10 tips for
eye-catching e-mail subject lines that will grab a recruiter's attention
With billions of business emails sent out every day,
how do you – as a jobseeker - make sure that a prospective employer clicks on
your message? Most often than not, email is the first point of contact for you
and a hiring manager. This is where the email subject line comes in – it gives
you a chance to communicate and can be used as a tool to show off your
qualifications and stand out.
Keep these 10 tips in mind when crafting your email
subject lines during a job search:
Give the subject line ample thought
For most of us, the subject line is an afterthought,
quickly keyed in just before hitting send. But the subject line determines whether
or not your email is opened and often how the recipient responds. Write the
subject line first; making sure it sets the tone for your job application.
Keep it really short
A typical inbox reveals about 60 characters of an
email’s subject line; on the other hand, a mobile phone shows just 25 to 30
characters. So get to the point using between six and eight words.
Try this: Senior Manager Application.
Make things clear
On an average, recruiters spend a few seconds
reviewing each resume so it’s important that your subject line communicates who
you are and what you’re looking for. “CV for Marketing Position” just won’t cut
it.
Try this: Abdul Aziz’s Application for Marketing
Position.
Put important words at the beginning
Studies continue to show that mobile phones are taking
over from laptops – over 50% emails are now read on mobile phones. With the
screen size reduced, it’s not possible to gauge how much of the subject line
can be read/seen on the smart phone. So put important details at the beginning
of the subject line.
Try this: HR Manager with 7 Years of Experience.
Never use filler words
Space is really precious in the subject line so don’t
waste it on niceties such as “Hello”, “How are you” and “Hope you are doing
well”. All this can easily be part of your email. Think of your subject line as
an exercise in brevity, and take it from there.
Include your name and position
Hiring managers usually have folders and filters to
manage their email, necessitating that your subject line is complete. It’s a
good idea to include the job title, your name and the job ID (if there is one)
in the email subject line. Any hiring manager who receives the email will know
exactly what it contains.
Try this: HR Manager, No. 123456 – Khalid Rasheed
Application.
If someone referred you, put in their name
Experts believe that if you have been referred by a
mutual acquaintance, you should put in that fact in the subject line to grab
the hiring manager’s attention. Don’t put that in the email’s body, where it
may get lost. Make sure you use the person’s full name.
Try this: Referred by Shaheen Noorani for Music
Teacher Position.
If possible, list your designations
Including your qualifications in the Show Subject Line
can help distinguish you from the other job seekers, bringing you to a
recruiter's eye. Use acronyms and use any that are relevant to the present
opening. Don’t drop acronyms just to impress.
Try this: HR Manager, No. 123456 – Khalid Rasheed,
MBA.
Don’t begin with a sentence that ends in the email
It may seem smart to begin with a thought or statement
that ends in the email, but it’s annoying since it doesn’t seem to respect the
hiring manager’s time. Forcing a reader is forced to open your email can be
annoying – not the best way to begin your job hunt.
NEVER capitalise words
Who likes being at the receiving end of all caps?
Using all caps is the “digital
equivalent of yelling” and should be avoided at all costs. Use dashes, colons
and semi-colons to separate thoughts, and avoid special characters like
exclamation marks at all costs.