Cover Letter vs. Application Letter
[Differences, Pros & Cons, and
Writing Tips]
CakeResume
Aug 23rd 2022
Created by CakeResume
However, the major difference between a cover letter and an application letter lies in the
content. A cover letter, which is usually submitted along with a resume, focuses on
expressing your interest in the position. An application letter meanwhile can replace a
resume and a cover letter and briefly describes your education and work history.
Job search jargon can be confusing sometimes, especially when there are terms that
sound alike but mean differently. Yes, we're talking about a cover letter vs. an
application letter. They serve the same purpose – introducing yourself, demonstrating
your qualifications for the job opening, and convincing the employer to call you for an
interview.
Read on to learn more about:

When to Use an Application Letter vs. Cover Letter

Cover Letter vs. Application Letter - Content

Cover Letter vs Application Letter - Pros & Cons

Tips for Writing a Strong Application Letter
When to Use an Application Letter vs.
Cover Letter
Since an application letter and cover letter are two different documents, they should
also differ in terms of usage. As we all already know and understand, a cover letter is
used to accompany a resume when applying for a job vacancy.
Then, what about application letters?
Below we will discuss the 5 different situations that tell whether you should use an
application letter or a cover letter.
💡 When there is no job posting
If the job isn't being advertised, you can consider sending out an application letter or a
letter of interest. These two documents work well when you want to express your
confidence and desire to work at that company in the future.
That being said, a letter of interest is another different document, just like how an
application letter is different from a cover letter. Application letters highlight your skills,
strengths, and previous work experiences in detail, along with your interest in the
specific position you are writing about.
💡 When you’re applying for academic programs or
scholarships
In such situations, a longer-form letter like an application letter or an academic CV is
more preferred compared to a resume and cover letter. The reason is that school
advisors expect to see the details of your personal growth in terms of both education
and employment. Therefore, they can decide whether you would be an excellent
candidate to be granted the opportunity.
💡 When you’re applying for internships
As a student looking for internships, you might not have a lot of work experience to
describe in your resume. For that reason, an application letter will be able to do the job
of both a resume and a cover letter.
Also, the potential employer would like to dig deep into your educational background as
well as personal traits and strengths, not just hear about your passion. That's why an
application letter is preferable to a cover letter or a motivation letter.
💡 When you’re applying for a job opening
A cover letter is generally sent along with your resume for a job application. It is
considered as a supporting document that helps provide additional information besides
what is written in your resume. Though it’s optional to include a cover letter in your job
application, you should need one to express yourself further in a more personal way.
💡 When you have a lot to write in your resume
You have plenty of work experience and have achieved many accomplishments in the
field, so a 2-page resume is not enough. If so, you should describe those work
experiences and accomplishments that don’t fit in your resume in a cover letter.
Remember, do not repeat the same information on your resume in your cover letter.
What if you are a recent graduate and have limited professional experience? A cover
letter will then help you demonstrate your passion and motivation to apply for the job
opening. You can also impress the hiring manager by stating your career goals.
Cover Letter vs. Application Letter Content
In this paragraph, we're going to show you the difference between a cover letter vs. a
letter of application in terms of their format and structure.
1. Cover Letter vs. Application Letter - Header
Basically, the header of a motivation letter vs. an application letter follows the format of
business letters, which includes your contact information, the date when the letter is
written, the recipient's address, and contact information.
Example:
Moon Tran
La Mesa, CA, 91941
moon_trannn@gmail.com
(+310)-442-1549
April 10, 2022
Davis Pullman
Marketing Manager
IVY Media
1836 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942
2. Cover Letter vs. Application Letter - Salutation
The salutation in a letter is a greeting to the people who can make a decision on hiring
you or offering you the scholarship. In general, they could be the hiring manager, the
employer, or the Head of the Department where the vacancy is from.
For any kind of formal letter, including a letter of interest, application letter, and cover
letter, you should write a proper salutation like these:

If you already know the recipient's name: Hello / Dear [Name]

If you already know the recipient's gender: Dear Mr. / Ms. + [Name]

If you only know the team or department: Dear Hiring Manager / Dear The
Head of [Department]
💡 Pro Tip: You might be wondering, what about “To Whom It May Concern”? Believe it
or not, this salutation is now considered outdated and overused. Read more on why you
should consider not using “To Whom It May Concern” as your cover letter salutation.
3. Cover Letter vs. Application Letter - Opening
paragraph
Here's what to include in the opening paragraph of your cover letter:

Your name

The position you're applying for

The purpose of the letter

A brief statement of your qualifications
Example of the introduction in a cover letter:
“My name is Kaylee Sands, a TESOL-certified teacher currently seeking a teaching
position at Dream School. I believe that my 8 years experience in teaching English and
my strong communication skills make me the right fit for this role.”
On the other hand, application letters have a more extensive introduction through which
the employer can grasp more in-depth information about the candidate’s skills and
qualities. You need to cover the following elements in the opening paragraph of your
application letter:

