Difference between Application Letter and Cover Letter

In a bid to secure a job, an application letter or a cover letter is usually requested for from applicants. It has been discovered that many people who seeks for a job do not know the difference between the two. So, in this article, we shall look at the difference between application letter and cover letter.

Application letter and cover letter have some similarities, but they are different documents, have different formats and serve different purposes.

We created this article to show you important things to take note of when writing an application letter or a cover letter and when or where both are applicable.

This article will also provide information regarding the concept of both documents when they are requested in a job advert.

A cover letter, just as the name implies, is a covering letter for other documents like Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume, a budget, a report and so on. It’s usually attached with your CV or resume. See how to write a good cover letter.

This kind of letter (cover letter) introduces you and compliment the information presented in your CV or resume.

Application letter is a kind of letter that is explicitly written when seeking for a particular job. The purpose is to give a personal intention of applying for a job.

In this letter, you give various information about yourself which includes your personal information (description about yourself), qualifications, experiences (what you have achieved in the past) and your motive/purpose of applying for the job.

An application letter can be independent (can stand in its own) while a cover letter can’t stand on its own, it has to accompany a document.

As earlier said, a cover letter should compliment  your CV or resume, not a repeated copy of the CV or resume. It is meant to present you in a more personal way and to give a better understanding of your resume and its information.

An application letter is usually requested by employers in their job advert from anyone who is interested in applying for such placement of job. Oftentimes, the employer may ask applicants to only send their curriculum vitae.

However, the application can be organised by the employers whereby they request applicants to provide their information in a given form.

The applicants will fill in their detailed information as requested from the employer in the form. Kindly follow the instruction on the type of document requested from you and provide accurate information.

Ensure your CV is updated because it determines your chances of been considered for the job you are applying for. It should contain ‘up-to-date’ information as touching your skills, educational and employment history.

This is when your cover letter will serve its purpose of accompanying your CV by pointing to specific information of importance to the employer that you intend to emphasize in your CV.

In conclusion, cover letters and application letters have the same format but are specific and different in purpose.

Check below the example of each documents.

SAMPLE OF A COVER LETTER

Michael Tayo Olounwa Ondo Road, Akure, Ondo, Nigeria, June 17, 2021.

The Human Resource Manager,

BIS Enterprise,

Surulere,

Lagos, Nigeria.

I am interest in the Accountant position advertised on PTI Media Concept. Given my eminent abilities and related experience, I would be very grateful if I am considered for this job opportunity. My skills are a perfect requirements for this position.

Being a professional accounting officer with prominent and distinguish skills of high importance, I am curious to impart my capabilities, and wealth of experience to BIS Enterprise. Having given a wide information about my background and training, I am convinced that I can assist BIS Enterprise to reach its optimum goal of developing functional approach to business management and development.

Enclosed herein is my curriculum vitae and a list of my referees. I will be glad to receive call from you on 00000000011 for meeting. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Michael Tayo Olounwa.

SAMPLE OF AN APPLICATION LETTER

Michael Tayo Olounwa Ondo Road, Akure, Ondo, Nigeria. June 17, 2019.

The Human Resource Manager,

BIS Enterprise, Surulere,

Lagos, Nigeria.

APPLICATION FOR THE POSITION OF AN ACCOUNTANT

I hereby write to you to express my sincere interest in the vacant position of an Accountant at BIS Enterprise as advertised on PTI Media Concept. I am accurately convinced that after you have viewed my application and resume, it will be evidently proven to you that I have an eminent skills and abilities that fits for your considerable requirements.

Being a professional accounting officer with prominent and distinguish skills of high importance, I am curious to impart my capabilities, skills and wealth of experience to BIS Enterprise.

Having given a wide information about my background and training, I am convinced that I can assist BIS Enterprise to reach its optimum goal of developing functional approach to business management and development.

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenient time.

Yours faithfully,

Michael Tayo Olounwa.