Combine Resume and Cover Letter
When to combine them, which goes first, and how to do it free.
The Short Answer
Save your resume and cover letter as PDFs, then join them with a PDF merger: cover letter first, resume second. The merger linked here runs in your browser, so your name, phone number and work history aren't uploaded to yet another website.
Combine your PDFs →Should You Combine Them?
- Combine them when the job posting asks for one file, or the application has a single upload slot.
- Keep them separate when there are separate slots for a resume and a cover letter. Application systems often read details from whatever is in the resume slot, so give them just the resume there.
- Emailing an application? Two separate attachments are fine, unless the posting asks for one.
Step 1: Save Each Document as a PDF
| Written in | Save as PDF |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Word | File → Save As, then choose PDF as the file type |
| Google Docs | File → Download → PDF Document |
| Apple Pages | File → Export To → PDF |
A PDF looks the same on every computer, so your formatting survives the trip to the recruiter.
Step 2: Combine Them
- Open Merge PDF and select both PDFs, plus any others you're including.
- Put them in order: drag them, or use the arrow buttons. The usual order is cover letter, resume, then references or certificates.
- Click Merge PDFs and download the result.
- Rename the file with your name and what's in it, for example
Jordan-Lee-Resume-and-Cover-Letter.pdf.
Open the combined file and page through it before you upload, to check every page is there and in order.
Which Goes First?
The usual convention is cover letter first, because it introduces the resume that follows. There's one exception worth knowing: if the only slot is labelled Resume and the site fills in your details from the file, putting the resume first can help it pick up your name and job history correctly. Either order is fine if the posting doesn't say.
Adding Certificates or References
If the application wants certificates and you only have photos of them, turn the photos into a PDF first with Images to PDF, choosing Smaller file so the result stays small. Then add that PDF to the merger as the last file.
Before you upload, it's worth checking how hiring software reads your resume. The ATS resume check guide shows how to see the text inside your PDF in 30 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I combine my resume and cover letter into one PDF?
Save each document as a PDF from Word, Google Docs or Pages. Then open the Fair Toolbox PDF merger, select both PDFs, put them in the order you want, and click Merge PDFs. Download the merged file and rename it. It runs in your browser, so your documents aren't uploaded anywhere.
Should I combine my resume and cover letter?
Only when the application asks for one file or has only one upload slot. If there are separate slots for a resume and a cover letter, upload them separately, because the system may read details from the file in the resume slot.
Which goes first, the resume or the cover letter?
The usual convention is the cover letter first, because it introduces the resume, then the resume, then anything else such as references or certificates. If the only upload slot is labelled Resume and the site fills in your details from it, putting the resume first can help it pick up the right information.
Can I combine Word documents directly?
Save them as PDFs first. In Word use File, Save As and choose PDF. In Google Docs use File, Download, PDF Document. In Pages use File, Export To, PDF. A PDF also keeps your layout the same on every computer.
How do I add certificates I photographed?
Turn the photos into a PDF with the Images to PDF tool, choosing Smaller file so the result stays small, then add that PDF to the merger along with your resume and cover letter.
What should I name the combined file?
Use your name and what's inside, for example Jordan-Lee-Resume-and-Cover-Letter.pdf. A file called merged.pdf or document1.pdf is easy for a recruiter to lose.