The resume and cover letter are typically the major pieces of information used when applying for a job. Regardless of the job, these two documents have to work in tandem, and they have to compliment each other so that you have the best chance of getting an interview. Sadly, some people do not take the time to make sure that these marketing pieces are synced together. Here are a few tips to remember when connecting your resume to your cover letter.

Make sure the data matches

Obviously you aren't going to put your entire life history on a resume and cover letter. However, you want to pick your employment highlights, education, and skills that most pertain to the job at hand. When writing your resume and cover letter, make sure your data matches. Your cover letter should be a brief narrative summary of your resume, so make sure if you refer to something in your past such as a job or schooling, you include that in your resume. It sounds simple but people have forgotten to do that in the past because they get caught up in the formatting and not the content.

Make sure you use the same descriptors

Much like data, your descriptions should match between your resume and your cover letter. If you talk about the fact that you "managed" a process in your resume but you refer to the same process in your cover letter and say you "facilitated", a potential employer may become confused as to your role. This may seem like minor details, but the most minor of details can make the difference when an employer is looking at your documentation.

Tailor your documents to the job itself

There is nothing wrong with having multiple copies of resumes and cover letters depending on the job for which you are applying. Therefore, if you customize a cover letter to talk about your fit within the specific organization you are applying for, make sure you edit your resume as well. Some people have a tendency to assume that the resume is a fairly fixed document instead of specializing it like you would a cover letter.

Regardless of the job, your resume and cover letter should almost always match. This may seem obvious, but enough people have forgotten over the years that it is worth repeating. Make sure that data, syntax, references, and verbiage are consistent between the two documents. That way, a potential employer will be less confused and more prone to interview you or hire you.

Learn more about this author, Todd Pheifer.
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