How To Say “Please Find Attached My Resume” (With Examples)

When you are one of many strong applicants in a competitive application pool, it is the little details that matter. One of these details is attaching a resume correctly to an application or email for a future employer.

The other is making sure you indicate your resume (and any other documents) are attached to your email so that it doesn’t go unnoticed.

We’re here to walk you through the situations you’ll use a variation of this phrase and help you come up with a better way of saying it that doesn’t sound so awkward.

Key Takeaways

• Saying, “Please find attached my resume” is technically correct, but it sounds old-fashioned and odd.

• Use a phrase like, “I’ve included my resume for your reference,” or “Please refer to my attached resume for more information about __.”

• You can email your resume as an attachment before an informational interview, when a job application calls for it, or when responding to an invitation request.

The Best Ways to Say “Please Find Attached My Resume”

We have gone over how we are no longer Victorian-era individuals, communicating in hand-written correspondence.

For a hint on the best way of saying “please look at this resume I’ve attached,” think of how you would it verbally to your current employer, professors, or other professionals in your world.

If it sounds polite and well-worded when said out loud, then it probably would make an excellent sentence in an email to a stranger.

Here are some examples:

Don’t these sound a lot more up to date?

We know you want to make a good impression on employers, and we also know that making sure every detail is perfect can be a daunting task. However, don’t make it too hard on yourself.

Why Tell Hiring Managers You’ve Attached Your Resume

Obviously, if they see the iconic paperclip next to your email, recruiters know you have attached a document to review. But you still have to mention that the attachment is there anyway — it a part of proper job etiquette.

Mentioning that you have attached a resume should be left until the end of the email. It is a good segue into ending the email, and if written correctly, will make the email flow well.

Why You Shouldn’t Use the Phrase, “Please Find Attached My Resume”

Many people know the phrase “please find attached my resume,” but is it actually a good way to notify the reader of the attachment?

The simple answer: No, it is not.

If you read aloud “please find attached my resume,” you may bumble over the words. Why?

Because no one in the 21st century speaks English like that. The phrase seems archaic, and many may wonder if it is even proper grammar. Saying please find attached my resume sounds like you have written it from 1800s perspective; while it does sound proper, it may be too proper.

If you use the phrase, “please find attached my resume,” it probably won’t match the writing style of the rest of the application or email. Saying that your resume is attached to the application or email doesn’t have to be something extremely formal, but it does need to be said.

When to Attach Your Resume to an Email

There are a number of points in the application process where you might send an email with your resume attached. Depending on your situation, your usage and choice of phrase might differ.

Some of the scenarios where you’ll use a variation of “please find attached my resume” include:

1. Applying for a job online or through email. Depending on how the employer asks you to submit your job application, you might use a phrase indicating you’ve attached your resume to the email or on the on the company’s “jobs” page.

   Sending an email after submitting an application allows you to present extra information about yourself.

   This email should be short; briefly introduce yourself, state why you’re writing, the position you’re applying for, and indicate that you’ve attached related documents.

   Hiring managers and recruiters have a lot of emails to sort through, so making it easy for them to find the relevant information they need works in your favor.

2. Emailing your cover letter directly. Depending on the company, placing your cover letter directly in the body of your email can be a great way to stand out and grab the hiring manager’s attention. Of course, you can’t also include the resume in your email’s body.

   In these cases, you can include an indication that a resume is also attached to the email, near the close of your cover letter.

   Starting off with a winning cover letter and then moving into the resume can be a powerful way of doing things if you’re applying for a job where written communication skills and writing effective emails are big parts of the job.

3. When responding to an interview request email. Depending on how long it’s been between you initially sending your application and receiving an invitation to interview, you may want to attach your resume in your response.

   They’ve clearly chosen you to move on to the next round of the hiring process, so your resume and cover letter worked.

   Refresh their memory and maybe mention that you’ve included an “up-to-date resume” for the interviewer’s benefit. You’ll come across as extra thoughtful and it may help make the hiring manager or recruiter’s life easier, which is always a good thing.

4. Before an informational interview. Informational interviews are great for learning more about an industry and/or role that you’re interested in moving into. They can be equally handy for recent college graduates and possible career-changers. If you’re cold emailing someone to pick their brain, it’s useful to attach your resume.

   That way, they can read up on your background and provide more practical and applicable information for you. It’s also a sly way to get your foot in the door for any potential job openings without committing to an application for just one. This conversation can help grow your network and possibly lead to a job offer.

