Use the subject line - write the position title followed by your name in the subject line: Vice President of Sales - Francesca Fontanella - this will ensure that you will be considered for the right position.

• Make an ASCII file of your cover letter and resume and cut and paste it into the body of the e-mail. and send an attachment of the cover letter and resume in Microsoft Word and PDF formats.
• Personalize your cover letter.  Express your interest and why you would succeed in the specific position.  When contacting an executive recruiter include your willingness to travel and relocate (geographic preference) and salary requirement. 
• At the top of your resume, include a profile, highlights, or summary section to give a snapshot of your experience.  This is one of the most important sections of your resume.  A recruiter with 1,000 resumes is unable to read each one thoroughly so the profile section is an effective way to make it through the first cut. 
• Explain any gaps.  If you took off time to care for your children or take extra classes, say so.. 
• List specific accomplishments in each of your past jobs, include numbers and outcomes whenever possible.
• Tailor your resume to the position.  Research the company through its website, including the job requirements, company culture, management team, and mission statement.  If your resume is tailored to what the company is looking for, you have a much better chance of impressing your interviewer and getting the job.
• Send the e-mail to yourself or a friend before sending it to the recruiter.
• Follow up.  Write the recruiter an e-mail one and a half to two weeks after sending your resume.  Include a new cover letter expressing your continued interest and attach your resume.  By then, the recruiters will have a better idea of the position and will be able to quickly assess if you are a potential fit for the client company.
• Be persistent without being pushy.  Recruiters assess personality and cultural fit to the same degree they look for the necessary skills to fill the job.  If you have not been contacted, it may simply mean that someone else fit the company's expectations better.  Maintain a good relationship with the recruiter.