For most positions beyond academe, the standard package of application materials includes a cover letter and a resume or CV. Letters of recommendation are usually not required with the application, but in any case you should prepare your references for the possibility of being contacted by an employer. Carefully tailor your selection of references for each position.
Job postings typically ask for a “cover letter,” "letter of application," or “letter of interest.” If such a letter is not requested, you are encouraged to send one anyway unless specifically instructed not to do so. The role of the cover letter is to interpret your resume or CV for a specific audience and to elaborate on your qualifications for a specific position. It gives you the opportunity to make a good first impression, to show off your professionalism and ability to persuade, and to have a voice, which the resume does not communicate. By the same token, a badly written cover letter can do far more harm to your candidacy than no cover letter at all. For more information on writing effective cover letters, please visit the "Cover Letters” subsection of “Careers Beyond Academe.”
A resume is the standard, brief statement of credentials and experience in the working world, and the foundation of a job application. As is the case for your cover letter, your resume should be tailored to each job opportunity and should emphasize your strongest qualifications. For more information on crafting an effective resume, please visit the “Resumes” subsection of “Careers Beyond Academe.”
Graduate students applying for positions above the entry level should pay close attention to which document the employer requests: a resume or a CV. In the United States the curriculum vitae, also known as “vita” (without the “e”) and abbreviated as "CV,” is a comprehensive overview of one’s educational background and academic qualifications. The CV is most commonly used for academic and research positions. In other parts of the world, “CV” is synonymous with “resume.” If you are unclear about which document to submit, consider who will be reading it: an audience of PhDs or a less academic audience. For more information on the distinction between resumes and CVs, please visit the “Resumes” subsection of “Careers Beyond Academe.”