Cover letter vs resume: what's the difference?
A resume is a structured, factual summary of your work history, skills, and education, usually one to two pages of bullet points. A cover letter is a short, personalized letter that explains why you fit one specific job. The resume shows what you did; the cover letter argues why it matters here.
What a resume does
A resume is a scannable record: contact details, a summary line, work experience with measurable results, skills, and education. It is written in fragments, not full sentences, and is often read by applicant tracking software first. Its job is to prove qualification quickly.
What a cover letter does
A cover letter is written in full sentences and addressed to a person. It provides context a resume cannot: why you want this role, how a career change connects, or how your background solves the employer's specific problem. It sets tone and shows communication skill.
When you need each
Always submit a resume. Add a cover letter when the posting requests or permits one, when you are changing industries, or when you want to explain something the resume leaves open. Together they cover both the facts and the story.
How they work together
Keep them consistent: the same name, the same dates, the same headline skills. The resume carries the evidence; the letter selects two or three points from it and explains their relevance to this employer. Contradictions between the two are a red flag to reviewers.