Tips for Telling Hiring Managers You’ve Attached Your Resume

You wish you could say, “Hey! If you read my resume, you will see that I am perfect for the position!” But you know that would likely end with your email being deleted.

Would it be better not to say anything and hope that the attachment is obvious?

For some email servers, it isn’t obvious that there are attachments when you open the email, so you have to make sure you alert the reader that your resume is attached to the email.

And, even if it is obvious, it is also expected by employers that you mention your resume is attached to the email or application, so don’t forget this step. Here are some tips for doing this:

• Wait until the end of your email to mention that you have attached your resume.

• Make sure your “resume attached” message sounds professional, polite, and well-worded when said out loud and not archaic or unnatural.

• Follow any and all directions posted on the job listing when sending attachments.

• Finally, do not forget to attach the document.

Bad Alternatives for “Please Find Attached My Resume”

1. Please find my resume attached. While saying, “please find my resume attached,” sounds better grammatically, it still has an edge of being overly-proper. People do not often use “please find” in English other than as a command (e.g., “please find your shoes so we can leave.”)

   So having it in an email probably doesn’t mesh well with your writing style.

2. Please find attached my resume for your review and consideration. Again, the word “attached” is in an awkward spot — let’s just avoid that at all costs, OK?

   There is nothing wrong really with saying “please find my resume attached” or “please find my resume attached for your review and consideration,” but there are other forms you can use that are more casual.

Tips for Attaching Your Resume

Once you have figured out how to best say your resume is attached, make sure your resume is actually attached. You do not want to have to send a follow-up email explaining that you forgot to attach it.

1. Be sure to follow any directions listed on the job posting. If the job posting says to not attach a resume to the email, but rather upload it to the application portal, follow those instructions. If the posting asks for a PDF versus a Microsoft Word document, make sure you convert it beforehand.

2. If they ask for a CV, make sure you are attaching a CV and not a resume. There are differences between the two formats.

3. Make sure that the attachment has an appropriate file name. Include your full name in the file name, so that it’s easy for the employer to locate it later.

Resume Attached FAQ

1. How do you politely send a resume via email?

   Politely send a resume via email by introducing yourself, mentioning your reason for sending your resume, and closing with a thank you and your contact information. This note gives the recipient some context for why they’re receiving your resume.

2. Is please find attached my resume grammatically correct?

   Yes, please find attached my resume is grammatically correct. However, it sounds old-fashioned, stilted, and stuffy, which is not what you want associated with your resume. Instead, use a phrase like, “I have attached my resume for your review.”

3. How do you send your resume to someone you just met?

   Send your resume to someone you just met by mentioning something positive and specific about your interaction and the reason why you’re sending your resume.

   This may be something like, “I enjoyed meeting you today at the OSU career fair. Waterford Tech sounds like a great company to work for, and I’m sending my resume as you requested.”

   Or,

   “It was so nice getting to talk to you the other day — I hope you enjoyed the rest of the conference. You mentioned that Welsh Finance was hiring entry-level accountants, and I’d love to apply. I’ve attached my resume for your consideration.”

4. How do I send a professional email with an attachment?

   You send a professional email with an attachment by mentioning the attachment in the body of your message. You can’t expect anyone to notice an attachment unless you draw their attention to it, and it’s polite to explain what it is and why you’ve included it.

Final Thoughts

So you have finally gotten to the stage in the job application process where you have the recruiter’s email.

You excitedly write an email to them about how you would love to be considered for the position and attach your polished resume to the email.

Attaching a resume is such a small part of the process, you don’t have to do anything special for it, right?

Wrong.

When writing emails and applications to future employers, you want to make sure you are giving them the best impression possible.

For each step of the process, the details matter and letting the recruiters know that your resume or CV is attached is just one of many details you have to perfect when applying for jobs.

You may have thought that “please find attached my resume” is a job application classic, but be warned — Writing “please find attached my resume” may just come across as “please find my application and delete it.”

With a better way of saying the standard job-search phrases, you’re one step closer to standing out in the minds of recruiters and hiring managers.

References

1. Enhancv – Here’s When You Should Send a Resume in PDF or Word (And Why)

Author

Heidi Cope

Heidi Cope is a former writer for the Zippia Career Advice blog. Her writing focused primarily on Zippia's suite of rankings and general career advice. After leaving Zippia, Heidi joined The Mighty as a writer and editor, among other positions. She received her BS from UNC Charlotte in German Studies.