Cover Letter V/S Pitch Letter: Meaning, Purpose & Difference

Once you have fine tuned, or nearly perfected your resume, you would be needed to start the mammoth task of sending it out to recruiters to gauge their attention towards you. Or, you could be in a place where you want to send out mails for existing opportunities in the market. The best way to do this is by sending out your application as an e-mail along with a cover letter for job or a pitch letter, depending on the purpose.

Keep reading to know more about writing a cover letter for job applications.

While a cover letter and a pitch letter may sound similar and be used for the game goal of getting a job and positioning yourself for a role in a company, the two should not be confused as being one. We will be exploring through this article the different ways in which a cover letter for job and a pitch letter can be harnessed.

What Is A Cover Letter?

A cover letter for job application is like a teaser; its intent is to capture the recruiter’s attention enough to review your resume.

• It showcases your interest in working for a job. A cover letter for job should give just enough information, but not too much of it, such that the recruiter feels urged to read through your resume and/or invite you for an interview.
• Most importantly, a cover letter for job has a ‘call to action’. You want to ask them to go through your resume now that you have worked their appetite so that they can understand your experience better.
• Nowadays all applications are online. Thus, on mail the subject line should look like – Application For The Post Of (Write the post you are applying for)
• Copy the cover letter for job application and paste it in the body of the mail so that the first thing the person reads is your qualification, intent and interest for a position. The ‘call to action’ we just spoke about may look something like this –

Please find more information in my attached CV.

Enclosed is my CV for your reference.

A cover letter for job application highlights your accomplishments while introducing you and directs the reader towards your resume.

What Is A Pitch Letter?

A pitch letter goes a step further to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and how you can help the company with the experience that you would bring along.

• It highlights to the recruiter why you are the ideal candidate for the job.
• It’s personalised as it addresses the recruiter by the name, and specifically targeted for the job you want and essentially pitching for.
• Pitch letter are usually written for an advertised job.
• Pitch letter template covers the pain points and challenges of the job, and highlights what value you can bring to the table. It is the foot-in-the-door for the job you are eyeing.
• A pitch letter uses specific keywords that match the job description and illustrate your experience and skills in a way that you appear to be the right fit for the job.
• The “pitch” in your letter would define whether your resume is shortlisted or not.

Read further to understand the difference between cover letters for job application and pitch letters.

A cover letter for job application highlights your accomplishments while introducing you and directs the reader towards your resume.

Also Read | What Is Cold Emailing? How Should You Write A Cold Email?

Difference between a cover letter for job application and pitch letter has been precisely put across in the following table:-

Cover Letter V/s Pitch Letter

Apart from cover letters for job applications and pitch letters, what you must also be familiar with is an application letter that is also often used and asked for in the industry.

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What Application Letters Are

Application letter is a more comprehensive document and illustrates the applicant’s educational background, certifications, licences, and in some cases, salary history or expectations (if asked).

• It’s a formal letter written to the company showing your interest in working for a certain position irrespective of whether the position has been advertised or not. It is longer, more detailed.
• Application letters demonstrate your skills, qualifications, and in a nutshell – how you can be of value to them.
• It’s a standalone document and can be sent as it is without your resume, unlike a cover letter and pitch letter which should not be sent without a resume along, since it together serves the purpose of a pitch letter as well as cover letter.

There are different names and uses of the letters while applying for a job. In different parts of the world, these letters are understood and used differently. The purposes they serve are dissimilar and it’s important for you as a working professional to know the difference between them all.

While the thought and concept of these letters for a job might seem simple. They take considerable time and effort to get right so that you are able to sell your unique selling proposition and position yourself well for job prospects.

Parisraja Bajpai is an Organisational Psychologist, with extensive hand-on experience in talent acquisition, talent management, employee counselling, employee engagement, training and development. She is currently heading HR department at Nexstgo. Views presented in this article are solely of the author and do not represent those of the organisation they’re associated with.