Your name

The purpose of the letter

A brief overview of your skills, experience, and goals
Example of the introduction in an application letter:
“My name is Flavien Louis, an undergraduate student majoring in Marketing at
Academy of Journalism and Communication. I am writing to express my desire to
participate in the Unilever Future Leaders Program. I have a strong passion for
exploring customer behaviors and developing Marketing plans to help the company
maximize the profit. Previously, I have worked part-time at an advertising agency for
one year where I have obtained much knowledge, experience, and skills in this field. I
know UFLP would be the perfect opportunity for me to advance my goal of becoming a
Digital Marketing specialist.”
4. Cover Letter vs. Application Letter - Body
paragraph(s)
In terms of the body paragraph, a cover letter aims to express your motivation and
explain why you think you're qualified for the job opening. Thus, you will need to draw
strong connections between your qualifications and the job requirements, and avoid
repeating the information that is already mentioned in your resume.
Example of the body paragraph in a cover letter:
“During my 10 years of experience as an HR Specialist, I have engaged in a variety of
industries such as EdTech, fashion, and tourism. My major job responsibilities include
employee recruitment and retention, staff development, employee benefits, and HR
records management. I’m detail-oriented and able to deal with complicated issues by
leveraging organizational management as well as problem-solving skills. In the most
recent position at PledgCam, I have implemented the very first corporate-wide program
to foster employee engagement, having achieved 100% employee participation.
Regarding my educational background, I hold a Bachelor’s degree in HRM and an MBA
in Organization Development, both from Western State University.”
Meanwhile, an application letter provides a brief description of your educational
background, employment history, and accomplishments in the field. The information
needs to be listed chronologically so the employer can see your personal development.
That makes a job application and a cover letter different.
Example of the body paragraph in an application letter:
“In 2010, I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Communications and an MBA from the
University of Texas after studying for 6 years.
My first job was a Sales Representative at Genex Engineering, where I was responsible
for selling hardware and software for Asia-based customers while obtaining orders from
existing or potential sales outlets. I hit and exceeded sales KPIs by 25% for 3 months in
a row in 2018.
After that, I advanced my career as a Sales Specialist at Ragic. My main job
responsibilities include developing and implementing sales strategy, searching for
potential clients, managing the retention of existing clients, and negotiating the contract
of sales. My biggest achievement is receiving the 2020 and 2021 Sales Eminence
Award for annual sales volumes over 115% of the goal.”
5. Cover Letter vs. Application Letter - Closing
paragraph
How to write a cover letter vs a job application’s closing paragraph is similar. You will
need to include the following information:

Restate your interest in the role/program.

Include a call to action inviting the hiring manager to reach out to you.

Express your gratitude for their time and consideration.
Example:
“As a big fan of BAS Glow for many years, I hope that I can become a part of the
Business Analysis & Development team. I am confident that the experiences and skills
I’ve obtained in 5 years of working have prepared me for this position. I would
appreciate your time and consideration for a further discussion.
Thank you and please kindly let me know if you have any questions."
6. Cover Letter vs. Application Letter - Sign-off
There’s no difference in the sign-offs of a cover letter vs a letter of application.
Just simply end your letter with a formal closing, followed by your signature, like these:

Sincerely,

Best regards,

With gratitude,
💡 Pro Tip: Avoid sign offs that are too personal and casual like: With love, Lots of love,
XOXO, See you.
7. Cover Letter vs. Application Letter - Attachments
In general, you’re required to include a resume with your cover letter. You can also
submit other supporting documents such as certificates and a portfolio.
However, application letters don't contain any other attachments since they're
considered a standalone document and you’ve already disclosed your explanations in
the body of the letter.
Still, to make sure you don't miss any requirements, read the job posting carefully.
8. Cover Letter vs. Application Letter - Length
A cover letter is typically half to one page long with 250-400 words. An application letter
can typically be longer than a cover letter and can be one to 2 pages long.
Cover Letter vs. Application Letter - Pros
& Cons
Wondering which type of letter you should use for your application?
Below we've listed some pros and cons of using a cover letter vs. an application letter.
Pros & Cons of a Cover Letter
Pros:

Entices the employer to read your resume.

Shows your personal traits.

Better explains what you contribute to the company as a candidate for the
specific position.

Provides additional information that's not mentioned in your resume.

If it is an optional requirement, it shows that you're willing to take extra time to
prepare a document that's not required.
Cons:

If not well-written, it would reflect poorly on your application.

Some employers may not read cover letters if it's not a requirement for the
application.

Need to conduct a time-consuming research of the company and position in
order to write a tailored cover letter.

Need extra time and effort to prepare.

Risk of repeating information already mentioned in the CV.
Pros & Cons of an Application Letter
Pros:

Doesn’t consume much time and effort to design and format it.

When well-written, it tells a compelling story about yourself.

Works well when you want to describe in-depth academic experience.

Makes you stand out from the crowd as many candidates don't submit an
application letter if not required.

No strict requirement for the length.
Cons:

Lacks personal touch and room for creativity compared to a well-designed
resume.

Some hiring managers prefer a resume or CV.

May be out of date for some jobs or industries.

Can only be used in very limited circumstances in a job search.

Not suitable for those with limited work experience or educational achievements.
Tips for Writing a Strong Application
Letter
✅ Rephrase your resume content in your
application letter.
As mentioned earlier, you shouldn't repeat what is already written in the resume. If you
want to highlight any important details such as your previous job tasks and significant
contribution, keep in mind to rephrase them.
✅ Highlight notable achievements.
You should not only show your accomplishments but also quantify them. That way, you
can better prove yourself to the hiring manager and show that you can add more value
to the company.
✅ Start each paragraph by highlighting the
content.
This allows the employer to have a clear picture of what you're going to say within each
paragraph. Just follow the guide on how to write a cover letter vs. job application
mentioned above and you'll be able to give a clear, well-thought-out self-description.
✅ Be brief and use descriptive words.
Descriptive words allow you to provide specific information without writing a lot. Hence,
consider using this kind of words will make your application letter more concise and
impressive.
📚 Further reading: 300+ Resume Adjectives & How to Use Them (Guide & Examples)
✅ Stuff facts and details in the application letter.
Honesty is especially important when it comes to job and academic applications. Any
false or ambiguous information may make you look bad and break your chances of
landing the job interview. Including details about your experience will increase credibility
and also help the readers gain a better understanding of your qualifications.
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--- Originally written by May Luong ---