What to Write in an Email when Sending a Resume in 2024

Learn how to email a resume the right way and start getting more job offers. See a proven resume email sample and learn how to write one yourself.

Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

What to Write in an Email when Sending a Resume in 2024

Here’s a bad dream. You find the perfect job offer. You carefully craft a killer resume. And. It never reaches the hiring manager. Someone else lands the gig. This dream can turn to reality. Unless you learn how to email your resume the right way.

When emailing your resume, the body of your email should read a bit like your cover letter. But a resume email is not your cover letter all over again. In 7 minutes, I’ll teach you how to write one that gets you in pole position every time you apply for a job.

This guide will show you:

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emailing a resume example

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For starters, take a look at this sample resume email:

Sample Resume Email You Can Copy & Use

Subject line: Senior Customer Service Representative Seeks Customer Service Team Lead Position with XYZ (Job ID #888701)

Please find attached a copy of my resume for the Customer Service Team Lead Position with XYZ.

As a Senior CSR with ABC Corp, I’ve designed and supervised phone and online surveying activities prior to the launch of our new line of products. The result? In 7 months I’ve raised customer experience phone survey ratings by 58% and boosted customer retention by 27%. I’m sure I can translate my 9+ years of CS experience into similar results for XYZ.

Can we schedule a meeting next week to discuss solutions for making XYZ’s Customer Service operations more cost-effective and raising your NPS ratings in the upcoming months?

Senior Customer Service Representative
linkedin.com/in/cynthia-s-mckittrick
c.mckittrick@me.com
555-888-6666

Do you need to write a regular cover letter? Learn how to format your cover letter like a pro and if you need some help with writing see this guide: How To Write a Cover Letter

1. How to Email a Resume to Get a Job [Resume Email Rules]

Emailing a resume to the hiring manager rather than applying through online forms on job boards can put you in front of most of your competition. There are two reasons for this:

Follow these resume emailing steps:

1. Find the hiring manager’s contact details

First, you need to find out who to reach:

Emailing a Resume: How to Find the Hiring Manager’s Contact Details

  1. Start with the company website to find the name and email of the hiring manager.
  2. Google “[Company Name] [Team Name] Manager,” for example “Acme Company IT Manager.”
  3. If all fails, call the company and directly ask for your hiring manager’s contact details.
  4. That doesn’t work either? Go to LinkedIn to see if you can find their profile there. Send and invite saying you would like to apply for an open position with their team. They’ll most likely be happy to share their email address— and even if not, at least you’ll no longer be anonymous.

Once you get the right contact details, you have the gold opportunity.

2. Be straightforward in the subject line and opening

Writing an email to send with your resume is a high-risk, high-reward endeavor. You’ll stand out from the crowd of other applicants if your message gets opened and read.

And guess what? Your subject line and the resume email opening have to take care of that. How?

In a word: brevity. No fancy narratives, no attempts at jokes or creative puns. Be as straightforward as it gets. It's like the resume profile (professional summary, or resume objective) of your application. It has to make your resume stand out in just one glance.

Resume Email: Subject Line

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3. Present your best assets and make an offer in the main paragraph

Your resume email is not a copy-paste of your regular cover letter in email text editor.

How to Email a Resume: Proper Format

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Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

Key Points

Emailing a resume lets you reach the hiring manager directly, putting you ahead of other applicants. Do it right, and you can already start preparing for the big interview.

Keys to writing a resume email that gets you the job?

  1. Find the hiring manager’s name and contact details through the company’s website or LinkedIn.
  2. Get right to the point in your subject line and opening sentence.
  3. Highlight your relevant work experience & strengths and make an offer in the main paragraph.
  4. Use a clear and singular call to action.
  5. Condense, condense, condense.

Questions? Concerns? I’m here to listen and assist. Share your thoughts in the comments and let me get back to you right away.

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Written by Michael Tomaszewski, CPRW

With vast expertise in interview strategies and career development, Michael is a job expert with a focus on writing perfect resumes, acing interviews, and improving employability skills. His mission is to help you tell the story behind your career and reinforce your professional brand by coaching you to create outstanding job application documents. More than one million readers read his career advice every month. For ResumeLab, Michael uses his connections to help you thrive in your career. From fellow career experts and insiders from all industries—LinkedIn strategists, communications consultants, scientists, entrepreneurs, digital nomads, or even FBI agents—to share their unique insights and help you make the most of your career.

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