How to Combine a CV and Cover Letter Into One PDF
To combine a CV and cover letter into one PDF, save each one as a PDF first, then merge them with the cover letter on top. With PDF Merge you drop both files in, put the cover letter first with the arrow buttons, click Merge PDFs and download the result. Rename the file to something a recruiter will recognise, such as Jane-Smith-CV-and-Cover-Letter.pdf, and you're ready to upload.
The details below cover exporting from Word or Google Docs, getting the order right, naming the file and avoiding the small mistakes that make an application look careless.
When you need one PDF instead of two
Many job portals only have a single upload box, or they say "attach your CV and cover letter as one document". Some recruiters also ask for a single attachment so nothing gets separated when your application is forwarded to a hiring manager. If the job ad asks for separate files, send them separately. If it asks for one, or there's only one upload slot, merge them.
Step 1: Save each document as a PDF
PDF Merge only accepts PDF files. Word documents, Google Docs and images are skipped when you add them, so convert them first. A PDF also keeps your fonts and layout exactly as you designed them, whatever device the recruiter opens it on.
From Microsoft Word on Windows
- Open your CV.
- Go to File > Save a Copy (or Save As if the document hasn't been saved yet).
- Choose the folder you want.
- Open the file type list and pick PDF.
- Click Save.
Repeat for your cover letter. If you only want some pages, Word's More Options > Options lets you limit the PDF to certain pages before you save.
From Google Docs
- Open the document.
- Click File > Download.
- Choose PDF Document (.pdf). It saves to your computer.
If the download doesn't work for a large document in Chrome, Google suggests File > Print, setting the destination to Save as PDF, and clicking Save.
Check both PDFs before merging
Open each PDF and scroll through it. Look for a blank last page, a heading stranded at the bottom of a page, or tracked changes and comments you forgot to remove. It's easier to fix these in the original document now than after merging.
Step 2: Name the files so the order is obvious
Rename the two PDFs before adding them, for example:
01-cover-letter.pdf02-cv.pdf
The numbers make the list in the merge tool easy to check at a glance, so you won't put them in the wrong order by accident.
Step 3: Merge them with PDF Merge
- Open PDF Merge.
- Drop both PDFs onto the dashed box, or click it to pick them. You can select both at once.
- Check the list. Each file shows its name and size.
- Use the ↑ and ↓ buttons so the cover letter is at the top. The file at the top becomes the first pages of the new document.
- If you added the wrong file, remove it with the ✕ button on its row.
- Click Merge PDFs. The button only works once there are at least two files.
- Click Download merged.pdf.
Open the merged file and scroll through it before you send it. A quick look catches a page in the wrong place. If the order is wrong, press Reset, add the files again in the right order and merge once more.
The merge runs in your browser, so your CV, with your address, phone number and work history, isn't uploaded to our server.
Which goes first: cover letter or CV?
Put the cover letter first, unless the job ad says otherwise. The cover letter introduces you and explains why you're applying; the CV is the supporting detail. A recruiter opening the file reads them in that order.
If the application also asks for extra documents in the same file, a common order is:
- Cover letter
- CV
- Any requested extras, such as certificates, a portfolio sample or references
Always follow the employer's instructions if they give a different order.
Step 4: Give the merged file a proper name
The tool saves the result as merged.pdf. Rename it before you upload it. Recruiters download a lot of files, and "merged.pdf" or "CV final v3.pdf" is easy to lose. A clear pattern is your name plus what's inside:
Jane-Smith-Cover-Letter-and-CV.pdfJane-Smith-Application-Marketing-Assistant.pdf
Hyphens or underscores instead of spaces avoid odd characters in some upload systems. Avoid words like "final" or "new", which mean nothing to the person reading it.
Common problems and fixes
A file won't appear in the list
Only PDFs are accepted. If you dropped in a .docx or an image, it's skipped. Export it to PDF first using the steps above.
The merge doesn't finish
PDF Merge can't open password-protected or encrypted PDFs, and a locked file is the most likely cause. Open it in your PDF reader with the password, save an unprotected copy, and try again.
You only want some pages
Every page of every file is included. The tool joins whole documents; it doesn't delete, split or rotate single pages. If your CV has a blank page at the end, remove it in Word or Google Docs and export the PDF again.
The file is too big for the portal
A CV exported from Word or Google Docs is usually small. Large merged files tend to come from scanned pages or big photos. If you've included a scanned certificate, scan it at a lower resolution. If the portal's limit is tight, check which of your PDFs is the heavy one, since each file shows its size in the list.
You need to sign or date it
Some applications ask for a signed cover letter. Use PDF Sign to draw your signature and place it on the page, or Add Text to PDF to type a date onto the merged file.
If the job ad asks for your CV and cover letter as separate attachments, skip the merge and just send the two PDFs, each named clearly with your name.
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