How to Write a Job Application Email That Makes an Impression?
Sending a job application email is a quick and convenient way to make a lasting impression on hiring managers and differentiate yourself from a sea of applicants. Let’s take a look at what is considered a good job application email and how to write a job application email that can you make you stand out.
What is a job application email?
A job application email is a quick and easy way to present your skills to an employer. Generally, a job application email consists of an explanation of the purpose of the email, an attached resume, and a cover letter, explaining why you have the potential to be a great hire.
A simple job application email format should include:
- An email body with a clear explanation of who you are, the job role you’re applying for, and your qualifications
- An attached resume with relevant work experience and required certifications
- Cover letter explaining why you’d be a great fit for the job
- Your contact information, so that the employer can reach out to you
Also, read: 4 Tips to Build A Great Resume and Get Hired
Writing an email to apply for a job is rather tricky because you need to make sure that the email content is striking enough to catch the recruiter’s eye. Your email application needs to impress the recruiter and drive them to consider you for the role.
Job application email subject: Write one that gets your email opened
Here’s the thing: your email is only as good as your subject line. Your job application email subject line can make or break your chances. In other words, the subject line on your email informs the recruiter whether or not to open your email at all. So make sure to be clear and concise here.
The best way to do this is by simply stating your name and the job role you’re applying for.
Example:
- Jon Doe- Application for Senior Front-End Developer
- Application: Junior Python Developer, Jane Doe
- Senior Django Developer Application: Karl Max
How to write a job application email that works?
To write a successful job application email, you have to remember that this email is the first impression you’re making on the employer. So be mindful of the language you use, the attachments you add, and the overall tone of the message.
The tone of your message should be informational, so keep the contents professional and straightforward. You can make things easier for yourself by considering the mail body as a brief sales pitch for yourself.
Here are a few things to consider if you want to nail your job application email in the first go:
-
Address the employer/recruiter
Make sure to properly address the hiring manager, a simple ‘Hello’ can take your message from being cold and impersonal to be friendly. Take the extra step, and mention the hiring manager by name. However, if you don’t know the name, a direct “Good Morning/Afternoon”, or “Hello” can also be used to start the mail -
Introduce yourself and the purpose of writing the email within the first paragraph
Get straight to the point! You may think it a bit abrupt to immediately move towards business, however, recruiters are busy people, and pleasantries would only take up more of their time. Immediately introduce yourself and explain why you’re writing the email. -
Explicitly mention the job position you’re interested in
Companies often have numerous vacancies at the same time. Therefore, it is always great to explicitly specify the position you’re applying for. Make sure to clearly state the job role, and where you found the vacancy, i.e., a job board, company website, or even through a colleague. This would help the recruiter understand how familiar you are with the job requirements. Also, read: 5 Tips to Increase Your Chances of Matching With Top US Jobs. -
Move on to your educational qualifications and relevant work experience
Once you’ve established your purpose, move on to explaining why you’d make a great hire. Mention your educational qualifications, and talk about previous job roles and projects you’ve undertaken. You can even point them toward an attached portfolio here. Remember, this is where you need to make a case for yourself. -
Sign off with your contact details
Once you’ve clearly stated your merits and what makes you a good hire, sign off with a friendly and concise statement. Something along the lines of “Hoping to hear back from you soon”, or “Looking forward to your reply,” would work. After this make sure to add your contact details- use the Name/ Number/ LinkedIn Profile format.
Example:
Regards,
Jon Doe
+123 456789
www.linkedin.com/profile -
Attach your resume, relevant certifications, and other material
Once you’ve signed off, go ahead with the attachments. Adding your resume with detailed work experience and project information is a must. Additionally, you can also attach a cover letter, relevant certifications, and/or a portfolio of your work. Make sure the documents you attach are updated and help back up your qualifications, education, and work experience. Also, read: 7 Ways to Write A Great Software Developer Cover Letter -
Proofread the email
Go through the entire email once again. Check for mistaken dates, left-out experiences, or even simple spelling errors. Remember, you’ll need to fine-comb this email as it will be the very first impression you make on your prospective employers. Additionally, you can save a draft and send yourself a copy to see if the alignment is correct, and the email is displayed the way you want it to. -
Hit “send” and prepare to follow-up
Once you’ve gone through the above-mentioned steps, hit send. Don’t obsess over tiny details or overthink your content. At the end of the day, you’re human and allowed to make mistakes. Wait for the reply to come, however, if it takes more than a week, it is recommended to take a follow-up. In a lot of cases recruiters are busy with an influx of applications, so follow up on your job application before leaving things up to fate.
Job application email attachments: What should you include?
Attachments can be a confusing aspect of job application emails. The simplest thing to do here would be to go through the job description and attach the requested files. Be mindful of the formats specified, for example- see if the JD mention .docx files, PDFs, or other specific file extensions.
Generally, a job application email attachment should include the following:
- Resume: Attach your resume with updated personal details, education, previous work experience, projects, and certifications.
- Cover letter: You can skip the cover letter if you’ve mentioned the same information in the email body. However, if you have a more elaborate version of how your goals align with your prospective employers, make sure to add a cover letter attachment.
- Portfolio samples: A portfolio is your best marketing tool. Work samples will quickly inform the hiring manager of your prowess and skill set. Make sure to put your best foot forward here and attach your best work samples.
Job application email template
Still not sure about writing your own email job application? Refer to the following template to keep things simple:
To: [Recipient’s email address]
Subject: Application for [Job title]: Your name
Salutation: Hello Mr./Mrs./Ms. [Name of the recipient]
Email body:
Within the first paragraph introduce yourself and the purpose of writing the email, and mention the job position you’re applying for. Mention where you found the advertisement or how you heard about the job. Get straight to the point! Introduce yourself and elaborate on why you’re interested in the job role.
In the second paragraph, move on to your educational qualifications, skills, and relevant work experience. Once you’ve established your eligibility, move on to explaining why you’d make a great hire.
In the third paragraph, talk about previous job roles and projects you’ve undertaken. You can even point the recruiter toward an attached portfolio here. Make a case for yourself by showing what your skills are worth.
In the closing paragraph, you can inform the hiring manager/ recruiter that you’re looking forward to hearing from them, then make sure to thank them for their time.
Sign off with a salutation like “Regards” or “Sincerely”.
Use the Name/ Number/ LinkedIn Profile format here.
Job application email example
A job application by an experienced professional may look something like this:
To: jondoe@email.com
Subject: Jane Abbot – Application for Senior Front-End Developer
Hello Jon,
This is regarding a recent call for Senior Front-End Developer posted on your company website. I am a Front-End Developer with over 1 year of experience in the field and 3+ years of experience running and managing my own projects and teams.
I hold a Major in Web Development from Cornell University, I’m proficient in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and hold in-depth knowledge of Website Design, User Experience, Client-Side Development, and Systems Administration. I have worked with and managed teams at several high-ranking companies in US, France, and Germany.
I am attaching a portfolio- which would include previous projects and their business impacts, a comprehensive cover letter, and a CV for your perusal. Please feel free to connect with me via email or phone if you require any more information.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you.
Regards,
Jane Abbot
011 1234567
Also, read: 10 Strengths and Weaknesses for Job Interviews
In sum
Writing a job application via email is a huge undertaking especially since email applications have increasingly become the norm. Hence, knowing how to write a job application email, especially a good one, is no longer optional. Although writing job application emails can be a hard task, with these tips you can create an exceptional one in minutes. Remember, you are drafting your own story and with the right approach you can create a lasting impression on your prospective employer!
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