More and more companies and consultancies are requesting that you apply, sometimes on line but more likely by email. We have certainly seen the percentage of candidates applying by email increase from about 15% a year ago to over 75% now and more and more of our clients require CVs and correspondence to be transmitted to them by email.
Whilst many articles and even books have been published about the preparation of CVs and covering letters, very little if any advice has been published as to how to apply by email.
Here are some useful guidelines:
Consider your email address. It isn't a problem if it is sharon&darryl@dunroamin.co.uk but if you have couchpotato@lazy.co.uk you may find some potential employers a little sceptical as to your level of motivation.
Email messages often start informally with "Hi" or just the recipients first name, not many commence formally with "Dear Sir/Madam" and end with "yours faithfully" etc. I would recommend that on your first message, particularly to an employer, you adopt a formal approach. Should the response you receive be informal then you can adopt a similar style in future emails to that employer.
Whatever the style you use you MUST ensure that the email is grammatically correct, that you use capitals where appropriate and that it is free of spelling mistakes. Use the appropriate spell checks available on your email package. Over 75% of the emails we receive have errors, which if directed to an employer could adversely effect the applicant's chances of securing the position.
Applying for jobs via email can be easy. You merely type a message, attach your CV and press send. Remember you still need to convince companies of the seriousness of your application. You should therefore state either in your email message or by attaching a covering letter, the reasons for your application, how your skills relate to the position advertised and remember to include your current terms and conditions. It is surprising how many CV's we receive without any message with them and we do not know whether the candidate is just registering or is applying for a specific vacancy.
Attach or insert your CV onto the email, do not cut and paste. Having spent time formatting your CV, ensuring that it is highly presentable document, pasting it can cause changes to font, to font size, in layout and formatting. Therefore your carefully prepared CV can, at worst, become a jumbled mass of words and phrases. Remember that your CV is a tool, which is used to market you, your skills and experience.
It may be stating the obvious but remember to attach your CV and if appropriate your covering letter. A large proportion of applicants do forget.
I know the web is world-wide but if you are applying for a position in Australia consider your availability for an interview.
Once you have applied for a position remember to check your emails and, if you change providers, notify companies of your new email address.
If you are using an employer's email address, remember an increasing number of companies employ automatic response and monitoring services.
If in doubt as to your ability to send an email, attaching your CV etc. practice by sending it to a friend or contact.
Before an interview use the web to find out more about the Company. Most now have a web site and therefore interviewers often expect candidates to know about the company's products, services, size and structure before attending an interview.
In time the recruitment process will be undertaken almost exclusively electronically so now is the time for you to prepare for the new brave world.
Source
SMT
Postscript
Ian Whitmore is senior consultant with The BJD Group Security Recruitment Services
