Your resume is often sent as an attachment to an email. An email cover letter establishes closer contact with a hiring manager or recruiter. It may not be read, but it certainly will not be read if it does not exist!
Your email cover letter should have the following parts:
- Header: Use the same header as in your resume. This conveys a professional image if it is a print cover letter.
- Salutation: Like formal cover letters, email cover letters should start professionally and preferably with the name of the recruiter or hiring manager. It is important to find a name if possible (you can do this using LinkedIn for many cases). Use Dear Mr. Smith. If you do not have a name, “Dear Hiring Manager:” is acceptable.
- Body: Keep your email short—a few lines to highlight your accomplishments and your fit for the position. Use a font that is the same as the font on your resume; is readable (no handwriting or Old English fonts); and has a professional look and feel (no Comic Sans).
- Close: A recent survey by Boomerang, an email provider, found that response rates for emails were highest when the emails closed with a “thank you.”
- Contact Information: Make sure you provide not only your name but all of your contact information as it appears on the resume: Name, Street Address, City, State and Zip, phone number, email address (yes, repeat the email address even though you are emailing). If you have a LinkedIn profile or online portfolio, you should include those links.
Attach your resume to the email in the format requested by the recruiter, hiring manager, or posting. Most companies ask for Word documents. As always, make sure you are sending from a professional email account (preferably your first and last names) and that you have double checked the email address you are sending to.
Robin’s Resumes® makes sure that your email or print cover letter matches your resume for professionalism, clarity, brevity, and power. Contact us today.