Guest Author - Gwendolyn Thompson
You might think that if a job posting is requesting that all resumes be emailed to the company that you will not need to include a cover letter for the employers viewing. In fact the opposite is true and it is vital that a cover letter be placed in the body of the email but not exceed one screen in length.
Employers will request this form of reply because it is quicker for them to review the applicants as well as file unqualified respondents in the trash. When viewing the emails employers will scan for required information requested in the job posting which should be placed in the cover letter.
The email serves as a traditional cover letter but shorter in length and very concise. If you place your resume in the body of the email and save your cover letter as an attachment it is likely that your cover letter will never get opened or read as it would if it was the first item viewed in the email.
Less time is spent reading emails than paper so stick to relevant information that pertains to the job description and requirements listed in the job posting. Give a brief overview of your qualifications that address the specific requests of the posting to make your email stand out over others.
Include a confident and brief introduction explaining how you fit the requested requirements. Leave enough curiosity for them to want to open your resume attachment. Convince them to open your email, read your message and attachment and not delete the email. Keep your closing relevant and targeted.
Always list a subject in your email such as the job title or position. Emails that do not contain a subject are more likely not to get opened. Check your email for typo errors because it is easier to make errors on emails than on paper. Always check to be sure that your contact information is included.
By placing your cover letter in the body of the email and including the job posting required information along with a listed subject for your email it is likely that your email and resume attachment will be opened for viewing and not deleted without being considered for the job posting.
