Advice for writing a good cover letter, you can find it everywhere… On the other hand, we often forget to mention the “covering email” or “application email”. You know, the one that accompanies the CV as an attachment… The main thing to hit the bull’s eye is not to make any mistakes. Clear your confusion on the cover letter and cover email here.
As an attachment or in the body of the email?
An existential question to begin with: should you write a real motivational text in Word, even less formal than a letter, or should you just write directly in the body of the email? Well, it depends on what you’re being asked. If it is specifically requested to send a “cover letter”, it will have to be done! But if not, be content with an application email, shorter and less formal.
Solemn or relaxed?
Well, there are really two schools here. What we advise you above all is to use a tone that is at least respectful, cordial, polite, and reasonable which does not mean bombastic in the extreme. In a simple email, asking to accept the expression of your distinguished feelings is therefore not necessarily recommended. Afterward, everything also depends on the style of the person who will read you!
Tip : Put yourself in your recruiter’s shoes: the search for a person to hire is something serious and important for him… And at the same time, he is looking for someone who will be effective, with whom he will be able to work or make his teams work… But as you don’t know him yet, the zero-risk option is essential: he’s not (yet) your buddy!
Three lines or still a little more?
“Come on, I put a little “Please find attached my CV for my application for the position of…”, a little polite phrase and that’s it! “. Or not: unless expressly mentioned in the advertisement to which you are responding, it is better to explain at least a little about the reasons and the qualities of your application. And yes, even in an email, which remains (we remind you because it’s important) a less formal means of communication than a letter.
What should we put on the object?
Ah, this is an easily surmountable dilemma! The idea is that your email does not go directly to spam, the trash or under a list of other emails just as urgent (or even more, unfortunately) than yours, mentioning the word “application” as well as the title of the position for which you are applying.
What if we don’t know who we are writing to?
Send an email to rh@entreprise.com , it’s true that it is a bit cold: you don’t even know who you’re talking to. Too bad, stay vague and as neutral as possible, for example with a well-felt “Madam, Sir.”
Subsidiary questions...
If I send a cover letter, what do I put in the email?
In this case, a simple reference to your attachments may suffice! More complete solution: briefly introduce yourself and again indicate which position you are applying for.
My interlocutor has not answered me after 2 days, should I call him again?
It all depends on the context, but try to put yourself in his shoes and find out for yourself after how long the reminder (always cordial) would have bothered you! 2 days is still a bit too early: you are not the center of the world!
Pro Tip : Send the email to yourself before sending it to the recruiter. And you will see the effect it has on you!