You only get one chance to make a first impression which is why your cover letter email is so important. Emailing a cover letter is your chance to show why you’re the best candidate for the job and to demonstrate that you’re a professional who is serious about the application.
The email cover letter should provide information on your expertise, such as your qualifications, skills, and experience as well as the reasons why you’re applying for the role. You need to show the employer why you’re a good fit for the position and to grab their attention so they look at your resume.
Candidates are often too quick to send an email cover letter. This is a mistake. It is worth spending some time focusing on each aspect of the cover letter to ensure it’s up to scratch. In a competitive job market, marginal gains are everything.
Your professional resume is still the most powerful tool you have at your disposal when you’re job hunting and using a resume builder is an effective way of nailing it. Your cover letter needs to work in tandem with your resume.
How to send an email cover letter
One of the most important pieces of cover letter advice is to always follow the employer’s instructions. Failure to follow basic instructions during the application process gives the wrong impression. It seems sloppy and unprofessional.
Sending an email cover letter and resume as attachments
If the instructions in the job posting say to include your cover letter as an attachment, then do so. Either include it as a Word document or as a PDF. As you’ll include both your resume and cover letter it’s important to clearly name both files (e.g. petergreencover.pdf and petergreenresume.pdf).
Sending an email cover letter as the main email
If the job posting instructions don’t state whether to include your cover letter as an attachment, it is best to copy and paste your cover letter and include it as the main email, with just your resume attached. This way, when an employer double clicks on your application email, they will instantly see your attention-grabbing cover letter.
How to write a an email cover letter for a job application
A professional cover letter should follow a clear cover letter format. It should start with a header, an opening paragraph (why you’re applying), a second main paragraph (why you’re the best candidate), a closing paragraph (thank them for their time and state what’s attached), and an electronic signature.
Before you start writing it, you should carefully read through the job posting and identify the key job requirements. You should then analyze your own expertise and be ready to show how your skill set matches the job. Each cover letter should be tailored for each application.
You should choose some examples of when you’ve demonstrated each key requirement and include them in your cover letter. This is much more convincing than just saying you’re innovative, creative, or dynamic.
Don’t send a boring cover letter that starts with:
“My name is Maria Smith and this cover letter is intended to express my interest in the Finance Manager position as listed on Glassdoor. I believe my background in technology companies and finance experience makes me an ideal candidate for this role.”
Use the introduction to capture the attention of the reader. You can use a sentence showing that you’re aware of their company and why you’re interested in them specifically and to briefly introduce your value proposition.
In the second paragraph, explain why you’re the perfect fit. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What are some programs/initiatives you worked on that have had a big impact?
- Did you get promoted fast?
- What skills do you have that match the requirements of the job?
- Did you save time or made money for your organization?
In the last paragraph, you can tell the hiring person that you’d love to be considered for the role.
Cover letter email example
Get more cover letter examples advice in our guide with tips and information about all aspects of a good cover letter structure.
Dear Ms. Wilson,
I would like to express my interest in the position of Customer Service Representative which is advertised on LinkedIn. I believe that my four years of experience in customer services and my positive attitude make me the ideal candidate for this position.
I am used to working in a target-driven environment and have surpassed my personal targets for three consecutive years. I have also won two ‘Passion Awards’ for my approach towards delivering excellent customer service. My strong communication skills which have been recognized through consistent positive feedback from our customers.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. Please find a copy of my resume attached. I look forward to having the chance to discuss what I can bring to the role in more detail.
Sincerely yours,
Jane Cooper
