow this chronological resume template when writing your CV.
If you don’t have relevant work history, or you’d just like to highlight your skills instead, try using this functional resume template.
Other sections
An American CV also typically includes the following sections:
- Research Experience
- Teaching Experience
- Publications
- Conferences and Presentations
- Honors and Awards
- Grants and Fellowships
- Volunteer Work and Outreach
- Affiliations and Memberships
- Hobbies and Interests
- References
For a resume/European CV, only include these sections if they are directly relevant to the job application. The only exception is for references; do not include references on a resume or a European CV, but do include them on an American CV.
In addition to having relevant work experience and skills, she also wrote a book titled The Beauty of Marketing: Strategies for Consumer Cosmetics Companies.
Given that this book is directly relevant to her job application, Marianne decides to include a “Publications” section on her CV so she can mention it.
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a business letter that provides context to your CV by highlighting relevant skills and experience. A cover letter should show your enthusiasm for the company and why you’re the best fit for the job.
Cover letter length should usually be one page. Recruiters don’t have a lot of time to spend reading your cover letter, so keep things succinct.
Regardless of CV type, cover letter format is quite standard. A good cover letter should be clean, organized, and include the following content.
Contact Information
Include the same contact information as on your CV, with one item per line. Your contact info should usually be at the top left corner of your letter, though this may change if you use a different template.
Date
Include the date you send the letter. If you’re preparing the letter in advance, put the date you think you’ll send it, and always check this before sending.
Salutation
Leave a space after the date, and then write your salutation. You do not need to include the company or organization name and address here.
The correct way to address a cover letter is by using the hiring manager’s or recruiter’s full name (e.g., “Dear Lana Schwartz”).
If you have to address a cover letter without a name, address it to the relevant team or department. Avoid stuffy, outdated salutations like To Whom it May Concern or Dear Sir or Madam.
Introduction
Start your cover letter by saying what role you’re applying for, why the company appeals to you, and why you’re the best fit. As part of this claim, your introduction paragraph should also include a summary of your general background.
Body
The body of your letter should include 1–2 paragraphs that back up why you’re the best possible candidate. You can include experience, skills, and anecdotes here to illustrate your point.
For example, “I reduced support ticket response time by 30%” makes a much greater impact than “I answered support tickets faster.”
Conclusion
End your cover letter by restating your claim and enthusiasm and offering a call-to-action for your reader (e.g., “I would love to discuss this further with you in an interview”).
Complimentary Close
Sign off with a professional complimentary close and your name. Some good options here are:
- Sincerely,
- Sincerely yours,
- Regards,
- Best regards,
- Yours truly,
- Warmly,
The biggest difference between a letter of interest and cover letter is the focus. A cover letter is tailored to a specific job, but a letter of interest is general and focuses on your enthusiasm for the company.
CV and cover letter examples
Below is a fictional example of a CV and cover letter for a professor of Digital Humanities who wants to pivot from teaching to working in a museum.
Since Alex is in the field of Digital Humanities, they use an American CV. This is an industry where education, publications, presentations, etc. is important.
Dr. Alex Carter
alex.carter@email.com | (212) 555-1234 | linkedin.com/in/acarter80 | New York, NY
Research Objective
My research explores the intersection of computational methods and literary analysis, focusing on text mining, NLP, and digital archives. By integrating machine learning and data visualization, I examine narrative structures, marginalized voices in literature, and ethical frameworks for digital storytelling.
Education
PhD in Digital Humanities | Empire State University | New York, New York | 2019
Dissertation: Text Mining and the Evolution of Narrative Structures in 19th-Century Literature
Advisor: Dr. Jane Scholar
MA in Comparative Literature | Queen’s University | London, England | 2014
Thesis: Hypertext and Reader Agency in Contemporary Digital Literature
BA in English & Computer Science | City College | New York, New York | 2012
Honors Thesis: Algorithmic Poetics: The Role of AI in Generating Creative Texts
Teaching Experience
Assistant Professor of Digital Humanities
Department of Digital Humanities | Empire State University | 2020–Present
- DH 301: Text Mining and Computational Analysis – Introduce students to Python-based text analysis, corpus building, and visualization.
- DH 210: Digital Archives & Cultural Heritage – Explore ethical and technical considerations in digital preservation.
Research Experience
Postdoctoral Researcher
Center for Digital Texts | Empire State University | 2019–2020
- Developed machine learning models to analyze gender representation in 19th-century novels
- Collaborated on a grant-funded project mapping historical periodicals
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Carter, A. (2023). Machine Learning and the Victorian Novel: Computational Approaches to Character Networks. Journal of Digital Literary Studies, 12(3), 45-67.
- Carter, A., & Scholar, J. (2021). Topic Modeling in the Humanities: Challenges and Opportunities. Digital Humanities Quarterly, 15(2).
Book Chapters
- Carter, A. (2022). Remediating the Archive: The Ethics of Digitizing Marginalized Voices. In L. Rodríguez & M. Patel (Eds.), Digital Memory and the Future of the Humanities. Academic Press.
Conference Presentations
- Beyond Close and Distant Reading: A Hybrid Approach to Digital Texts. Digital Humanities Annual Conference, City, 2023.
- Mapping Literary Networks: Visualization and Analysis of 19th-Century Fiction. Modern Language Association (MLA) Convention, 2022.
