An important part of the job search – and one that’s so often overlooked by jobseekers these days – is the cover letter. Formerly the accompaniment to a carefully crafted, printed and posted CV or resume, the modern day cover letter tends to exist as the body of an email nowadays, so it’s this that recipients will view as your CV’s introduction.

With the internet changing the way we apply for job vacancies, it’s easy to understand why jobseekers issuing their CV or resume online can fall into the “it’s only an email” trap. Yet it’s precisely this kind of trap that makes the filtering process a lot more straightforward for the recipient of your CV who, when making a snap decision about whether open your attachment, can use the tiniest of typos as a reason not to bother!

Therefore, what you need to do when you’re submitting your CV to either a recruiter or directly to the company you want to work for, is view the body of your introductory email the same way as you would a cover letter – professional, written with the job specification in mind where possible and concise.

Begin with “Dear [name]” and then start your first paragraph by introducing yourself and stating the purpose of the communication. For example: “I’m degree-qualified chemical engineer with eight years oil & gas experience. I’m writing in reference to the position of Process Engineer (ref: 00001) and have attached my CV for consideration…” You get the idea!

Follow your introductory paragraph with anymore information about how you fit the requirements outlined in the job spec not in a list, incorporate them into a well-worded paragraph. Are you chartered? Are you immediately available? Can you attend an interview at short notice? How short?

Aim to create a positive impression and convince whoever is reading your email that they want to find out more (by opening the CV or resume that you’ve attached – don’t forget to attach it, whatever you do!) Address your email to a specific person wherever possible; if you’re using a generic email address, do some online research to see if you can find a suitable contact name / alternative email address within the company before sending.

Next time you find yourself typing something along the lines of “i’d like to apply fort he role of Project engineer and have atttached a recent copy of my cv…” stop and have a think about your spelling, punctuation and grammar. Have you fallen victim to e-cover letter complacency? Have you given them a reason to hit delete? Why send an e-cover letter that suggests you’re anything but the best?