E-mail Etiquette
E-mail can often be your first - and
possibly, your only point of contact with other people. Practicing good
business etiquette on the Web can make a difference between hearing back
from an employer or not when applying for that perfect job.
"Think of your e-mail as a serious
communication tool, not an excuse to forget about being professional,
courteous or friendly," says Rohn Everson, Human Resources manager at
Maintainer, Sheldon. "Sometimes, even thoughtless little things can
completely destroy what otherwise is a professional message."
What message does an e-mail address like
bigman@xyz456.com, hotbunny@abc123.com, singlebabe@123.com
send, he asks? Those addresses are not professional, and could be
considered demeaning and insensitive. Most businesses don't want to convey
that type of image, and applicants with these types of addresses will
probably not be considered for employment.
Bryan Kooi, Human Resources manager at
MEDTEC, Orange City agrees.
"I receive a lot of resumes via e-mail.
I see some very questionable e-mail addresses that make me wonder about the
ethics, morality, and overall professionalism of the applicant," says Kooi.
Always provide a personal name if your
mail system allows it - a personal name attached to your address identifies
you better than your address can on its own, advises Everson. For example,
RobertAnderson@abc123.com conveys the sender as a professional person
to be taken seriously a lot more than boblovesbeer@abc123.com
"Use a sensible personal name: 'Guess
who' or other such phrases are annoying as personal names and hinder the
recipient's quick identification of you and your message," says Everson.
Matt Ricke, a Sioux City-based manager
with Manpower, considers questionable e-mail address as a "red flag - a
reason not to hire someone."
He advises people to select a simple
address, not one loaded with letters and numbers, and definitely not
something odd or off the wall. He understands that some people consider
their e-mail address as a personal expression, but offers this cautionary
advice to job seekers:
"If that's their image, they have to
understand the consequences of those choices." And sometimes, he says, the
consequence is not getting the job.
Our society needs proper etiquette now
more than ever, Everson believes.
"Good manners maintain consideration and
kindness in our busy lives. Knowledge of good manners can lead to success
in life. Appropriate conduct can make or break business deals, or determine
the outcome of a job interview and promote good relations," says Everson.
The bottom line, according to all three
managers, is to be professional. Your e-mail address is a direct reflection
of you, your image and your values.