- Bias in Text Mining: Ethical Considerations for Humanities Scholars. Association for Computers and the Humanities (ACH) Conference, 2021.
Grants & Fellowships
- Research Fellowship, Center for Digital Research, Queen’s University, 2014. (£50,000).
Volunteer Experience
Digital Preservation Outreach Advocate | Open Archives Initiative | 2021–Present
- Conduct workshops on best practices for digitizing and preserving archival materials.
- Mentor early-career researchers on digital humanities methodologies.
Literary Data Visualization Consultant | Community Literacy Project | 2019–2021
- Designed interactive visualizations to showcase linguistic trends in local oral histories.
- Provided technical training on text analysis tools for community researchers.
Skills
Python (NLTK, spaCy) | R | JavaScript (D3.js) | TEI | Omeka | Voyant | Gephi | Tableau | Computational Literary Analysis | Digital Preservation & Data Curation | Metadata Standards | Humanities Data Ethics & Fair Data Practices | Multimedia & Interactive Digital Storytelling
Languages
- English (Native)
- Spanish (Fluent)
- French (Reading Proficiency)
References
Dr. Jane Scholar
Director, Department of Digital Humanities
Empire State University
123 Empire Avenue
New York, NY 07008
janescholar@empire.edu
(212) 555-4321
Dr. Scholar was my dissertation advisor for my PhD and my current boss.
Dr. Susan Brandford
Professor, Department of Digital Literature
Queen’s College
45 Hilton Cross Road
London, England SW10 0AB
susanbrandford@queens.ac.uk
+44 20 1122 3344
Dr. Brandford was my advisor for my Master’s thesis during my studies in London.
James Anderson
Director of Outreach
Open Archives Initiative
99 Capitol Road
Washington, DC 20001
james@openarchives.org
(202) 222-3344
James oversees my volunteer work as an outreach advocate for the Initiative.
Now imagine that Alex is applying for a Director of Digital Humanities role at a large national museum. Their cover letter may look like this.
Dr. Alex Carter March 5, 2025 Dear Anneliese Martell, I am excited to apply for the position of Director of Digital Humanities at the National Museum of Digital Heritage. With a decade of experience at the intersection of computational analysis and literary studies, I am eager to bring my expertise in text mining, digital archives, and humanities data ethics to further the Museum’s mission of preserving and innovating cultural heritage through technology. As an Assistant Professor of Digital Humanities at Empire State University, I have developed and led courses on text mining, computational literary analysis, and digital preservation. My research has focused on ethical frameworks for digitizing marginalized voices, resulting in a peer-reviewed publication on archival remediation and a book chapter on digital memory ethics. Additionally, in a recent project, I led a team in developing machine learning models that analyzed over 500 19th-century novels, uncovering gender representation patterns that have since been incorporated into university curricula nationwide. Beyond academia, my role as a Digital Preservation Outreach Advocate with the Open Archives Initiative has allowed me to train over 200 archivists and scholars in best practices for digitization and metadata curation. My ability to translate complex digital methodologies into accessible applications aligns well with your goal of making digital collections more interactive and publicly engaging. I have long admired the Museum’s Living Archives Project, which seamlessly integrates AI-driven archival restoration with interactive public engagement. The way this initiative brings historical narratives to life through dynamic digital storytelling resonates deeply with my research interests. I am eager for the opportunity to discuss how my background in computational humanities, data-driven research, and digital storytelling can contribute to the Museum’s initiatives. I welcome the chance to speak further at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration. Best regards, Dr. Alex Carter
alex.carter@email.com
(212) 555-1234
linkedin.com/in/acarter80
New York, NY
Frequently asked questions about CV vs cover letter
- Should your cover letter match your resume?
-
Your cover letter should match your resume format stylistically, but their content should not match.
Fonts, colors, and any design elements should match in both documents. Likewise, if you write a CV, your cover letter and CV should match in terms of style.
On the other hand, they should have complementary—not matching—content. Your resume outlines your qualifications and experience. The purpose of a cover letter is to showcase your personality and tailor your application to the specific job.
Both your cover letter and resume must be free of grammar and spelling errors, so run a QuillBot grammar check before sending.
- What can a cover letter explain that a resume cannot?
-
A cover letter can explain various things that a resume cannot. For example, a cover letter can:
- Show your enthusiasm for the job and company.
- Give a hiring manager a sense of your personality.
- Share anecdotes about success or challenges.
- Provide context for career gaps or changes.
- Describe how your skills translate to new roles or industries.
- Address why you’re the best fit.
In general, resumes are objective, and cover letters are more personal. The same goes for when you compare a CV and cover letter.
That said, both your cover letter and resume must be error-free, so use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker before sending.
- What’s the meaning of curriculum vitae?
-
“Curriculum vitae” means “course of one’s life” in Latin.
A curriculum vitae—also known as a CV—is a detailed summary of a person’s academic and professional history. It’s different from a resume, which is a shorter summary tailored to a specific job application.
When writing a CV or resume, make sure it’s free of spelling and grammar errors with QuillBot’s Grammar Checker.
- What does a CV look like?
-
A CV is a structured document that provides a detailed overview of your academic and professional background. It looks like a resume, but with more sections, like research, publications, and references.
Resume format is more flexible and the average resume length is 1–2 pages. CVs are often 3–5 pages and have a fixed structure.
Regardless of if you’re writing a CV or resume, make sure it’s error-free with QuillBot’s Grammar Checker.
