Check a job ID (Baca halaman ini dalam bahasa Indonesia)

Applying for jobs by e-mail or WhatsApp in Indonesia: polite formats and avoiding scams

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by Kaiser Khan (editor), Updated

How to apply by e-mail and WhatsApp in Indonesia: the subject line, a short example, PDF attachments, a polite message, and checking a recruiter.

Summary

  • An application e-mail subject should include the position and your name, for example: Application for Administrative Staff, Full Name.
  • Three short paragraphs are enough: the position and vacancy source, why you fit, and a list of attachments.
  • The Ministry of Manpower lists recruiters using free e-mail or website domains as a sign of a fake job.
  • OJK advises not to trust vacancies that arrive by private message straight away and to confirm them with the company.
  • Do not send your ID card, bank account number, one-time codes or app files by chat to an unverified recruiter.
Show the full summaryShow less
On this page
  1. How do you write a good job application e-mail?
  2. Which attachments should you send by e-mail?
  3. How can you check that a recruiter's e-mail really belongs to the company?
  4. How do you apply politely through WhatsApp?
  5. What are the signs of a suspicious recruitment chat?
  6. How do you protect your personal data when applying by e-mail or chat?

How do you write a good job application e-mail?

A good application e-mail is short and clear. Write a subject line with the position and your name, following any format the vacancy asks for. In the body, write three short paragraphs: the position and where you saw the vacancy, a brief reason you fit, then a list of attachments and your availability for an interview. Use a personal e-mail address that contains your name and looks professional.

Which attachments should you send by e-mail?

Send the attachments the vacancy asks for, usually a CV and cover letter, sometimes a diploma, transcript and certificates. Use PDFs with clear file names, such as Name-CV-Position.pdf, and merge documents into one file if asked. Check file sizes so the server does not reject them. Send identity documents only to the company's official e-mail address after confirming the company is real.

How can you check that a recruiter's e-mail really belongs to the company?

Compare the recruiter's e-mail domain with the company's official website; large companies usually use their own domain, not a free e-mail service. The Ministry of Manpower lists recruiters using free e-mail or website domains as a sign of a fake job. Find the official site through a search engine or AHU Online, not from a link in the message, then confirm the vacancy through the contacts on that site.

How do you apply politely through WhatsApp?

Start with a greeting and a short introduction: your name, the position and where you saw the vacancy. Ask whether you may send your CV as a PDF, then send the file. Avoid long voice notes or strings of messages, and write during working hours. Save the recruiter's number and the conversation, because they can be evidence if it turns out to be a scam.

What are the signs of a suspicious recruitment chat?

The Ministry of Manpower lists very fast replies and instant chat interviews without official confirmation, unrealistic pay, requests for money, and requests for your ID card, bank account number or a selfie with your ID as signs of a fake job. OJK adds that scammers often pose as large companies and then ask for financial-account details. Do not install app files sent by chat, and never share one-time codes.

How do you protect your personal data when applying by e-mail or chat?

Send only the data needed for that stage. Law 27/2022 on Personal Data Protection requires processing to be limited, specific, lawful and transparent (Article 16), and gives you the right to ask for your data to be deleted and to withdraw consent (Articles 8 and 9). Keep a list of companies that have your data, and contact them if you want your application data deleted after the process ends.

Checklist before applying by e-mail or WhatsApp

  • The recruiter's e-mail domain or number matches the company's official site or account.
  • The e-mail subject includes the position and your name.
  • Attachments are PDFs with clear file names.
  • Nobody asks for money, one-time codes, bank details or app installs.
  • Identity documents go only to the company's official channels.

Frequently asked questions

Is a vacancy that asks for applications by WhatsApp always fake?

Not always. Many small businesses recruit through WhatsApp. Watch for a combination of warning signs: chat-only interviews, no clear office address, requests for money, or requests for bank or ID details. Make sure the number appears on the business's official website or account.

Can I send my CV as a photo on WhatsApp?

It is better to send a PDF, because a photo of a CV is hard to read and cannot be processed by an ATS. If the recruiter can only receive files on WhatsApp, send the same PDF with a clear file name, and leave out unnecessary personal data.

Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published Updated

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: .

Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

  1. 6 Ciri Lowongan Kerja Bodong yang Perlu Diwaspadai Kompas TV · official statement via media · accessed
  2. Ini 5 ciri-ciri lowongan kerja palsu versi Kemnaker Republika · official statement via media · accessed
  3. Waspada, Penipuan (Scam) Mengintai Kita. Ayo Lawan dan Hindari! (Booklet Satgas PASTI) Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (Sekretariat Satgas PASTI) · accessed
  4. Undang-Undang Nomor 27 Tahun 2022 tentang Pelindungan Data Pribadi Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 27/2022 · accessed
  5. Ditjen AHU Online: pencarian profil perseroan Direktorat Jenderal Administrasi Hukum Umum, Kementerian Hukum · accessed
How to cite

KarirAman (2026). Applying for jobs by e-mail or WhatsApp in Indonesia: polite formats and avoiding scams. Updated 7 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/guides/apply-by-email-or-whatsapp/

Save this page

Report a fake job Report a data problem How we handle corrections