How to Combine Resume and Cover Letter into One Professional PDF
Many HR portals and recruiters prefer a single PDF instead of separate files. This guide shows the correct order, how to keep file size under limits, and how to create a clean final PDF on any device.
Best order for job applications
- Cover Letter (page 1) — short, role-specific introduction.
- Resume (after cover letter) — full experience and skills.
- Portfolio / Certificates (optional) — only if requested.
If the employer asks for “resume first”, follow their instruction. Otherwise, cover letter first is common.
Step-by-step: Merge resume + cover letter into one PDF
- Open the Merge PDF tool.
- Upload your cover letter PDF and your resume PDF.
- Drag to reorder: place cover letter first, then resume.
- Click Download New PDF to save the combined file.
Everything runs in your browser — your files are not uploaded.
Make it look professional (important tips)
- Use a clean filename: MayurSojitra_Resume+CoverLetter.pdf (or your name + role).
- Keep size small: many portals reject files above 1–2 MB. If needed, use Compress PDF.
- Check readability: open the final PDF and zoom to 100% to verify text is sharp.
- Remove unwanted pages: use Delete pages if a blank page sneaks in.
- Fix wrong order: use Reorder PDF if pages are mixed after export.
What if the portal only accepts images or you only have photos?
If your resume/cover letter is on paper or you only have phone screenshots, convert them first:
- Use Image → PDF to create a PDF from photos/screenshots.
- Then merge the PDFs using Merge PDF.
- If size becomes too large, compress using Compress PDF.