# Job application - Email or Snail Mail? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 18, 2005, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-application-email-or-snail-mail/285349 "2005-01-18T11:42:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-application-email-or-snail-mail/285349/1 "2005-01-18T11:42:26Z")
I am thinking of applying for a job that has been advertised recently - the advertisement says something like “send a copy of your CV to XXX at YYY postal address or ZZZ email”. Which do you think will create the better impression - sending the CV as an attachment with a “cover email” or sending a printed copy with a cover letter? Or should I even do both? All thoughts welcomed. Grim ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-application-email-or-snail-mail/285349/2 "2005-01-18T12:25:45Z")
We encourage email where I work but the last selection panel I was on, we had two applicants that we couldn’t interview because one had sent no attachment and the other had sent the covering letter for another job they were applying for. Apparently if no-one picks up on the applicant’s error it’s just bad luck, too late to do anything. So if you do email it be **absolutely bloody certain** that you email the right stuff. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-application-email-or-snail-mail/285349/3 "2005-01-18T13:02:17Z")
Email your information (making sure you’ve attached the correct information), but specify that a _hard copy to follow_, then send the same stuff snail mail. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-application-email-or-snail-mail/285349/4 "2005-01-18T13:21:12Z")
For the job that I am at now, I did both. Is it a large or small company? At our large company, most of my applicants only send by email. Those that send via US Post have their resumes scanned in by our HR department and forwarded to me, and so an email resume would be better (I can search on those, whereas a scanned document I cannot.) ---
**Author:** ![Gassy\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Gassy\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gassy_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-application-email-or-snail-mail/285349/5 "2005-01-18T19:17:26Z")
Email _and_ send a hard copy, as was stated. ---
**Author:** ![Boggette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@Boggette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boggette)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-application-email-or-snail-mail/285349/6 "2005-01-18T19:45:53Z")
Sending by both is fine, but if you are applying, make sure you use the e-mail option first. With the current job market (at least in the US), you must get your resume to them in the smallest possible time from when they post it. We get 200+ resumes for ONE job in a couple-hour period and end up having to make a cutoff. If you only snail mail, you won’t even make the pile. Now, it still takes a while to interview, background check, etc., so the job might not actually be _filled_ by the time your snail mail resume arrives, but chances are, the queue is already full and they’ve narrowed. On this same line, make sure your e-mail references as much of the position posting as possible without being obnoxious (which, admittedly is difficult and subjective, but we gotta try!) Simply sending something that says, “Here’s my resume. Consider me for ABC position.” is not going to get you in the interview pile. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-application-email-or-snail-mail/285349/7 "2005-01-19T14:53:05Z")
Thanks for the comments everyone - wish me luck!! Grim