Effective CV Email Subject + CV Email Template for Job Application [Tips + Examples]

Are you guilty of ever deleting emails even before opening them? If you are, good news, you're not alone.

Many people often automatically remove emails before reading them, especially if those emails aren't from people they already know or aren't considered valuable.

"What does that have to do with a job searching process?"  you may ask. Well, some recruiters actually still receive job applications via email unless they specify you to apply through a designated platform.

And although job portals provide all the conveniences you can imagine—for instance, you can fill out your information once and any recruiters can see it—sending your CV through email is more personal.

In this article, we'll show you why writing an interesting and effective email subject for sending a CV is important, how to write job application CV email subject plus examples, some tips on writing the best CV email title, how to write an email for sending your CV, professional tips on how to send CV by email and a CV email template that you can use immediately if you don't know how to send a CV by email.

Most people with a full-time job will have dozens of emails waiting to be opened. Recruiters and hiring managers are no exception. One way to avoid having your CV email application from being tossed into the trash folder is having the appropriate CV subject in an email application.

An effective email subject for sending your CV will immediately convey to the recipient that the email content is indeed important for them and that they should read it. What a way to portray a good first impression, right? Aside from that, the CV email subject is also a way for you to advertise yourself (and we'll tell you how in a moment).

The importance of having a catchy email subject for sending a CV isn't only about grabbing the recruiter's attention, it's also about convenience.

Here are the key elements of an email subject for CV so recruiters will want to click your CV email:

1. Purpose of the email

State clearly why you are sending an email to them, ambiguous email subjects will just disinterest people who are already swamped with work. 

For instance, on the subject of mail for sending your CV you can include words like "Job Application" or "Application for". A different approach would be just mentioning "CV" on the email subject.

2. Position title

Since a company might have openings for multiple positions to be filled at the same time, it is essential for you to include the title of the job. Not only is it convenient for the recruiters, but it will be easier for you to track and search the applications through the CV email title if you're also applying for multiple positions at different companies. 

Simply copy and paste the job title to your CV mail subject to avoid mistyping. A sample of job application CV email subject mentioning the job title looks like this: 

3. Job location (if applicable)

Multinational corporations that operate globally will seek talents in different cities and/or countries and will explicitly mention it on the job post. If that's the case, put down the name of the city or country on the CV email title. 

Continuing with the example from point 2, a CV subject in email with the location mentioned will appear like this:

4. Position ID (if applicable)

Sometimes, big companies that have many job openings will also have a job reference ID number for them to streamline their internal procedure. Omitting the job ID from your email subject line when sending your CV (if they have one) will cause your email to be removed even before they see your CV. 

Thus you should insert the position ID into the CV mail subject if it's provided, for instance:

5. Referral (if applicable)

A referral is similar to a recommendation, but it is more like an introduction to the person in charge of hiring. If you already know someone who's working for the company you're applying to, you can reach out to them and ask whether they'd be willing to help to refer you to the recruiter.

If they agree, kindly mention their name on the email subject line for sending your CV, like this:

6. Your name

You want to approach someone on the other end, that’s why you’re sending your CV by email. So make sure to let them know who you are first. 

Using the example as point 5, a more effective CV email subject alternative would be:

Unless the company has a specific format on how to write a subject for sending CV applications, there is no absolute order for which information should go first. However, it is important to consider what information is the most important, and that information should go first.

💡 Thoroughly check the instructions for applying via email. 

Some companies have a certain way to write the subject of mail for sending CV that you have to follow. Take a look at this job posting example:

If there are any similar requirements specified in the job listing, make sure to follow the instructions correctly.

💡 Avoid a long subject line. 

A clear and concise CV email title should be between 40-60 characters. Any email subject line that is longer than that would not show completely in the inbox page. You want your CV email subject to be phone screen friendly too, so make sure to keep it short and brief.

💡 Select formal and professional words.

Use polite and complete words. You can use abbreviations if they are widely known and related to the position you’re applying to.

