What’s the Difference Between a Curriculum Vitae and a Cover Letter?

The curriculum vitae, also known as CV, is a full overview of your professional and academic achievements similar to a resume. This document is substantially different from the cover letter, which is meant to be a concise introduction into your background and career accomplishments. Understanding the differences between these documents and how to leverage them effectively will greatly increase your chances of landing the interview during your job search. In this guide, we’ll examine the core aspects of the CV and cover letter and the various situations in which you would submit them.

What Is a CV?

In the U.S., the CV is primarily used when pursuing an academic position. Unlike the resume, which typically doesn’t exceed two pages, this document can be several pages in length. In addition to your degrees, certifications, and work experience, you can include other aspects of your career on your CV that you may not have the space for on a traditional resume. For example, you can mention your industry associations, conferences, publications, grants, and fellowships to further flesh out your professional experience. Although you’re not restricted by length, it is good to ensure that your document isn’t overly long. Be sure to weigh the value of your content and consider whether or not these details are truly relevant to the position you’re pursuing.

What Is a Cover Letter?

Unlike the CV, your cover letter will be more heavily targeted towards a single role. The format is vastly different, and it is important to keep your document strictly to one page. The content provides an opportunity to take a more personal approach to your language, since you’ll be conveying the majority of your career achievements in paragraph form. Another difference is that you’ll be addressing the hiring manager directly. You will need to devote a portion of your cover letter to conveying your interest in the company’s mission statement or reputation within your field. For additional resources and guidance, visit our cover letter example collection featuring samples across nearly every possible industry.

What To Include on a CV

Like the resume, the impact of your CV on the hiring manager will be determined by the strength of your content. In addition to your professional profile, work experience, and skills sections,consider featuring other aspects of your career that you normally wouldn’t have the space to include on your document, such as:

• Publications
• Patents
• Research
• Associations
• Conferences
• Fellowships
• Grants
• Internships
• Volunteerism
• Presentations

Although adding these sections will greatly increase the overall length of your document, this is usually acceptable, as the reader will likely be expecting the CV to be several pages long.

That being said, to maximize the impact of your CV, take the time to consider whether these additional details are relevant to the position you’re pursuing. For example, if a particular publication has no relevance to your current field, consider omitting it from your document. Technically speaking, the CV can be as long as you want it to be, but remember that including irrelevant information won’t help to secure interview opportunities.

How To Write a Winning CV

Now that you understand what to include on a CV, we’ll walk you through how to organize your content effectively to make a positive impression on the hiring manager. It can be difficult putting your career history onto the page and determining what information will be most compelling for the reader. Whether you’re crafting a resume or a CV, the goal is to tell your story and establish your personal brand as a professional within your field. Below, you’ll find a two-step guide to aid in building your CV and landing your next job opportunity.

Sample CV

In this sample, the job seeker is an accomplished professional within the medical education space. Although the general format is akin to a normal resume, they utilize the increased length of their CV to provide deeper insights into their conferences, associations, and publications.

Notice that these additional details draw attention to the candidate’s background and experience as a thought leader within the medical education field. The job seeker also highlights their commitment and passion for diversity and inclusion.

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).