After spending hours, maybe even days, crafting & perfecting your resume, have you given any thought to the subject line and body of your email job application?
Although it may seem small & insignificant, it can be a deal breaker if you don’t get it right. Anticlimactic, spammy, and generic subject lines will get your email ignored.
Recruiters swear by being fed up with job applications that have no subject line or no email body. These applications are usually made up of generic words like job application, job application for xx, PFA my resume, applying for employment, my resume is attached etc.
According to research, half of the email recipients decide whether to open or delete an email based solely on its subject line and/or your email body.
Rather than risk it, here are some best practices for your job application email :
➡️Personalize your email by using the Recruiter’s/Hiring Manager’s name. The subject line can even include their name to draw attention.
➡️Since recruiters advertise multiple positions and receive many applications every day, it’s appropriate to start your email body by highlighting the job title or job code. You may include the position title and vacancy number in your email subject line as well.
➡️If your experience fits the bill, be sure to list your years of experience in the skill they need most as the highlight of your email body and subject line, especially if you have an impressive & relevant work history with outcomes.
➡️Including your credentials in your subject line can be particularly effective if the job description mentions your credentials as a requirement.
➡️Dropping a referral’s name in the subject line will definitely grab the recruiter’s attention, especially if they’re a heavyweight.
➡️Include relevant keywords from the job description to tailor your email. This is because recruiters receive countless emails each day, especially at larger companies, and many of those emails have nothing to do with job applications, so they may not notice your email at first. Especially if they’ve set up filters and folders.
➡️If the job ad provides specific instructions for the subject line, follow them and ignore all other advice.
➡️Email applications are prone to spam filters so avoid using salesy words that trigger spam filters.
➡️ Effective subject lines are short, with no punctuation and written in title case
➡️ Lastly, stop attaching your cover letter along with your resume and instead make it the body of your email.
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