There are many times where a job application or scholarship will ask you to send a resume. Unfortunately, they may not always list what else you need to send in the email, so it can get a bit awkward without sending context. 

To help you feel more comfortable about emailing your resume, we have put together these 7 tips. 

Top 7 Tips for Emailing a resume

1. Have a clear email subject

Source: Springbot

The email subject line is the first impression of your email. The subject line determines whether or not the recruiter will click on it sooner or even forget about it. 

Your subject line doesn’t need to be anything crazy, but it does need to be clear. For example, you don’t want to read “Resume” because what is your resume for, and how will the recruiter know the position you are interested in? 

Here are some examples of a subject line.

  • Experienced Graphic Designer seeks your Graphic Design position.
  • Public Relations Major seeking growth in a PR internship
  • Proficient Content writer looking for a Head of Content position

Each line is professional and eye-catching. It allows the recruiter to know your current industry and the role you are applying for. 

2. Use the recruiter’s full name

It is often recommended to open with their first or full name. This reference adds a personal and human touch. Try to avoid using their last name because you never know which prefix is appropriate. 

If you have seen their prefix before then, you are more than welcome to use it. If you are unsure, then stick to using their full name or first name. 

Also, avoid using pronouns unless they have established what they are. You always want to be considerate and never assume. If you are still unsure further down the line, you can ask politely by stating your pronouns first.  

To recap, address a recruiter by their first or full name and avoid using pronouns and prefixes. 

3. Have an intro to the email 

Now that you have a rocking subject line, it is time to introduce yourself. You have stated the recruiter’s name, so it is time to share yours. 

You never want just to attach your resume and be done with it!  You need to introduce your resume because it will make the recruiter eager to click on your resume. 

Start by addressing the recruiter, then introduce yourself. Provide the reason you are contacting them. In this case, it may be a scholarship or job position. State the job position and where you found out they were hiring. 

For example is you saw a job listing on their website, indeed, ZipRecruiter, etc. Sharing the source lets the recruiter know that their open position is seen. You also may find that they might have forgotten to take the job listing down, and you telling them will help!

So now we have said hello to the recruiter, mentioned our name, and said why we are contacting and from what source(i.e. Indeed). 

4. Add your value

After your intro, you want to provide one to two sentences about why you would be an excellent asset to the company. You don’t want to list your experiences, degrees, or certifications because that is what your resume is for. 

You can share your characteristics as to why you are a valuable asset. This section will make the recruiter eager to see your resume.

5. Include intent to contact again 

From there you want to mention that you hope to speak to them soon. This will let the recruiter know that you are waiting to hear back and respond quicker. 

You can also mention that you hope to meet over the phone to talk more. This helps reduce the number of times people get rejected before scoring an interview. 

6. Provide more contact information 

Provide a cell phone number and let them know when is a good time to reach you. For example, if you are in school, mention that you are available after hours or during the weekend. 

You can also provide your LinkedIn if you have one to provide.  

7. Have your resume and cover letter in PDF format 

Lastly, you want to provide your resume and cover letter in a pdf format unless they mentioned other ways. Check on where you saw the job opening to see if there was a preferred format. If not, then pdf should be okay. 

Also, don’t forget to let them know that the files are attached. Sometimes it is hard to see the files so let them know!

Conclusion

We hope you were able to put together a resume that you are comfortable sending. These tips will come in handy for the future and can help you land a job! You may be thinking to use email marketing software here as they are convenient and can email a bunch of prospects together right? But it’s effective to email each hiring manager manually.