3 Sample Emails When Sending a Resume to an Employer in 2024 (+ 3 Email Templates)

Have you found a job posting that asks you to submit your resume via email? Or maybe you’ve decided to approach your dream company directly. If so, you’re probably asking yourself right now — what to write in an email when sending my resume so I will stand out?

Sometimes employers provide clear instructions on what the email format should include. If that’s the case, follow the employer’s directions closely. 

But if you can’t find any instructions, don’t worry — you can follow the best practices described in this article!

How to email a resume in 2024: A few tips to keep in mind before sending the email

Before you start writing, ask yourself: Who is the person you’re writing to?

Try to find the hiring manager’s contact details to address them by name. A slightly more personal approach can decrease the chance of your resume being forgotten or disposed of.

Remember that your email address needs to be professional. Emails like julezizcoolz@yahoo may have been cool in 2005, but not anymore. Instead, create a professional email address with your first and last name.

You should also consider when to email your resume. You generally want your email to be among the first ones they receive that day. This means you should send it very early — ideally before 8 am.

The same applies to days of the week. The later in the week you send your email, the lower the probability that someone reviews it. This is why you should send it very early on a Monday morning.

Naturally, do not put off applying if it’s a first come, first serve kind of job application. 

How to email a resume like a professional [3 min.VIDEO]

Key takeaways:

• Look up the hiring manager’s contact details;

• Your email address needs to be professional;

• Send it on a Monday, ideally well before 8 am;

3 Sample Emails for Sending Your Resume to Recruiters:

Write an effective subject line. It’s the first thing they’re going to see

Sure, the subject line is just a tiny part of the whole email. However, it’s also the first thing the recruiter will see. That’s why you want the subject line of your resume email to be absolutely spot on.

First of all, check the job posting for instructions regarding the submission. There may be a preferred subject format the company uses. If that’s the case, then you need to stick to it.

If there are no instructions, you should stick to the standard format for subject lines:

• Subject: ‘Job application’ – Job title, Job ID (if applicable) — Your Name

Example: Job application – Office Manager, Job ID #1553 — Ian Lumberjack

Example (with referral): Referral from John Wick: Job application – Graphic Designer, Job ID #1554 — Nina Hughes

If someone recommends you for the job, definitely make this clear in the subject line. You can add your title or qualification if you wish — but remember, keep the subject line success.

Email body for sending a resume: Keep it crisp yet formal

Start with a formal greeting and address the hiring manager by name (preferably last name).

In the first short paragraph, you should state who you are, why you are sending this email, and what the email contains.

Continue the next paragraph with a short but effective introduction of your best and proudest achievements. Of course, only mention those achievements that are relevant for the job. Close this paragraph by saying what value you would bring to the company and which skills you will use to accomplish this. In the closing paragraph, you need to say that you’re looking forward to hearing back from them and meeting in person. You may add a captivating call for action but be careful not to sound rude or overly keen.

Yours faithfully (US English) or Yours sincerely (British English).

And finally, a professional signature is a must! Remember to include your contact details.

[Your name]

[Your job title]

[Email address]

[Phone number]

[LinkedIn profile] – optional 

Remember, you want to keep the body of the email short and succinct. Don’t go into too much detail; otherwise, you might lose the hiring manager’s attention. 

Keep in mind that you simply cannot elaborate on every accomplishment and every work experience due to limited space. The email needs to be informative and concise.

Attaching files — resume and cover letter

This should go without saying but, don’t forget to attach your resume to the email! 

Consider whether it’s relevant to also attach your cover letter. When you apply for a job in bigger companies, you may benefit from sending your cover letter and your resume. Just remember not to repeat yourself too much in your email body and your cover letter.

Avoid naming the attachments generically or randomly. Names like fghjvh.pdf orresume2.pdf can make it hard for the hiring manager to find these documents later. Name your attachments in a way that makes them easy to find — Name_Surname_Resume.pdf and Name_Surname_Cover_Letter.pdf

The best format for sending your resume and cover letter is .pdf or .doc. We suggest saving your documents as PDFs since it’s a universally accepted file format, it’s easy to open, and will not distort the formatting of your documents.

Keep in mind that files should not be larger than 10MB. Otherwise, they might be considered suspicious.

Key takeaways:

• Resume and cover letter need to be sent as attachments;

• Name your attachments in a way that makes them easy to find;

• Save documents in the PDF format;

• Files should not be larger than 10MB.

What to write in your resume email? Key takeaways

Sending your resume attached to a well-written email can be a very effective strategy. It can help you find a way around ATS algorithms that filter out unsuitable resumes before they can even get to an HR employee for evaluation.

So how do you write one?

• Before you start writing the email, make sure you know whom to address. Knowing the hiring manager’s name will make the email feel more personal and decrease the chance of it being forgotten.

• Your resume address should sound professional. Send your resume email early on a Monday morning for maximum effectiveness.

• We have provided you with email templates. No matter which one you choose, remember — to keep the email short, informative, and professional.

• Attach your resume and cover letter in PDF format and name them in a way that makes them easy to find, for example, Name_Surname_Resume.pdf and Name_Surname_Cover_Letter.pdf

• After you have written the email and attached the documents, ask someone to proofread it for you to avoid any grammar errors and typos. Lastly, send yourself a test email to check the formatting and test download the files. 

After you send in your resume, cover letter, and your job application, wait for a couple of days before sending a follow-up email.

Concluding thought — even if you construct the perfect email to send with your resume, you still need to make sure you have an impressive resume and cover letter. 

We’ve got you covered. Check out these articles to help you create the perfect resume and cover letter:

• The Ultimate Resume Guide: How to Find Happiness and Get Hired in 2021

• The Only Cover Letter Guide You’ll Need in 2021 [+Examples]

Over to YOU! Share your questions or feedback in the comments below!