e-mail

As you #WorkFromHome, you are probably sending more #emails than ever before. Today, we share 4 things to avoid when writing (especially formal) emails:

Top tip: An email, especially with someone you do not know personally, should be approached in much the same way as a formal letter.

1. Sending an email with no subject: An ideal subject line explains the contents of your email. Think of it as the title, or topic of your email.

2. Writing incomplete sentences: Ensure that your sentences are complete and easy to read by people who cannot read your mind.

3. Sending an email with no body: The body of your email does not have to be lengthy, but use it to offer more information regarding the email subject, attachments or further directions to recipient(s).

4. Abbreviations and slangs: Tnx, LOL, BRB, TTYL may be great on SMS and social media but they have no place in formal emails. Be careful, so that these do not slip into an email.

Have you been making any of these mistakes? Share in the comments, we would love to hear from you.

So you’ve stumbled on a job advert and you think you would do well in the role; great! The advert requires you to email your CV.

What do you do next? Attach your CV and send? Not quite.

Here are a few tips to help you in the application process:

1. Ensure your email has a subject even if the job advert doesn’t expressly say so. In ALL your communication, both private and professional, do not send an email without a subject. Besides the obvious reasons, a mail with a subject is less likely to be treated as spam.

2. Include a brief covering mail introducing yourself and why you are sending the mail. For example, if you are applying for an Admin Manager role, your covering mail could be as simple as:

Dear Recruiter,

Please find attached my CV as part of my application for the Admin Manager role.

I am passionate about seeing organisations run efficiently and have worked for 10 years across several industries to achieve this.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.

Including a covering mail gives you the chance to sell yourself by catching the recruiter’s attention early on and prompting them to take a further look at your CV.

Additionally, you distinguish yourself because not many applicants put in the effort to write a covering mail.

4 Email Mistakes You May Be Making

Tips on Applying for A Job