How to Email a Resume: Sample Email & Tips

Even if you have a stellar resume and a killer cover letter, your application could still get lost in the pile if you don’t follow certain necessary steps when you hand in your application. If you’re submitting it via email, you want to make sure that it:

• Leaves a good first impression on the hiring manager
• Follows the right format
• Contains the necessary attachments

Here’s how to email a resume and improve your chances of landing a job:

1. Follow instructions carefully

To avoid appearing disorganized and leaving the hiring manager with a negative first impression of you, it’s important that you check the job description for application submission instructions.

Depending on the employer, they might prefer PDF over DOCX, have specific file naming conventions, or ask that you provide supplementary documentation in addition to your resume and cover letter.

Some employers have very strict requirements and won’t consider applications that aren’t put together accordingly.

2. Address the hiring manager by name

Addressing the hiring manager by name proves that you took the initiative to research the company. However, avoid informal greetings like “Hi Bill” or “Hey Mrs. Lopez” that make you seem unprofessional, especially if you’ve never met the hiring manager.

Begin with a standard greeting, like “Dear Mr. Chen.” If you don’t know their name and you’re unable to find it on LinkedIn or the company website, go with one of these options:

• Dear Sir/Madam
• Dear Hiring Manager
• Dear Human Resources Director

Addressing your email to the department you want to work in is also acceptable.

3. Make your subject line clear and professional

The subject line of your email should be brief and to the point. There are three elements to a professional email subject line:

1. Your name
2. Target job title
3. The term “job application”

Here’s an example of a good subject line for emailing a resume:

This example makes it immediately clear to anyone reading it that the email contains the job application of Paul Smith, who is applying for an IT manager position.

4. Attach your resume

Next, attach your resume to the email. There are two standard resume file formats to choose from: PDF and DOCX. See if the job ad lists a preference. If you don’t see anything, either is acceptable, but be aware that both come with their own set of disadvantages.

For example, applicant tracking system (ATS) software that scans your resume for resume keywords might not be able to read a PDF document. Older applicant tracking systems can’t read image files, so your resume could get rejected before the hiring manager even has the chance to read it.

Here are some other advantages and disadvantages:

PDF

DOCX

Whichever format you choose, name the file properly. For example:

Zara-Tindall-Event-Planner-Resume.pdf

5. Attach your cover letter

There are two ways to include your cover letter in your application email:

1. Use the body of your email as your cover letter and only attach your resume
2. Attach your cover letter to the email. That email should include a short introduction, and state you’re applying for the job and have attached your cover letter and resume

If you choose to attach your cover letter to the email, either attach it as a PDF or DOCX.

Next, give the file a clear name. Include your name, what the document is, and the job title. For example:

Kylie-Ellis-Makeup-Artist-Cover-Letter.docx

6. Send a test email to yourself

Before you submit your application to the hiring manager, proofread it and then send the email to yourself or a friend. This allows you to make sure that:

• There are no typos or grammatical mistakes
• No attachments are missing
• Your attachments open properly

This will help ensure that your email is perfect and free from errors, so that when it lands in an employer’s inbox you immediately come off as a professional with attention to detail.

What to write in an email when sending your resume

The email that accompanies your application should be a shorter, more condensed version of your cover letter.

Don’t copy the content from your full-length cover letter. Instead, summarize your career highlights in a sentence or two and remember to follow this format when you write the body of the email:

• Greeting
• Statement of your intention to apply
• Brief summary of your experience and what makes you an ideal candidate
• Call to action
• Signature

If you’re still not sure how to write an email to send with your resume, here’s a resume email sample you can use for inspiration:

This example of an email works because it demonstrates the candidate’s most relevant accomplishments, while concisely expressing their interest in the position.