Cover Letter vs Resume: Do You Still Need Both?

A resume shows what you did; a cover letter shows why you fit. Here's when each matters.

When to include a cover letter

When the job asks for one, when you're changing careers, or when you have a specific story that a resume can't tell.

When to skip it

Quick applications that don't request one, or when it would just repeat your resume.

The 4-paragraph formula

Hook → why you fit (with a metric) → why this company → clear call to action. Keep it under 250 words.