It’s cheaper and faster than snail mail, saves you paper and ink, and works just as well, all things being equal. It’s the emailed resume, and though it’s easy, it’s also easy to commit a few errors if you’re not careful – errors that may well sink your pursuit of a position.

Here are six simple steps to follow to keep your resume emailing on the right track.

1. Don’t send to the “jobs@company.com” email address, if possible.

Make a couple of calls and ask to whom you could send your resume directly. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword: On the one hand, you’re applying for a management position, which means you shouldn’t have to be dug out of the entry level resumes coming in ten times more often. On the other hand, hiring managers delegate the screening of resumes to administrators, junior folks, and HR staff, so you might hit a brick wall there. Try it, and if it’s no dice, just follow their procedure.

2. Send from a regularly-named (not a funnily-named) email address.

Home email addresses are just fine, but don’t send from an address like “FancyPantsLineDancer@aol.com.” Use a variation on your name, like allen.butler@aol.com, abutler@aol.com, etc. And make sure it includes your full last name, for ease of the receiver’s reference.

3. Be crystal clear in your subject line.

Between spam filters and overloaded resume screeners, you want to make things as easy as possible. Reference the position, your name, and the fact that you’re sending a resume – i.e., “Allen Butler’s resume for the VP, Consumer Packaged Goods opening.”

4. Paste your resume straight into the body of the email.

Virus scanners are just as aggressive as spam filters, so just don’t send an attachment unless you’re asked to. And if you’ve got some special formatting in the MS Word version of your resume, do a Google search on re-formatting for resumes to help you present your resume professionally via text-based email, regardless of formatting.

5. Don’t write your resume email as fast as you would a regular email.

No need to be stiltedly formal with your language. Just take as much care with the writing of your email as you would with your resume and cover letter. Re-read, out loud, and check for spelling errors before sending.

6. Don’t let it end when you click “Send.”

Whoever your contact was from step 1, give them a call in a few days to confirm their receipt, and make it easy for them to take the next step with you – giving you the interview.

Of course, using a resume distribution service takes a lot of the wrinkles out of the process. But if you find a job opportunity on your own that you want to approach, this guide should help you get off on the right foot.

Image taken on 2009-09-28 15:23:54. Image Source. (Used with permission)