How do I make my cover letter match my tailored resume?

Write the cover letter after you tailor the resume, and use it to expand on the two or three strongest matches you highlighted. The two documents should tell the same story without repeating each other word for word.

How to align them:

• Use the same target job title and company name, checked carefully.
• Pick two or three points from your tailored summary and give one short example for each.
• Address anything the resume cannot explain, such as relocation, a career change or a missing requirement you are working on.
• Keep facts identical: titles, dates and figures must match.

Example: If your tailored resume leads with "Processed 600 supplier invoices a month in SAP", your cover letter might say how you reduced late payments by introducing a weekly review, a story the resume has no space for.

Finally, read both together, as the recruiter will. They should feel like one application, written for this employer.