Please Find Attached My CV: The Best Way to Say It

Admit it, if you’ve ever sent a job application you’ve written these immortal words. 

I’ll put my hands up, I’m just as guilty. It’s a phrase so ingrained into job hunting that you include it without thinking. But take a look again.

Please find attached my CV.

You’ve got to admit, it looks awkward. But you’re about to learn what to do instead.

This article will show you:

• Why you shouldn’t use the phrase please find my CV attached in an email.
• Examples of better alternatives to I have attached my CV.

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Before you attach your CV make sure you’ve written it perfectly. Take a look at some of our CV writing guides and examples.

• How to Write a CV [Professional UK Examples]
• What to Include in a CV [Essential Sections]
• CV Layout [How to Lay Out a Professional CV]
• Skills Based CV [Writing Guide & Examples]
• Customer Service CV Example & Writing Guide
• Retail CV Example & Writing Guide
• Waiter / Waitress CV Example & Writing Guide
• Receptionist CV Example & Writing Guide

1. What’s Wrong with Please Find Attached My CV?

If we take a narrow view, there’s nothing wrong with the phrase per se. It’s grammatically correct. Let’s break it down and see (don’t worry I’ll be brief, this isn’t a grammar lesson).

You want the recruiter to find your CV. So you politely bring this to their attention. Please [adverb] find [verb] attached [adjective] my [determiner] CV [noun]. The grammar and sentence structure is fine.

But it feels really odd and old-fashioned when you think about it. If you were a character in Downton Abbey, then maybe it’d work. But I suspect even the Dowager Countess would dismiss it as dreadfully common and archaic.

Or how about the next most popular alternative? Please find my CV attached. Again, the best you can say about it is that it’s quaint. But that’s being generous. It’s just as bad.

Think about it, the hiring manager hasn’t lost anything and they don’t need your help finding it. This is recruitment, not the hot and cold game.

And please don’t try to get around this by using similar phrases, they’re awful too. Here they are so you can erase them from your vocabulary.

The Please Find Attached My CV Awkward Squad

Ok, I made that last one up, but each on that list is worse than the next. What’s more, according to a survey by UCL in conjunction with a popular writing blog, the please find attached formulation is a very British phenomenon. We need to follow the example of our American friends and be more simple and direct.

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2. What to Write Instead of “Please find attached my CV”

It’s easy actually. Don’t use a hackneyed phrase that looks like it was written by a time traveller from the 19th century. Make it sound natural and modern. Here’s how.

Alternatives to Please Find Attached My CV

Arguably, you don’t need to even mention it at all. When you’re sending an email job application your intent is obvious and we all know how to spot an email attachment without being told.

But—

We’ve all forgotten to attach a file before and some email clients may not show attachments clearly. Sod’s law and all that. So, here’s an alternative approach to the problem. Show your CV is attached by asking the hiring manager to get in touch if they don’t see it.

• I’ve attached my CV for you. Let me know if you have any issues.
• Here’s my CV. Let me know if the attachment didn’t come through.
• My CV is included in this email. Let me know if you don’t see it.
• My CV and cover letter are attached. Let me know if you have any problems.

Use whichever approach you feel more comfortable with. And to make it easier for the hiring manager, make sure you do two things. Name your CV file correctly and get your email subject line right.

• Name your CV file using the format Name-Document e.g. Jacques-Buffett-CV.pdf.
• For your subject line just state your name and the job you’re applying for e.g. ‘Application for Career Expert Position—Jacques Buffett’.

And don’t stop at please find attached my CV. There are plenty of tools and resources available to ensure all of your CV and cover letter text is easy to read. The plain English campaign has a great selection of guides and the Hemingway Editor helps you make your writing ‘bold and clear’.

And that’s all there is to it!

You should always attach a good cover letter too. Here’s how to write one: How to Write a Cover Letter: Complete Guide

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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Key Takeaway

Here’s what you need to know about the dreaded please find attached my CV:

• Today, phrases such as please find my CV attached sound awkward and old-fashioned.
• Try using a more natural and modern alternative such as my CV is attached.

Thanks for reading. Have you ever been tempted to use old-fashioned oddities like further to our telephone conversation please find attached my cv? Have you got any other modern alternatives to suggest? Share your thoughts in the comments section and I’ll be happy to help.

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