Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Google receives upwards of 75,000 resumes a week, and for highly competitive positions at moderately well-known companies you’re looking at roughly 25-200 applicants a week who are apply for open positions. So how often do you think your attachment that reads “cover letter” is actually read?
Most resumes are scanned into an ATS system or processed via job boards with key word search algorithms that make the cover letter obsolete with the use of modern technology. With email and online messaging, it is cumbersome to make someone open an attachment with the old school notion of a letter attached.
So understand that your cover letter isn’t going to get opened and this does not mean it does not have value, it just means its method of delivery needs to change with the times and it might require a little strategy to make a true impact.
With so much of the hiring process happening online, email communication is critical in establishing yourself as a qualified candidate. Every email interaction you have with potential employers will further shape their opinions about you. Use the following etiquette guide to ensure all components of your email represent you in the most professional way possible.
It’s not just about the cover letter with technology at our fingertips; it’s about key messaging at strategic points. Remember it’s chess not checkers when it comes to a good strategy.
On hiredMYway.com you can directly message the employer with any application you submit. With no barrier to entry you can make your application stand out with a strategic message that will be sent right to the appropriate decision maker. Read on to make sure you put your best foot forward.
Good Email Etiquette
Address
For starters, make sure you have a respectable email address. No more iceskater4life or sportsfan88, it’s time to upgrade. Gmail on Google and other free email services make it incredibly easy to create a new address. Use your first and last name (or a combination of the two) with as few numbers as possible. People should be able to identify who you are just by reading it.
Signature
Create a professional signature for the bottom of your emails. Make it as short as possible and include pertinent information such as your full name, your college and graduation year, if you’re a recent grad, and ways to get in touch (phone/email). Use a black, common web font like Sans Serif and check the formatting to ensure it looks clean and aligns properly. Be very cautious about including personal websites—when in doubt, leave it out.
Response time
After you receive an email, try to respond within 12 hours. You want to show that you are tech savvy and on top of things. If you can’t respond in the first 12, the 24 hour window is still a good response time.
Content
Keep the content of your emails short and to the point. People in the business world will probably have inboxes loaded with emails—don’t add to the clutter with a four paragraph response to a simple question. Use exclamation points sparingly and never use emoticons. When addressing the notion of a cover letter don’t tell your life story, instead tell a quick advertisement about you, why you are the best candidate out there and how no one can be you. Make sure it can be read in a minute or less.
Errors
Triple check your emails for spelling, grammar and contextual errors. Pay utmost attention to detail and ensure any files you want to send are uploaded and attached. Nothing can discredit you as easily as a spelling error off the bat, so look carefully over the spelling of names—especially the company name.
Technology Tools
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Bommerang for Gmail |
Boomerang for Gmail is a Firefox / Chrome plugin that lets you take control of when you send and receive email messages. You can write an email now and schedule it to be sent automatically at the perfect time. . Price: Free
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Rapportive | A free web plug-in, gives your emails social context. The tool incorporates public social data into profiles that appear as a sidebar.
Contextual profiles feature the sender’s photo, job title, Twitter handle, Facebook and LinkedIn profiles. Price: Free
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Followup.cc | Reminds users to respond to emails. Clear your inbox in minutes by replying or forwarding emails to FollowUp addresses according to priority. Price: Free
Once you have your email address and signature in place, check your inbox frequently to stay connected with the people trying to contact you. If you use care when crafting emails, you’ll be one step ahead of the game in getting hired.