4 Email Etiquette Tips for Securing Job Interviews
Publié le 28 July 2023
Stay professional while communicating and impress hiring managers with 4 email etiquette tips for securing job interviews.
If you are looking for a new job, you know just how stressful the whole process can become. From spotting the right opportunity to approaching the company, submitting an application and, finally, landing that well-deserved job interview, there is a lot of prep that you need to go through.
Writing a great resume is certainly going to get you much closer to securing that dream job interview – but did you also consider the importance of accompanying that document with a beautifully-crafted cover letter?
Because we live in a digital, tech-driven world, old-fashioned cover letters simply won’t cut it anymore – what you need is a great email. In fact, this can give your job application that extra “wow” factor that makes it stand out.
Keep reading this guide to learn about 4 email etiquette tips for securing job interviews.
What Is Email Etiquette?
Generally speaking, the expression “email etiquette” refers to the best practices that a person should use when they write an email, such as the style, layout, formatting, and domain (if you are a UK resident, for example, it’s best to use a .co.uk domain)
In order for emails to be clear, engaging, and informative, the sender is expected to follow specific norms that aim to be immediately recognized and accepted by the recipient. It’s then easy to understand why following the proper “code of conduct” when creating a job-related email is so vital in order to avoid confusion – but let’s go a bit more in-depth.
Email Etiquette As a Job Seeker: Why It’s Important
There are plenty of reasons why email etiquette is crucial when looking for a job, but let’s discuss three of the main ones below.
It makes you look professional
First off, applying email etiquette to your emails as a job seeker can help you look professional. Writing an email that follows the right structure, contains no typos or other errors, and conveys a clear, relevant, and compelling message immediately defines you as a serious, committed person who is truly invested in the job you are applying for.
To this effect, ensure that your email comes from a safe, verified email account that reflects the country you are writing from (such as a New Zealand domain, if you live in that country).
It highlights your best skills
When you know exactly how to structure an email according to the proper etiquette, everything else just seems to flow so much more easily. This, in turn, allows you to write an engaging section that describes your skills, expertise, and qualifications and that, ultimately, can make your job application a lot more valuable.
It makes you stand out
As we mentioned earlier, sending an email as a cover letter following a standard job application can help you stand out from your competitors. Of course, you want to stand out for the right reasons – such as impeccable grammar and spelling, powerful arguments, and professional style.
Additionally, managing your email inbox efficiently is essential during a job search. Given the status of email as the most popular form of business communication, your inbox can fill up quickly. Utilizing features like ‘Mass Delete Emails on Gmail‘ can help you maintain an organized and clutter-free inbox, ensuring that you don’t miss any important job-related correspondence.
Therefore, following the best practices of email etiquette enables you to make a great first impression while also making your application more memorable for those who receive it.
To make your application even more impactful, consider using an AI resume builder to create a polished and well-structured resume that complements your email. An automated CV creator can help you showcase your qualifications and experience effectively, ensuring that your application stands out from the competition. Just be sure to double check your resume and tailor it to fit the specific keywords and traits they are looking for from job applicants.
4 Email Etiquette Tips
We briefly mentioned email structure as a key component of good email etiquette when looking for a job. Below are the four main components of a good jobseeker’s email, in order:
- Subject line
- Greetings and introduction
- Body
- Closing and call to action
Now, let’s go through all these elements in detail and look at 4 email etiquette tips for securing a job interview that will skyrocket your chances of getting that all-important interview scheduled with a hiring manager.
1. A crystal clear subject line
There’s a reason why email marketing subject lines are an essential component of integrated marketing communication: it’s because they can be so effective that they can single-handedly boost your click-through and open rates.
When you sit down to compose your job application email, you’ll need to focus first on that core element. Don’t rush it, and make sure you include all the important elements as well as keep a professional tone and language.
To write a great subject line, you should:
- Keep it short and punchy. This is because most people read their emails on a smartphone, which doesn’t support longer subject lines.
- Start off with your full name, the position you are applying for, and any other relevant or compulsory information that the job advert includes.
- Remember to include the word “application” at the end of the title.
2. Professional greetings and strong introduction
Now that the recipient has opened your email, put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself: “How should they be addressed?”. Including a proper, professional greeting before you start writing the body of your email is paramount.
Do a bit of research. Are you emailing a specific person? If so, you can begin your email with “Dear” followed by their full or last name. If the job advert doesn’t include any particular names, simply address your email to the Hiring Manager.
Depending on the job you are applying for, you may have a little bit of leeway when it comes to the style you use. This means, for example, that if the company you are approaching is a young, dynamic, and laid-back startup you can allow yourself to be a little bit more informal.
On the other hand, applying for a position with a large corporation might require more formal language. It’s very important that you figure this out before you write your email, as the wrong introduction can truly spoil the rest of your email, no matter how great you think you might be for the job.
Following your greetings, briefly explain why you are emailing. In your eyes, it’s obvious: to apply for that job role. However, the person reading your email is likely opening hundreds of messages every day, so make sure that you state clearly what position you are applying for and why.
3. Concise yet compelling body
Now it’s time to promote yourself. Consider this a bit like a marketing campaign, where you are the product up for sale. In the body of your email, write a maximum of three paragraphs showcasing your qualifications, expertise, and skills.
It’s vital that you keep this super-concise and relevant to the job application. If you have any outstanding figures or numbers that you can use to back up your statements, then this is the best place to include them. If you’re a cybersecurity expert and can’t wait to introduce them to the benefits of VNC view WIndows, then make sure you tell them.
It can also be helpful to set aside a sentence or two discussing why you would love to work for that company. Be laser-focused on the company’s values and mission, and tie them in with your own beliefs and ethos.
You’ll also want to remember to keep everything clear and short. You are already sending through a full resume (or application form), therefore you don’t need to go into a lot of detail. Just give the reader a sneak peek into the value you would bring to the company, and entice them to go more in-depth by exploring the rest of your application.
Lastly, make sure that your entire email is mobile-friendly, in case the person reading it is using business text messaging software and would like to forward it to someone else via SMS.
4. Engaging closing and personalized CTA
Traditionally, calls to actions (CTAs) are added to sales and marketing emails. But, as we said earlier, your job application email is, in fact, a way to market and sell your skills, values, and expertise.
For the final email etiquette tip for securing job interviews, Go ahead and craft a good CTA before you conclude your message. Consider the last paragraph itself as a CTA, and include a brief summary of what you have stated so far and why you are such a great candidate for the job.
Remember to also include your contact details, regardless of whether they were already added to the resume or online application. Having your email address and phone number handy will allow the recipient to get in touch with you almost instantly, should your email truly hit the spot.
Finally, thank the recipient for their time and interest, and reiterate your eagerness to hear back from them soon. And, just like you did with the opening greeting, don’t forget to sign off your email properly, in a polite, professional, and not overly-casual way.
The Takeaway
While most companies out there follow an HR automation process when it comes to recruiting new talent, it still holds true that a well-crafted email – either as an accompaniment or follow-up to a job application – can make a candidate stand out.
Accompanying your resume or online application with a well-crafted cover letter and email can truly make a difference. However, if you want your email to stand out for the right reasons and help you land that well-deserved job interview, you’ll have to follow specific email etiquette.
In this guide, we explored what email etiquette is, how to structure a job application email, and what to write in each section. Now that you know 4 email etiquette tips for securing job interviews, are you going to give this a try when you next apply for a job? Let us know in the comments!
