In technology-savvy workplace, it is almost impossible to avoid emailing cover letters and resumes to employers.

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Email Etiquette
[By Mary Waldron]
In our contemporary, technology-savvy workplace, it is almost impossible to avoid emailing cover letters and resumes
to potential employers; in fact, email is usually the initial means of communication between employers and their job
candidates. A series of questions may cross a person’s mind when he or she is about to send a submission via email.
Because email is still such a young method of communication, no definite standards have been set for emailing cover
letters and resumes. However, as more and more employers find examples of what they do not want to see, more
authoritative guidelines are being formed.
When employers open your email message, you. Portray a neutral and professional Probably the most frequently contemplated
the words that pop up on the screen make demeanor, just as you would in a regular decision when preparing to send a
your first impression, which cannot be cover letter. submission via email is whether or not to
taken back in most cases. You should take attach. When virus protection was less
an email message to a potential employer Also—and this one is a killer—do not advanced than it is today, employers were
as seriously as you do your cover letter. send your email from a wacky personal wary of opening attachments; however,
Many people fail to realize that using email email address like OChottie@aol.com or these days the majority of employers will
does not give them an excuse to abbreviate, Stud69@eskimobob.com. Believe it or not, open them. This is a huge advantage for
misspell, and leave out proper punctuation; this usually does not even faze a lot of job seekers because they no longer have to
we are not on AOL Instant Messenger, applicants, but it is the tackiest mistake convert their beautifully crafted documents
people! In the business world, yes, some to make. It only takes a few minutes to into awkward eyesores crammed into
colleagues and associates who already do create a professional email account that little text boxes. Some employers still ask
business with one another occasionally can be designated for work-related email. that cover letters and resumes be sent in
break the rules, but for an individual seeking Choose an email address including either the texts of emails, so, above all, respect
employment, this should not even be an your name or a variation of it. If your name whatever methods and formats employers
issue. Assuming that you are exempt from is in your email address, those with whom ask you to use in their job postings.
using proper grammar and punctuation you correspond will not have any trouble
only gives employers reason to delete locating your messages in their daily Many applicants prefer to leave a brief note
your messages before they even view your collections. This will not only help you and in the text box and attach both the cover
resume. It is attention to detail that will your associates to stay more organized, but letter and resume, while others opt to copy
set you apart from the crowd, so do not let it will also keep your personal life separate and paste their cover letters into the texts of
something so elementary shut you out of the from your career. their emails and only attach their resumes;
race in the first round. either one of the two options works, although
Along with a professional email address, if you choose to leave a brief note, make
Remember to stick with a standard font like make sure that, if you list a phone number sure that you keep it short and sweet. The
Times New Roman or Arial, and always keep on your resume, you have a professional message should be succinct, only a couple
the font black and the background of the voicemail message. If potential employers of sentences long. Employers do not want
email plain white. Would you really want to decide to call you directly, which they to read a page-long email that derails into
send a prominent lawyer or one of his or her typically do if they decide to meet or hire you, a rant about high gas prices, forcing them
associates an email with kittens and puppies do not make them sit through three minutes to search for your message’s original train
all over its background? Yes, it is nice to of “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson of thought. The purpose of a cover letter is
give your work a personal touch, but present or a witty explanation as to why you cannot to entice the reader to look at your resume.
that within the text of your cover letter or get to your phone. Instead, direct them to If you send a short message to be read
save it for the interview. Besides, what if a number with a simple, concise voicemail before your cover letter, it must quickly
the employer hates kittens and puppies? It message that, preferably, includes your convince the potential employer to open the
sounds crazy, but it is possible. The key is name or number. attachment with your cover letter.
to never give an employer reason to “delete”
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In the subject line of your email, be careful to identify the purpose of the email. Do not cover letters and resumes in employers’
not to label your message “Urgent” or “RE:” get too creative or elaborate when titling an inboxes almost instantaneously. Take the
because doing so may send your submission email for an employer; it will work against time to make sure that any messages sent,
to the recipient’s junk mail folder, or he or you if the title comes off as confusing. as well as your cover letter and resume,
she may overlook it, assuming it concerns are impeccable and portray a professional
something else. Your subject line should be Having the option to email documents to demeanor that will clearly come through to
straightforward, stating the position name or employers can be advantageous for job someone who has never met you.
another keyword that would help someone seekers because it makes it possible to have
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