I never could understand people who write letters in Word (or some similar program), attach them to emails and then write "see the attached." When I was working in an office I would simply write as the body of my email, the text I wanted to write to the other person. Attachments were things like signed documents or drawings. Or my resume, which I always attach as a PDF (and then about a quarter of the time, people ask me to please re-send as a Word document. Why?)
When I send job applications by email, I just write the text of my "cover letter" AS THE EMAIL and attach my resume as a PDF. Is that what you're sending or is it something else?
A cover letter is a formal document. It should follow the norms of headings, salutation, date, etc. Just like you would for a formal letter to be printed, signed and mailed.
That is how I do most serious email, unless I'm involved in a project and then I might be more workmanly-abrupt.
I used to attach word docs. Now I just do that when I feel it is necessary, and if it will be droped into a separate folder, it is good for the cover letter to have good formatting. Appearance is important.
However, when email is printed, it does not always look as nice as when a word doc is printed by itself. Formatting is often lost in the email-printer conversation.
I used to think all the extra stuff was not so nice, the time and date and url and email address and all that stuff that gets printed with an email.
Pros and cons of either way. I do know if someone does not have to open an attached doc, she/he gets the contents of the message quicker.
Attachment as in the front page of your résumé, because chances are, the HR clerk will be tasked with printing off the stack of attachments and handing it over to someone to read and categorize. Not likely that your email will be printed as a cover to your resume.
I think the body of the email should just say, I am attaching a cover letter and other document in reference to... blah blah blah. Then include your attachments. I think it would be okay to include your contact info in the email too, other than your email address, of course.
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When I send job applications by email, I just write the text of my "cover letter" AS THE EMAIL and attach my resume as a PDF. Is that what you're sending or is it something else?
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A cover letter is a formal document. It should follow the norms of headings, salutation, date, etc. Just like you would for a formal letter to be printed, signed and mailed.
That is how I do most serious email, unless I'm involved in a project and then I might be more workmanly-abrupt.
I used to attach word docs. Now I just do that when I feel it is necessary, and if it will be droped into a separate folder, it is good for the cover letter to have good formatting. Appearance is important.
However, when email is printed, it does not always look as nice as when a word doc is printed by itself. Formatting is often lost in the email-printer conversation.
I used to think all the extra stuff was not so nice, the time and date and url and email address and all that stuff that gets printed with an email.
Pros and cons of either way. I do know if someone does not have to open an attached doc, she/he gets the contents of the message quicker.
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:)
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I think the body of the email should just say, I am attaching a cover letter and other document in reference to... blah blah blah. Then include your attachments. I think it would be okay to include your contact info in the email too, other than your email address, of course.
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