The job market is competitive. Landing a job is very difficult these days. While job portals are getting overwhelming for job seekers, they are also getting difficult to manager for recruiters. Thousands of applications are received for one job and finding the right candidate usually ends up from the referral pool. Recruiters also receive a lot of referrals and as a result, it’s just a matter of luck that you get the right job and not your skill. So, in this article we will look at how just using emails you can get your profile noticed and also possibly get that job you had always wanted. Remember, cold email only works when you have the persistence to be creative & innovative.
Find the Right Contact
Emails sent to the wrong person can be disastrous as the person apart from deleting your email might get agitated and block you. This can also lead to bad reputation. So, it’s better to find the right contact. This right contact can be a recruiter or a hiring manager. Sometimes, hiring managers redirect your resumes to the talent acquisition team. However, if you address their pain point, they might consider your resume directly and tell the recruiter to give you preference.
Subject Line is the Key
When a recruiter gets hundreds of resumes every week, they judge the content of the email by their subject. If the subject is catchy enough, they will open your email and give it a better look. Avoid using generic titles like ‘John Doe Resume’. Be innovative like ‘5 Year Exp Software Developer’. The saying ‘Don’t judge a book by it’s cover’ is not true here and an effective subject will take you long distance.
Personalize Your Message
Every email that you send should be personalized to the job posting. While all job listings might seem similar (as most copy paste them), the devil will be in detail. So read job description carefully and craft a personalized message that addresses these needs and shows how you can help them. For example, two software developer jobs might look similar, but one is for a new project and the other must be for providing support for an existing project. You can craft a different message on how you can be a right fit for these two jobs with your different skills and previous experiences. Eg:
Eg: Software developer Job for a new project
Hello Recruiter,
I’m John and I’m applying for the software developer job you posted on linkedin. Below are 5 reason why I can be the right fit here
1. Ability to work in project led teams.
2. Lead new project and prepare business case.
3. Prepare architecture for a future proof project.
4. Manage bandwidth to deliver project goals on time.
5. Identify the right technology stack for the project.
Please find attached my resume. Let’s have a call or quick coffee discussion at your office.
Eg: Software developer Job for an existing project
Hello Recruiter,
I’m John and I’m applying for the software developer job you posted on linkedin. Below are 5 reason why I can be the right fit here
1. Ability to fix application issues and resolve bugs.
2. Engage in successful customer relations and maintain expectations.
3. Use my tech skills to avoid future issues.
4. Experience of 2 years in handing client issues.
5. Ability to engage in cross border client calls.
Please find attached my resume. Let’s have a call or quick coffee discussion at your office.
Keep It Short and to the Point
Time is valuable for everyone. So keeping your email short can work wonders. Short emails will focus on the main pointers while cutting out the trash from the email body. With short emails, the recruiter gets your message easily. In the email templates below, see how the opening line is short, while the bulk of the email is between the 5 bullet points.
Include a Call to Action
All emails should have a call to action. A call to action is to take the email to the next stage where the recruiter responds back or is compelled to write back to you. A simple request for a quick call or a coffee at the recruiters office might help you get close to your dream job. See the email templates above.
Follow up
This is by far the most important tool that every job seeker use. Don’t just send out an email and forget it. Follow up on every email that you send. This ensures that your email moves up in the recruiter’s email inbox.