Applying for a job by email

Wine_of_the_World

Just a quick question.

When making an application for a job to an email address should I attach the cover letter as a separate document, or write the cover letter in the email?

I have been writing the cover letter in the email, showing how I meet the selection criteria and highlighting my strengths but I am wondering if this will be discarded and that I should attached a letter.

I have just seen a great job - saying send a CV to xyz email address - nothing about a cover letter. I think this is a HR address - so was wondering if the email would be passed on to the relevent department or not.

Thanks!!

MyRubyRed

Do they ask for a cover letter?

Wine_of_the_World

No - they havnt specifically asked for one. But perhaps it will help give me an "edge" to have one

MyRubyRed

No it won't
Send your CV with an email referring to the advert and ref if there was one. Ensure your CV demonstrates your ability to meet the criteria

Wine_of_the_World

Thanks!

It'll give me more time to work on my CV

MyRubyRed

Do you want to tell us what the job is and the associated criteria. Suspect if you get to interview you will have to provide evidence/examples on what you have done

jadziad

This is just my opinion; others may differ:

Whether to include a wordy "cover letter"-style introduction in the email depends on a few factors. If it's a government, council other company like that, then don't bother - they do things very formally and only need the application form. CVs will generally be binned, as stated in the online information.

For small companies, the cover email needs to be to the point, perhaps including one key bit of info which will peak their interest. Ideally you should ALWAYS deliver your CV in person - say your name & shake hands. This WILL make you stand out from the huge pile of crap which they get by email. What you say will depend on what kind of company it is - small close-knit companies will often be looking for someone they will get along with who will need minimal or no hand-holding, so be approchable but formal and to-the-point. If you can observe their company entrance on a morning and they're all wearing jeans & T-shirts, then be more casual than formal.

For larger companies, the person receiving it will probably be a low-level admin person who really won't care what you've got to say in the email - they will just need your name, perhaps address, vacancy reference number, and so on, so they can collate them, bin whichever don't meet the criteria, then forward them on to whoever is the decision-maker. Attach whatever it is they require which was specified in the advert.

For proper managerial or director-level jobs, generally you wouldn't be reading this post anyway, but for those jobs I suppose you'd need to be very wordy, bullsh***y, and do everything in separate Word documents. But I really have no clue for jobs at that level.

You have to do a bit of DIY psychology with some companies, and there's often more than one way of doing things.

kunekune

It is quite common in my field to do everything by email. What I generally do is prepare a series of attachments: for me, it would be an application letter (which would directly address any criteria set out in the advert), a cv, a research plan and copies of teaching evaluations. Obviously, that's field-specific, but it gives the idea. All I do in the email itself is say that I am enclosing my application plus the following attachments, and re-confirm contact details.

MyRubyRed

If the company is asking for a CV that is all they want at that stage

Wine_of_the_World

Its for a Marketing Assistant. The criteara is:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Self motivated with strong organisational skills
• Capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously and ability to work well under pressure
• Enthusiastic and highly flexible work ethic required as well as proactive, hands on approach

I have the degree and some marketing experience. Also, there is more detailed information about what the job involves doing, and most of the tasks I have done similar in other roles.

Wine_of_the_World

Thanks, sorry I didnt see the other replys. Its for a fairly large company, so I wont include a cover letter, but I will work on the CV and especially my personal statement and make it very relevent to the position.