When writing a resume, your job is not just to write an amazing document but also create an amazing component known as the cover letter. Sometimes job seekers forget that these two documents work together, especially if they’ve written a resume, and are then told at the last minute they need a cover letter.
Because the two are intertwined it’s a good idea to make sure they are indeed working well together. Here are some simple tips to consider as you write both your cover letter and resume for submission:
Make Sure the Fonts Match
As small an issue as this may seem, hiring managers notice if your resume is written in a mix of Georgia and Arial—and your cover letter is written in Courier New. Although this difference isn’t necessarily going to be a deal breaker, it is something that could stand out to a manager who is looking for consistency between documents in order to determine how serious you are about attention to detail. So to be on the safe side, take time to ensure that your cover letter font matches the predominant font in your resume.
Make Sure the Information Matches
The last thing you want is for a hiring manager to read about jobs or experiences in your cover letter you don’t mention in your resume. This is why it’s important you take time to create a new cover letter with each resume so all of the information matches and is tailored to the position for which you are applying.
The information in one should always match the other. If it doesn’t, it will look as though you hastily threw together documents to submit—which is an impression you definitely don’t want to give.
Use the Same High-quality Paper
If you’re applying for a job the traditional way—by submitting a resume and cover letter on paper—it’s important to make sure both documents are printed on the same high-quality paper. Again, consistency is important when applying for a job, and there’s nothing more obviously inconsistent than turning in two documents printed on different types of paper.
Sometimes it’s hard to imagine how many of the “little things” matter when applying for a job. Making sure a cover letter and resume match are on that list and should be taken seriously to increase your chances of being called in for an interview—and ultimately being hired.
Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, CEO of Great Resumes Fast is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, and presenter.
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About Jessica Holbrook Hernandez
These are all good tips. I went through a batch of 25 resumes recently from co-op students that were applying for a MarCom job at my work and any of them that had messy formatting went to the bottom of the pile. Presentation counts!
I want to share my cover letter template that a lot of my friends have been having success with. Hope it helps give people some ideas:
http://www.workmercs.com/2011/05/my-cover-letter-secret-weapon/
Jessica- this is great advice! This is so important and a lot of job seekers don’t think about it. Consistency between your resume and cover letter will make it easier for a recruiter to identify your documents and make sure the information stays together. The design/font should be identical. Also, because the two documents should compliment each other, the information should too. Make sure you don’t say something on one that contradicts the other. Thanks for posting this!