💡 Utilize punctuations.

Choose one type of punctuation such as hyphen (-), low dash (_), or colon (;) to separate different types of CV mail subject information and use it consistently, for example:

💡 Add a personal touch.

This helps to avoid sounding like a bot when writing the subject for sending a CV by email. What do we do when we see spam emails from bots? We throw them away! So, make sure that does not happen to your job application emails.

💡 Always send using a professional email address.

The email address you use to send your CV via email should be easily recognizable by the receiver. This means your email address should contain your name, if not full name, and should not contain things such as unrecognizable numbers or childhood nicknames. 

💡 Go over and proofread the job application CV email subject line.

Make sure that there is no spelling or grammar mistake, and that your email subject for sending your CV matches the content of the email. You don’t want to send the wrong CV or spell the company’s name wrong.

Now that you have your application, you've read the job post meticulously, and are ready to compose your email. The next step is to actually write an email that attracts recruiters to read them through.

Lucky for you, we also cover how to write CV email content in this article. This guide will help you brainstorm what kind of message recruiters want to see on a job application CV email.

Create an effective email subject for sending your CV.

Again, this is highly important because it determines whether or not the recruiter will open your email and read through it.

Compose the message content.

Start by warmly greeting the recruiter or hiring manager by name (if possible). Then introduce yourself briefly and let them know your intention by sending them an email. Keep it consistent with your CV email title.

In the second paragraph, write a short message to inform the reader that you have attached your CV and cover letter files to the email CV. If the company doesn't ask you to attach a cover letter, write a shorter version of your cover letter as the email body and try to keep it 2-3 paragraphs long.

Close your CV email politely and professionally addressing appreciation for their time.

If your CV subject line serves as the first impression of you, the closing sign offs allow you to leave a lasting impression. Always thank them for taking the time to read through your email and include an invitation to meet or discuss in person.

Even better, you can show enthusiasm for the job by telling the recruiters that you are always open for an interview.

Include your personal contact details after your professional email signature. 

Make sure that they clearly know who you are and how to reach you. Here is an example:

Below are some more tips to make sure your email for sending CV is crafted to perfection:

✨ Pay attention to the requested file type.

Each employer has their own preferred method of reviewing applications because perhaps their system only accommodates certain file types. If they require you to provide a PDF, don't attach a Word file (.docx or .doc). Follow instructions given.

✨ CV and cover letter files should be easily recognized.

Name these two files as clearly and short as possible to avoid confusion, e.g. "Mitch Anders-CV.pdf" and "Mitch Anders-Cover Letter.pdf". You can also use punctuations to separate information here.

✨ Aim for 3-5 sentences per paragraph.

Longer paragraphs tend to appear tedious when someone reads on their phone. You want to present a compelling persona in a polite and straightforward manner.

✨ Mention that your CV is attached in the email (and don't forget to attach the file).

Email providers have different layouts on how they present the message content. It's always safe to let the recipient know an attachment is contained in the email, so they're aware of its existence.

✨ Invite them to meet in person.

Be respectful and cordial in your invitation. Before closing your email, you can simply write "I look forward to your reply and will be glad to meet to further discuss your goals for this role and my potential contribution to your company."

✨ Use a professional email signature to sign off your email.

Email signature is more than just for branding purposes. It provides ease for people to find you and know who you are professionally.

The essential aspects of a professional email signature are: 

• Full name
• Professional title
• Company name (if any)
• Phone number
• Email address

Meanwhile, you could also include some of these optional elements:

• Social media links
• Company or personal logo
• Photo (headshot)
• Disclaimer

✨ Include links to your portfolio and/or personal website in your CV email.

This includes LinkedIn, GitHub, online portfolio, and others that are relevant to your profession. This will allow recruiters to see you beyond the CV that you sent with the email.

If you're still struggling with writing to send your CV by email, worry not! We've created a multipurpose template for you that you can use right away.

--- Originally written by Teresa Edria ---