Resume Tips

Tip 1: Make Your Email as Personal as Possible

Do not make the mistake of making a list of emails and send to them all at once. You need to send individual targeted emails to employers. You have to research the recipient of your email first and target your message to that particular individual.

Tip 2: Make an Attractive Subject Line

The subject of your email is very important. You should make a very attractive subject that forces the recipient to open your email and read it. For example, if you send an email to Donovan Properties, here’s a subject line that you could use: “Finance Manager with 12-yrs Experience for Donovan Properties” However, make sure that your subject line isn’t too long. Long subject lines are indicative of spam content and do not reach the inbox in some cases.

Tip 3: Greet The Recipient by Their Actual Name

Dear Sir/Madam is sometimes seen to be unattractive. Your message will often be tossed in the trash if you use this greeting. Greet the recipient by their actual name. Use "Dear Mark" or "Dear Mrs. Smith". Your message is much more likely to be read if you did that.  

Tip 4: Do Not Ask for a Job Directly

If you’re sending your resume to a hiring manager or a contact who works in a company that you want to work for, do not ask them to look at your resume from the first email. Try to first send an email to establish rapport.  This is important. For example, ask them questions about their industry or about their company. Try to exchange an email or two with them, then pitch yourself.

 

Tip 5: Rename Your Resume File

Before you attach your resume to the email, rename the file to something that's more meaningful. The more meaningful your resume file name is, the more frequently it will show up when the employer runs a search. For example, change “John Smith Resume.doc” to “John Smith Finance Manager Resume.doc” (avoid being too long here also). Now when they search for "finance manager", your resume will show up first.