Five Important Things to Remember Before Emailing Your Resume

Wait! Before you click "send," remember these important email tips when applying for a position:

1. Double-check the name/company on your cover letter. Several months ago one of my clients shared with me that for each position she applied, she tailored her cover letter (like most of us do). Unfortunately, after clicking "send," she realized she forgot to change the company name and address on the cover letter. (And the company name on the cover letter was one of their competitors!)

2. Next ... when composing your email, the FIRST thing you should do is ATTACH your documents. How many times have your received (or sent) an email that didn't have the attachments? Don't let that happen when you're emailing your resume!

3. Be sure to use a salutation and closing. You don't want your email to be informal; you want to portray a professional image. Start with "Dear Hiring Manager" (if you don't know the name of the person) and after a brief message, close with "Sincerely" or some other formal closing.

4. Use a signature line that contains your contact information. Include your name, email, phone. Be sure your email sounds professional (for example, johndoe@email.com).

5. Finally, add a postscript with a link to your LinkedIn profile: For example, P.S. Please visit my LinkedIn profile for a quick glimpse of my experience and to view my recommendations. I once read that postscripts almost always get read, so this is a great strategy which will hopefully entice the reader to "click" and view your background immediately.