5 tips to convince with a subject line

Application, subject line, hiring success: These three factors are directly related. If you want your application to be successful, it’s important that you pay enough attention to your subject line. These five tips will advance you and your career.

The first impression counts. This old adage has truth in many situations. This applies in particular to the application – and more than you think. Because many applicants pay particular attention to their appearance before the interview.

That’s important – no question. Even more important is the digital appearance. That means: Your application and, above all, the subject line of your e-mail are the first impression you make on a recruiter. This is crucial for your future success.

Short subject lines increase email open rates

The biggest mistake you can make in the subject line of your application is not including a subject at all.

Scientists Devin de Koff and John van den Elst joined Snezana Stupar-Rutenfrans in 2019 study published. In it, the three researchers examined the effect of different subject lines on the opening rate.

The conclusion is clear: short subject lines achieve the highest opening rates. This is followed by emotional (2nd place) and personal (3rd) address lines. The e-mails without any subject perform the worst.

Application, subject line, success: You should keep these 5 tips in mind for your next email

To ensure that your next application becomes a career booster, we have selected a total of five tips for you that will significantly improve your subject line. This, in turn, increases your chances of being called for an interview.

1. Be brief

The study quoted above has proven: Short and specifically worded subject lines are read more often. That’s why you should be brief.

This also has a second advantage: many e-mail programs have a limited display space for the subject line. This means that the content is cut off from a certain number of characters.

To ensure that this does not happen with your application, you should send yourself a few test emails beforehand to find out the optimal length. Important: Do not only look at your e-mails on your PC, but also on your smartphone, as there is even less space there.

2. Put the most important information at the beginning

The second tip follows directly from the first tip. It comes about almost automatically. Since you only have four to six words available, you should put the most important thing at the beginning.

HR managers need to know at a glance what to expect in an email. Accordingly, “application” and your name stand very far ahead. Afterwards you can affected area Mention or – if available – the person who recommended you.

3. Make sure to use relevant keywords in the subject line of your application

However, the structure according to relevance does not only play a role for optical recording. In fact, many recruiters also use technology to assist. This is especially the case in large companies.

Or to put it another way: HR managers rely on filters so that they do not read every e-mail manually. Accordingly, keywords such as “application”, the advertised position (e.g. “IT specialist (m/f/d)”) and your name are very relevant so that the digital team can also identify you.

4. Avoid special style elements such as questions or capital letters

In order for your subject line to leave a positive impression, it is essential that you do not fall out of style stylistically either. What does that mean?

Some people use the subject line of an email to start a sentence, which is then continued in the text field. Likewise, some applicants believe that it is helpful to write questions in the subject line. In some cases, even capital letters are used.

All of this is counterproductive, according to recruiter Amanda Augustine. You should keep the subject line of your application short and crisp. You should avoid capital letters, questions or other gimmicks, as they are in a interview stressed.

5. Double-check your subject line before sending

The last tip probably sounds familiar to you. Nevertheless, it is almost the most important: Read the subject line of your application again before sending it. A final correction is essential to eliminate spelling mistakes, typos or other errors.

It is best to leave the room for two hours after writing for the first time and then come back with a clear head for correction. It’s even better if you let a second person read your email. This is not biased and recognizes mistakes before you do.

Small optimization possibilities for a successful application

Ultimately, there are many factors that can play a role in an application. That’s why it’s even more important to seize every single opportunity to improve your chances of success.

A well-formulated subject line is a particularly simple stylistic device that doesn’t even take up a lot of time or creativity. Therefore, you should seize this opportunity at the latest when you apply for the next position.

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