When you write an email along with your resume, one concern is what you should write in the body of the email. The benefits of sending a resume through email are:
- A human likely reads it, so you don’t have to worry about using an ATS-friendly format
- In general, companies that encourage email applications expect fewer applications (they also expect human-voiced resumes,
- If you’re sending a resume through email, it might be because someone asked for it — that’s a great position to be in
- You can be a bit more casual if you know the person or have a common connection
What to write in the email when sending a resume
The body of the email is not a replacement for a cover letter. Sometimes the email gets read. It is often filed as an application or forwarded to an administrator for printing.
Think about this process. Imagine you were making a newsletter and asked dozens of people to send you articles. As their articles came in, you tucked them into a file called “article submissions.” When ready to look at the submissions, would you prefer to open the attachments and print them? Or print from the body of an email?
Which is easier?
The attachment, right?
And, if you’re compiling 80+ submissions, you will likely want to auto-pilot the process. So, keep the body of the email simple. And anything you want to be considered for the application should be on the resume or cover letter.
How to word the email when submitting a resume
Simple is best.
- Greet the person. “Hi Karen,” or “Dear Steve”
- Tell them what job you are applying for and name the attachments. “Attached is my resume and cover letter for the Screening Coordinator job at Prylop Films.”
- Name any personal connections to the job. “Andrew October said you were hiring and were expecting my resume.”
- Say something about the role, but not too much. “I’ve been waiting three years for this role to open.”
- Wish them well. “I hope you get a lot of great applications.”
- Tell them you are looking forward to hearing from them. “Look forward to hearing from you soon.”
- Sign off
Here’s a sample email when submitting your resume
Hi Jamie,Attached is my resume and cover letter for the conductor role at ABC Railway. Angela Slipper said you were expecting it and I’d be a great fit. From what she shared about the culture of your company, I think so too.I hope you’re having a super day and we get to talk soon.Best,Dibley
Last thing to check before sending the email application
Make sure that:
- You attach what you said you attached and make sure it’s the right version
- You spelled their name right
- You mention the correct role and company name
- You don’t make it too long
- There are zero spelling errors
Send that resume! Congrats! Take a deep breath and congratulate yourself on taking action. Save the email you sent, along with the cover letter and resume so you can start interview preparation.
What to do while you’re waiting to hear back
You can map out a follow-up strategy. And also start getting ready for the job interview. Prepping for an interview is as much about your energy as it is about your words; learn five quick techniques to relieve your job search stress in this video:
And make sure your resume is human-voiced and highlights your amazingness
If you’re not getting calls with your existing resume, try these resources (the first two are free)
- Get a guide on finding your awesome (which you can add to your resume profile) in this free class.
- My TEDx talk teaches you why burning your resume and starting from scratch is better than editing your old resume.
- My best-selling resume book walks you through how to find your awesome and land the ideal work
- If you want to feel grounded for an video interview, here are two questions to ask
Very helpful points on “WHAT TO WRITE IN AN EMAIL WHEN SENDING A RESUME”. Great post