How to email your resume — subject, body, and attachments that get opened
Michael Page Australia's rule still wins: follow the ad's instructions first, then use a searchable subject line, a three-paragraph body, and clearly named PDFs.
Email applications still decide outcomes when a listing says "send CV to jobs@…" or a recruiter asks for documents after a LinkedIn chat. Most rejections happen before the PDF opens: wrong subject, missing reference number, unprofessional From address, or a file named Resume_final_FINAL2.docx.
Read the ad once for process rules. Preferred format, separate cover letter vs email-as-letter, mandatory subject text, and job ID beat any generic template — including this one.
Subject line that sorting systems and humans both like
Default AU pattern from Michael Page: [Job title or reference] – [Your full name]. Example: "Marketing Coordinator – REQ-88421 – Priya Nair". Put the role or ID first so mobile previews still show the essential bit.
If the ad dictates exact subject wording, copy it. If you were referred, add "Referral – [Referrer name]". Never use "Hi" or "Job application" alone — those disappear in crowded inboxes.
Body: three short paragraphs
Template starter: "Please find attached my resume and cover letter for the [Role] at [Company], as advertised on [Source]. With [X] years / projects in [domain] and a record of [one measurable outcome], I am keen to contribute to [team goal]. Happy to provide anything further." Australians prefer "resume" for most private-sector roles — reserve "CV" for academic and clinical lanes unless the ad uses CV.
Attachments and pre-flight checks
PDF unless the employer demands Word. Name files Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf and Firstname-Lastname-Cover-Letter.pdf. Keep each under a few MB. Attach resume first, cover letter second. Use a From address with your name — not a joke handle.
Send yourself a test before the real send. Spell-check the body and the PDF. Confirm the PDF still mentions this company, not last week's. Follow up once after 7–10 business days if the ad allows — polite, short, same subject thread.
When the "email" is really an ATS
Many "email us" links still land in a ticketing or ATS queue. Treat keywords and parse-friendly layout as seriously as a Seek apply. Run DocuResume match score against the pasted JD, fix two bullets, export clean PDF, then send. The extension helps when you later hit the company's career-page form for the same employer.