Applying by WhatsApp: How to Send Your CV the Right Way
18 Oct 2026
Small and medium businesses in Sri Lanka increasingly write "WhatsApp your CV to 07X XXX XXXX" instead of giving an email address. It is quick and convenient, but it is also informal, and many applicants send messages that are hard to understand or easy to ignore. Treat a WhatsApp application with the same care as an email.
Before you send anything
- Save your CV as a PDF. Photos of a printed CV are hard to read and look careless.
- Name the file clearly: Kasun-Silva-CV-Driver.pdf.
- Check your WhatsApp profile photo and name. Use a clear photo and your real name.
What to write
Send one short, polite message, then the PDF. For example:
Good morning. My name is Kasun Silva from Gampaha. I saw your advert for a Delivery Driver on JobPortal LK and I would like to apply. I have a heavy vehicle licence and 3 years of experience. My CV is attached. Thank you.
Include the post name – the employer may have several adverts – and where you saw the advert.
Mistakes that get applications ignored
- Sending only "Hi" or "Job?" and waiting for a reply.
- Voice notes instead of a written message, unless the advert asks for them.
- Calling repeatedly, or calling late at night.
- Sending ten separate photos of certificates instead of one CV.
- Forwarding the same message to the employer many times.
Follow up politely
If there is no reply after three or four working days, send one short follow-up: "Good morning, I sent my CV for the Delivery Driver post on Monday. I am still interested. Thank you." After that, wait.
Protect yourself
Share only what is needed for an application: your CV and, when asked at a later stage, copies of certificates. Do not send your NIC photo, bank details or OTP codes to an unknown number before you have met the employer or received an offer. Never pay a fee to be considered for a job.
Make a CV in minutes
If you do not have a PDF CV yet, use our free CV builder on your phone. It creates a clean PDF that you can send directly on WhatsApp or by email.
