Improve Your Cover Letter by Comparing It to Your Resume

Your cover letter and resume should be tailored to each job, but they should not say the same thing. The page says the two documents should complement each other and tell one story about your skills and background. Before sending an application, compare them and cut repetition.

Use the cover letter for anecdotes and specific examples that expand on what appears in the resume. The goal is for each document to stand on its own while adding something different to the application.

Reading notes

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• Tailor both the resume and the cover letter to each job application.
• Avoid making the two documents overlap too much.
• Let them complement one another and tell one story about your skills.
• Compare the two before sending an application.
• Remove repeated work history or skills from the cover letter.
• Use the cover letter space for anecdotes or specific examples that support your candidacy.
• Make sure each document can stand on its own while still adding to the other.