Resumé and cover letter: do you need both, and which goes first?

Short answer: A resumé lists your experience and skills. A cover letter is a short letter that explains why you fit this one job. Send both when the posting asks for a cover letter, or when you need to explain something, like a career change. If you send them in one file or one email, the cover letter goes first, then the resumé. Always follow the employer's upload instructions first.

What’s the difference?

	Resumé	Cover letter
What it is	A summary of your experience, education and skills	A short letter written for one job
Length	1 to 2 pages	No more than 1 page
Format	Headings and bullet points	Paragraphs, like a letter
Changes for each job?	Some tailoring	Written fresh for each job

Alberta’s alis career site says a cover letter’s job is to “introduce your resumé to an employer” and “show them how your skills and accomplishments make you a good fit for the job” (alis). The resumé gives the facts. The cover letter connects them to the job.

Do you need both?

Send both when:

• The posting asks for a cover letter
• You’re changing careers, and need to explain how your experience carries over
• You have a gap, a move or something else your resumé doesn’t explain
• You were referred by someone, and want to say so

You can often skip the cover letter for quick online applications that don’t ask for one. Our guide Do you need a cover letter? goes into more detail.

Which goes first?

The cover letter goes first. It’s an introduction, so it comes before the thing it introduces.

How that works depends on how you’re applying:

Separate upload fields: put each document in its own box. The order doesn’t matter.

One upload field: combine them into one PDF, with the cover letter as page 1 and your resumé after it. Name the file clearly, like Jordan-Lee-Cover-Letter-and-Resume.pdf.

By email: you can paste a short version of your cover letter into the email itself, or attach it. alis says that if you’re emailing, your letter should say your resumé is attached (alis, Cover letter outline). Attach both as PDFs, cover letter first.

Paper: cover letter on top, resumé underneath, no staples.

If the employer gives instructions, such as a file type, a file name or “one document only,” follow them over any general rule.

Make them match

Your resumé and cover letter should look like a set:

• Same name and contact line at the top
• Same font and similar layout
• The same job title from the posting in both

The University of Calgary’s career services says the cover letter should match your resumé’s format, and should “connect critical information from your resume to the requirements outlined in the job posting” rather than repeat it (University of Calgary).

Related guides

• What to include in a cover letter
• Do you need a cover letter?
• Cover letter examples and template
• Best opening lines for a cover letter

Sources

All accessed 2026-10-29.

1. Government of Alberta, alis. What should I include in my cover letter? https://alis.alberta.ca/tools-and-resources/questions-and-answers/what-should-i-include-in-my-cover-letter/
2. Government of Alberta, alis. Cover letter outline. https://alis.alberta.ca/look-for-work/cover-letters/cover-letter-outline/
3. University of Calgary, Career Services. Cover letters. https://ucalgary.ca/career-personal-development/advising/job-search-resources/cover-letters