Job Application Email Template
Introduce yourself and apply for a role by email, professionally.
Tips for your Job Application Email
- Name a specific achievement with a number.
- Attach your CV and say so.
- Keep it under 200 words.
About this Job Application Email template
A job application email is what you send when you are applying directly — to a posted address, a recruiter, or a hiring manager you tracked down — rather than through a portal that only wants uploaded files. It is the message that carries your CV, and it is often read on a phone in a queue of eighty others. Its only job is to earn the click that opens the attachment.
Three short paragraphs is the whole format: the role and where you saw it, one achievement with a real number attached to it, and one specific reason for this company. That last part is what separates you — “I admire your culture” reads as filler, while naming a product, a market they just entered, or a piece of their work does not. Leave out your full career history, your salary expectations unless they were asked for, and anything the CV already says. Name your file something like Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf, not “cv final v3”.
The common mistake is sending the same email twenty times with the company name swapped; recruiters spot it immediately. If the posting also asks for a cover letter, keep this email as the short covering note and let the letter carry the argument — do not paste the same text into both.
Frequently asked questions
Should the cover letter go in the email body or as an attachment?
If they asked for a cover letter, attach it and keep the email brief. If they did not, this email is your cover letter — keep it under about 200 words.
What if I cannot find the hiring manager’s name?
Check the job posting, the company site and LinkedIn first. If it genuinely is not findable, “Dear Hiring Team” is warmer and less dated than “To Whom It May Concern”.
PDF or Word for my CV?
PDF unless the posting asks for something else — it keeps your layout intact on every device. Follow the stated instruction when there is one; ignoring it is an easy way to get filtered out.
Should I state my salary expectations?
Only if they asked. If they did, give a researched range for the role in your location rather than a single figure, and say it is negotiable for the right fit.
When should I follow up?
If a closing date was given, wait until roughly a week after it. If not, seven to ten days after applying is reasonable — once, briefly, then let it go.