You might spend days and even weeks preparing that perfect resume. However, the manner in which you send it over, which includes the cover letter, is very important. This determines if the prospective employer is even going to get to the stage of reading your resume. In this post we have tried to put together most of the things that you need to tick off the checklist before you send in your resume for the dream job.

Cover letter basics while emailing your Resume

1. Pay attention to the guidelines –

Most companies have detailed guidelines about how to send them a mail. Find and read these instructions carefully to avoid getting rejected despite having a great resume. If you know someone who works in the organization, get in touch with him and take his advice. If there is a referral system in place, see if you can get your resume submitted through it.

2. Address your email to a specific person-

Find out the name of the person you are mailing your resume to. Even if the organization has a generic email to send resumes, they sometimes mention a contact person who handles all recruitment requests. It is your job to scour the organization website to find out the person and address the email to him/her. It gives the reader a sense that you genuinely care about joining the organization.

3. Be thorough with your cover letter –

The mail should have a cover letter stating your interest in the organization and your intent behind applying for the job. Introduce yourself briefly and clearly state why you are writing the mail. In case the person you have sent it to is not the right person, then he/she can forward it to the person in charge instead of having to read all of it.

4. Be VERY thorough with your cover letter –

The rest of the cover letter needs succinctly describe your skills and experiences, as required by the organization. Be careful not to copy as is from your resume: it shows you are lazy. Try to include important experiences and skills pertinent to the position you are applying for. Write in complete sentences. You also have to explain briefly why you would be a valuable asset to the organization if they hire you.

5. Find out about their referee policy –

If required by the organization, mention the name of your referees and how they are related to you. Give correct contact addresses for these people and make sure you notify them in advance regarding your application. Also include your own contact information at the end of the cover letter as well as in the resume so that the recruiters can easily get in touch with you.

Make sure the cover letter is not generic. The reader should feel that you have read about their organization before mailing, and not simply sent a generic mail to all companies that you are applying to. Browse the organization website and get to know about their work culture, ethics and history. You should write how these qualities match your own beliefs, and how this would help you thrive in the organization. Customizing the cover letter according to the organization grabs the reader’s attention and gives you a definite edge over other applicants with generic letters.

And finally, before you click “send”, send it to yourself first so that there is absolutely no margin for error. This would be your final step in proof reading!

All the very best!