ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2008 > June > 13 > Entry
An email address by any other name
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At this point, it really should be a common assumption that when you’re embarking on a job search, you should use a professional email address on all your job search correspondence.
Yet, here we are more than fifteen years after the Internet started coming into common use and people are still using email addresses that are either ineffective or inappropriate in their job search.
So, the warning bears repeating: Get a professional email address before you start sending out resumes!
Using a cute or creative email address to express your personality when you’re emailing friends and family is still absolutely fine. By all means, have fun with it! However, if you want to be taken seriously in the job market, you can’t risk having a hiring official snickering at your silly email address.
Clearly risque addresses are a no-no, but you should also avoid addresses along the lines of progolfer@… or missprincess@… or slientlyambiguous@… or mom2suzie@…
Beyond the scope of silly email addresses, are the email addresses that seem fine on the surface, but run the risk of getting caught in a company’s spam filter. This happens more frequently than you might think. If the employer never receives your email, they won’t be able to see your resume.
Job seekers with unusual names are more at risk; as are job seekers whose name or initials, when strung all together in an email address, create words that raise a red flag for the spam filter.
A good example of this might be smyles@… The candidate’s name may be Steve Myles, but this particular email address could easily get caught in a spam filter. A better choice might be Steve.Myles@…
Likewise, email addresses with numbers should be used with caution. A string of numbers like your phone number or zip code is risky. It is difficult for people to remember, and is still a little unconventional to use for job search purposes.
People will also use their graduation year or birthday year in their email addresses such as Lisa1987@… or John1953@… This is usually a dead give-away of how old you are. Your age should be irrelevant in your job search, and you should not call attention to it.
Try different combinations to find an email ID that will sound professional. Ideally, it should be something that combines your first name and last name, or first initial and last name, etc. There are several free email providers out there, so if you don’t find one that works for you with one provider, check another. If you’re in doubt about what to choose, don’t be afraid to ask a friend or colleague for a second opinion.
Remember, the point of having an email address on your resume is to provide an alternate means of communication, so that the hiring official can reach you easily. Having a less than professional email address listed, or sending a resume from an address that does not sound professional is the electronic equivalent of showing up to meet the hiring manager in jeans and sneakers.
First impressions are critical. If you’re serious about your job search, don’t sabotage yourself from the beginning. Change your email address!
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