en

Services

We understand that no two organisations are the same. Find out more about how we've customised our talent solutions to help clients in Hong Kong meet their needs.

Read more
Jobs

Let our industry specialists listen to your aspirations and present your story to the organisations in Hong Kong that fit you the best as we collaborate to write the next chapter of your successful career.

See all jobs
Candidates

Together, we’ll map out career-defining, life-changing pathways to achieve your career ambitions. Browse our range of services, advice, and resources.

Learn more
Services

We understand that no two organisations are the same. Find out more about how we've customised our talent solutions to help clients in Hong Kong meet their needs.

Read more
About Robert Walters Hong Kong

Since our establishment in 1997, our belief remains the same: Building strong relationships with people is vital in a successful partnership.

Learn more

Work for us

Our people are the difference. Hear stories from our people to learn more about a career at Robert Walters Hong Kong

Learn more

The perfect subject line when job seeking

Each day almost 269 billion emails are sent around the world and when it comes to looking for a new job email is often the first point of contact between a job seeker and a hiring manager. 

An email communicates who you are and what you want but it can also be a marketing tool to promote your qualifications, experience and to help you stand out in a crowded inbox. Therefore, your choice of subject line can make a real difference in getting noticed. So how do you motivate a reader to open your email and read more? 

Here are some suggestions to write the perfect subject line to support your job search:

 

Be clear 

A hiring manager will generally only spend six seconds when they review a CV, therefore they are likely to spend even less time scanning a job seeker’s email. The subject line should communicate exactly who you are and what you are applying for without the hiring manager needing to open the email. 

Don’t use a vague subject line like "CV for role" or "application for consideration" instead specify which role you are applying for.

Example subject line: Jessica Walter, Marketing Manager Application or Jessica Walter Marketing Manager Interview Follow Up

 

Consider the character and word limit 

Generally an inbox only reveals about 60 characters of an email’s subject line, while on mobile it only shows half of that with 25 to 30 characters. With such a limited space, get right to the point and eliminate any unnecessary words.

Example subject line: Executive Assistant Application

 

Place important words at the front 

66% of emails are now read from a mobile device and since you don’t know how much of the subject line hiring managers will read, it is important to put the most important information at the beginning of the subject line otherwise, important details may get cut off.

Example subject line: Human Resources Manager, FMCG experienced

 

Use keywords for search and filtering such as position and name 

Hiring managers typically have filters and folders set up to manage their emails which is why it is important to include keywords like "job application" or a reference number that will make the email easy to search at a later date.

Example subject line: Job Application Jessica Walter Marketing Manager or Data Scientist, No. 123456 — John Smith Application

You don’t want the hiring manager to spend time opening the email and trying to decode what it is

 

List your titles to promote your qualifications 

The subject line is your chance to differentiate yourself and catch the hiring managers attention so use this space to include any acronyms for titles you may have that are suitable to the role. For example, you might add MBA, CPA, or Ph.D. after your name, depending on the relevance to the position.

Example subject line: Accountant, CPA, Mark Jones

 

Do not use all capitals 

Using all caps may get someone’s attention, but in the wrong way. It’s the digital equivalent of shouting and you want to make it as easy as possible for the hiring manager to read. Consider using dashes or colons to separate points, avoid caps and special characters like exclamation points.

Example subject line: CV for Reception Roles - available immediately

 

Use the name of your referrer 

Finally, if you have been referred by a friend, make sure to put this in the subject line to grab the attention of the hiring manager.

Example subject line: Referred by Mark Jones – Engineer Role 

The perfect subject line can make a difference to your job application getting the right attention. 

Share this article
Useful links

Sign up for job alerts

Salary Survey

Career Advice

Get in touch

Find out more by contacting one of our specialist recruitment consultants

Related content

View all
How to bounce back from a redundancy

Redundancy: with all its associations of uncertainty and anxiety, it’s a word that employees dread and a reality that many are facing. While you may think your chances of finding new employment immediately are slim, there are steps you can take now to help you move forward. Our experts share their a

Read More
Six things to consider before becoming a contractor

Contracting is a fantastic opportunity for you to take control of your career, and for some people, it’s the best decision they’ll ever make. But, leaving a permanent role doesn’t come without risks, so don’t let yourself get caught out by thinking the grass is always greener on the contracting side

Read More
Top tips for dealing with pre-interview nerves

It’s natural to feel anxious before an interview. But as these tips show, by preparing well and adopting the right attitude you can learn to control your pre-interview nerves and channel them into something positive. Do your research A lot of the anxiety surrounding interviews is based on not knowin

Read More