Emailing Your Resume and Cover Letter

The Internet’s dominance as a job search tool demands that applicants follow specific protocols if they wish to maximize their potential for employment.  This is particularly true of employers who require candidates to email their documents as opposed to posting them on company Websites.

The first rule of thumb, in these cases, is to ensure that your material has been created in a universally accepted format; almost invariably, that is Microsoft Word.  Other software applications either may not be compatible with the employer’s, or may require a conversion to Word.   Both are a waste of time for the employer and thus, a disadvantage for you.   Ensure, also, that your document is emailed as a dot doc (.doc) or a text (.txt) file.

With countless emails flooding the employer’s Inbox, yours is likely to be overlooked unless it contains a powerful subject line, such as “Award-Winning General Manager – Tom Lunden.”  By linking your name to your job function and enhancing it with a potent and accurate adjective, your email will stand out in the crowd.

State your intent immediately within the message section of your email.  For instance, “Ten years of exemplary experience make me an ideal candidate for the available position of Clinical Trial Coordinator.”  Targeted openings make the employer’s life easier, which increase your chances for interviews.

While bullets are advantageous for highlighting data in a resume, the opposite is true for email messages.  Because emails are scanned more quickly than resumes, number the specific points you wish to make (1, 2, 3) so that the employer can reference them easily.  And as it is best to keep these points to minimum, use the most salient information.

Make the entire email message succinct.  The correct place for more detailed information is on the actual resume.

When you receive a response from the employer, follow up.  Do not neglect this most essential step!  Confirm, via email, the date and time of your interview.  If you were asked to provide the employer with additional information prior to the interview, do so and state this clearly in the subject line of your email.  Thorough follow up is the mark of a valued employee.